Making the Move to Canon Mirrorless
photo by af_istocker via iStock
If you’ve followed my articles here on PhotographyTalk for any amount of time, you likely know that I’ve been a Nikon shooter forever.
I added a few Sony bodies to my camera bag along the way and a Panasonic GH5, too.
But as I discuss in my video below, the Sonys and Panasonic never quite fit the bill for what I needed them to do.
So, what did I do? I got my first Canon camera - the EOS R.
As I explain in the video, there was some trepidation on my part.
Would the EOS R feel good in my hand?
Had Canon really fixed the autofocus issues in the EOS R?
Would I be able to easily figure out the controls and customize the camera to my liking?
When switching to a new brand of camera, these and other questions are certainly legitimate, especially if you’ve been brand loyal for as long as I had.
But I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with just how easy it was to get used to the EOS R. In fact, I’m kind of wondering why I didn’t make the switch sooner!
It’s been about a week since I released my video on the EOS R, so I wanted to fill in some gaps and explain a few other reasons why making the move to Canon mirrorless has been such a good experience for me.
I Love the EOS R Sensor
Let me start by saying that the Nikon Z7 has a better sensor than the EOS R.
However, as my first experience with a Canon full frame camera, I’ve been impressed with the 30.3-megapixel CMOS sensor in this thing.
It’s the same sensor as the 5D Mark IV, and it has the same DIGIC 8 image processor as the Mark IV.
DxOMark gave this sensor a score of 89, which isn’t the top score by any means. But it still indicates solid performance with good color depth for portraits, dynamic range for landscapes, and excellent low-light performance.
The EOS R Electronic Viewfinder is a Dream
I know some folks haven’t been completely impressed with the EOS R’s viewfinder, but personally, I think it’s fantastic.
It offers roughly the same resolution as the one on my Z7 (about 3.69 million dots) and roughly the same magnification at 0.76x.
I’ve found it to be clear, bright, resolute, and easy to read.
The best part, though, is that the display in the EVF (and on the LCD) rotates when you shoot in portrait mode. Clearly, this makes it far easier to see the information that’s displayed.
Canon RF Lenses are Incredible
I mostly use the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8. It is a superb lens all the way around.
Yeah, it’s a BIG lens, but it isn’t big in the sense that it’s unwieldy.
Instead, just like the EOS R body, this lens handles well and feels surprisingly good in the hand.
And who wouldn’t like the customizable control ring that Canon added in front of the focus ring.
You can use the control ring for all sorts of things, including adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, or ISO.
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The EOS R Has Tons of Innovative Features
Lastly, I really appreciate the thought that Canon put into designing this camera.
It records at true 24p, rather than 23.98p like most cameras. Is that a huge deal? No…
But that’s a feature not found on many non-cinema cameras, and for me, that shows Canon’s dedication to developing a rock-solid camera system.
I also like the multi-function bar that Canon added to the EOS R. You can program custom functions using the bar, and the camera will remember the settings when you switch from shooting stills to shooting video. I don’t think the multi-function bar has reached anywhere near its potential yet, though. Firmware updates in the future should make it an even better asset.
Another feature I’m in love with is the fact that when the camera is off and you remove the lens, the shutter is closed. This helps keep the sensor clean and reduces the amount of time I have to spend cleaning - which is a definite bonus.
I’m sure I’ll find many other things I really like about the EOS R as I use it more and more.
But for now, these are just a few of my favorite things about this camera. So far, the EOS R pros definitely outweigh the cons!
Canon EOS R bodies are currently $500 off at Samy’s Camera. You can also pick up an EOS R with an RF 24-105mm f/4L lens for $700 off.
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