Canon Cameras Archives

Canon R1 Spec’ Rumour

The rumour mill is beginning to turn with the news that Canon will soon announce a new flagship camera, the Canon R1. What we want to know is. What will the spec’ look like? To understand that we look at the Canon R3, the Sony A1 and the Nikon Z9

A Replacement for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III?

Is this a replacement for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III? This camera is a professional’s favourite. For those news and sports photographers that are still sticking with a DSLR then nothing can replace it. That is sadly because Canon is unlikely to produce a Mark IV.

Buoyed by the success of their mirrorless range which started with the R and RP in 2018. Canon has gone on to successfully launch the R5 and R6 which neatly replace their DSLR counterparts, the 5D and the 6D.

More recently Canon has introduced the R3 which is designed for sports and wildlife photographers.

Those flippy mirrors are becoming a thing of the past and the R1 will complete the range most likely replacing the 1DX.

What is the Canon R1 Spec?

As the Canon R1 has not even been announced, (we are expecting that later this year or early next with a 2022 Q4 rollout). The expected spec’ has to be one that will compete with the new Sony A1 and upcoming Nikon Z9. So what could it look like?

Sensor

There was disappointment that the Canon R3 has a 24MP sensor. The R3 is designed for sports photographers, who require lower resolution images that can be quickly streamed back to newsrooms. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III has a similar 20MP sensor for the same reason.

The Canon R1 is going to be a more general workhorse, so more likely to compete with Sony and Nikon. The A1 has a 50.1MP sensor and the Z9 45.7MP. So the Canon R5 45MP CMOS sensor could be a contender, but expect Canon to push a new sensor to around 50+MP for their flagship offering.

Frame Rates & ISO

Frame rate is important for professional photographers. As a celebrity emerges from a night club you don’t want to get stuck with slow exposures. You need a high ISO and a fast frame rate. Looking at the R3, it has a top ISO of 102400 and a shutter frame rate (electronic) is 30fps.

However, the R1 will have to pull the stops out to catch the 120fps (restricted to 11MP) on the Nikon Z9. The Z9 achieves this with a processor which has the world’s fastest scan rate with what is claimed to be virtually no rolling-shutter distortion. Nikon claim this is equivalent to a mechanical shutter, which is why there is no mechanical shutter in the Z9.

Can the R1 make the same quantum leap? will it also have no mechanical shutter?

AI

What is beginning to set all cameras apart is AI. The R3 has eye controlled AF and subject tracking. What started with just eyes and faces has blossomed into planes trains and automobiles. The goal is to see the subject (any subject) in the viewfinder and let the camera track it in 3D i.e. from every angle. Sony, Nikon and Canon are all moving in a similar direction, which will win out will depend on their mastery of AI.

Other Stuff

What would we like to see?

We like the voice note recorder in the Z9. Surely the technology exists to turn to text and include with the image metadata.

If a camera has low light capability then illuminated controls and an illuminated viewfinder would be welcome.

Should we have to fiddle with the ISO. My phone just works whatever the light. Surely a restricted light mode would be useful.

We are just assuming weather sealing to the standard of the Canon EOS-1D X or better. Why not waterproof like mobile phones are?

If it can be manufactured so that it is really robust, we like the four-axis LCD touchscreen that tilts horizontally and vertically on the Z9. We can add that to our wish list.

Canon R1 Price

Let’s set some benchmarks. The Canon R3 is $5999 / £5879, the Sony A1 is $6498 / £6499, the Nikon Z9 $5496 / £5299. So the A1 and the Z9 are comparable with the R3.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is currently $6499 / £6999. So expect the R1 to be fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars and pounds above the R3.

For that price, Canon is going to have to build a phenomenal camera, and it should be if they follow this spec’.

Canon September News

by John Gough

Finally this week after considerable prelaunch publicity the Canon R3 was announced in a burst of Canon September News. We had got most of the details right, except we did not know the price which will be £5879 in the UK, putting this camera clearly in a professional space.

Canon R3 Specification

A recap on the specification.

24MP Stacked CMOS Dual Pixel AF sensor
30 fps Electronic shutter
Eye Control AF and a 5.69M-dot electronic viewfinder
AF with subject recognition for humans animals and vehicles.
Low light capability: AF rated as working down to -7.5EV (with F1.2 lens)
Both CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD slots
Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Canon’s new Multi-Function Shoe to which new accessories e.g. flash and mics can be fitted.
A one piece magnesium alloy body design, integrated with a grip section
Weather and dust resistance which is the same as EOS-1D.

Will the 24MP sensor be enough? This is what we wait to see.

Canon R3 Eye Control

This is a feature that cannot be demonstrated because you have to see it with your own eyes! In the video below from the irrepressible Chris Nichols and Jordon from DPReview, do their best, but we cant wait until these guys get their hands on a production model to see how it really performs. However, it feels like we are at the start of a new big change in camera design, and the old joysticks etc for moving the focus point around a screen, will seem so twin lens reflex in just a few years time.

