I have reservations: Canon EOS R8 review

Samuel Buchmann

16.3.2023

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

When I see the data and images from Canon’s new budget full-frame camera, I’m somewhat sceptical. Putting it to the test rebutted a few of my assumptions, but confirmed some others.

«Do you want to test the R8?» asked my editorial colleague David Lee. «What can it do?» David shows me a photo along with the specs. My first impression: «I wouldn’t buy it.» It was a preconception – it’s not like I’d even held the camera or taken a photo with it. But in today’s world of online shops, product images and data are the first tools we use to make a decision. Is that fair? And is there any truth in my preconception? In order to find out, I have Canon send me out an R8 to put through its paces.

Cameras

Canon EOS R8

24.20 Mpx, Full frame

36

The principle of the Canon EOS R8 is easily explained: R6 Mark II minus 1,000 francs. More specifically, the R8 boasts the same full-frame senor as its older sibling but with the slightly modified case of the Canon RP. And that’s exactly what’s making me sceptical. Important control elements, such as the thumbwheel and joystick are missing on the smaller camera body. What’s more, there’s no built-in image stabiliser – just an SD card slot and a smaller battery. I’m also concerned I’ll find the body less ergonomic. In other words, compromising on controls, features and ergonomics, which represents three serious drawbacks in my eyes. Here’s all the other data on the R8 compared with the R6 Mark II:

I don’t expect any surprises from the 24-megapixel sensor with Digic-X processor. I’ve already given it a thorough test when I tried out the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and it impressed me. Admittedly, other manufacturers’ sensors do provide a slightly greater dynamic range. But Canon delivers 4K video resolution at 60 images per second in oversampling without cropping. That's great. The R8 also inherits the excellent autofocus system from its older sibling. I won’t be going into any more detail on that here, but you can find out more about it in my review of the R6 Mark II:

Instead, I’d like to check if my preconceptions are true and find out how bad an impact the compromises have on the new camera in practice.

1. Preconception: worse controls

I’ve shot with countless cameras from all sorts of manufacturers. That’s where I learnt that the type and arrangement of buttons is, for the most part, a matter of taste. And you can get used to a lot. This is why I try to distinguish between things that are unfamiliar and those that are always awkward or uncomfortable.

The R8’s button layout falls into the category of «unfamiliar but OK». For instance, the AF-on button is to the right rather than the left of your thumb as on other Canon cameras. In terms of the top of the camera, the R8 has adopted the R6 Mark II’s dedicated switch for altering between photo and video mode. The on/off/lock switch is also the same. I click through menus using the D-pad. Personally, I find navigating this way even more enjoyable than with a joystick or thumbwheel.

It changes suddenly when I need to move a focus point manually. That’s also something I have to do with the D-pad. But it only has four directions rather than the eight on my beloved R6 Mark II joystick. That being said, it’s positioned perfectly next to my thumb’s resting position. The cross on the R8 is a lot harder to reach with your eye at the camera. It’s annoying and firmly in the «impractical in the long term» camp.

I also miss the thumbwheel when photographing. With bigger cameras, I have three wheels to work with. I mostly use these for aperture, ISO and exposure compensation. With the R8, on the other hand, I only have the two wheels on the top. To change the ISO, I need to go into the Quick Menu.

How much would these compromises bother me in the long run? It's hard to say. I could come to terms with the lack of a thumbwheel, the joystick less so. However, Canon’s autofocus system is so good that I switch to single-point less and less. The bottom line is, this has confirmed my suspicions about the camera, but the drawbacks aren’t as bad as I feared.

2. Preconception: missing features

I can’t say as much for the next category. A look at the features tells you why the R8 is so much cheaper than the R6 Mark II. At first, it was just the small things: one card slot instead of two. That alone rules out small full-frame cameras for professional photographers, as images can’t be stored redundantly like this. And no one wants to tell the bride her wedding photos have had it because an SD card gave up the ghost at the wrong moment.

What’s more, the R8 uses the very small LP E17 battery. It only boasts half as much capacity as the R6 Mark II’s battery. The official specs state 150 images with the electronic viewfinder. The larger model is capable of 320.

As for the viewfinder, even that is noticeably worse than the one on the R6 Mark II. Featuring 2.36 million pixels, it has more than a million less. And with 0.7 factor magnification, the zoom isn’t exactly brilliant. That’s why I find it difficult to properly gauge the focus. Viewfinders like this remind me of the early days of mirrorless cameras and make me miss the good old optical viewfinder.

However, the biggest elephant in the room is the lack of an image stabiliser. Other cheap full-frame models, such as the Nikon Z5 and the Sony A7C store their sensors with the in-body image stabiliser (IBIS). Even Canon’s larger models, such as the R6 Mark II can do that. But with the R8, you either have to do without it or buy lenses with built-in stabilisers. And yet, fixed focal lengths often aren’t stabilised.

In the last few years, I got so used to omnipresent stabilisation that, in this respect, the R8 seems ancient. All of a sudden, I can’t shoot by hand with 1/10 second any more. And on a dull day in the forest, I have to crank up the ISO. That goes completely against my instinct and, along with the other compromises, confirms my bias about the lack of features.

3. Preconception: unergonomic

My third preconception was unjustified. The R8 sits surprisingly well in your hand. Yes, the grip is smaller than the one on the larger model. In fact, it’s so small that my fingers often slide away. As a result, the R8 doesn’t come close to the outstanding ergonomics of the R6 Mark II. But the slots and curves are once again precise in the right places. In contrast to other manufacturers (I’m looking at you Sony and Panasonic), Canon just knows how to shape camera bodies properly.

The material is in keeping with the high quality. When it comes to the rubber coating on the grips, I have to take my hat off to Canon. They’re more slip-free than on other cameras. That’s why, all in all, I like holding the R8 more than I’d have thought. I’m pretty sure that’d only change if I had large lenses.

Verdict: Worse, but not bad

Were my preconceptions justified? Only in part. The Canon EOS R8 is worse than its older sibling, the R6 Mark II. Which makes sense given it sets you back 1,000 francs less. However, it’s better than I expected. The R8 positively surprised me, especially when it came to ergonomics. And I had no issues with the controls. It was just the not-incredibly-high resolution viewfinder and lack of image stabiliser that spoilt the fun for me in a lot of situations – both are things I’d come to expect.

In this regard, the image quality is very good for this price range. Both photos and videos look just as good as on the R6 Mark II. You won’t find full-frame in oversampling, without cropping, in 4K and 60 fps anywhere else for such a low price. Even its autofocus is state-of-the-art.

So, if you want to buy a new Canon, should you save yourself the 1,000 francs for the R6 Mark II or not? There’s not a hard and fast answer to that. If you don’t need a stabilised sensor and prefer not to use a lens, the R8 is a good deal. Conversely, as a camera snob, I’m more of the opinion that if I’m buying something, I’d rather it was the full package. In other words, taking the form of the R6 Mark II with an image stabiliser as well as improved ergonomics and controls. Consequently, my personal opinion on the Canon EOS R8 would be the same as my preconception: «I wouldn’t buy one.»

Samuel Buchmann

Senior Editor

Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.ch

My fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.

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