Canon EOS R8 Review

Apr 21, 2024

The Canon EOS R8 ($1,499, body only) is the company's latest take on a mid-level camera with a full-frame sensor. It has the same body style as the most affordable full-framer in the lineup, the EOS RP ($999), but features vastly better internals and the latest version of Canon's best-in-class autofocus. The sensor isn't stabilized, though you do get full-width 10-bit video at up to 4K60 and electronic shutter bursts at up to 40fps. All these positives are enough for the R8 to earn our Editors' Choice award among its entry and midrange competitors.

It has been more than a decade since Canon introduced its first consumer-targeted full-frame camera, the EOS 6D, which debuted for around $2,100. In the interim, the price of entry has dropped, with the EOS RP and Nikon Z 5 selling for around $1,000 at press time. Along with the older (but still on sale) Panasonic Lumix S5 ($1,500) and the rangefinder-style Sony a7C ($1,800), each full-frame mirrorless system has an entry point under two grand.

The EOS R8 isn't as much of a unicorn as the 6D, which competed against the then-$3,500 EOS 5D Mark III. There are now more full-frame models from which to choose, and they are generally less expensive than in the DSLR era. The step-up from the R8, the EOS R6 Mark II, goes for $2,500, as an example.

The R8 shares a lot with the R6 Mark II internally, including the same 24MP CMOS sensor and processor, though not everything is the same performance-wise. For instance, the R8's image sensor isn't stabilized like that of the R6, and its mechanical shutter tops out at 6fps (the R6 goes up to 12fps). That said, picture quality is indistinguishable between the two.

If you already have some RF mount lenses, you can get the R8 in a body-only configuration. If you're new to the system, a kit is available with the compact RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM zoom for $1,699, a $99 discount versus buying them separately. There's no kit option with the more versatile RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM, but you should still consider its $399 cost if you prefer a longer zoom.

We expect most people in the market for the R8 to stick with affordable lenses, and Canon has a few that stand out in the value space, such as the RF 16mm F2.8, RF 50mm F1.8, RF 100-400mm, and RF 600mm F11. There's nothing to stop you from using the EOS R8 with higher-grade L series lenses, of course. I didn't have the RF 100-400mm on hand, so I used the RF 100-500mm L to test the camera's autofocus for telephoto subjects, as well as the 35mm F1.8 Macro and the 24-50mm. As for third parties, support is limited. There are plenty of manual focus options, but Canon has only recently started to approve autofocus lenses, the first from Meike dropped last month, but at press time support Sigma and Tamron remains elusive. For more detail on available lenses, be sure to read our RF lens buying guide.

If you have some EF SLR lenses laying around, Canon's adapters (such as the affordable EF-EOS R) allow you to use them with an RF camera, complete with autofocus. The EOS R8 also works with Speedlite flashes and E-TTL wireless triggers.

The R8 borrows its body from the EOS RP, as mentioned. At around 3.4 by 5.2 by 2.8 inches (HWD), it's small but not uncomfortably so, at least for my medium-sized hands. A mix of magnesium and polycarbonate makes for a relatively light 1-pound body weight. The RF 24-50mm adds just 7.4 ounces.

The body includes some dust and drip protection, but isn't fully weather-sealed and doesn't have an IP rating. It's similar in build to Canon's late-model SLRs like the EOS 6D Mark II and EOS 90D. I feel comfortable using the kit under gray skies and light rain but recommend protecting it during a downpour.

Although learning photogs may lean on the fully automatic or Program shooting mode, manual controls are available, too. The R8 has two control dials on its top plate to set the aperture, shutter speed, or EV compensation value depending on your capture settings. Advanced amateurs and pros shopping for a light full-frame should appreciate familiar ergonomics, like the angled shutter button at the front of the grip and the M.Fn button nearby.