That is if eye control works of course. If it does for wildlife shooters, this is a gamechanger.

Other Canon September News

It looks as though Canon is looking at both ends of the market, with the launch of the RF16mm f2.8 lens for just £319.

Excellent for vloggers, but also amazing for stills photographers with so many creative possibilities. As a documentary and street photographer, I cant wait to get my hands on it.

I use the RF35mm every day.

This video from Gordon Laing gives a preview

There is also a new 100-400 RF zoom at f5.6-f8 at £699. It seems a bit slow but considering the stabilisation on the latest R5, R6 and R3 then you have to ask why we need big glass. On the other hand, this lens may be a compromise too far. Let’s wait for the reviews.

Below Gordon does another excellent preview of this lens.

Canon’s Remarkable Prediction

Thinking about both ends of the market, there was an interesting snippet on Canon Rumours. Which was that Canon will announce a new R camera in January that is “going to annoy a lot of the [Canon] fanboys”.

What could this mean? A Canon R MkII, or a new Canon RP. My thinking is the latter as Canon may want to take on Olympus and Fuji with a smaller but fully functioning full frame or APSC mirrorless camera. This could replace the M-Series and bring their mirrorless cameras together in the R Series.

Remember you heard it here first!

Canon EOS R3 Features

by John Gough

We have researched all we know about the Canon EOS R3. The launch is about 2 months away, for what will be Canon’s fastest mirrorless full frame camera. The EOS R3 is going to be the go to camera for sports and wildlife professional photographers for years to come. To get this right, Canon is going for some pretty awesome features.

Although the R3 will probably be too expensive for many amateurs, some new features do give us an indication of how camera technology is progressing and what we might expect further down the line for Canon mirrorless cameras.

Canon EOS R3 Features:

So let us look at what is new.

Stacked CMOS Sensor on the EOS R3

The R3 will be the first EOS camera to feature an entirely new stacked BSI CMOS sensor. The advantage of this type of sensor is the fast readout speed. This boosts the camera’s maximum shooting rate. With no mirror constantly flipping up and down, mirrorless cameras are pushing burst shooting rates ever upward, but now with this sensor they have just got quicker.

Faster readouts also mean faster autofocus. So fast that it happens in the blinking of an eye. This means shooting 30fps with full AF/AE tracking using the electronic shutter. Canon claim that even at this speed there will be ‘minimal distortion’ of the type usually caused by a rolling shutter.

So this begs the question why do we need a mechanical shutter?

Eye Control AF with the EOS R3

Yes, autofocus in the blinking of an eye. Look at a subject and the AF will follow your eyeball and focus on what you are looking at! This feature is going to be the most talked about subject of all. in the R3 reviews.

The original technology was first seen in the 22-year-old Canon EOS-3 film camera, but never progressed to digital. One of the problems was the tracking of eyes through glasses. What about sun glasses?

This is the rear of the Canon EOS R3 and it can be seen just how big the viewfinder has to be to accommodate this technology.

Capturing Movement with the R3

Canon insists that the R3 can master fast movement. This will not only interest sports photographers in the Grand Prix arena, but wildlife photographers capturing birds in flight. Canon eye tracking is already good with the R5. It will be amazing to see an improvement in this area.

Canon R3 Sensor Size

Rumour has it that the R3 will be priced around $6000. Below the Sony A1. Why? Well the A1 has a 50.1MP sensor. We don’t know the size of the R3 proposed sensor, but it could be that the R3 will have a smaller sensor. Perhaps as low as 20MP to enable sports photographers to quickly transfer images from the touchline.

UPDATE: We are now pretty confident that the sensor size will be 24MP

Just a thought, but what if the size of a sensor in the future is no longer linked to image quality? What if Canon’s new sensor is low in megapixels but has stunning image quality? Maybe through the use of new technology, perhaps even AI as employed on camera phones? There has been considerable research going on into this phenomena over the past few years. What if Canon has cracked it?

Canon EOS R3 Summary

What is quickly becoming apparent is that the R3 is an expensive specialist camera with awesome technology. It is not an amateur camera. We will not be seeing many at the local camera club outing to Clacton. However, what we can expect is that many of its new features will be headed for a Canon camera near you in the near future.

The Canon EOS R3 Is a Beast

by John Gough

It is no coincidence that it is the Olympics this year in Japan, and that Canon are putting out teasers about their new sports focussed camera the Canon EOS R3.

This is What Canon Say About the EOS R3

A camera designed to capture the fastest moving action in a way never thought possible. Specialised for capturing objects moving at high speed. Built to meet the demands of professional sports users with ultra-responsiveness, high sensitivity, reliability and durability.

