Canon just announced a new addition to their full-frame mirrorless lineup with the EOS R8, a mid-range camera with some nonetheless impressive features and specifications. At the heart of the camera is a 24 megapixel sensor with up to 40 FPS bursts, or 30 FPS when shooting RAW pre-release bursts.
Canon EOS R8 Specifications
- Sensor: 24.2MP CMOS, full-frame
- IBIS: No
- Shutter Speeds: Mechanical shutter: 1/4000 to 30 Seconds; Electronic shutter: 1/16,000 to 30 Seconds
- ISO: ISO 100-102400, expandable to ISO 50-204800
- Autofocus System: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system with 1053 automatic AF points (both contrast and phase detection); 100% coverage; Automatic recognition of people, animals and vehicles.
- AF Detection Range (standardized to f/2): -5 EV to +22.5 EV
- Frame Rate: 6 fps using mechanical shutter (40 FPS 12-bit with electronic shutter); 30 FPS Raw burst mode with 0.5 seconds of pre-capture buffer
- Card Type: Single UHS-II SD slot
- Buffer: 6 FPS Mechanical shutter up to 1000 images (Raw); 40 FPS Electronic shutter up to 100 images (C-RAW)
- Video: 4K video recording oversampled from 6K, up to 60p
- LCD: 3.0″ vari-angle (fully articulating tilt-flip) screen with 1.62 million dots
- EVF: 100% coverage, 2.36 million dots, 0.70x magnification
- Battery Life: 150 shots (EVF Smooth); 220 shots (EVF Power Saving); 370 (LCD Smooth); 440 (LCD Power Saving)
- Weight: 1.01 lb / 461 g (with battery + card)
- Price: $1,499 body only (check current price)
EOS R8 vs EOS R6 II
Much of the EOS R8 is based on the higher-end EOS R6 II, even though the EOS R8 will launch for just $1499 rather than the $2499 price of the R6 II. Both cameras share the same sensor, processor, autofocus system, 40 FPS burst, and 30 FPS pre-release RAW burst feature.
Even so, it is the lower-end of the two cameras in some subtle but important ways. First is that the R8 lacks IBIS, which makes it harder to shoot handheld with non-stabilized lenses. Beyond that, the EOS R8’s mechanical shutter is limited to 6 FPS, whereas the EOS R6 II has a 12 FPS mechanical shutter curtain. (This matters because the mechanical shutter is a useful way to prevent rolling shutter effects on these cameras.)
As for video, the EOS R8 shoots up to 4K 60p – impressive, but the EOS R6 II beats it by allowing external 6K 60p RAW video over the HDMI port. The battery life is also much worse on the EOS R8, with 370 shots compared to the R6 II’s 760 shots (both in LCD power saving mode). Finally, the EOS R8 has a single SD card slot compared to dual card slots on the EOS R6 II.
Are there are any other meaningful differences? The build of both cameras is certainly different, with a noticeably smaller form factor to the EOS R8. As a result, there’s a very different button layout, with the biggest change being the loss of the focusing joystick on the EOS R8. Although there are a few other differences here and there in their specifications and layouts, those are the most important.
For these differences, you get a camera that’s $1000 cheaper and a good bit smaller/lighter than the EOS R6 II. I think that potential EOS R8 buyers are looking at an excellent value. It seems to be about 90% the camera of the EOS R6 II for about 60% of the price.
Canon EOS RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS Announcement
Alongside the EOS R8, Canon also announced a new full-frame lens, the RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS. It sounds pretty similar to the existing Nikon Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 that I gave a mixed review, although admittedly the Canon lens adds image stabilization. Still, it’s not a very useful zoom range or maximum aperture.
On the bright side, the RF 24-50mm is a small and lightweight lens at 210 grams (0.46 pounds), so it will pair well with the EOS R8 if you need something portable. The lens is launching for $299, but there’s a $100-off package deal if you buy it as a kit with the EOS R8.
Ordering Information
So far, Canon is only saying that the EOS R8 will be released in “Spring,” so it could be a few months until it officially starts shipping. (And Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow last week, which won’t help the situation.)
However, pre-orders are open already, both body-only for $1499 or packaged with the newly released RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS lens for $1699. That’s $100 off the price of buying the lens and camera separately.
