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Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Jman13
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

So, I picked up my R8 from my local camera store, trading in my RP and a few old lenses I wasn't using. I've only had a little bit of time to shoot with it, but I wanted to share a few initial thoughts.

1) The body feels exactly like the RP in the hand (as it should, with identical body except for a few minor changes on the top plate). I think that's a good thing because I found the RP to handle beautifully for a small body, and the R8 is the same. It feels even better with the EG-E1 extension grip.

2) Dive into the menus and its immediately apparent that Canon did not cripple this camera. There are a few things missing, in order to save money and differentiate it from the R6 Mark II, but this is not a stripped down bargain-basement camera. An essentially full complement of features, minus IBIS, is present, including focus stacking, RAW pre-action burst, full Wi-Fi features, Canon's latest AF system, etc.

3) Biggest AF change in my opinion is the addition of the 'Whole area tracking Servo AF', which gives a very similar operation to Sony's AI Tracking operation, where your focus point starts, locks on, and it tracks it anywhere in the frame. This is the default behavior in Servo AF, though it can of course be toggled off. This is the one thing I missed from my Sony cameras when switching to Canon, and I'll be excited to see how well it works. I believe this is on the R3 and R6 II, but I haven't used those cameras. It isn't on my R5.

4) Image quality is very good. Lots of detail, good dynamic range, very nice noise control at high ISO.

5) The new position of the On/Off switch is better than before, but because the area that WAS the on/off switch on the RP (and also on my R5) is now photo/video selection, I have already accidentally switched that instead of the on/off switch a couple of times, though I'm quickly adapting. May cause a bit of minor frustration when switching between the R5 and R8, though.

Overall, I'm quite pleased so far. It's definitely not a slightly upgraded RP...it's an R6 II in the RP's body, but without IBIS, a slightly lower spec viewfinder, slower mechanical burst rate and smaller buffer, and with the smaller battery and one card slot. Those things are not minor, but they also are really the only major differences. All the other features are there, and the same performance is there. I think it's going to be a very capable backup for me, though I think it will certainly get more regular use than just backup duty, since it's such a capable body.

First, the R8:

And a few shots from today with the RF 14-35mm f/4L IS:

Here's one more with the RF 85/1.2L...I will say that the new AF algorithms are pretty impressive. Extremely sticky on the eye, and works without having to switch into a different mode. Also, the 85L handles surprisingly well on this body if you have the extension grip (something I would strongly recommend to any buyers of this camera). I honestly have more clearance between the grip and lens than on my R5, and it feels great.

Apr 17, 2023 at 04:26 PM

CelesteForza
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Looks great! Plan on getting one for my traveling kit.

Apr 17, 2023 at 08:16 PM

leftymgp
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

I pre-ordered the R62, much before the R8 was announced. If I'd waited a few months, the decision between the two would be pretty difficult. The R8 is definitely a lot of camera for the money, and definitely more bang for the buck compared to the R62.

Apr 17, 2023 at 09:34 PM

Imagemaster
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

leftymgp wrote:
The R8 is definitely a lot of camera for the money, and definitely more bang for the buck compared to the R62.

All depends what bangs you want or need. Personally, I am glad I got the R6 II and would still get it over the R8 for my wants and needs.

Apr 17, 2023 at 11:24 PM

Alan Kefauver
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Comparison of Sony A7IV vs, R6 Mk II vs R8

Apr 18, 2023 at 06:18 AM

Jman13
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

I was looking at a few other images I took yesterday, and I'm coming away quite impressed with this sensor. The shot below was an ISO 1600 shot that was rather underexposed. This is a full 3 stop push of the RAW file, plus +58 shadows, so a near 4 stop shadow push of an ISO 1600 file, and it looks fine. I did do some nosie reduction, because of course there was noise, but there's no banding, no color shift, still quite a lot of detail. Those who already have the R6 II already know that it's a good sensor...but for those who don't...this is a very good sensor.

Apr 18, 2023 at 07:07 AM

Jman13
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Shot some birds this afternoon. The AF is definitely better than on my R5. Extremely quick to identify the bird and lock on to the eye, and the full-frame tracking helps a ton at keeping things in focus. Really nice. Didn't get to try BIF, but hopefully at some point.

Another nice thing, like the R6 II, this has a much larger AF area with my 800mm f/11 than the R5 does (which only has a central square for focusing....on the R8 it's about 80% of the frame).

R8 with RF 800mm f/11:

Apr 18, 2023 at 06:03 PM

MAC
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Jman13 wrote:
Shot some birds this afternoon. The AF is definitely better than on my R5. Extremely quick to identify the bird and lock on to the eye, and the full-frame tracking helps a ton at keeping things in focus. Really nice. Didn't get to try BIF, but hopefully at some point.

Another nice thing, like the R6 II, this has a much larger AF area with my 800mm f/11 than the R5 does (which only has a central square for focusing....on the R8 it's about 80% of the frame).

