Canon EOS R Review: Verdict
The EOS R’s arrival has been greeted with a great amount of interest from Canon users around the world. Those hoping for a miniaturised version of the company’s popular EOS 5D series haven’t had their wish come true. Instead of targeting the high-end enthusiast and semi-pro user, the EOS R is more like an EOS 6D Mark II in the way it feels like an entry point into full frame photography. The EOS R goes up against rivals such as Sony’s A7 III (£1,999) and the Nikon Z6 (£2,099), but priced as at £2,349 (body only), it’s the most expensive of these three and has its work cut out trying to justify this extra expense.
AP’s Michael Topham put the EOS R to the test over a couple of weeks
Touching on the positives, the EOS R delivers stunning images that are on par with those you’ll get out of the EOS 5D Mark IV. It also focuses responsively in challenging low-light scenarios, offers the best EVF we’ve used on a Canon camera and is built around a strong body that feels great in the hand over prolonged spells of shooting – something that’s needed for the sizeable lenses Canon has created so far for the EOS R system. The introduction of the customisable ring on the new lenses is welcomed too and it’s encouraging that EF/EF-S optics and third-party lenses perform so well with the EF-EOS R mount adapters.
The above points are sadly undone by its lack of IBIS, mode dial, AF joystick and unconventional arrangement of buttons and controls. Add the single card slot, questionable M-Fn bar and 4K video limitations to this and you walk away from using the EOS R feeling like it has room for improvement.
The Canon EOS R paired with the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon had a great opportunity to make the EOS R one of the best cameras they’ve ever made and shake up the full-frame mirrorless market with something truly special. Although this first iteration in the new series might not be perfect or as compelling as its Nikon and Sony competition, it’s represents a start in the full frame mirrorless market for Canon. It’ll be interesting to watch the EOS R system evolve over future years and we’re keen to know how the second model might differ to the first.
