Canon EOS R3
Big test
PRICE: £5879
CANON.CO.UK
Sitting pretty at the top of Canon’s mirrorless tree, the EOS R3 is a deep-bodied, fast-shooting pro camera with some interesting tricks up its sleeve – but only 24 megapixels
WORDS AND IMAGES BY WILL CHEUNG
THE CANON EOS R3 was announced late in 2021, and that was followed almost immediately by speculation about the EOS R1. The 1’s designation is a big thing for Canon, and its 3 models are usually one step down in the hierarchy, with the 5 series next. But here, we have the EOS R3, with 1 series aspirations under the 3 name. This makes you imagine the EOS R1 is going to be something very special. Maybe. That’s for the future, though. The EOS R3 sits at the head of Canon’s mirrorless family for now, and it’s an impressive machine. Headline features include 30fps shooting using the electronic shutter with AE/AF tracking, a high-res, blackout-free EVF and new, Canon-designed back- side illuminated stacked sensor. Let’s start with the sensor. It has 24.1 megapixels, which is modest if you make the comparison with the Nikon Z 9 and its 45.7 – or the 50.1 of the Sony A1. If you’re a photographer who regularly makes massive prints, or crops seriously, that is a potential deal-breaker. For most budding EOS R3 buyers – press, sports and social shooters – I can’t see it being an issue. But who knows? If it is, Canon has the superb, though less robust,
IF THE SHOE FITS The EOS R3 comes with an accessory shoe that provides power and contacts, for extras like an add-on mic EOS R5 to attract those yearning for more megapixels. For a deep-bodied camera, the EOS R3 is quite light at 1015g – by way of comparison, the Z 9 body tested in the last issue is 1340g. That doesn’t mean the EOS R3 feels flimsy, or is any less beefy, because that’s definitely not the case. The body has a reassuringly strong feel, coupled with control design and layout that impresses, suiting both vertical and landscape use. Anyone who has used a Canon DSLR – normal or deep-bodied models – will very quickly find themselves at home with the EOS R3. Key controls are typically Canon, and we’ve grown familiar with them over many years. One of my favourite features since the beginning has been a large rear command dial, which is a masterpiece of camera design and has been a regular EOS fixture for years. Of course, Canon has introduced the odd button and control since, and some could end up with the same longevity. The M-Fn button is an example – it has appeared on Canon DSLRs and is now found on mirrorless models. Sitting just behind the shutter button, it enables rapid access to five key features: ISO, drive mode, focus mode, AWB and exposure compensation, with the front dial input adjusting the feature and rear scrolling through each. This set of five features is not editable.
To be accurate, it’s labelled M-Fn1 on the EOS R3. Also present is an M-Fn2 – the topmost of two unlabelled buttons on the front fascia. The lower button by default is the depth-of-field preview. Both buttons – plus the M-Fn1 – are replicated for upright shooting. For set-up and fine-tuning shots, there’s the Quick Control menu. And good news on the EOS R3’s Q button – something not available on the EOS R5. With that model, push the Q button and you get fast access to a wide range of features, including AF and drive modes. That’s great, but it’s also filled with far less necessary features, which clutter up the screen. As an example, I’d never use Picture Style or Auto Lighting Optimiser and
PROTECTION RACKET Turn the camera off and a shutter (selected in the menu) drops in place, to protect the sensor from dust during lens swapping
REGULAR FIXTURE A few years ago, a pro camera with an articulating screen probably would have been frowned upon, but it’s a common sight nowadays
32 Photography News | Issue 98
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