This is What We Know About the Canon R3

Well, this is what we think we know, not much has been officially announced:

30fps

A whopping 30 fps shooting with continuous AF. That is compared to the 16fps on the flagship Canon EOS 1DX MkIII and the 20fps on Canon’s top mirrorless R mount camera, the Canon EOS R5.

BSI CMOS

A new BSI CMOS sensor. To interpret, this means that the sensor is backside illuminated. This improves low light photography. It is a technology that has been used on smartphones since the iPhone 4, but has been difficult to introduce to larger sensors.

Stacked CMOS

It is likely the new sensor will be a stacked CMOS sensor, like that announced for the Sony a9. As this video explains this allows much a faster readout from the sensor to achieve these amazing shooting rates with continually updated auto exposure and AF.

The new sensor will likely solve the stretching of images caused by rolling shutter distortion. As Canon put it, ‘minimal image distortion when using the electronic shutter’. This means that mechanical continuous shooting will become a thing of the past. It could even mean that mechanical shutters go the same way as those old fashioned mirrors.

Viewfinder Update

Another advantage could be, that the electronic viewfinder (EVF) can be updated in almost real time, and therefore begin to meet the performance of optical sensors. This is one of the reasons that pro sports photographers have been slower to move away from traditional DSLRs than other pro photographers.

Eye Controlled Focussing

Eye controlled AF makes the old joystick seem positively medieval, but Canon is promising that by looking through the EVF you can use your eye to control the focus point. Subject tracking and even eye tracking are now so advanced that it makes you wonder how this feature will work?

Plus Canon are promising that their AF algorithms will now track other subjects as well as faces and eyes. My bet would be on racing cars.

So What About the R1?

We were thinking that the next camera to be launched by Canon would be the Canon EOS R1. A replacement for the top of the range Canon EOS 1DX Mark III. However, the proposed Canon EOS R3 is intriguing because it is what we thought the R1 would be, but it has not been designated as the R1. The R5 and R6 have slotted into the lineup as replacements to their DSLR equivalents

So what will the R1 be like?

10 Reasons to Buy the Canon R5

by John Gough

Let’s face it you need some really good reasons to buy a Canon EOS R5. If you are not buying this camera for its video capability, and I am not. If you are not a professional photographer who needs the dual card slots and rugged build. How do you justify a spend of £4100 (Dec 2019) on a stills camera (body only)? I could buy a second hand car for that or at least five iPhone 12s. So let’s run through 10 reasons to buy the Canon R5.

R5 IBIS….Is it a Reason to Buy?

I know other camera makers have got there first, but fair enough Canon has caught up with in-body-stabilisation. Remarkably the 5-axis IBIS system achieves up to 8 stops. That is virtually like shooting in the dark. (Reason 1) Couple this with the remarkable ISO on this camera (Reason 2), and there is now no need to buy big glass for low light photography. The EOS R5 stabilisation and ISO can take care of it.

So How Good is the R5 IBIS?

Look at this real world example from Bluewater Photo

We took full advantage of this feature and even shot some of our photos as low as 1/13th of a second. Even at those speeds the images were as crisp as if they had been shot at the camera’s sync speed. IBIS also allows you to expand the limits of your camera by allowing you to shoot at lower shutter speeds instead of having to raise your ISO. The added detail and peace of mind that there will be no motion blur makes Canon’s IBIS system one of its top features.

So How Good is the R5 ISO?

For this, we have to cross to the pre-eminent camera reviewer Ken Rockwell. This is what he says:

As seen at normal image sizes below, the R5 pretty much makes the same images from ISO 50 (L) to ISO 25,600. ISO 50 is a “pull” ISO, and thus has more highlight contrast. This usually increases perceived highlight detail, and can lead to clipped highlights if you have too much subject contrast, as in the case of the window reflection in the glass of the clock face. ISO 51,200 starts to have some chroma mottling (colored green and magenta blobs) and ISO 102,400 (H) gets blotchier and grainier and the shadows are lighter than they should be, but still quite usable if I need it for normal-sized images.

What this means in practice is that you can shoot ISO 25,600 with little or no effect on image quality, and beyond that, up to ISO 102.400 the images are still useable. Follow the link above to see Ken’s example high ISO images.

The RF Flange…Is it a Reason Buy?

Two of my favourite lenses are the RF 35mm f1.8 macro, which has 5 stops stabilisation but has 7 stops on the R5, and the RF 24-240mm f4-6.3 which increases from 5 stops to 6.5 stops. These are both quality lenses but not wildly expensive and in my view are as sharp as any Canon EF lens. (Reason 3)

This is because of the redesigned flange on the R series cameras. This means that because these cameras do not have a mirror assembly the lens mount can be placed closer to the sensor. From 44mm on EF lenses to 20mm on RF lenses.