Here are the pre-order pages for B&H and Adorama. I’m not yet seeing a pre-order page on Amazon.
You can also order the Canon EOS RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS separately for $299. Like the EOS R8, it ships sometime in Spring.
Press Release
Canon Adds EOS R50 and EOS R8 to the Growing EOS R Mirrorless Camera System
Plus, Image Story Telling Through R-Mount Lenses Is Ramped Up With Additions of the New RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM and RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lenses
MELVILLE, NY, February 7, 2023 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today the launch of the new EOS R50 camera body, ideal for entry level users, and the EOS R8, an extremely compact, full-frame camera aimed at advanced amateur photo and video enthusiasts looking for budget-friendly options that don’t sacrifice performance. Additionally, two new RF-Mount lenses are being introduced to the ever-growing R-mount lens lineup.
EOS R50
Compact, lightweight and ideal for those looking to step up their video quality, the EOS R50 provides an impressive movie-shooting experience thanks to the APS-C sensor, with 4K video, uncropped 4K capture (at all frame rates), and outstanding Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. With the addition of whole area tracking, subject detection, and movie-prerecording, difficult photo and movie opportunities can be easier to capture with a 24.2-million-pixel, APS-C sized image sensor. In addition, the EOS R50 is equipped with an eye-level electronic viewfinder to help achieve shot steadiness and ease viewing in bright sunlight conditions. A great camera for those who are looking to lean into interchangeable lenses, the EOS R50 camera can capture travel adventures, family portraits, sports, wildlife and even help a small business with marketing imagery. For those who are budding content creators, the EOS R50 will be available later in 2023 as part of a Content Creator Kit – packaged with a microphone, lens and grip. Overall, the EOS R50 is truly a jack of all content creation trades.
“The first time I picked up the EOS R50, I noticed how light it was. When I saw the footage, I wondered how the quality can be so good when it’s this lightweight in my hand. My mind was blown!” Bianca Matisse Taylor – Content creator and blogger
EOS R8
The EOS R8 — affordable and functional — is a full-frame mirrorless camera aimed at the up-and-coming video or photo enthusiast. This camera comes with class-leading autofocus while still extremely capable for everyday and general photography use. Equipped with a 24.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor and DIGIC X image processor, the EOS R8 is optimal for full-frame RF lenses — allowing enhanced wide-angle field of views when compared to APS-C sensor cameras. Extremely lightweight and compact, the EOS R8 shoots up to 6-fps with 1st-curtain Electronic shutter, and up to 40-fps with full electronic. For users who’ve already explored interchangeable lens cameras but haven’t yet broken into mirrorless, the EOS R8 should be the camera that takes them over the threshold to capture events, weddings, still life, travel and pets.
“My work is a lot about movement and not missing a beat with the fast shutter on the EOS R8 is so important to me as an artist.” Jasper Soloff – Photographer and Director
Additional product specs include:
Video performance
- Uncropped 4K video to 59.94p (29.97p with EOS R50) (with 6k oversampling)
- Full-HD to 59.94 fps, and High Frame Rate to 119.8 fps (Full HD 180p with the EOS R8)
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF, with subject detection for people, animals and vehicles
- Up to 2 hours of continuous recording (one hour with EOS R50); no 30 min limit
- Focus breathing correction
Enhanced usability for video correction
- Vertical Video Metadata
- Movie Self Timer
- Audio Noise Reduction (only in EOS R8)
- UVC/UAC Support, for USB livestreaming
- Recording Emphasis
- Aspect Markers
Connectivity
- Easy wireless connection from camera to compatible smartphone
- Camera Connect with USB connection to compatible smartphone
- USB streaming direct to computer via Zoom™, Teams™, or Skype™
- MFI Certified (Apple); WPA3-Personal protected access
- Convenient firmware updates via compatible smartphone
- Cloud RAW processing
Alongside the camera bodies, Canon will release two new lenses. The RF-S lens line, optimized for the smaller APS-C sensor size, expands with the Canon RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM lens. This is a telephoto zoom, giving coverage equivalent to an 88–336mm lens on a full-frame camera. The lens opens the door to telephoto photography and videography, with 4.5 stops optical image stabilization, and close-focusing that can fill the frame with a subject roughly 2×3 inches in size (at its 210mm zoom setting, and minimum focus distance). And it does all this in an incredibly lightweight and compact package.