In addition to the standard aperture (Av) and shutter (Tv) priority modes, Canon includes its exclusive Flexible priority (Fv) option. It uses the rear control wheel to swap the function of the forward wheel between ISO, Aperture, Shutter, and EV compensation adjustment. Scene modes, art filters, and two custom settings (C1, C2) are on the Mode dial as well. A toggle switch at the left swaps between still and movie modes; the R8 smartly keeps exposure settings for these two modes separate, which is good news for creators who often swap between the two modes in the field. Shutter speed settings, in particular, for stills and video usually differ, even for the same scene.

Canon puts some controls on the rear, too. The AF-ON button is available for photographers who like to split focus and exposure functions, but it's a little small and in an awkward position as part of the thumb rest. The AE Lock (*) and AF select buttons are nearby, with a four-way directional pad beneath. Many control buttons are configurable so there's room to customize things if the R8 isn't set up quite the way you prefer.

The controls are a little less pro-tuned than the EOS R6 Mark II, the step-up option, or similar mid-entry picks like the Nikon Z 5. Both of these cameras include a rear joystick to set autofocus and more practical AF-ON buttons. If you prefer to have some control over your autofocus point, you can still move it about with the rear d-pad or tap on the touch screen, but it's not as comfortable as using an eight-way control stick. Depending on your needs, the R8's autofocus may be good enough for you to let it run the show by itself, so make sure to read our impressions of it a bit further down.

Buttons and dials aren't the only way to interface with the camera. The EOS R8 sports a 3-inch, 1.62-million-dot display with a touch-forward interface. An overlay menu with a dozen configurable settings pops up with a press of the Q button and is navigable via touch or the D-pad. You can use the touchscreen to move through the text menus and set focus, as well. The screen is bright enough for outdoor use and swings out to the side to face forward for selfies and vlog-style videos.

Canon opted for a 2.4-million-dot, eye-level electronic viewfinder here that delivers a decent 0.70x magnification. The picture is large enough to get an idea of your frame, and you can get solid results along with a magnification assist if you want to try manual focus. We wish the EVF was a little sharper (the more affordable Nikon Z 5 uses a better panel with 3.7 million dots and 0.80x magnification), but the Sony a7C (0.59x, 2.4 million dots) is a worse offender. In terms of refresh rate, the Canon defaults to 60fps in power-saving mode, but you can increase it to 120fps if you don't mind a battery life hit.

The EOS R8 uses one of Canon's smaller battery packs, the LP-E17. It should last for 370 photos if you use the rear LCD or 220 exposures with the EVF in its power-saving mode. Both are conservative estimates and you should get more pictures per charge in practice, especially if you use burst shooting modes. If you're looking at the EOS R8 as a travel camera, make sure to purchase a spare for long days at a theme park or treks across the city. If you want a starter full-frame with all-day battery life, the Sony a7C is the best option with a rating of 740 exposures.

A USB-C port is on board for data transfers, in-camera charging, and webcam use. The R8 supports USB Audio Class/USB Video Class standards, so you don't have to install the Canon EOS Webcam Utility as you did with older models—just plug it into your computer and it should appear as a camera option in your browser or Zoom client. Canon doesn't list a spec for in-camera charging time, though we recommend you use a PD charger for the best results. An external AC battery charger arrives in the box too; it gets a dead battery up to full power in about two hours. The body also includes 3.5mm jacks for headphones or a microphone, a 2.5mm remote port, and a micro-HDMI out. There's no in-body flash, but you can add a Speedlite or wireless trigger to the hot shoe.

Bluetooth 4.2/LE and dual-band 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi radios enable connections to smartphones, tablets, and desktops. You need to load the Canon Camera Connect app (available for Android and iOS) or the EOS Utility (for macOS or Windows) to make that integration work, though pairing is straightforward. Once the setup is complete, you can use the app to transfer images from the camera, control it remotely, and install firmware updates.

The EOS R8 has a single memory card slot that's inside the battery compartment. Support for UHS-II transfer speeds accommodates the 40fps Raw e-shutter mode, but you don't get the redundancy of dual slots. In this price range, the Nikon Z 5 and Panasonic Lumix S5 are full-frame alternatives to consider if dual cards are a must-have.

