Two weeks in the past I used to be excited about the way to check Canon’s entry-level EOS R8 and EOS R100 cameras within the depressing French climate after I had a thought: “Hey, why not take a trip to a hotter place to check these fashions?” After Googling the closest location with 75 degree-plus climate, I discovered myself within the balmy Canary Islands. It turned out to be a fantastic spot to take images as properly, so all the things got here collectively completely.
Each cameras have far completely different worth factors, at the moment round $450 and $1,300, respectively. They’re nonetheless the corporate’s least costly new full-frame and crop-sensor mirrorless cameras, although, and Canon markets them each as supreme for tourism and journey — so I figured that this can be a nice technique to check the capabilities of each.
Like all potential purchaser, I needed to see in the event that they’re higher than a smartphone for touring — particularly if the bigger sensors can counter a smartphone’s AI computational pictures. I additionally checked out ease of use and automatic operation, flexibility for sunny seashores or darkish bars, vlogging and extra. After making an attempt them out at a few of Gran Canaria’s most scenic spots, I discovered certainly one of them to be a digicam price shopping for and one, not a lot.
Smartphone computational pictures
Earlier than detailing my expertise with these cameras, I wish to speak about computational and AI pictures. Most smartphones incorporate these tips, like taking a number of images in fast succession to get the very best one or enhance low-light pictures. They usually ship better-exposed pictures with superior white stability, too. There’s a worth to be paid although by way of over-sharpening and different artifacts that can provide images a man-made look.
I examined this by taking a couple of pictures with each a Pixel 7a and a digicam within the auto settings, as many journey photographers do. As I suspected, at first look the pictures on the smartphone look higher, however a better look reveals superior images from the digicam by way of element, shade accuracy, pores and skin tones, true noise ranges and extra. I imagine it’s necessary for patrons to know this and have a primary concept of the way to modify pictures in submit, or their new buy may find yourself in a drawer.
Canon EOS R100
The 24-megapixel APS-C EOS R100 looks like it ought to provide loads for vacationers. It’s small and lightweight at 356 grams, so with a compact lens, it’s not an enormous burden in comparison with a smartphone. On the similar time, the bigger sensor doubtlessly affords superior high quality and the flexibleness of interchangeable lenses.
The small measurement comes with large compromises, although. Dealing with is mediocre and the settings aren’t tremendous intuitive. I’d love to inform you possibly can simply management it on the display as a substitute, however the show isn’t contact delicate and is almost ineffective for vlogging because it’s mounted in place too. The digital viewfinder has low magnification and is comparatively dim, so it’s exhausting to make use of within the solar — particularly with glasses on — unlucky when you’re on the seashore, for instance.
It has only a single UHS-I card slot, so storage is comparatively low-cost however you gained’t have a backup if the cardboard glitches. You get a microHDMI jack to output to a TV, together with a mic enter, however no headphone jack. The USB-C 2.zero port can solely switch information, not cost the digicam or allow you to use it as a webcam.
It helps Canon’s smaller LP-E17 battery, however is rated for a good 430 pictures on a cost and plenty of extra in actual life. One large profit is a built-in flash with publicity compensation to dim it down – although settings are restricted within the absolutely automated mode most freshmen will use.
Efficiency and video
The R100 has anemic efficiency, to place it mildly. It shoots and focuses at simply 3.5 fps max, the slowest in its class. It feels sluggish when capturing RAW images, even in single shot mode. Fortunately, it’s rather more reactive when capturing JPEGs.
The sensor has a number of the worst rolling shutter I’ve seen in silent mode. Fortunately, it does have a first-curtain mechanical shutter that eliminates that, and the silent mode setting is hidden away the place many of us won’t ever discover it.
There’s eye-detection AF for folks solely, and it really works properly in case your topic is near the digicam. That’s OK for household images and the like, however not supreme for candid or road pictures in your journey. The autofocus isn’t nice in low gentle both, however is in any other case pretty dependable.
The R100 is OK for grabbing the odd journey video, however not appropriate for content material creators. Max decision is 4K 24p, however that comes with a 1.5 instances crop, or 2.2 instances with digital stabilization, killing the bokeh benefit of a big sensor. And there’s no choice for log, 10-bit, or another high-end video options. That mentioned, 4K video is comparatively sharp and colours are good and correct.
