Canon EOS R8 Review: Photography Perspective
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- Опубликовано: 1 фев 2025
- This is my review of the Canon EOS R8 from a photography perspective and the reasons for why I upgraded to finally get a second full-frame camera for my photography. Bearing in mind, this camera is obviously suited to a particular niche and I'm sure there are many better options out there for solely dedicated film makers, etc, but for an all-purpose, all-round camera based on it's amazing price point, this camera for me is amazing and more than enough for professional use.
Given I have made the jump to my first mirrorless camera from the 5D Mark III, which I still fully intend on using a lot, I covered several of the important reasons for upgrading and getting a second full-frame which are to do with the amazing autofocus technology, how it handles in low light and the ability to shoot 4K without ever having to take it off the tripod for my dedicated 4K camcorder.
The critiques about the camera having no IBIS is meaningless to me given that I have full-intention of using a tripod for video anyway and if I was really that overly concerned about taking video whilst walking, a gimbal may be suffice. In my eyes, the simplistic still video clips like I've shown in this video is often the best, in my opinion, it's not overdone.
Having also got the ST-E10 remote trigger for the Canon EOS R8, I demonstrate how easy it is to use in combination with my 600 EX-RT speedlites. You may have to check the compatibility, however of what speedlites it is compatible with, but I'm sure it'll work with most other speedlites, I haven't researched much into that. One simple press of a button and all the functionality from the back of the camera all functional from the touch screen of the Canon EOS R8.
I have tested this camera in low light from pictures and video and have been absolutely blown away by how well it handles crazy high ISOs. I continue to push to use the lowest ISO possible, but the fact I can take photographs at a much higher range if absolute necessary, it's an unbelievable jump from what I've been used to with my Canon EOS 5D Mark III, which, again, is still an amazing camera.
I used my Canon EOS 5D Mark III throughout college and for my graded units, all the A3 prints I have from that time, as well as some prints I got blown up to A1 size, I can honestly tell you that if I had absolute no issue for that 20 megapixel camera getting amazing prints, it is not an issue with the Canon EOS R8 with its 24 megapixel sensor, and let's face it, who views a print with the face right up to it, barely anyone, if anyone.
I also invested into Topaz Labs Denoise, Sharpening and Gigapixel and given I blew one of the pet shots up 4 times for one of the photographs, I barely saw a difference. You wouldn't have to go that far to scale up to A1 size using Topaz Labs Gigapixel.
All-in-all, this camera is remarkable and given that I already have all my EF lenses, it was a no-brainer as I was concerned about Canon discontinuing DSLR production and that I'm able to use all my EF lenses.
I do hope they continue to make the batteries for the DSLR cameras, I would sincerely hope so. Any additional information on that would be more than welcome.
This is one of the best reviews I’ve seen so far. Honest, straight to the point, detailed. Everyone keeps knocking this camera down because of no IBIS, no dual SD card and the battery not to mention the over heating the whole internet keeps raging about. Thank you for helping me in my decision in buying this… GREAT video
I do appreciate it Maximilian, you're right, I saw a fair few critiques about things like the battery life, SD card and no IBIS, the thing is, you take for instance pet photography, ideally you're not going to have the camera on all the time, you do shoots from different parts, and even then, if one were to shoot the whole day, they could get a fair amount out of it photography wise and have spare batteries.
The way people were speaking about the battery life made it sound worse than it actually is. The two shoots I done there I managed okay.
As for the overheating, yeah, I don't think I'd ever run into that problem, then again, I've no intention of shooting long video like that, I have my Sony FDR AX100 for that, but for shooting professional type short stills to create a longer video, you can get impressive results from the Canon EOS R8 and given it's lowlight capability, it's blew me away. And the one thing I can say is that I come from a place of experience.
Don't get me wrong, if someone wishes to go and do timelapse photography for a lengthy period, that's something I would really need to test. But I barely if ever do so and have my 5D Mark III for that.
