Big test
suffer from not recognising close subjects, and the AF system either racks out to infinity or doesn’t focus at all. I had a few moments of frustration shooting birds and insects when this happened, and manual intervention was needed. Generally, though, the camera’s AF was reliable and responsive – and very good for a machine at this price level. Touch-and-drag AF and the multi-controller joystick mean you can quickly relocate the active focus zone. AF itself is silent and fast, and mostly accurate. With the custom control options, you can set up the EOS R10 to behave in a similar manner to its pro siblings. For example, the AF ON button can be set to handle focusing, and the star or depth-of-field preview “ULTIMATELY, YOU JUDGE A CAMERA ON ITS OUTPUT... I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE EOS R10”
button used to activate eye detection autofocus with wide-frame AF tracking mode. There’s no denying that the EOS R10’s AF system is one of its superpowers – and very capable. It has plenty of potential for a wide range of genres. Ultimately, you judge a camera on its output, and I was impressed with the EOS R10. True, I didn’t have the camera long enough to really test its mettle on a broader range of subject matter, or in a wider variety of situations, but what I did shoot – mostly nature and scenic – looked very good, with low noise levels. Out-of-camera JPEGs in standard picture mode looked lively, with rich colour saturation and snappy contrast. JPEG colour settings can be fine-tuned and three user settings are available, so you can create your own. The camera was mostly pleasant in use, too, although I found a few niggles. The small buffer, average EVF, shutter sound and dioptre adjustment slider, which I moved too often, were minor negatives. However, the EOS R10’s AF talents, compactness, shooting speed and sensor really stood out. WC
PERFORMANCE: ISO The EOS R10’s sensor is apparently new. Here it is paired with the Digic X processor. ISO sets were shot with the camera in a variety of situations. This set of a local church was taken with the EOS R10 fitted with the 18-45mm kit lens. The duo were placed on a Gitzo Traveler 2 tripod, the shutter was released using the self-timer, and all in-camera noise reduction turned off. The ISO 100 shot was exposed in 0.5sec at f/8.
enough for critical use, but you can see a graining effect. Some noise reduction in software would resolve that, however. Image quality holds up very well at ISO 3200 and 6400. Both speeds are usable if the lighting demands it, but I wouldn’t go any faster if I could avoid it. All told, the EOS R10 turned in a creditable ISO performance and can be used at higher ISOs without sacrificing image quality.
Raws were processed through Adobe Lightroom, with no extra noise reduction applied. Typical of a contemporary camera, the EOS R10 is a capable performer when it comes to ISO. Critical on-screen scrutiny shows there is noise at ISO 800, but it is seriously fine and only visible on very close inspection at a high magnification. The scene is little different at ISO 1600 and this speed is good
Final word
Verdict The Canon EOS R10 offers a relatively affordable route into the brand’s EOS RF mirrorless ecosystem. It’s true that there are just two dedicated lenses currently available, but that will change, and there’s an extensive selection of full-frame optics. The camera itself is a capable performer, delivering high-quality images – and very rapidly, when speed is needed. For its price – £999 with the 18-45mm lens – the EOS R10 is an eye-catching proposition, whether as a main camera or a compact, crop factor back-up to a full-frame outfit. 24 /25 FEATURES
100
800
1600
An entry-level model that’s impressively featured in two crucial departments: autofocus and drive
3200
6400
12,800
24 /25 HANDLING
Smaller body makes gripping a challenge, but once you get used to it, this is a lovely camera to handle
23 /25 PERFORMANCE
Slick AF, rapid shooting and very decent image quality – what more could you ask for?
24 /25 VALUE FOR MONEY
The EOS R10 is good value and a low-cost (relatively!) entry into Canon’s growing mirrorless system
25,600
32,000
51,200
95 /100 OVERALL
A fine camera that is likely to be popular with its target audience
PROS Good handling and control layout, fast shooting, buffer clears quickly, very good image quality CONS Mechanical shutter is noisy in continuous shooting, small EVF, small buffer, dioptre slider too easily movable, only two RF-S lenses
50 Photography News | Issue 101
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