Canon completes its range of full-frame sensor cameras with the EOS R8, its most affordable full-frame mirrorless body to date.
If hybrid devices with full-frame photosensors are anything to dream of, they are often unaffordable to the general public, with new-box starting prices of €2,100. To develop the offer and offer more accessible devices, the Japanese manufacturer Canon has decided to go a little further and offer a full frame hybrid camera below 2000 euros, the Canon EOS R8.
In Canon’s range, the higher the number, the more affordable the camera. Logically, the Canon EOS R3 is therefore the top-of-the-range model, followed by the EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS R6 II. However, the Canon EOS R6 II, released last November, is still being offered at a minimum price of €2,900, which will essentially limit it to enthusiasts or professionals. It is precisely in this context that the Japanese firm presented its EOS R8, the cheapest full-frame sensor hybrid camera on the market.
Great performances in photo and video.
If the EOS R8 is a more affordable camera than its competition, Canon hasn’t skimped on its features. Therefore, it incorporates the same 24 x 36mm full-frame sensor as the Canon EOS R6 II with a definition of 24.2 million pixels. The sensor is also capable of going up to a sensitivity of ISO 102,400. The manufacturer also indicates that it has integrated a sensor with a higher reading speed, which reduces the rolling of the blind and prevents distortions in fast movements. We will also find the same Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus as in the high-end EOS R3, with detection of faces, eyes, dogs, cats, birds, horses, cars, motorcycles, trains or planes.
For burst photos, Canon advertises up to 40 shots per second. A 30fps RAW burst mode is also offered, allowing you to record the half second before the shot. A useful feature for sports and wildlife photographers.
For video, although the Canon EOS R8 does not allow RAW recording, it is capable of recording oversampled 4K 60p sequences, that is, using the entire sensor. In Full HD, the box can go up to 180p this time. Canon also offers several advanced video features, such as CLog3 in 10-bit 4:2:2, zebra display and focus peaking.
A compact box, but without a stabilized sensor
In addition to its price, the Canon EOS R3 also stands out for its compact size with a weight of 461 grams with SD card and battery. However, please note that the manufacturer has integrated only one memory card slot. The device also features a screen on a ball joint, a photo/video switcher, a microphone input, a headphone output, a remote control jack, a USB-C port, and a micro-HDMI output. On the side of the viewfinder, the Japanese firm has integrated an Oled panel of 120 frames per second with a definition of 2.35 million points.
Obviously, to contain its price, the Canon EOS R8 makes a size compromise, namely the absence of mechanical sensor stabilization. To stabilize photos and videos, you will necessarily have to go through the optical stabilization built into the photographic lens. For videos, Canon also offers digital stabilization, which will necessarily take place with a slight crop.
The Canon EOS R8 will be available at the end of April 2023. The device will be offered naked, without a lens, at a price of 1,799 euros. For comparison, the Panasonic Lumix S5 II is shown at 2199 euros. Note, however, that Nikon is still offering its Z5, released in 2020 at €1,899. Superseded by the Sony A7 IV, the Sony A7 III is also still available, at €1,999, up from €2,300 at launch. The Canon EOS R8 will also be offered as a kit at €1,999 with a 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 lens for €399.
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