Also, you will have noticed (or may not have,) me putting the battery into the EOS R8 whilst it was sitting on the tripod. So long as you have a reasonable size plate, you've got the room to do so. I may do a video on that and a few other things shortly.
I love this camera, the fact it handles lowlight so well and has unbelievable autofocus is part of the beauty of it, and you have to remember, for that price point its fantastic. And like I've mentioned before, think about the scenarios, how often you going to shoot at a slower shutter speed, creative use maybe? Landscape photography? Well, the tripod eliminates that option, so I can only think about people shooting video, but it's like I say, you can take professional video using a tripod and even seen people using it walking about with and it's really not that bad.
And that's no problem at all bud, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy using the camera as much as I have thus far and one other thing I must mention, I've been able to hold that camera with my 100mm IS macro lens on it and unlike my 5D Mark III that is quite heavy, I wouldn't be able to do that the same, I was able to achieve that whilst using my speedlight in my other hand, so that tells you just how light the camera is.
Getting spare batteries is worthwhile and not the end of the world changing if need be.
I sold my RP and R10 to get this camera and I'm happy. The image quality is amazing and the auto focus is as well. The short comings don't bother me at all. I don't care about IBIS. I don't shoot weddings anymore so not having dual slots doesn't bother me and if you put the camera in airplane mode the battery life isn't that bad.
Absolutely, I completely agree to that, for anything I've been out doing, I have certainly not had an issue with. It is certainly more than capable of getting a job done and I always have my 5D Mark III there as well. The autofocus is fantastic, it's really just a case that if someone is new to mirrorless it takes a bit getting used to.
As for dual slots, yeah, I can comprehend, in all honesty though, I can't really think of a time an SD card failed on me. It's not common, but I do understand the argument people make on that. It's a great camera, it really is.
Hi thanks for the video. Were the pictures at 3:55 - 4:33 mainly showing out of focus images with the old Canon 5D Mk3 or the newer R8?
Hi, Chris, yes, those photographs were captured with the 5D Mark III, it was a test shoot I did a few years back. It's definitely more challenging for a fast moving subjects.
Whilst it takes a bit getting used to how a mirrorless camera operates, which is different from the conventional DSLR for focusing, it's very good at tracking. There is a mode in the R8 to set it to people or pets, etc.
Hi bro please help choosing between R7 and R8 for photography prospective. Please help brother 🙏🙏
I think one of the things for me as a deal breaker is that the R7 is a cropped sensor, whereas, the R8 is a full frame sensor. Whilst I'm more than capable of using a cropped sensor camera, for when it comes to my professional work, I just much rather have the full frame. Things really all depend what you intend to use the camera for and for me personally, I didn't have much of an issue over battery life. In fact, having used the R8 numerous times, I've managed to get things done without much of a problem and I have spare batteries I keep on me anyway.
The one advantage the R7 seems to have is the 32 megapixels, but that doesn't necessarily mean a camera outputs better quality photographs. Truth is, large images like that are for those who wish to get photographs printed and at large format. I've had my 5D Mark III for years and I can honestly tell you at about 22 megapixels, you could blow a photograph up to A1 size and you'll get amazing results. You would struggle to notice any difference, you would have to go up close and get a magnifying glass to measure between a 32 megapixel natural to 22 megapixel.
How often are people wanting to print something at A1 size anyhow? Rarely and that is expensive. So first ask yourself: _"What will I use it for?"_ The R8 being a full-frame body, you can stick whatever focal length lens like for example a 24-70mm and that is roughly what you'll get. A cropped sensor, you may be forced to get a focal length down to get the equivalent, for example, to achieve 50mm you'd have to get a 35mm, or to get an 85mm, you'd have to get a 50mm lens, so on.
I always take around with me spare SD cards and I really don't recall having issues with SD cards. So that's my take on it. The R8 is a brilliant camera and I don't just say that, the fact it was that price for a full-frame camera that more or less does pretty much what the more expensive Canon R6II does is pretty impressive.