Why does this mean better lenses at a lower price point? Well, it allows for a large element to be placed at the rear of the lens, which reduces the scope for optical aberrations and means lenses can be designed with fewer overall elements, which means they can be made smaller and with less glass.

R5 Sensor….Is it a Reason to Buy?

The Canon EOS R5 has a 45MP CMOS full frame sensor. If you want to find out how good it is. Head off to DXOMARK where sensors from the major manufacturers are reviewed and rated. The R5 sensor is rated at 95. Is that good? Yes. How does it compare with other Canon sensors? It is the best. The 5D Mark IV scores 91 and the R6 scores 90. Is it the best sensor in its class? No the Luminex DC-S1R scores 100 and is the best. Some Nikon and Sony cameras also beat the R5. But!

Let’s dig deeper.

If you dive into the data here. Then it is apparent that in terms of dynamic range the R5 sensor is up with the best. Colour sensitivity is as good as the best at higher ISOs but there is a fraction more noise at lower ISOs. However, at higher ISOs the R5 performs as well as the Luminex.

As for sensor performance, the EOS R5 sensor represents a high water mark for Canon. Maximum dynamic range is competitive with the best in class, and the R5 sensor offers a useful advantage at some crucial ISO settings over its rivals. It also has excellent color and low noise at high ISOs, which all go toward making the Canon EOS R5 one of the most well-rounded performers in this important category. It may have taken a while to get here, but the Canon EOS R5 looks set to be the one to beat.

If you are a specialist photographer doing more studio work. Then you may want to hold off until the rumoured high megapixel R5 (96MP?) is launched next year. Otherwise, DXOMARK has proved that the R5 sensor is the best Canon yet, and a great allrounder in all lighting conditions. (Reason 4)

AF Capability… Is it a Reason to Buy?

The top line is that this camera can lock onto an animal’s eye, and hold focus as the animal moves while shooting at 20fps. That is a 45MP file being produced every 0.05 seconds. As a result the R5 is the world’s highest pixel-rate camera at 900 MP/s. (Reason 5)

This camera is capable of shifting pixels faster than any other camera, utilising the video capability of DIGIC X processor, and the new RF mount which can move data ten times faster than the older EF mount.

The autofocus will detect people, bird and mammal faces and eyes. Recognising and tracking these subjects as they move around a scene. Even if a subject turns away from the camera, their head continues to be tracked so that their face is sharp when they turn back towards the camera.

The autofocus can even do this in low light down to -6EF which is roughly the light provided by a half moon.

We are now half way through the 10 reasons to buy a Canon R5. Convinced yet?

Electronic Viewfinder

You may be wary of moving to an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) from a traditional DSLR with a mirror. Have no fear the R5 is here.

The R5 EVF has a resolution of 5.76m dots and a 120fps refresh rate. This is getting much closer to the sort of detail you would expect from a traditional through the lens experience. (Reason 6).

There is also a flippy screen (Reason 7) which allows you to take pictures from those hard to get low and odd angles.

R5 Weather Sealing

There is weather sealing and there is weather sealing. It is not very exciting but the weather sealing on the R5 is reckoned to be as good as the Canon 5D Mark IV. (Reason 8)

Back in 2018 imaging-resource.com tested four ‘pro’ cameras for their weather sealing characteristics.

They subjected the cameras to a 15 minute rainstorm and 15 minutes of mist with fine water droplets. (That fine rain that soaks you through according to Peter Kay.)

This is the result:

Sony needs to up their environmental-sealing game if they want to compete in this high-end/professional market segment. We’d feel differently if all the cameras failed the test; we would have concluded that the test was just too harsh for the current state of the market, even though it was a reasonable representation of conditions a camera might be exposed to. That wasn’t the case, though; the D850 had a very minor problem with leakage into its viewfinder, that seems to be entirely solved by using the BS-3 hot shoe cover – and the 5DIV and E-M1II had no problems whatsoever.

It’s about the balance of risks. You probably never intend to stand in the rain in a muddy field in the Lake District shooting the landscape. Probably you will never be at the ocean edge on a beach in California photographing kiteboards. You will no doubt try and avoid the dust storms of Kuwait and Syria. However, there will come a day when you are thankful for the Canon professional level weather sealing in the R5.

R5 Voice Memo Recorder

Second lastly a small feature. There is a blue microphone button on the top left at the back of the camera which records spoken notes. (It can also be configured to rate exposures). This is a unique feature and can record voice memos up to 30 seconds. To play the memo (you will see a [♪] icon if one was recorded for an image), tap the mic button to start.

(Reason 9) This has to be a must for photojournalists, sports photographers and travel writers.

