The Canon EOS R8 is the successor to the EOS RP, which implies that it is now probably the most inexpensive option to get into Canon’s full-frame eco-system – or it will likely be as soon as the RP inventory dries up.
The digicam shares many similarities to the RP, particularly with regard to its design, however at its core, it shares a sensor with the spectacular EOS R6 Mark II. This implies it is able to producing some critical pictures and at a massively lowered value.
The query is, what corners wanted to be reduce to hit such a worth level? And is it possible to save lots of round $1000 by choosing this digicam over the R6 Mark II? We have been excited to seek out out.
Canon
Canon EOS R8
Really helpful
As probably the most inexpensive entry factors into Canon’s full-frame ecosystem, and probably the most compact and light-weight full-frame our bodies in the marketplace, the R8 is an interesting possibility. There are a number of niggles – we might like to have some extra bodily controls and IBIS, however the outcomes are nice. And that is what actually issues.
- Extraordinarily compact and light-weight
- Wonderful full-frame sensor
- Excellent autofocus
- Oversampled 4K60 with no crop
- 40fps bursts with the digital shutter
- No joystick or rear dial
- No IBIS
- Comparatively small battery
Design
- Dimensions: 132.5×86.1×70.0 mm
- Weight: 414 grams
- Climate-resistant building
- Simplified controls
As we talked about within the introduction, the EOS R8 shares an analogous design to the RP. Which means that it is exceptionally compact for a full-frame digicam, and Canon says that it is the lightest full-frame physique it has produced to date.
That is nice for portability – one in all our chief complaints with capturing full-frame is the load of the tools, and this physique helps hold your package bag manageable. Nevertheless, there are downsides to the design. It simply does not look or really feel notably premium, and ideally, we might hope for one thing with a bit extra of an expert sheen when purchasing on this worth bracket.
The simplified controls, that are principally inherited from the RP, have been laborious for us to regulate to, as effectively. There is no joystick for AF choice, you may must faucet on the show to alter your focus level, and there isn’t any rear wheel both.
We sometimes map our ISO to the rear wheel, and with no such enter obtainable, the following smartest thing is mapping ISO to the perform button and utilizing one of many different management wheels. It is not the tip of the world, however it’s a compromise that we may do with out. We would fortunately carry the additional weight if it meant a number of extra bodily controls.
The grip is respectable, and as with most different Canon our bodies, nice care has been taken to make sure that it is ergonomically designed. It is snug to shoot with whereas utilizing the package lens, which can also be extraordinarily compact and lightweight for full-frame glass, however we will not think about that being the case with a few of Canon’s bigger lenses.
The battery can also be smaller, it makes use of the LP-E17 battery which is simply 7.5Wh. We did not discover this too painful to work with in apply, however if you happen to’re planning on utilizing this digicam for skilled work, you may probably wish to replenish on spares. There aren’t any battery grip choices obtainable at current, both.
So, the compromises are plain to see, however it might’t be overstated how spectacular it’s {that a} full-frame digicam could be this small and light-weight. The physique is only some grams heavier than our tiny Lumix GX9, with its comparatively tiny Micro 4 Thirds sensor.
Connectivity and shows
- Single SD card slot
- Micro HDMI, 3.5mm headphone and mic sockets, USB-C
- Flip out 3-inch 1.62 million dot LCD
- 0.39-inch 2.36 million dot 120Hz OLED EVF
Regardless of the tiny chassis, connectivity is sort of good. The one factor that basically differentiates the R8 from its bigger siblings is that it has a single SD card slot, moderately than the twin slots discovered on {most professional} mirrorless cameras.
Which means that you continue to get 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, a USB-C port for charging and file switch, and a micro HDMI for video output. A full-size HDMI would have been good, however since you do not even get a type of on the R6 Mark II, there was no probability of it showing right here.
The shows are similar to those featured on the Canon EOS R7, you get a 2.36 million dot OLED EVF with a 120Hz refresh price and a 1.62 million dot flip-out touchscreen LCD.
The LCD could be very responsive to the touch, however its readability is nothing distinctive – there have been a few instances that we missed focus as a result of we have been judging by the show alone. Nonetheless, it will get the job accomplished and was completely usable on a vibrant sunny day. The truth that it flips out implies that it is well-suited for customers that wish to movie themselves, too.