R8 with RF 800mm f/11:

https://www.jordansteele.com/2023/house_finch.jpg

nice finch shot

Apr 18, 2023 at 07:22 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Jman13 wrote:
I was looking at a few other images I took yesterday, and I'm coming away quite impressed with this sensor. The shot below was an ISO 1600 shot that was rather underexposed. This is a full 3 stop push of the RAW file, plus +58 shadows, so a near 4 stop shadow push of an ISO 1600 file, and it looks fine. I did do some nosie reduction, because of course there was noise, but there's no banding, no color shift, still quite a lot of detail. Those who already have the R6 II already know that it's a good...Show more →

I've been using the R6II for youth hockey tournaments and many times it has been necessary to work in the ISO 12800-25600 range (I'm using the 200-400/4). I've been surprised at how decent the SOOC jpegs are with standard high ISO NR. They print very nicely on-location on an 8" dye-sub printer.

leftymgp wrote:
I pre-ordered the R62, much before the R8 was announced. If I'd waited a few months, the decision between the two would be pretty difficult. The R8 is definitely a lot of camera for the money, and definitely more bang for the buck compared to the R62.

I'd sorely miss IBIS. I decided my main 'normal' events lens would be the non-stabilized 28-70/2... But considering most Canon lenses have optical stabilization, it might not be such a big deal most of the time.

Apr 18, 2023 at 07:38 PM

thedruid
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Why not a used R6...IBIS, better battery life and same battery as R5, Joystick, Dual cards, a thumbwheel, a mechanical shutter, a battery grip, maybe other things I'm missing, worth about $200 more?

Apr 18, 2023 at 08:54 PM

Jman13
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

thedruid wrote:
Why not a used R6...IBIS, better battery life and same battery as R5, Joystick, Dual cards, a thumbwheel, a mechanical shutter, a battery grip, maybe other things I'm missing, worth about $200 more?

It’s certainly a valid option. But the R8 also has advantages. Better sensor, better autofocus, faster burst rate, pre roll burst, smaller and lighter.

This is my second body, so it’s not worth spending that $200 for me, plus with its advantages, it gives me things that I can use it for in its own right. The R6 is a great body (I’ve owned one), but it does nothing better than my R5. The R8 has a few things it does better (and some it does worse than the R6), but that is more appealing to me for a second body. If I were choosing a primary body, it’d be a more difficult choice.

Apr 18, 2023 at 09:29 PM

leftymgp
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

rscheffler wrote:
I'd sorely miss IBIS. I decided my main 'normal' events lens would be the non-stabilized 28-70/2... But considering most Canon lenses have optical stabilization, it might not be such a big deal most of the time.

Yes, I would miss it too. But if you asked me is IBIS and a mechanical shutter worth $1k? I'm not sure.

As for the sensor, I've been impressed with it. Seems to have a ton of DR as I can seemingly get away with almost anything when lifting shadows/blacks. High ISO performance is pretty good; usable files even at very high ISO. Detail at low ISO is very impressive.

It's of course way too early to make this call, but I do think in the future the R6II/R8 sensor will be revered one of Canon's better sensors.

Apr 18, 2023 at 10:12 PM

koenkooi
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

The HF anti-flicker function is close to magic for my indoor shooting, no more banding!

Apr 19, 2023 at 05:11 AM

chicago8c
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

I just got mine from Roberts yesterday and haven't had much time to play with it. But coming from an RP, and before that a 2016-vintage Fuji X-T2, just the AF options alone are kind of blowing my mind. Lots to learn!

Apr 19, 2023 at 08:26 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

I have no pictures to share yet but some initial observations:

[I bought r8 for backpacking/landscape/occasional video for weight and as my 2nd camera to my r5 for wildlife with my 200-400 and 600/f4. I got the 24-50 because it will be great for travel and hiking photography and hopefully replace my m5. 16/2.8 24-50 and rf100-400 should be all I need to get quality]

Should have been aware of negatives?:

Only c1, c2 - no c3 - this is a bit of a pain. I now use c1 for landscape on tripod, c2 for handheld landscape, and Apeture for wildlife

The 6fps, as expected is slow, so I am leaving my wildlife setting on Aperture, silent shutter (40fps max, 12bit) and turning the shutter to low so I don't have as many to cull, and then up the to h+ if I want speed.

In processing in Adobe - my profiles for 24-50 are not there yet which makes it difficult to compare lens. So I don't have any observations on the 24-50 yet except that it requires more correction that all of my other cheap RF lens including 16mm and 24-105. [The 24-50 has slower a/f than 25-105 and it is noisier]

The efcs is really loud and obnoxious. You will be noticed in this mode. You will scare the bears and birds. Because of my focus on landscape (hiking) and animals (2nd camera). I have programmed it to c1 - Landscape(clunky efcs to get 14 bit, aeb, f11, evaluative, mf...) c2 - landscape/travel (electronic, AEB, evaluative, f8, af, autos, H+) and using aperture for wildlife (electronic, wide open, auto iso, H speed, animal eyes]. This works well but when I put an adapted voightland on it I have to adjust the settings. I think the shutter noise will detract from people and animals - weddings everyone will expect [noisy 14bit] but casual streat shooting and wildlife will have to be silent (12bit electronic).