Bluetooth

The R5 has both WiFi and Bluetooth. The camera uses an always on Bluetooth low energy connection to connect to smart devices, allowing images to be browsed edited and transmitted on phones and tablets from anywhere. (Reason 10) Send images directly to a client or post immediately on social media.

This is the last of the 10 reasons to buy a Canon R5

Summary

Ten good excuses to part with a lot of money. 10 reasons to buy the Canon R5. However remember a new camera is not going to make you a better photographer, but the R5 may just give you the edge

Canon EOS R Long Term Review

by John Gough

The Canon EOS R was launched about two years ago (September 2018). I have been using a Canon EOS R now most of that time. I have taken thousands of photographs in all conditions and of all genre: street to portrait, landscape to travel. So, I thought it was about time that I summarised my experience with an EOS R long term review.

I am not going into specs or lab tests, this is just an honest user review, warts and all. Except that there are not many warts. I have concentrated on stills photography, not video. I use my phone for video, and it works just fine. The top line is I have come to love this camera, so much so that when the R5 and R6 came out, I did not even consider changing. Why?

Hype vs Long Term Reviews

When the camera first came out there was so much negativity around it not having two card slots etc, that it eclipsed just how good a camera this was. Since then long term reviews have been much more positive and balanced.

EOS R Build Quality

The Canon EOS R was the first full frame mirrorless camera that Canon produced. There was a lot riding on its success. Canon had invested heavily to move into this growing market. So, nothing was left to chance and in my view, the EOS R was over engineered to ensure its success. This means you get a lot of camera for your money.

The camera has a solid weather sealed magnesium alloy body. The closures are well fitting. The grip is comfortable, and the camera is well balanced. You could walk for hours with this camera in your hand. I have done so.

The EOS R Sensor

The EOS R may not have the biggest sensor, best low light performance or dynamic range, but it is just right in all these areas to provide a competent all round capability. After all the EOS R has the same sensor as the Canon EOS 5 MKIV which is so highly regarded, it is placed on a pedestal or at least a very tall tripod. The files are not too big or too small, plus there is the advantage of the vivid Canon colours, regarded as the best in the business.

This was a tricky lighting situation in Venice, but the sensor has the dynamic range to cope.

Canon EOS R Handling

What is the touch bar all about. I have never got mine to work. I think this is a feature that Canon will soon forget. The buttons on the EOS R are however fully customisable, so there is plenty of real estate to play with.

Some people will want to stick with an optical viewfinder, which is one reason why the Canon EOS 5 MKIV is still popular. I tend to forget that the EVF on the EOS R is an electronic viewfinder.

I love the fully articulating flippy touch screen which is great for street photography.

Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

Older EF lenses can be converted to the R system using the EF-EOS R adapter. In my experience connecting to Canon EF lenses is seamless.

The control ring on all R lenses can be set to change the camera functions. I have mine set to exposure compensation so that through the EVF, I can judge the amount of light to suit the image. This bypasses the technology and returns some manual control and creativity to image making.

Canon EOS RF Lenses

Spoiler Alert: We are going to talk about flange distances

The RF mount flange focal distance is just 20mm from the image sensor. This has given Canon lens designers a lot more flexibility.

According to Canon:

The rear element of RF lenses can be larger in diameter, improving image quality at the corners and outer edges of the frame. Larger rear elements mean front elements can be smaller, meaning less strong refracting and bending of light rays within the lens, enhancing optical performance.

We know how good Canon L lenses are, but they are expensive. Consider then the more affordable RF lenses, which because they are freer of the design constraints are excellent.

This is my review of the Canon RF 24-240mm lens and the Canon RF 35mm macro lens.

However, do not take my word for it, look at this review of the Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro (£649) vs RF 1.2 (£2799) vs EF 1.8. The top line is that the cheaper lens beats the other two, and the RF wins over the EF lens hands down.

To sum up the R system give you access to some fantastic quality but affordable lenses.

Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

There is a summary of the specs of each camera here, but I have not seen the need to change to this second generation of the R series.

This is my thinking.

IBIS

Yes, I would like in body stabilisation (IBIS), it should totally eliminate the need for a tripod. However, my lenses all have stabilisation, and the R is capable of shooting at incredible ISO’s with low noise, so do I really need it now.

Sensor Size

The EOS R5 with a 45MP sensor size is too big. I don’t think I need it even though I crop a lot. I worry that the big file sizes could slow my workflow down to a crawl.

The EOS R6 21MP sensor is just a bit light. It works well in the Canon EOS 1DX Mk III, because sports and news photographers prefer smaller file sizes that can be streamed back from remote places on earth quickly.

The EOS R fits that Goldilocks category with a 30.3 CMOS sensor.

Price

I have mentioned that the EOS R IMHO is over engineered for the price. I think Canon produced it as a loss leader to persuade Canon users to switch. As a result, the EOS R5 (£4199) and EOS R6 (£2499) which followed the EOS R are more realistically priced. This makes the EOS R real value for money at £1879.