The Canon RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM is a new, compact standard zoom lens for full-frame EOS R-series cameras. Ranging from true wide-angle to traditional “standard lens” coverage at 50mm, the lens is a travel friendly design with an extremely compact exterior. The RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens is just over 2 inches long when fully retracted, and under 3.5 inches when extended — weighing less than half a pound. Optical Image Stabilization, with 4.5 stops of shake-correction, further enhances its appeal for video and still-image shooting. It’s also useable on an APS-C sensor Canon camera, where the lens’ effective coverage is equivalent to what a 38–80mm would deliver on a full-frame camera.
Price & Availability
The Canon EOS R8 camera body will be available for an estimated retail price of $1,499.00*. The Canon RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens with the EOS R8 will have an estimated retail price of $1,699.00*. The Canon EOS R50 camera body will be available for an estimated retail price $679.99*. The EOS R50 with the RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will be available for an estimated retail price of $799.99*. The EOS R50 with the RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM lenses will be available for an estimated retail price of $1,029.00*. The RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens will be available for an estimated retail price $299.99* while the RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM lens will have an estimated retail price of $349.99*. All products are currently scheduled to be available in Spring 2023.
For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.
There is no contest here. The R7 and R8 show up Nikon’s attempts with the Z5 and Z50.
And the Canon 100-500 shows up Nikon’s 100-400. 400mm is too short so you are really only getting 560mm at f8 with a TC that costs as much as a decent lens.
The only mirrorless cameras worth a shout for wildlife are the top end. And nether company makes any decent aps-c lenses. So someone a budget needs a good aps-c camera (thanks Canon) and at least 600mm, plus an entry 35mm with affordable wide and medium lenses that work well at f11. Nikon doesn’t seem to get this.
Agreed with regard to APS-C lenses. Of course neither Canon nor Nikon have a complete lineup specifically for APS-C compared to Fuji or even Pentax. I’d also definitely take the 100-500 over the 100-400. Right now, Canon bodies just look a lot better, but Nikon’s supertelephotos are unmatched. I guess it’s just like it always has been, Canon, Nikon (and now Sony) leapfrogging each other in the full-frame market.
At least Nikon will eventually release the 200-600, and probably the 400 f/4.5 with a TC will be very close if not better than the 100-500, and it’s still faster (albeit not a zoom). Overall if I had to pick one system for wildlife right now it would still be Nikon simply because of the lenses and Nikon is sure to release a smaller FF camera with Z9 tech in the next couple of years and hopefully and APS-C model as well.
Once I read that a R8 was comming, I thought there was 0 market for it. Because of the name I thought of it as an APS-C Camera sitting between the R7 and the R10.
It should have been an R7 and the R7 should have been the R8. Small fail from Canon here.
I was halfway through writing a paragraph on their bizarre naming when I think I figured it out. The lower the number, the higher-end the camera. It has nothing to do with crop sensor versus full-frame. Canon apparently considers the EOS R7 to be a bit higher-end than the EOS R8 even though it’s APS-C. (Both cameras also cost the same at $1499.) Meanwhile the EOS R10 is another level lower, and the EOS R50 is entry-level, so it all holds up. That’s my best guess, at least.
However you look at it, their naming conventions are confusing..(not that Canon are alone in this either..).
The predominant system is one digit (fullframe) vs two/more digits (apsc). Breaking those established (and unspoken) rules makes it feel kinda wrong.
In that case canon having the lower number for quality they could have used some letters / combinations like Nikon has for FX / DX. They could return the M lettering for cropped sensors as they already reused the S lettering for cropped lenses.
Canon R5 (no letter for full frame)
Canon RM8 (m for cropped sensor)
Anyways, it’s just just a little weird and nothing that really matters. I mean, nobody buys a camera without checking it out/researching it. It’s just that I would instantly rule out any non-fullframe Canon/Nikon/Sony camera. With those brands, If I wanted to go compact I would chose something like the Sony a7c II and some pancake lenses.
Cropped sensor cameras make only sense if you go the Fuji route and/or want a lightweight Tele kit. For lightweight Tele there are also MFT cameras. Even though I feel like at some point you want to upgrade to ff if you take it seriously. I don’t see any other reason to go cropped.