All-in-all, the R8 for me given that pet photography is what I'll be doing is a big thing, it just takes a bit getting used to the autofocus, but that's more of an issue with me as I had switched from DSLR to mirrorless.
Thank you from Singapore! I was looking everywhere for a no nonsense - cut the crap - review and you delivered! I'm currently on a 250d/sl3/200dii (pick a name canon!) and i have the same ef 24-70 f2.8 ii as you. Do you reckon that'll make a big difference? I guessed the video sure will!
Thank you, I greatly appreciate that. As for the lens, from what I've seen using the 24-70mm f/2.8 II lens, it works just as good on the Canon EOS R8. Obviously for me having my 5D Mark III which is a 20mp camera, I can now shoot 24mp, and the fact that the camera handles low light insanely good, it really is fantastic for handheld photography.
If there is one small thing I forgot to add if people are concerned about the 1 SD card slot, I use a wireless SSD MyPassport drive and carry that with me, means that when I do my shoot I can then turn that on, stick the SD card in, press the button and it'll back up to that SSD drive on the go.
The only way battery life is really going to be chewed up is if someone is using it for 4K video in heavy use, I imagine 60fps/50fps (depending NTFS or PAL), I've not tested it otherwise on other modes, but for a photographer, the battery life is good, it certainly isn't as bad as some were making it out to be and if one is a photographer they'll see that they'll be able to capture a fair bit from one battery.
You'll get impressive results even from EF lenses. Sometimes people go over the top with arguments on sharpness and from photographs I have shot over the number of years I've had the 5D Mark III, and you'll know yourself, you'll get great results.
As for video? It's mind-blowing mate, it is, again, the fact you can shoot 4K video and achieve impressive results in low light is certainly a big plus, and for someone like me, if I do decide to shoot video, it's short burst clips kind of like what you saw from this video I did. For the price, remember, it's impressive.
Hi there, what trigger are you using to connect to the Canon R8? I'm curious whether X2TC supports connecting to the Canon R8 or not.
Can you use electronic shutter for flash photography on the R8?
Good question, Lexi, I had to look that up for you as this is my first mirrorless camera and having tested that, no, it doesn't allow you to. Saying that, if you need to capture fast moving subjects anyway, flash itself is powerful enough for that, especially outdoor photography which you can use HSS (High Speed Sync).
I need help. I want this camera, nice price here in Belgium!
BUT, I want to print A3 and A2, is it possible with this camera?
So people can hang it at home on the walls etc
Hi Leo, trust me, as an owner of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and have been since 2015 and given the fact I had to get a LOT of A3 prints done for all my college projects during my study in photography, the A3 prints were put towards my portfolio. The prints turned out brilliant relative to quality.
Bearing in mind, certain print places provide better quality print paper and overall quality of prints. Nonetheless, any prints I got done, they looked fantastic. Remember this, the 5D Mark III is a 20 megapixel camera and has been used professionally for years. Likewise, I even had an A1 size print done, again, the quality of it was fantastic.
The only way you'd ever tell a difference is if you looked VERY close up whilst sitting it side by side to the same print shot on a larger megapixel camera and it's barely noticeable, it's like, who views prints with their face right up to it? Nobody.
The real advantage a larger megapixel camera has is more room to crop, but if you're like me anyhow and aim to get as much right as possible in camera first, you don't have much to worry about.
The Canon EOS R8 has a 24 megapixel sensor, plus, if it seriously bothered me I'd use Topaz Gigapixel, but in all honesty, it's no big deal and I state this from experience because I've got MANY A3 prints done and some A1 prints and they look great. If that's what I can achieve with a 20 megapixel camera, you'll get really good results with the 24 megapixel sensor Canon EOS R8.
Anybody who tells you otherwise are going into the extremes. I see this all over RUclips where they make such minor issues sound like a big thing, for example; obsession over sharpness.
Think about it this way, my photographs were put up along with all the other students in a gallery like display for the public to visit and most people just glance and they don't even go right close up either. Keep all those things in mind.