EOS R Long Term Review Summary

The Canon EOS R is two years old now, and technology moves on, but it is an extraordinarily robust camera, that can cover most bases well. What matters to me is a camera that feels good, and that you can forget about, because you know it just works.

This is a camera that puts you in charge because you are confident that the images will look good

Canon R5 Reviews: 5 Things We Learnt

by John Gough

Reviewers are finally getting their hands on the EOS R5, the new mirrorless full frame flagship from Canon. The Canon R5 reviews are just beginning to come in (August 2020), following the release of production versions at the end of July.

We knew a lot of stuff about this camera and its sibling the Canon EOS R6 from the drip drip of information from sites like CanonRumours. Then there was the big Canon specification reveal earlier in the month, where the mind blowing features of this camera were fully revealed.

Ken Rockwell describes the full specification here.

So what have we learnt from reviewers putting the R5 through its paces in real world situations?

Canon EOS R5 Does Not Catch Fire

When we reviewed the spec’ of the Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6 we suspected that the much trailed 8K video could cause the camera to overheat, and surprise surprise it is true.

Well sort of.

There are endless vlogs out there discussing whether the R5 overheats when shooting 8K video.

Tony Northrup got heated about the issue in this video

However, it was followed by a disclaimer in this video, because it turns out that it was the CFexpress card that was to blame?

This article from canonwatch confirms there is no issue. Personally, I think it is irrelevant. The only time I would be likely to use 8K video, would be if I caught sight of a unicorn.

The video from Tony Northrop, however, does confirm that the quality of the 45MP sensor on the R5 blows the competition out of the water. Especially at low light and in terms of dynamic range.

Talking of water.

Weather Sealing: How Good is Good?

Weather sealing is too often taken for granted. We are told the weather sealing on the R5 is good, but how good? There should be a weather sealing standard. Then we could properly compare cameras and lenses.

However, this video from the excellent Chris Niccolls at DP Review describes that the weather sealing on the R5 is equivalent to the Canon EOS 5D IV. Now that is good. The 5D IV should represent the gold standard. I have friends who are landscape photographers who stand out in all weathers with their trusty 5D IV. I have yet to hear any complaints.

Of course, Chris has not tested the camera in a shower, but then it does cost over £4000.

Shoot 8K Video Stills

We thought it was theoretically possible to get decent still pictures from a burst of 8K video, but Digital Camera has proved that on the Canon EOS R5 it really works.

Not much has been said about the Frame Grab function. but on the R5 it is possible to flip through the 8K footage in camera. Highlight the frame required. Then select and produce a 35MP image.

Digital Camera was very impressed with the quality of the image. The downside is that it is a JPG, so there are not the opportunities to process shadows and highlights in post.

There are not yet any Canon R5 reviews that demonstrate this feature working. However, it is important because this could fundamentally change photography in the future.

Imagine a time when photographers use video stills rather than photographed stills. Imagine a time when an AI algorithm selects the video still on your behalf.

The R5: Balanced on a Gimbal

The in body stabilisation (IBIS) on the R5 has been tested and applauded by many reviewers. IBIS works with lens optical stabilisation to achieve 8 stops (Canon claim). Testers have found that although it may be difficult to achieve that exact spec’, the system works well. Down to 1/4 of a second they say.

To see how well. The gimbal comment came from this video from no life

Shoot Like a Wildlife Photographer

It goes without saying that the R5 autofocus has face and eye detection. Afterall that is available on the Canon EOS R (with the latest firmware upgrade).

Animal eye detection, however, is a whole new ball game. Canon has used Deep Learning to ‘train’ an algorithm how to recognise animal eyes,

“It’s been taught,” explains Mike Burnhill, technical support manager for Canon Europe. “You put it into a computer, it creates the algorithm that’s then loaded into the camera. So it’s different from AI – AI is a continual learning; deep learning is basically, it teaches itself, and gives you an end result that is then loaded into the camera.”

The result has been tested by Jared Polin at FroKnowsPhoto.

This amazing video demonstrates how the R5 can track and lock on to an animal eyeball It is truly incredible. I have seen a video with it working on fish!

What’s Next?

This camera is a bridge between the mirror up traditional DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Canon obviously see their future as mirrorless. They will not want to continue to develop both systems.

The R5 will tick most boxes for most professionals, and Canon will want to see them beginning to make the transition. As professionals change, the enthusiast market will follow.

This is an important camera for Canon.

Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

by John Gough

Canon with great fanfare announced two flagship cameras last week. The Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6. They join their range of mirrorless full frame cameras which include the Canon EOS R and EOS RP. The R5 and R6 are not on sale yet but are available for preorder.

We ask which would you choose when selecting between the Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

Would You Preorder?

