The Canon R was Canon’s original entry into the realm of full-frame mirrorless. Five years later, Canon released a worthy update: the Canon R8. How do these two entry-level mirrorless cameras compare?
Canon EOS R vs Canon EOS R8 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Canon EOS R | Canon EOS R8 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | September 2018 | February 2023 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC 8 | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 30.3 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6720×4480 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 5.36µ | 6.00µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | No |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 40,000 | ISO 102,400 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-102,400 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | No | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | Yes |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/16000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 8 FPS | 6 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 8 FPS | 40 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | No autofocus at 8 FPS (autofocus at 5 FPS) | 12-bit raw at 40 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 6 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 47 frames (8 FPS) | 56 frames (40 FPS), 1000+ frames (6 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 143 | 1053 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4.5 EV | -5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/200 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | Yes | No |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 10 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 180 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | 1.74x crop at 4K | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 120 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 1 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.1 million dots | 1.62 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Yes | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | 0.70x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 3.69 million dots | 2.36 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.1 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | LP-E6N | LP-E17 |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 350 frames | 150 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 370 frames | 370 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 560 frames | 440 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 660 g (1.46 lbs.) | 461 g (1.02 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 136 x 98 x 84 mm (5.3 x 3.9 x 3.3″) | 133 x 86 x 70 mm (5.2 x 3.4 x 2.8″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $1800 (Check Current Price) | $1500 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Canon EOS R Used Prices | Canon EOS R8 Used Prices |
Conclusion and Remarks
It’s safe to say that Canon provided entry-level full-frame users an upgrade in almost every way, except of course in terms of resolution. The original R is 30MP whereas you’ve only got 24MP in the new R8.
But besides that slight resolution drop, the R8 has a much better autofocus system than the original R in both photo and video modes. That, combined with the massively increased burst rate in electronic shutter mode makes the R8 a bit more capable, though there is still a fair amount of rolling shutter with the R8 so you’ll still have to be a bit careful when shooting fast action with the electronic shutter.
The R8 also has massively upgraded video capabilities, with 10-bit video over the R’s 8-bit video. You also gain 4K60 over the original R’s 4K30, and that’s without a crop, whereas the original R had a crop at 30fps. The 180FPS in 1080P also is a nice addition.
Copyright © Nasim Mansurov
Users upgrading from the R might also be delighted at the weight savings of almost exactly 200g, or almost 2/5ths of a pound. To be honest, that was not something I expected from the R8. The only thing I was wishing for in the R8 upgrade is IBIS, because even the Nikon Z5 has IBIS, but I guess you can’t have everything.
Obviously, the R8 is a better camera in almost every way, and if you happen to be deciding between these two cameras, the R8 is the way to go unless you can find an amazing deal on a used R.
What does the Canon EOS R offer over the Canon EOS R8?
- 1.25 times more megapixels (30.3MP vs 24.2MP)
- Higher resolution electronic viewfinder, with about 1.6x more dots, making shooting more enjoyable
- Better battery life when using the viewfinder, with approximately 200 more shots according to CIPA measurements
What does the Canon EOS R8 offer over the Canon EOS R?
- Lighter weight (199g lighter or about 1.4 times lighter)
- Better high-speed options with 40 FPS top speed, and a bigger buffer at more modest FPS rates
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
Photography Life is part of the eBay Partner Network and B&H’s affiliate program. When you make a purchase through the affiliate links in this article, we can be compensated with a percentage of each sale. If you found this comparison useful, buying anything through these links allows you to support Photography Life at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our efforts!