Canon's autofocus system leaped forward with the introduction of the EOS R3 and its improved subject recognition capabilities. The EOS R8 uses those same algorithms, as do the EOS R7 and R6 Mark II. All are standouts when it comes to finding focus quickly and benefit from a subject recognition system that effectively picks out people, pets and wildlife, birds, and vehicles. So far, only the Sony a7R V has surpassed Canon's efforts, but that 60MP, $3,900 camera is in a completely different class and its AI-augmented focus tech hasn't yet trickled down to more affordable models.

You can turn off subject recognition if you prefer. I like leaving it on, however, because it's a real boost for the R8 in particular. Swapping focus points with the d-pad is a little clumsy and the subject recognition system helps the camera jump to the expected point of focus—eyes for people and animals, or the helmet of a driver in a motorcar in vehicle mode, for instance. You can also choose an auto setting or manually select a subject type for the system to prioritize. Anecdotally, I found the accuracy to be a bit better for birds when I specifically selected that mode from the menu, compared with when I chose the automatic mode.

I'll admit to missing a focus joystick (especially for telephoto work), but the R8's focus system is good enough that it's not always necessary: You can expect good results in many situations by just using the wide focus area. I swapped to a center point for birds in branches and skipped using the d-pad entirely, instead getting the center point close enough to a bird to let the subject recognition take over and start tracking. The EOS R7 remains a better option for photogs who reach for long lenses first and foremost because of its joystick, though the R8's full-frame sensor offers more opportunities for background blur and dim light photo ops than the APS-C chip in the R7.

Missing joystick aside, the focus system is quite capable of keeping up with fast-moving subjects. The R8 supports 40fps Raw or JPG capture with its fully electronic shutter but drops down to a more meager 6fps with the mechanical shutter. The R8 uses a compact mechanical shutter mechanism that can't manage high-speed bursts and tops out at 1/4,000-second exposures and 1/200-second sync with flashes. That's not as impressive as the R6 Mark II, which does 12fps mechanical, 1/8,000-second exposures, and 1/250-second sync, or even the Sony a7C which has a similar shutter design as the R8; it manages 10fps mechanical bursts, but just 1/160-second flash sync. On the plus side, the R8 saves 14-bit Raw in the mechanical shutter mode, versus 12-bit for the e-shutter.

The other distinction of the EOS R8 shutter is of most concern to photogs who use bright F1.2-2.0 primes. If you scrutinize defocused highlights made with the R8's electronic first curtain shutter, you might spot some shapes that should be circular, but look like they have an edge lopped off straight. It's a tempest-in-a-teapot issue, but if you're persnickety about the look of bokeh, take care to use the fully electronic shutter. It scans fast enough to be viable for all types of photos, including action shots, without introducing rolling shutter distortion.

With 40fps as an option, some may look to the R8 to snap action. It's certainly capable, and the buffer is pretty good—you can get about 75 C Raws, 40 full-size Raws, or 90 JPGs in a burst. If you do max out the buffer, expect to wait 15-20 seconds for the burst to write to the card. If you swap to the mechanical shutter and its 6fps rate, you can go forever with JPGs and get more than 400 C Raw exposures. A pre-shot mode is available for the 30fps e-shutter mode; it buffers 15 photos, so you can capture the half-second of action before you press the shutter.

The EOS R8 uses the same 24MP FSI CMOS sensor and processor as the R6 Mark II, but there is one major difference in their picture-making capabilities: The pricier R6 includes a 5-axis IBIS system to steady its chip, while there is no stabilization built into the R8. Many of Canon's RF lenses include stabilized optics, so it might not make a huge difference in your work, but IBIS is still preferable for handheld video or long-exposure photos.

The imaging engine supports a few different formats including the beginner-friendly and easily shareable JPG, but HEIF is an option as well. If you want to take time editing pictures, turn to the lossless compressed C Raw format or the full-size Raw option. The sensor supports a wide ISO range from 100-204800. Out of the box, its automatic setting is capped at ISO 25600, but you can push it as high as ISO 102400 or set it lower if you prefer. ISO 204800 is only ever available as a manual setting.