The EVF is far sharper, and a greater option to decide your closing pictures. The 120Hz refresh price implies that it feels clean and pure to make use of, too.
Pictures and movies
- Full body CMOS sensor – 24.2MP stills
- As much as 40fps burst capturing / 6fps with digital 1st curtain
- As much as 4K 60fps / 1080p 180fps video
- 4:2:2 10bit color with CLOG3
For the reason that sensor is identical because the one within the R6 Mark II, as is the processor, we have been very assured that we might be happy with the outcomes from the R8, and this certainly turned out to be the case.
There are two foremost modifications with the R8. Firstly, there isn’t any sensor-shift IBIS, so all IS modes depend on both the lens or digital stabilisation (which comes with a major crop).
Secondly, there is a new shutter mechanism on this mannequin. As a substitute of utilizing a full conventional mechanical shutter, the R8 is digital on the primary curtain, and a mechanical shutter ends the publicity – very similar to the Sony A7C.
More often than not, we did not discover a lot of a distinction with this shutter mechanism. Although, it is value noting that it’s fairly loud. The primary distinction you may discover is that the R8 can solely shoot as much as 6fps bursts, in comparison with 12fps on the R6 II. In fact, if you happen to go all-electronic, you may shoot at a blazing-fast 40fps silently, with both digicam.
We examined with the RF 24-50mm F/4.5-6.3 IS STM package lens, which is impressively light-weight and small, however does not actually exhibit the complete potential of this digicam. Nonetheless, it is the sort of glass that is helpful to have in your assortment for these events when you do not wish to be weighed down by your tools. The huge sensor implies that you continue to get some good depth of area, even whenever you’re caught capturing at f/6.3.
One other function inherited from the R6 Mark II is the autofocus monitoring capabilities. We discovered it very spectacular on that digicam, and it is simply as spectacular right here. You’ll be able to choose from every kind of choices, permitting you to routinely observe the whole lot from planes and automobiles to animals and people.
Relating to video capturing, the EOS R8 affords the identical oversampled 4K video capturing with no crop at as much as 60fps, and the outcomes are very good. It is liable to get a bit toasty within the course of, due to its smaller chassis, however we did not run into any points ourselves. Admittedly, we have a tendency to stay to shorter clips, although.
The sluggish movement capabilities are the identical because the R6 II, as effectively, providing as much as 180fps at 1080p decision. It is helpful, however the picture high quality undoubtedly takes successful. For probably the most half, we might advise utilizing 4K60 footage in a 30fps timeline when it is advisable to sluggish issues down.
There are two ranges of digital picture stabilisation obtainable in digicam, commonplace and enhanced. The usual mode will take a few of the shakiness away, with a slight crop, whereas enhanced does a extra thorough job, at the price of a a lot bigger crop. It is not fairly a match for IBIS system, however we have been shocked by how little it affected our capturing – there aren’t any potential wobbly corners to fret about both.
Verdict
In case you’re eager to get into full-frame pictures or filmmaking with a Canon digicam, the EOS R8 is difficult to withstand. It affords a whole lot of the identical options because the EOS R6 Mark II, and it does so for a grand much less. Consider the lens you could possibly purchase with the financial savings!
There are some things that we do not like, the simplified controls being the principle one. We particularly missed the rear wheel on this mannequin, and an even bigger battery would sweeten the deal, too. There’s additionally no IBIS, however that posed much less of a difficulty in actuality than we thought it’d.
Taking a look at Canon’s lineup. The R6 Mark II is actually a greater and extra well-rounded digicam, and it solves all of our points with this mannequin. However when it prices a lot extra, that worth turns into laborious to justify. Evaluating it to the R7, effectively, there’s simply no contest, we might choose the R8 any day.
It is the competitors from outdoors of the Canon household that makes issues a bit extra tough, particularly whenever you take a look at a digicam just like the Lumix S5II, which solves all of our points and is far much less of a soar in worth. It is actually not as light-weight or compact, although, and it might’t do 4K60 with no crop.
And that is simply it. The R8’s dimensions are an enormous a part of its attraction, and contemplating the only a few shortcomings it serves up due to it, it comes extremely advisable.