Both new cameras are available for preorder before the cameras go on sale at the end of the month. (July 2020). Unusually the cameras have not been available to independent reviewers. There is now some suspicion that Canon may have launched too early and there is now some kind of hitch, but that aside.

Would you preorder the R5 or R6 just based on what we know about their specification?

Furthermore, if you were already a Canon EOS R user would you preorder and replace your existing camera?

Specification: Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

The new EOS R5 and R6 certainly have some brilliant new features. 8K video is the big new innovation on the R5. No other camera has this. Remember though, I will be looking at these cameras as a stills photographer who does a little bit of video.

Processor

The R5 has been described as a computer with a lens. Certainly, the new DIGIC X processor will have to be beefy to handle 8K video. Whether it can do so without overheating? We await the reviews to find out.

Sensor

The EOS R seems to be the Goldilocks of the three cameras, with a sensor that is neither too big nor too small at 30MP. The RAW files from the R5 45mp sensor could be too big for many workflows. This may mean upgrading hardware. The smaller 21MP sensor on the R6 is after all a similar sensor to the Canon 1D X III, which has worked well for thousands of professional photographers.

In Body Stabilisation

Motion sickness is when you pull up that special shot in Lightroom only to find that there is camera shake. Stabilisation has been on lenses for years, but now Canon has a system on the EOS 5 and 6 that can provide 8 stops of compensation, by combining both systems. Handheld shots at low shutter speeds will now be even more possible and passable.

AF

Following the firmware upgrade to the EOS R. All three cameras now have similar face and eye AF detection capability.

Shoot in the Dark

The low light performance of the EOS R was already impressive at EV-6. The EOS R6 takes that a tad further to EV-6.5, coupled with an impressive maximum ISO of 102400. Add in IBIS, and the EOS R6 really can shoot in the dark.

EVF

Could it be that eventually, an electronic viewfinder will see the world more clearly than a traditional DSLR via mirror and prism? It must be getting close with the impressive 5.69 million dot resolution on the miniature OLED display on the R5.

Video Replaces fps.

Is video now good enough for stills? The 8K video on the R5 could be the biggest game changer for photography this decade?

Each frame in an 8K video is a 35 megapixel still image.

The fps on the R5 and R6 are impressive especially for sports and wildlife photographers. However, why not take a burst of 8K video and choose your optimal image from hundreds of frames. This is possible on the R5 which has a frame grab function that enables you to take high-resolution 35.4MP stills from 8K footage.

How well will this work? Again we await the reviews.

Card Slots

The EOS R has just one card slot. This was a contentious issue when the camera was first launched. Canon has however made amends. The R6 now has 2 SD card slots. The R5 has an SD card slot and a CFexpress card slot. A CFexpress card is however very expensive, a 256GB card could set you back £500.

Decision: Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

If I was choosing which camera to buy based on price, then the R wins hands down. It may be a couple of years old, and although it started out a bit shakily because it was a revolutionary step for Canon, it has now become a favourite of many photographers. If you are not bothered about IBIS. Plus if you can survive with just one card slot. Then the R is the choice.

What though if you already have an R and are looking to upgrade? Is it the R5 or the R6? There is no doubt that if you are a stills photographer, if you go for the Canon EOS R5, you are buying a lot of video capability that you may not need.

However, if you are a wildlife or sports photographer then the 8K to stills option on the R5 may be revolutionary. If that works it would make the R5 a worthwhile purchase.

If you go for the Canon EOS R6 you get most of the spec of the R5 but without the video capability. Although the sensor is smaller than the other two. It is a proven performer from the Canon 1D X III, but without the workflow concerns of the 45MP sensor on the R5.

For a photographer rather than a filmmaker. The R6 has a lot of photography capability, for two thirds the price of the Canon EOS R5. We await the reviews but the Canon EOS R6 is the choice.

Your Canon Camera as a Webcam

by John Gough

Canon has launched a new piece of software that will enable your Canon camera as a webcam.

We are all spending more time on Zoom and Skype both for work and social interaction during lockdown. Usually, we rely on the tiny camera on our laptop, but what if we could use our DSLR?

Well if you have an EOS or Powershot camera you can. This is because Canon has released, EOS Webcam Utility Beta, and with this software, you can use your Canon camera as a webcam. Initially, the software is just for Windows 10.

According to their press release:

“In unprecedented times, it’s imperative for Canon to provide our customers with useful, simple and accessible solutions to assist them in whatever imaging needs they have,” said Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president of the Canon U.S.A., Inc. Imaging Technologies & Communications Group. “Our goal is that the EOS Webcam Utility Beta software can help reduce some of the remote workday stress for employees who are tasked with video conferencing and virtual meetings.”

