Thanks again. Yes, A9 appears to have similar options actually, now I look. How did I forget this? I actually ought to use it now I’m fit again and able to hold the camera and lens steady down low at ankle level. Potentially older tech so may not be as smooth but I’ll try with a heavyish lens and see if the thumb movement works for me (and that I can find an area that won’t interact with my big nose). If so, I’ll test it on the R8 before buying and see if it is precise enough.
Once I get over the shame of somehow forgetting a significant camera feature, you’ll have made my day. Really appreciate it.
Nice complete review. I liked the comparisons with the R6 and R5 as a frame of reference. The beginning of the image quality section suggests the R8's sensor is BSI which I don't think it is. Still, this would make a nice backup body, especially with lighter weight lenses.
Thanks for catching that. Not sure why I wrote that. It’s been corrected.
Jeff Nolten wrote:
Nice complete review. I liked the comparisons with the R6 and R5 as a frame of reference. The beginning of the image quality section suggests the R8's sensor is BSI which I don't think it is. Still, this would make a nice backup body, especially with lighter weight lenses.
Thanks for the well written and detailed review! I was on the fence about getting an R8, but your review addressed several questions I had. The only thing holding me back from getting an R8 is the lack of IBIS. 99.999% of my shots are hand-held, and only a few of my lenses have IS.
p.s. I actually like the On/Off power switch on the right side. Also, moving the video switch out of the way works perfect for me, as I'm primarily a stills shooter.
Jman13 wrote:
I think they're referring to cut off bokeh from electronic first curtain shutter, since the R8 doesn't have a mechanical first curtain. The solution is to use electronic shutter (which also goes to 1/16000s).
It's a bit simplifying to suggest full electronic shutter is a solution in all circumstances. Beautiful bokeh in artificial light needs a full mechanical shutter to avoid banding. For fast action rolling shutter should be avoided, and the 1/4000th can force you to close down the aperture a bit when shooting with f/2.8 glass in very bright sun light. Now that last thing is a bit rare maybe, but best bokeh in artificial light isn't a very exotic need imo.
The R8 is a very good camera for the money, but the lack of a full mechanical shutter and a thumb dial is often overlooked when it's compared to other options.
How is manual focusing by the way? Do you get those focus assist triangle thingies when focusing manually with the R8? The RP doesn't have it, the R and the R5 do, and I assume the R6 and R6II will have it as well. It would be very cool to shoot with a Samyang EF 85mm f/1.2 XP via the adapter, use 1/16000th in full electronic, and focus manually using eye recognition within focus assist.
Great review - thank you for posting. You also have great reviews of 16mm, 100-400 and others. Thanks for all the effort and rigor and logical organized approach.
I have had the r8 for some time now. I really like it. Lack of c3, IBIS and 24mpx is its biggest downsides from my perspective. IBIS for weight is a good trade but lack of C3 is a pain because I like to use c3 for wildlife and c1 for landscape on tripod and c2 for landscape off tripod. I really like it for weight, video capability, and better implementation of AEB with electronic than r5. For wildlife, I find r5/r8 to be interchangeable.
[Below is r8/RF16 where I backpacked 2,600' in 4 miles for sunrise/sunset. As I get older I am spending more effort on reducing equipment weight.]
R8 RF16 that helped me reduce my backpack weight to <40lbs
King Mountain National Military Park in November 4, 2023
Top: Near entrance side road view (I-85 Exit 2, NC)
Middle: trail road view
Bottom: The brightest tree in the park
Blue Ridge Parkway in May 27, 2024
taken near Craggy Garden toward Mt. Mitchell State Park
Graybeard Mountain Overlook MP 363.4 (1st one)
Ridge Junction Overlook MP 355 (2nd one)
Great thread! I was a 2 x RP shooter since the RP was launched in March 2019. I waited for the perfect match (the R6 mkII) to upgrade, for the IBIS, more solid build, joystick, serious dual-battery grip, amazing features such as the .5 second pre-shoot buffer, better battery life, new flash / accessory socket, R3 AF features, etc.. This became the main camera. Then came the R8, very familiar for a long-term RP user, same sensor as the R6 mk2. I don't miss dual card (I have not experienced an SD card fail since forever), battery life is quite decent and spare batteries affordable, I am not a user of C1-C2-C3 (until they re-introduce the dial lock of the 5D mk3, the mode dial on R cameras tends to get shifted while handling the camera, as does the photo / video selector on the left). The only item that is sorely missed is the joystick. For what it's worth I find it pretty bold for Canon to put the same sensor in two cameras aimed at different price brackets. Counter-intuitively I find the R8 a good choice for street / low profile shooting with the 16mm 2.8 or 50 1.8, despite these lenses having no IS and the R8 no IBIS. The very small form factor, versatile AF and excellent low-light performance are the defining characteristics.