Picture high quality
The brilliant spot of the EOS R100 is photograph high quality. As you’d anticipate from Canon, picture high quality is superb with heat pores and skin tones and correct colours straight out of the digicam. It could possibly additionally deal with low-light capturing properly due to the big sensor, with little noise as much as ISO 6400. All that may enable you to take nice pictures of mountains, the seashore, nightlife and different typical trip eventualities. The flexibility to shoot RAW, together with the mechanical shutter, is one other good cause to get this mannequin over most smartphones. And eventually, the built-in flash is there that will help you get good wanting pictures even in darkish environments.
EOS 100 wrap-up
So would I like to recommend the EOS R100 for journey, notably over a smartphone? Sorry Canon, however no. It’s too stripped down to exchange a great smartphone, and whereas it does ship higher picture high quality, it’s too sophisticated. As a substitute, I’d counsel Canon’s older EOS M50 Mark II, because it affords the identical picture high quality however has a touchscreen, is smaller, and nonetheless affords good lens choices. Sony’s A6100 has higher autofocus and video choices, and when you can afford a bit extra, Canon’s personal R50 is identical measurement however way more succesful.
EOS R8
Just like the EOS R100, Canon’s R8 is the corporate’s most stripped-down and most cost-effective new full-frame digicam. It provides you a similar sensor and picture high quality because the $2,000 EOS R6 II for $700 much less, however takes away a number of the pace, video options and extra.
The principle factor missing within the R8 is in-body stabilization, so it depends on lens and digital shake discount – however that really labored fairly properly for me. It’s additionally lacking a full mechanical shutter, however does have a front-curtain shutter that eliminates rolling shutter. The EVF is way extra primary, with decrease decision and magnification.
On the plus aspect, it has the identical flip-out show because the R6 II, which means it will possibly function a succesful vlogging and selfie digicam. It additionally has a good vary of handbook controls, with twin dials for the principle settings, a full vary of handbook and auto settings and a devoted photograph and video swap. It’s additionally smaller and significantly lighter than the R6 II, so it’s a greater journey choice.
It has each mic and headphone jacks, together with a microHDMI port. It captures images at excessive speeds to a UHS-II card, however there’s just one slot. The largest compromise is a battery that’s the identical because the one within the R100. Given the additional energy calls for of the bigger sensor, it delivers solely 290 pictures on a cost, max and below an hour of video capturing.
Efficiency and video
For a finances digicam, the R8 is quick. It helps solely 6 fps with the digital curtain shutter, however can deal with 40 fps bursts in digital mode. There’s vital rolling shutter, although, so preserve that in thoughts for motion pictures.
The R8 makes use of Canon’s newest AI subjection recognition tech, which means it will possibly observe each animals and people precisely. It additionally comes with an auto setting that lets the digicam decide the topic and comply with it accordingly.
I feel autofocus is without doubt one of the most necessary options for journey pictures, and the R8 delivers. It could possibly find and lock onto numerous topics and observe them quickly across the body. That makes it extra succesful than different current fashions just like the Sony’s A7 IV and the Nikon Z6 II. Focus could be chosen through the touchscreen along with your eye to the EVF, which works properly, however be sure you allow the “contact and drag” setting within the menu.
It’s additionally a great video and content material creation digicam, with a couple of caveats. You’ll be able to shoot uncropped video at as much as 4K 60p, and it helps Canon’s C-Log Three with 10-bit seize, together with HDR PQ. 120 fps extremely sluggish mo is accessible at 1080p. That mentioned, 4K 60p has some pixel binning, so it’s much less sharp than the 30p mode. The shortage of in-body stabilization additionally makes it much less helpful for vlogging, as a result of digital stabilization provides a 1.25 instances crop..
Picture high quality
Picture high quality is a powerful level with the R8 too, particularly for vacationers who need excess of a smartphone can provide. It’s a fantastic folks and scenery-shooting digicam, with wealthy pores and skin hues and correct colours. On the similar time, the full-frame 24-megapixel sensor is nice in low gentle, delivers loads of element and affords stunning background bokeh. Severe photographers can seize RAW images and get the identical degree of element discovered on dearer cameras.
EOS R8 wrap-up
Canon’s entry-level full-frame R8 is certainly price taking in your voyages. It affords spectacular picture high quality and is nice for content material creators, too. The principle disadvantage is the shortage of stabilization and a small battery, however you’ll be high quality when you carry an additional battery or two. Rival choices embody Nikon’s Z5, which has picture high quality on par however inferior autofocus and video, and when you’re extra into vlogging, the Panasonic S5 is a greater choice for much less cash. When you’re in search of the very best inexpensive hybrid full-frame digicam, the Canon R8 is a good alternative.
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