I have a desktop PC that I use for photo editing and a laptop that I use for Zoom because it has a camera and mic. However, now that you can use your Canon camera as a webcam, I have decided to add Zoom to my desktop. I am now setting this up using my Canon EOS R, and I will take you through my experience step by step. This guide, however, should work for any Canon camera on the list below.

Which Canon Camera can be used as a Webcam

Canon Camera as a Webcam. Source: DPReview

Where to Download the Software

Download the software required on your PC from here. There is a link on this page for each supported camera. It is easy to download. Remember to restart your PC after the download.

Accessories Required

You will need a USB type-C cable. There should be one in the box if you purchased a Canon EOS R. However my desktop computer does not have a USB-C port. So I purchased a USB type-C to A cable.

Purchase this from Amazon here in the UK and here in the USA.

A small stand for the camera is useful. I purchased this Z flex stand which has not been off my camera since I bought it because it is so useful for those lockdown still life projects.

In the USA a similar stand is:

As my desktop did not have a microphone so I purchased this:

In the USA it is here.

Setup the Canon Camera as a Webcam

Once you have downloaded the software connect the camera to the computer via the USB cable.

Turn the camera on, and turn to Movie Mode. This can be set with the camera’s Mode Dial.

If you have not used the Movie Mode on a Canon EOS R before it may be hard to find. This is how I found it.

Open your conferencing app e.g Zoom or Skype and choose “EOS Webcam Utility Beta” as the video feed.

Connect your microphone. NB there is no audio feed from the camera.

Troubleshooting

It is likely that the video conferencing will not work and you get this screen.

This is because you have EOS Utility running which is intercepting the video feed.

If you do not use EOS Utility go to Settings>Apps on your PC and uninstall. If you use the EOS Utility software right click on the systems tray, choose Task Manager and right click to end the task.

I found this fix here So cheers Tech Gear Talk

Resources

A Canon forum where users share feedback.

Canon download and installation instructions

YouTube video with installation instructions from Canon

Have fun.

Camera Wrist Strap

I have avoided dropping my camera so many times using a simple inexpensive wrist strap like this one. Cameras and expensive lenses do not bounce!

USA

Canon EOS R5 What You Don’t Know

by John Gough

This is my research about the Canon EOS R5. The camera is not released yet. So there are some details about the camera that we know, and there are other details that are still rumours and we don’t know.

My thanks to Canonrumors for what we don’t know.

Specification: Canon EOS R5

Newly designed 45MP full frame CMOS sensor rumoured A sensor of this size is evidently required for 8K video.
20fps electronic shutter burst or 12fps mechanically confirmed
In body stabilisation (IBIS) confirmed up to eight stops rumoured “a newly Canon-developed, in-camera image stabilization system – which works in combination with the lens stabilization system, making sure that whatever the situation stills and video content captured is shake-free.”
Builtin WiFi confirmed. 5GHz ?
Bluetooth 5.1 rumour
Dual card slots confirmed. One or both slots are CFexpress rumour.
Similar battery to the 5D Mark IV rumour.
8K video confirmed @30fps unconfirmed 4K @ 120fps unconfirmed.

Differences with the Canon EOS R

I have moved to the Canon EOS R from Sony. I know the camera very well so I am not surprised at the rumoured design changes. These are what users have been asking for:

Similar size (based on photographs)
Multi-function bar to be replaced by a scroll wheel rumour
Larger capacity battery rumour
New Digic processor from the new Canon 1D X Mark III rumour

Positioning

This camera is being introduced by Canon as a professional mirrorless camera. Their tagline is ‘Professional Mirrorless Redefined’ (confirmed). The R5 shares a similar name to the Canon EOS 5D which has had success in the professional/strong amateur market for many years. Could the Canon EOS R5 be aimed at a similar market positioning (conjecture)?

Launch

The Canon EOS R5 will be on show at The Photography Show in Birmingham. (confirmed). The launch date is July 2020 in time for the Olympics in Japan (rumoured). The timing is tight, as many professionals have not yet made the move to mirrorless. The Canon shooters amongst them will likely be using the new Canon 1D X Mark lll.

There is a distant rumour that Canon are working on the Canon EOS R1 for launch in 2021.

The advantage of the R5 at the Olympics would be the 8K video. Which would allow quality stills to be produced from 8K footage. (Is this true?) Canon reportedly said that it is possible to “extract high-resolution still images from video footage”.

The recently launched Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone does this. As they say on their website: “Shoot videos in 8K resolution at a huge 24FPS. And with Single Take, turn them into 33MP stills in an instant”.

Pricing

There is no confirmation on pricing, but the Canon EOS 5D is priced at £2549 body only. The EOS R5 is likely to be a similar price plus a premium e.g £3K (conjecture).

Camera Wrist Strap

I have avoided dropping my camera so many times using a simple inexpensive wrist strap like this one. Cameras and expensive lenses do not bounce!

USA