Whilst I'm not trying to sell you on this particular camera, what I am doing is, I'm cutting straight past all the bull that other people may try and feed you.
The only fault I could pick in the camera is a fault of my own and not the camera itself, that being how the autofocus works in a mirrorless camera compared with how I would back button focus on my 5D Mark III, that takes a bit getting used to, but that's because this is my first mirrorless.
So all in all, it's a great camera and yes, without question, absolutely. I have an A1 print in my living room that looks fantastic and that was a composite all shot with my 5D Mark III and blown up to A1.
I hope that helps you.
@@scottcjmckelviephotography one more question and i know my decision!
Eos R8, or Eos R7?
@@Leonard1102 for me personally, and I've heard the R7 is a cropped sensor body, that for me is a no-go, not that there is anything wrong with that, I have a Canon EOS 70D and I ideally wanted to get a second full-frame camera. A full-frame camera is a lot more flexible, in my opinion.
When you have a cropped sensor, in order to get a specific focal length, you have to use wider, so as an example, if you put an 85mm lens on the R7 you'd get a focal length probably over 100mm to about 120mm, so to get 85mm equivalent you'd probably have to use a 50mm lens.
With full-frame without all the technicalities, you get at least what is, which is why with the 24-70mm lens, I can zoom out to 24mm and go about my business knowing that is 24mm.
The Canon EOS R7 is probably a great camera as well, which I never looked too much into, I may have saw one or two reviews on that particular camera. I knew that with the Canon EOS R8 I was getting the body of an RP in frame factor, but the inner workings of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and given that is about a thousand £'s dearer, that impressed me.
Without IBIS is no big deal, any faults with the camera as I say has not been down to the camera, but myself. It takes time adjusting from a DSLR to mirrorless just because of how it autofocuses, at least for my experience going from the 5D Mark III to the EOS R8.
I suppose you may wish to sit and ponder over what type of photography you'd be using the camera for as well, with cropped sensor, it's a wee bit of a pain having to stop down a lens relative to focal length just to get the equivalent. A cropped sensor would have the advantage in some respect if shooting wildlife for distant subjects.
@@scottcjmckelviephotography see… very hard to choose:/….
I sant daily, ofc, people moving fast, maybe cars… a bit of wildlife here in the city but not that much!
I just want to be super sharp when i print in A2 or A3, and that the autofocus works perf
Well, I can certainly assure you that even for A3 prints I've had done and the few A1 prints the quality has been fantastic. Obviously there would be a difference between a 50 megapixel camera, but such detail is only ever noticeable if you go looking for it. One must bear in mind, it's a £1500 camera and you'll get impressive results out of it.
Like I say, given that I have Topaz Gigapixel, it enables me to enlarge a photograph by 2 times or even 4 times the size. I did a test on that with one of my pet shots I did using the EOS R8 and the width of the photograph was about 25,000 megapixels. The A.I. did an unbelievable job using Gigapixel to a point you wouldn't even notice the difference at all between the enlarged image to the smaller.
It was that large I tested it in Photoshop scaling down over A1 and it was several times larger. As is though, you're going to achieve great results even blowing an image up to A3 or A2 for prints.
Does it back button focus?
Yes, indeed, in fact, I pretty much set the camera up to do this myself. I have the star buttom customised for eye autofocus and I setup the AF-ON button similar but for general subjects.
Admittedly so, the camera is taking me a while to get used to relative to autofocus technology, that's only natural though, that's more to do with me that is the problem because this is my first mirrorless camera and going from the 5D Mark III takes a good bit getting used to the autofocus technology.
@@scottcjmckelviephotography Thank you, yes, I'm coming from Nikon D810, great camera but looking at reducing weight. I use 5:4 aspect ratio on the D810 (30mb file), which Nikon now do not cater to, but Cannon have 4:3 which is close enough.
Eye auto focus seems interesting! I only use the EVF.
What else about mirrorless would I need to get used to as you and I use similar previous systems?
