SET- UP | CANON EOS R
R YOU READY FOR THIS! BRAVE NEW WORLD Canon’s new EOS R is not just its first full- frame mirrorless camera but the forerunner of an entire new system
The straight answer to this is no, and, to be fair, Canon itself has not suggested this is what it’s intended to be. After all, the first EOS model was the 650, a consumer model, with the pro-spec flagships not arriving until later down the line. That’s not at all to say that the Canon R can’t do a decent job for a pro. Clearly it’s got a very high spec sensor at its heart, backed up by the kind of performance that even the top-of-the-line models wouldn’t have been able to match just a short time ago. I spoke to one professional who showed me a selection of really high quality shots that he’s printed straight out of camera with no post at all and they looked terrific, so there could be less of the computer work involved as well for those that can’t resist diving in. If you’re set on a fully professional RF model, however, you might be better off waiting a while to see what’s coming next. There will undoubtedly be one in due course, but in the meantime the R looks like a model that could happily fill in and could get you started in the system. IS THIS A PROFESSIONAL’S CAMERA?
T he letter R can stand for a number of things, such as Respect, Revolutionary or even perhaps Risky, but the jury is, by and large, out right now regarding whether any of these words might apply to the latest camera launch from Canon. By now you may have devoured reams of information about the R and the line-up of four lenses that accompanied it, but in terms of us making a judgement on what it’s got to offer the pro user, we’ll need to wait until we get one in for a full-scale test. However, I attended the London launch of the R – which consisted of a dimly-lit indoor theatrical set representing the world 400 years into the future, populated by colourfully made-up actors. Fortunately, I was armed with a fully functioning, full-production sample of the R. It came complete with the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM that’s due to be the kit lens in one of the outfits Canon is offering, so I was well prepared for all eventualities and also able to find out for myself how well the camera could cope in low light – both from an exposure point of view, and in terms of AF speed and accuracy. WORDS & PICTURES ADAM DUCKWORTH
FIRST IMPRESSIONS All manufacturers are inclined to reach for the hyperbole when launching a new product, but this felt like something special. Much as Nikon had done two weeks earlier, this was not a one-off new model that was being announced, rather the start of an entire new system centred on a brand new mount. With four impressive but expensive new lenses being available in the new fitting from day one, there was the further tantalising taster of an extensive line-up of anonymous lenses shown in one of the introductory slides, with the promise that there was a lot more glass to look forward to over the next few years. There is going to have to be, as right now there is not enough to keep a pro happy. Until then, there is the EF-EOS R mount adaptor to fill the gap, ensuring that the entire line-up of EF, EF-S, TS-E and MP-E lenses will be compatible with the camera. There is more, however: in addition to the standard mount adapter, Canon has also created a drop-in filter mount adapter, or control ring mount adapter, to add additional functionality – such as filters
10 DEF I N I T ION | OCTOBER 20 1 8
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