My first mirrorless camera - Canon EOS R3 review

Over three years after the announcement of the Canon EOS R camera, I have decided to buy my first mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R3.  My readers know me as The Wildlife Ho-tographer, using Canon equipment for over 30 years. You can follow my travels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and this blog. 

Canon invited me to a special showing of the EOS R back in October 2018 but the camera's performance was underwhelming. I have held off buying a mirrorless camera until the technology has matured enough to give me performance at least comparable to my EOS-1D X Mark III body.

I have put the R3 through extreme, vigorous tests to separate hype from facts. Went to a few local parks, Central and Baja California, Grand Tetons National Park, Alaska, Europe, sub Arctic Canada, Japan and Africa for some real world wildlife testing. So far, I am impressed but not wowed. The EVF cannot match the OVF on the EOS-1D X Mark III for speed and accuracy but it provides real time exposure of the image before I take the shot. That is a distinct advantage of the EVF over the OVF. The Electronic Shutter performs slightly better than the Mechanical Shutter on the Mark III. The AF tracking, especially in Animal Mode is impressive in most cases but the Eye AF is over hyped and unimpressive. 

The R3 and RF 100-500mm lens combo and battery life performed well in cold climate (-20F) until the temperature got down to -60+F. The LP-E19 battery drained rapidly and stopped working in about half an hour. The AF tracking in Animal Mode cannot match the EOS-1D X Mark III's AF performance. Sometimes, it was confused by small branches, flowers and leaves when I tried to zero in on Hummingbirds.

The R3 camera feels very solid and comfortable in my hands. Practically indistinguishable from the EOS-1D X body. All my cameras have the same feature settings so I don't have to fumble around to locate the functions I use most often. I am a wildlife photographer, not a videographer so there will be no testing on video features of the R3. 

Coming from decades of DSLR use, I am prepared to give the new technology some time. I am beginning to get used to the EOS R3 and gaining more confidence with the camera. I still have a few more real world wildlife photo shoots to go on in the next few months. Stay in touch and check back often. The R3 mates well with the RF 100-500mm lens. Almost all the photos here were taken with the RF 100-500mm lens. The rest were shot with the EF 600mm f/4L IS III. I will use this new camera/lens setup and compare it to the EOS-1D X Mark III with EF 100-400mm II combo. They are currently my workhorse.   

Major Firmware updates coming to EOS-1D X Mark III, EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras

London, United Kingdom, 16th November 2021 – Canon Europe today announces firmware updates for the EOS R5 (firmware v1.50), EOS R6 (firmware v1.50) and EOS-1D X Mark III (firmware v1.60). Following the recent launch of the EOS R3, a powerhouse for sport and reportage photography, Canon bolsters its professional range of cameras with enhanced detection, seamless file transfer and optimized support for lenses.

Unrivalled detection for subject tracking

Across both the EOS R5 and EOS R6, this update delivers enhanced recognition of subjects. Users of these cameras are now able to select “vehicles” as the main subject. Inheriting this abilty from the EOS R3, the cameras can track racing cars and bikes. The update also enhances the overall AF tracking of people, with improved eye and face detection even when the subject is wearing a mask, as well as adding body detection. Strengthening detection within the EOS-1D X Mark III for winter sports, the firmware provides improved head detection for subjects wearing goggles and helmets.

Simplified operation for streamlined workflows

For professional photographers, their camera needs to operate as an extension of them, with seamless and intuitive functionality to help them capture the shot. This upgrade gives EOS R5 and EOS R6 owners the ability to set a custom white balance in Live View, streamlining manual white balance control. Across all models, the firmware ensures that photographers aren’t able to mistakenly transfer files by pressing the multi-controller when “Transfer with SET” is set for FTP transfer. Previously, the EOS-1D X Mark III employed separate buttons for voice memo and image rating, but with newly added settings users can use one button to do both functions simultaneously.

Enhanced support for lenses

As the RF lens range continues to grow, photographers are able to unlock new possibilities with their cameras. Thanks to this latest update, the EOS R5 is now compatible with Canon’s EOS VR SYSTEM and the RF 5.2mm F2.8L DUAL FISHEYE lens, enabling content creators to easily capture immersive footage for virtual reality. The update also offers full-time manual support for the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM, even if AF is selected.

The EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS-1D X Mark III firmware updates will be available to download from 2nd December 2021 from local online support centres.