Yeah, I can see where you're coming from, this camera is dead (really) lightweight compared to my 5D Mark III and admittedly so, the 5D Mark III you couldn't hold up with one hand for lengthy periods unless someone were strong enough. I still love my 5D Mark III and for 22mb/s it's still a great camera.
What you'll need to adjust to, Dan, is the fact it's not like the DSLR where you push the back button if using AI Servo (or whatever it maybe called on Nikon) and then focusing to recompose, instead, you really have to set it up so that when you press the focus button, it locks on itself and then you can move the camera to recompose.
I set the star button as stated to eye autofocus, if you are aware of David Bergman on Adorama, he did a video on the autofocus, this is the video here: ruclips.net/video/kZXTn1i2A14/видео.html
Highly recommend to watch as he not only explains but shows you how to setup the 2 buttons. That way with mirrorless you'll be able to switch between eye autofocus and the one without.
Be aware though, it will take time getting used to it, I've found that myself.
@@scottcjmckelviephotography Wow! ok, thanks, very interesting re focus locking on and no recomposing needed, I get that.
Thanks for the link, I'll check that out.
So an interesting new system to practice into everyday handling but takes time.
Appreciate your help.
Not a problem. Don't get me wrong, regarding focusing, I think you still recompose, but it's a different way around things. The autofocus locks on, but yeah, just takes a wee bit getting used to.
Absolutely, Dan, I can account for this when I did a waterfall shoot last month, it is definitely different, but it's like I say, it's more a problem with me being new to it all rather than the camera autofocusing.
R8 or Sony a7iii is better, for photography?
I have never used the Sony A7III, but has been around for a while if I remember correctly? What I can say is that the Canon EOS R8 is meant to have some of the best autofocus technology of any of the cameras out there, so this is a massive plus, especially from experience knowing what it is like photographing wildlife like birds or sporadic moving squirrels, and more importantly anything like pets.
So it all depends what you would use it for. I seen that it is also a 24 megapixel sensor camera, so you're getting the same in that respect and the in-body image stabilisation, but I'll be honest with you, being an owner of the 5D Mark III, I don't ever recall it having all that technology and I was completely fine, in fact, you'll get really good results as a photographer if you get or have IS lenses.
The other thing to note, if photographing fast moving subjects, would you honestly really need image stabilisation? Unless you're going for some creative pan shot technique, it's doubtful, 9 times out of 10 you'd use a faster shutter speed. And I saw people the setting 'IS (image stabilizer) mode' when walking with video and it's actually pretty decent. Sure enough, it crops the video apparently, but it's not a big deal to me.
Given that you said photography, do some research on the autofocus, as others have said it's one of the best for it. I would have shown the autofocus working through a recording, but I don't have one of those things you attach to a camera to do so, but from other videos, the autofocus is outstanding.
If you are already a Canon shooter and have Canon lenses, you'll benefit from the R8. What the Sony A7III has, however, is 10fps, which is 4 seconds faster than the R8, but if using electronic, rather than electronic first shutter, you'll get up to 40fps shooting continuous on the R8. If I remember correctly, however, it wouldn't work with the flash, I tested that.
So there are a lot of benefits to the Canon EOS R8 in that respect. The other thing to look at is battery life, it's decent, unsure about the Sony A7III, but if you have spare batteries it's not much of an issue. The advantage of the A7III is the obvious dual card slot, but it's like I've stated, I can't recall ever going through one SD card, but I do respect some people's argument that if one card fails, there is always the second card. This is why I carry about with me a MyPassport SSD drive that allows me to back up my work on the go.
The in-body mic sounds pretty good. Of course this is coming from someone still using an M50 MK2 🤷🏼♂️
Yeah, the thing is, if I were to use it for video purposes, I would use an external microphone anyway. As a photographer, my main goal is photographing subjects, so it was never a big issue to me over that. But you are right, it's pretty decent sound for what it is on board.
Same. I’m not much of a videographer either