The Canon EOS R8 caught my attention as soon as I saw it. This new camera body has a lot in common with the earlier EOS RP and includes some welcome improvements. Once I saw the R8 I was practically pleading for the opportunity to review it.
Canon EOS R8 — Initial thoughts
Reviewing a camera is hard work and exploring beyond the basics takes time and effort. At first I thought, “Gee, it looks like the EOS RP so I’ll review it like an updated RP.” After spending hours with this camera I will definitively say this is not an updated RP. It is far more. This little camera packs so much performance in a small package that it must not be underestimated. The Canon EOS R8 has features that are somewhere between high end and consumer/enthusiast cameras. For example, the full frame sensor has characteristics found with the R6 Mk II, yet has the tiny battery and plastic build quality more commonly found in models like the Rebel series.
Canon EOS R8 — Features
- 24.2MP Full-Frame Sensor and DIGIC X Processing
- 2.36m-Dot EVF and Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
- Flexible Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C)
- Outstanding subject detection / autofocus
Canon EOS R8 — Real world test
This is an ideal travel camera. I’ve taken the RP backpacking in the Yosemite backcountry and I expect the Canon EOS R8 would do just as well. It’s a great general-purpose camera for portraits, landscapes, and events. The EOS RP did such a great job with this fun portrait session that I took it to Steamer Lane for some surf photography.
To exercise the R8 I spent some time with my friend Bailey who volunteered to model. I chose a selection of native RF lenses and one adapted EF lens for the session. The Canon EOS R8 did well with each lens I tried. For some photos I added a Neewer battery grip that conveniently fit perfectly
I found that the autofocus was accurate far more often than not. The eye detection feature was great during the session with Bailey but once in a while it would focus on something unexpected like a tree. You may recall an article I wrote about the EOS RP and my gripe “that’s not an eye.” The Canon EOS R8 did a much better job than the RP in this regard but once in a while it seemed like it could have done better. It’s a tool, not magic.
I thought about the initial draft for a few days and decided to take the EOS R8 for a harder workout. The notion that this would be a pretty great camera for family sports photography was too delicious to ignore. The swell was good and the light cooperated so why not shoot some surf in Santa Cruz? What stood out immediately was how incredibly well it did by focusing on the nearest surfer. At times it would even zero in on the surfer’s face from 200 meters away. This had me absolutely stoked.
Canon EOS R8 — What I like
- Small and lightweight
- Quality output
- Very good with high ISO
- Back button focus was available by default
- Level and histogram displayed in the eyepiece by default
- Same sensor as the R6 Mk II
- Adapts well to my EF lenses
- Updated control layout — a notable improvement over the EOS RP
- Great value
Canon EOS R8 — What I don’t like
- Construction is mostly plastic with what looks like a structural weak spot in the bottom left corner near the LCD. I don’t expect this to survive a fall.
- I still don’t understand the value of the Fv mode.
- The sensor is exposed when the lens is detached. That seems like a guarantee of dust spots.
- Automatic eye focus features are pretty good but do take some getting used to. It would focus on seemingly random objects in the frame occasionally.
- No printed manual, just a quick start pamphlet. I prefer to at least scan through the manual before getting started.
