Photography News Issue 60

Camera preview 36

Photography News | Issue 60 | photographynews.co.uk

Canon EOS R preview Canon’s new EOS R is not just its first full-frame mirrorless camera but the forerunner of an entire new system Specs

Sensor 30.3 megapixels, CMOS Sensor format 35mm full frame, 6720x4480pixels Aspect ratios 4:3, 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 ISO range 100-40,000 (expandable 50 to 102,400) Shutter range 30secs to 1/8000sec, flash sync 1/200sec Drivemodes 8fps with fixed focus, 5fps with AF tracking Metering system Multi-zone, centre-weighted, spot, partial Exposuremodes PASM Exposure compensation +/-3EV Monitor 3.2in articulating touch screen, 2100k dots Viewfinder 3690K dot EVF Focusing Contrast detect (sensor), phase detect Focusmodes AFS, AFC, AFF (flexible) Focus points 5655 points Video 4k 3840x2160@30p/24p/23.98p and 480Mbps and 120Mbps Connectivity USB 3.1, HDMI mini, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Other key features USB in-camera charging (with LP- E6N), Dual Pixel Raw support, CR3

Words and images by Terry Hope

The two giants of the SLR world – Canon and Nikon in case you didn’t know – have finally jumped on the full-frame mirrorless bandwagon, and both in the same month. From Canon we have the EOS R system and PN went along to the London launch last month where there was the chance to get hands- on as well as shoot pictures on a set which consisted of a dimly-lit indoor theatrical scenario representing the world 400 years into the future that was populated by colourfully made -up actors. I was armed with a fully- functioning full production sample of the EOS R, 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 (see the price panel for more details), 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 but also in terms of AF speed and accuracy. All manufacturers are inclined to reach for the hyperbole when launching a new product, but this felt like something special. Much as Nikonhaddonetwofewweeksearlier, this was not a one-off newmodel 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. Until then, there is the EF-EOS R Mount Adapter to fill the gap,

ensuring that the entire line-up of EF, EF-S, TS-E, and MP-E lenses will be compatiblewith the camera. There is more, however: in addition to the standard R Mount Adapter Canon has also created a Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter and a Control Ring Mount Adapter to add additional functionality – such as using filters and a customisable control ring – whenusing nonCanonEOSR lenses. TheDrop-InFilterMount Adapter is available with a variable neutral density (V-ND) filter or a circular polarising (C-PL) filter, while a third clear (CL) filter is also available if you don’t wish to have any effects. So Canon is making sure its army of current users can take the journey to the mirrorless promised land without the inconvenience of losing the use of all those lenses they’ve so expensively acquired over the years. However, there can be little doubt that the long term future of Canon lenses will be RF-shaped, and that this is where all the advances will be seen. The new mount features short back focus and the widest lens throat of any sub-medium-format system (54mm, the same diameter as the Canon EF mount), and Canon says this will enable future advances in lens design and performance. So to the camera itself, and this did indeed feel good in the hands,

being noticeably smaller than a conventional DSLR but nicely balanced and solidly made. It’s not easy to get to grips with a newmodel when you’ve only had it placed in your hands a few moments earlier, but I started off in the auto modes and slowly but surely investigated a few of the many customisation options such as autofocus, ISO and white-balance, that are available, these being accessed via a swipe or a tap on a multifunction touch bar just to the right of the EVF. The EVF itself is one of the most impressive features of the new camera, as it needed to be for a mirrorless model to make any sense. For those who remember early EVFs that resembled an ancient TV screen, complete with horizontal lines and flickering, this is worlds apart. It’s so good in fact that one professional who had been working with the camera said that he’d forgotten this wasn’t a direct view and had then been surprised when wording suddenly appeared. One reason for the lowlight setting was to demonstrate how well the camera’s viewing features work once the light starts to drop. In short, it did very well indeed: in fact looking through the EVF or on the 3.1in LCD I got a much clearer view of things than I did using withmy naked eye.

(Raw and C-Raw) Storagemedia 1xSD card Dimensions (wxhxd) 136x98x84mm Weight 660g body with battery Contact Canon.co.uk

Canon is making sure its army of current users can take the journey to the mirrorless promised land

Images Canon hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the styling of the EOS R so it will be intuitive for anyone who has used an EOS DSLR over the last 15 years.

Powered by