Unfortunately It still has quite of bit of colour cast (magenta) with voigt 15/5.6 v2. Compared to the A7r2 - lots more. Similar to r5. My rf 35/fixed5.6 7artisians still has some magenta colour cast but not as bad as the voigt. Man the 7arisians pancake on r8 is a great combination - too bad about the colour cast but it makes me optimistic that someone will solve this going forward.

Set up on r8 for video is different menu than r5. Although better for me with manual button. Its going to take time to remember differing menus. Not dramatically different. And selection video manually is way better than hitting the info button.

Things I like:

The battery lasted for quite a long time (hours) from full while I did every change and test and video etc.

The switch from still to video is pleasant - I much prefer manual selection of mode

It works really well with my 100-400 push/pull L adapted. Have yet to try with 600 or 200-400 but I suspect great given the 100-400

Man each time I get a new camera, I have to remember how to set up c1,c2... Move to your mode first (eg av) and the find your settings for landscape and fuss with it for a long time and then save it (MF assist). Move to mode (eg Av)

Much lighter but still feels big compare to my m5 because of size. About the same weight though.

I have a relatively slow card in it. And it is performing well at video. [I rarely do video.]. Clog3 and simulation seems the same. My 16mm/f2.8 does not have IS and when you put it on enhanced stabiliaztion for blogging it will be at the end of your arm unless you turn of enhanced stabilization. This is not as big a deal with r5 because the is/Ibis should be more stabilized without enhancements. Others who are more familiar with video might have more insight on this.

I will come back and update this as I learn more. Scott

Apr 19, 2023 at 12:07 PM

VanDyck
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

So far, I'm really happy with the R8. The light weight and small body size is comfortable for me. It works well with my EF 24-105 F/4 L IS USM lens. Haven't tested my other lenses yet. I mostly shoot from a tripod so no IBIS, no problem.

Weeks before launch I wondered if the Vello BG-C18 Battery Grip for the RP would work with the R8. It looks like it does with a couple of caveats: The unit has to be removed to access the SD card slot. Also, the batteries may need to be removed and then reinserted in different slots if the camera doesn't recognize the batteries.

Available at Amazon, B&H, etc.

In my case, I'll do better with two spare batteries in the bag vs the BG-C18 grip.

Apr 19, 2023 at 06:26 PM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

re 24-50.

I shot a picture off my deck tonight with r8 and ts24, 24-105, 15-30, and my new 24-50.[all Rf and not L except ts24]

In the centre the ts24 was sharpest. But it was not dramatically different. The 24-50 was 2nd.
At the edges the 15-30 and ts24 were sharper. But again it was a modest difference.

The ts24 is a very nice lens. And is/was over $2000 lens.

Slower to focus than 24-105, but good iq.

All of the the above suggests the 24-50 is an pretty good lens for its price.

Edited on Apr 20, 2023 at 06:36 AM · View previous versions

Apr 19, 2023 at 09:56 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Scott Stoness wrote:
re 24-50.

I shot a picture off my deck tonight with r8 and ts24, 24-105, 15-30, and my new 24-50.

In the centre the ts24 was sharpest. But it was not dramatically different. The 24-50 was 2nd.
At the edges the 15-30 and ts24 were sharper. But again it was a modest difference.

The ts24 is a very nice lens. And is/was over $2000 lens.

Slower to focus than 24-105, but good iq.

All of the the above suggests the 24-50 is an pretty good lens for its price.

Which 24-105?

Apr 20, 2023 at 01:18 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

rscheffler wrote:
Which 24-105?

Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM

Apr 20, 2023 at 06:33 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Canon R8 Initial Impressions

Good video about wildlife shooting contrasts r6ii v r8 - and helps evaluate r8

14:40 summary of diffs starts if you want to shorten

re
IBIS does not matter for wildlife because wildlife lens have it and you are shooting fast shutter
R8 has about 14 frames less in burst capacity (about 50)
recommends 20fps or 40fps (he shoots birds - not me much) and both bodies even
r8 evf adequate
recommends battery grip to double battery time and fit hands
get a v90 card to make the burst recovery faster

[my advice above is that the efcs noise is too loud for wildlife and I would stick to electronic - he does not say. And I really miss the c3]

Overall I would summarize his advise - r8 is good for ff wildlife on a budget but consider adding a 2nd party battery grip.

[I would add - for exclusively wildlife if r8 is not good enough, I would be more inclined to the 45mpx [apsc 17mpx ] r5 than r6ii for wildlife and think about the choice as r8 vs r7 vs r5 vs r3. Not the r6ii. 45mpx is a bigger difference than ibis for wildlife]

Apr 22, 2023 at 11:26 AM

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