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Canon announced two new mirrorless cameras and two new lenses on 8 February 2023: the Canon EOS R8 and Canon EOS R50, along with the RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 and RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1.
In September 2023, Canon’s EOS R system will celebrate its fifth anniversary. The range already has something of the present best mirrorless camerasespecially in its full-frame setup, which the Canon EOS R8 enters sitting between the EOS R6 II and the entry model EOS RP.
We had a sneak peek at Canon UK HQ ahead of launch and wrote a hands-on review, and while the camera impressed us in some areas, we still have some burning questions – here are our initial thoughts.
1. The EOS R8 is full frame
Surprised the Canon EOS R8 isn’t APS-C? We wouldn’t blame you. Canon has thrown a bit of confusion into its range by naming it the Canon EOS R8.
The Canon EOS R3 is the current mirrorless full-frame flagship, followed by the EOS R5 and R5C, then the EOS R6 and EOS R6 II (plus the EOS RP and EOS R). Crop-sensor APS-C mirrorless cameras include the Canon EOS R7, EOS R10 (and now the EOS R50). Where does the full-frame EOS R8 pop up? Within the APS-C nomenclature.
Canon is to be commended for filling its range of EOS R mirrorless cameras and lenses so quickly, given its launch is less than five years ago. There are a total of 13 cameras and 33 Canon RF/RF-S lenses. But now things are starting to get confusing, especially with regard to the EOS R7 and EOS R8.
Perhaps sensor size is becoming less relevant, though, and it’s more about what a camera can do. The EOS R7 may have a smaller APS-C sensor, but it has 32.5MP (versus 24MP in the EOS R8), a superior battery and IBIS (in-body image stabilisation) so can be seen as more capable than the EOS R8. Find that out.
2. The EOS R8 is Canon’s lightest full-frame camera
Despite adopting much of the technology from the Canon EOS R6 II, including the 24.2MP full-frame sensor, the EOS R8 shares the same form factor as the entry-level EOS RP. It even manages to shed a few more grams. The EOS RP weighs 485g, while the EOS R8 weighs 461g, and that’s with the battery and memory card fitted.
Complementing the EOS R8 is the new RF 24-50mm f/5-6.3 lens, available in a kit with the new camera. On paper, this new lens hardly excites, but at 210g and with a foldable design, it’s a logical combination for such a lightweight camera.
The combination of the EOS R8 and RF 24-50mm f/5-6.3 lens weighs less than 700g – quite an achievement for a full-frame viewfinder camera, and lighter than many body-only full-frame cameras.
3. It has some impressive video chops
Hybrid is a buzzword for Canon right now, introducing greater video versatility into its latest RF-mount mirrorless cameras to complement powerful photo performance. We see the 30 minute video recording limits being abolished and, like the EOS R6 II, the EOS R8 can – in theory – record for an unlimited amount of time, although 4K/60p oversampled from 6K is the actual capacity of the camera could push to keep rolling.
Canon’s most popular log profile – Canon Log 3 – is included. Known as C Log 3, this video color profile enables rapid turnaround in production with great control over contrast and color. Our ears also perked up at the false color recording. It’s an extremely useful tool that filmmakers use to check exposure levels, although you’ll have to dig into the menu to find it.
A microphone input and headphone jack are also squeezed into this tiny camera, which includes a tilting screen and a dedicated photo/video switch. All in all, the EOS R8 seems equally adept at stills and video.
4. You still pay a premium
Canon cameras almost always have a higher price tag than the direct competition from the likes of Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony and Panasonic. So having a camera with much the same look as the EOS R6 II, but priced more affordably, is welcome, and the EOS R8 is a very capable shooter.
There’s a big ‘but’ though, and it’s one of the reasons the EOS R8 is cheaper than the EOS R6 II – it’s in an entry-level body, with entry-level endurance. Yes, you get similar shooting features and performance to the EOS R6 II, but you don’t get the same design. So is it really a better camera? Does it outperform the alternatives?
We think Canon superfans will give the EOS R8 a warm welcome, and it could be an attractive choice for upgraders or those switching from a Canon DSLR. But for the unbiased, or those looking to go mirrorless for the first time, most other brands (except maybe Sony) still represent better value.
5. We don’t know exactly who it’s for
If you’re a glass-half-full kind of person then the EOS R8 is a camera that packs a lot more punch than the outside suggests. A full-frame 24MP sensor, viewfinder and vari-angle screen, 4K/60p video with Canon C-Log 3… heck, there’s even false colour.
But if you have a ‘glass-half-empty’ mentality, you wonder if the target audience for this camera could use these features at all. The control layout is super simple; too simple to easily use some of the best features. If you want to get the most out of the EOS R8, navigating the in-camera menu should become a familiar experience – the 30fps Raw Burst mode isn’t on the shooting mode dial, for example. And not all photographers and filmmakers are so patient with menus.
It’s also a camera that sits between cheaper, entry-level full-frame cameras such as the EOS RP and Nikon Z5, which have the sensor size as their big selling point over a list of features longer than your arm, and full-frame cameras at the mid level. cameras that offer better build quality, longer battery life, and a host of physical controls.
So the real question that we keep coming back to is, “who is the EOS R8 for?”