High ISO settings come in handy when you work in dim light or want to keep your shutter speed short to freeze subjects in motion, but picture quality suffers as you move up the scale. If you're snapping JPG or HEIF photos, you can enjoy clear, detailed pictures through ISO 6400, and can go as high as ISO 25600 with just a little bit of smudging of details. Higher settings show more blur, with noticeably soft results at the top sensitivity levels.

Working in Raw or C Raw gives you more room to edit files, but requires you to do some work in a processing application to handle the files; we use Adobe Lightroom Classic as our standard for camera reviews. Pictures are perfectly clean and grain-free through ISO 800 and we see excellent detail up through ISO 12800 with just some slight grain visible. The noise takes on a rougher quality at ISO 25600-51200, so pictures take a step back in fidelity at these settings. The results are definitely rough if you push things all the way to ISO 102400-204800.

Working in Raw isn't just about keeping high-ISO shots sharp, though. These files give you more room to tweak color and exposure than compressed JPGs. The R8 records 14-bit Raw with its mechanical shutter and 12-bit Raw with the e-shutter; both file formats provide just as much room to adjust exposure and edit photos to taste as you get with the EOS R6 Mark II and other upmarket full-frame models like the Nikon Z 6 II and Sony a7 IV, which have BSI CMOS chips.

Canon doesn't pull many punches with the video toolkit for the R8; the lack of sensor stabilization is the biggest difference between it and the R6 Mark II. For those not keeping track, that means a 4K60 picture downsampled from the 6K sensor. For slow-motion, the R8 does 1080p120. There's a minor annoyance to deal with when swapping between standard video and slow-mo, though; Canon cameras don't remember your previous video settings and default back to 1080p when you change out of slow-motion record settings. Make sure to confirm such settings before you start rolling.

Several in-camera looks are available, including the standard set of natural, vivid, black-and-white profiles, an HDR option, and the flat CLog3 for editors savvy enough to tackle color correction duty. It can save 10-bit files with 4:2:2 color internally and supports clean output over HDMI to recording devices like the Atomos Ninja V.

The lack of stabilization is the biggest mark against the R8 as a video camera, especially if you work handheld. If you add a tripod or gimbal to the mix, however, the R8 becomes a strong value for video with its convenient headphone and mic jacks. I can imagine vloggers matching this camera up with a gimbal like the DJI RS3 Mini and RF 16mm F2.8 lens for good results.

Heat might be a concern, however; the R8 warns you before swapping to 4K that long-form recording might overheat the camera. Even so, I got around 90 minutes of 4K24 footage before the camera actually gave up. 4K60 generates more heat, and my clips topped out around 20 minutes before that became an issue. If you expect to use your camera for long-form recording, an option with a built-in cooling fan like the Panasonic Lumix S5 II is likely a better choice. And if you are all about vlogging, consider extending your budget to get a Sony ZV-E1, which sets itself apart from the crowd with an AI-powered virtual camera assistant and a three-capsule stereo mic. Like the vast majority of cameras, the R8's internal mic is competent, but not suitable for any sort of serious video production.

Although the entry-level EOS RP is still in the lineup for around $999, we see two main reasons for photographers looking at a full-frame kit to spend more on the R8: a vastly better autofocus system and several significant video capability upgrades. Canon's decision to put the autofocus system from the high-end R3 in a more obtainable, hobbyist-friendly body pays out in spades here, especially since most other affordable full-frame cameras come with significant speed sacrifices. It's easy enough to find a fast, capable camera in this price range if you want an APS-C sensor (the EOS R7 and Fujifilm X-T5 are both great choices), but neither of those is as good for blurring out your backgrounds or working in low light.

For those reasons, we're naming the R8 our Editors' Choice winner among entry-level, full-frame models. Others are still worth considering though, even if they aren't as complete offerings. The Nikon Z 5 gives you the benefit of dual card slots and a bigger EVF for instance, while the Sony a7C has a smaller body style and supports the larger E-mount lens system.

The Canon EOS R8's combination of a full-frame sensor and fast autofocus system results in a compact mirrorless camera with much better than entry-level performance,

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