Canon celebrates the 10th year anniversary of the Cinema EOS system

MELVILLE, NY, November 4, 2021 – Canon Inc. announced today that the company is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Cinema EOS System of professional digital cinema camera and lens products for the film and visual production industries. Since its debut, the company’s line of products has received an abundance of support from professional filmmakers around the world.

In 2011, both film-analog and digital equipment were being used side-by-side in the cinema production industry. Digitalization was continuing its spread, and digital cameras equipped with Super 35mm equivalent large-format sensors were becoming the mainstay of the industry. Amid this environment, Canon leveraged its visual technologies, including the optical technologies cultivated since its founding, and launched its Cinema EOS System, thus formally marking its entry into the cinema production industry.

When developing equipment such as cameras and lenses for the cinema production market, it’s essential to have assistance from professionals in the field who use the equipment. From the release of its first digital cinema cameras (EOS C300 / EOS C300 PL) and lenses (CN-E14.5-60mm T 2.6 L S / CN-E14.5-60mm T 2.6 L SP) in January 2012, Canon has always sought out feedback about performance, ease-of-use and recording styles from end-users on the front lines of cinema production. Canon strives to develop products with designs and intuitive ergonomics that enable the shooting styles and visual expression demanded by professionals.

Canon has continued to expand the boundaries of visual expression and pursue the development of devices with ever-evolving technology. The company’s first Cinema EOS camera, the EOS C300, which is equipped with a CMOS sensor that produces video reproduction comparable to 35mm film, was awarded a Technology and Engineering Emmy® award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) in 2012. What’s more, the company has been honored for its cinema lenses, having received another Technology and Engineering Emmy® award in 2017 for its 4K cinema lenses that have earned high praise from the market for its excellent optical performance.

Canon’s Cinema EOS System is widely used in the modern cinema production industry, including in film and television production. The EOS C300 Mark II (released in September 2015) digital cinema camera and eight cinema lenses were used to film the 2018 Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo. The System was also honored at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020, where the winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematography, ACASĂ, MY HOME, was filmed with the EOS C300 and EOS C100 Mark II cameras (released in December 2014).

Message from Hiroto Okawara, Unit Executive, Image Solutions Business Unit 2

I am truly honored to have reached this ten-year milestone. It’s thanks to the support from all of you in the cinema production industry, we’ve made it all the way here from our very first steps into Hollywood. In order to help creators produce work as close to their ideals as possible, we will continue to push forward in our efforts to further develop the Cinema EOS System.

The cinema production industry evolves day by day, and Canon will also continue to implement new technologies in order to create products that serve the ever-diversifying needs of users.

Message from David Klein, member of the American Society of Cinematographers and Cinema EOS System user

Canon still cameras and lenses have been in my hands since I was old enough to click a shutter. Canon’s cinema lenses have been in my hands for almost ten years now, and we have relied heavily on specific characteristics like their personality, sharpness, consistency, and reliability. The EOS-1D C camera has been in the arsenal since 2013, along with every flavor of EOS C300 cameras in some capacity, and they’ve all given us the images we want and need on a daily basis. So happy 10th-anniversary Cinema EOS System, we’re all looking forward to the next ten.

The Cinema EOS System Product Lineup

Launched in 2011, Canon’s Cinema EOS System leverages the company’s strengths—including the ability to develop and manufacture in-house key features such as CMOS sensors, visual processing platform, and interchangeable lenses. Today, the system’s expansive lineup comprises 13 digital cinema cameras and 30 cinema lenses*. In addition to digital cinema cameras and lenses, the system is compatible with the company’s EOS Series RF and EF lenses, helping to support a diverse range of visual expression for creators everywhere.

Canon EOS R3 full frame mirrorless camera Owner and Technical Manuals

 

Canon is expected to ship the Canon EOS R3 starting November 26, 2021. I expect to get mine by the end of this month, at the latest. For those who can't wait to get their hands on one, here are the Owner Manual and Technical Manual.

Download them to peruse all the wonderful features of the camera and get a head start. After I have taken delivery of the EOS R3 and the RF 100-500mm lens, they will accompany me on a few real world wildlife safaris under the most demanding situations and I will write a complete review of the camera. I will have the EOS-1D X Mark III body with me as a comparison.  Keep checking back for the latest information on the EOS R3 body.