Canon has officially launched the EOS R3, its flagship mirrorless camera for sports, action and wildlife photography. With the release, it has now filled the gaps for key specifications not yet revealed in earlier teases, such as resolution, ISO range and video functions.
The EOS R3 probably never was a high-resolution camera as some people had hoped, but the 24.1-megapixel back-lit (BSI) stacked sensor (a first for Canon) is a significant upgrade from the 20th. of the 1DX Mark III megapixel sensor. Canon says it “achieves a resolution performance that surpasses that of the 30.1-megapixel EOS 5D Mark IV,” despite having fewer pixels.
With the BSI / stacked sensor and the latest DIGIC X image processor, the R3 can shoot at 30 fps in electronic shutter mode (up to 1 / 64,000th of a second) or 12 fps with the mechanical shutter, with full AF tracking and automatic exposure. Even better, it offers failure-free recordings in electronic mode and the high readout speeds ensure minimal rolling shutter distortion – so that sports or action shots are possible with the electronic shutter.
The EOS R3 is Canon’s first EOS model to support flash photography in electronic shutter mode. This enables blackout-free flash shots with up to 15 fps (at 1 / 180th of a second), which would probably look pretty wild in person. It also features a silent shutter mode that turns off the artificial shutter and AF detection sounds.
The EOS R3 also has a number of new autofocus functions. Most noticeable is Eye AF, which locks focus anywhere your eye is directed when you half-press the shutter button. It can be used in combination with flexible zone and subject AF tracking, making it “possible to quickly move the target between multiple subjects,” says Canon. It should be noted that the function can be calibrated differently if you wear glasses or contact lenses and that “some glasses / contact lenses may prevent calibration”.
Higher computing speeds also give the EOS R3 some new autofocus capabilities. The dual pixel AF system can now track spot, single point and flexible zone AF as well as in low light (-7.5 EV) than any other model. It can also capture a subject by just getting close to it, so it will track the head, face, or eye of an animal or human, for example, when you place the AF point near its body.
In addition to body, face, head and eye recognition for people, the R3 offers a new “Vehicle Priority” tracking system for open cockpit, GT and rally cars as well as on and off-road motorcycles. When the AI detects a helmet (on a motorcycle or an open-cockpit car), it will automatically point it towards it.
The new sensor also offers improved low-light performance, with the EOS R3 having a normal range of ISO 100-102400 for still images (expandable to ISO 50-204800). Canon also promises improved automatic and manual white balance via new AI capabilities.
The 5-axis in-body stabilizer corresponds to the excellent system of the EOS R5 and R6. As with these models, it offers up to 8 stops of stabilization with compatible lenses, and up to 6 stops with other lenses (still better than most other brands). It also has two card slots that support Type B SD and CFexpress cards.
The R3 is equipped with a new electronic OLED viewfinder (EVF) developed by Canon with 5.76 million pixels and 120 FPS. This is an important feature for the sports photographers who might buy it as many have not switched to mirrorless because they prefer an optical viewfinder. Canon said it offers a level of clarity and field of view similar to an optical viewfinder, “thanks to HDR technology and high brightness performance.” Like the R6 and R5, it also offers a fully articulated, fold-out touchscreen with 4.15 million pixels – ideal for video shooters.
In fact, the R3 is also a highly capable video camera. While it cannot record 8K video like the R5, it can record RAW 12-bit 6K widescreen (6,000 x 3,164) video at up to 60 fps on a CFexpress B card, outperforming Panasonic’s video centered S1H. However, Canon has yet to say whether it supports 6K RAW over HDMI.
It also offers 4K recordings at up to 120 fps, albeit in cropped 1: 1 pixel mode on a CFexpress card. Still, you can record 4K 60p or 30p video at the full width of the sensor, which should make for a razor-sharp video. Here, too, you need a fast SD UHS II or CFexpress card for the best quality. 10-bit 4: 2: 2 video will be available for all 4K modes in HDR PQ or Canon Log 3 modes, with both All-I and Long-GOP file options.
As is common with Canon cameras, dual-pixel autofocus should be a strong point for videos because it can quickly capture a subject without hunting. However, for now, eye tracking only works for photography, not video. Still, the added tracking features should make it particularly powerful when it comes to video autofocus, but we’ll need to test the R3 to verify. As you’d expect, it has microphone, headphone, and HDMI ports – the latter unfortunately being a micro rather than a full-sized HDMI port.
What about the heating, the specter of the R5? Here, too, Canon has significantly improved the R3. It now offers two auto shutoff temperature options: Standard and High. The latter allows you to shoot 6K RAW or 4K All-I at 60 fps for 60 minutes or more, although the camera may get a little hot. 4K 120p All-I is limited to 12 minutes in both modes. Canon promises that you’ll be ready to shoot again in just five minutes, although recording times are limited after that in 6K 60p and 4K 120p modes. With normal 4K recordings at 30 frames per second (down-sampling or otherwise) there are no thermal restrictions.
Other features include network streaming functions and wired or wireless transmission to a 5G or LTE smartphone. It uses the 1DX Mark III’s LP-E19 battery, which provides 440 shots with the electronic viewfinder, and comes with a new electronic hot shoe that supports more accessories, including a smartphone link adapter. Finally, the EOS R1 offers dust and drip resistance equivalent to that of the EOS-1DX series DSLRs and weighs 1015 grams (2.24 pounds) including the memory card and battery.
Along with the EOS R3, Canon launched two new lenses, the compact RF16mm F / 2.8 STM ultra-wide-angle model priced at $ 300 (left) and the RF100-400mm f / 5.6-8 IS USM model priced at $ 650 . Both should be decent, affordable, full-frame RF mount options if you’re looking for an ultra-wide angle or telephoto zoom lens.
With the EOS R3, Canon has built a supercharged flagship that should appeal to both serious photographers and videographers who can afford the money. It comes in late November for $ 6,000 (body only).
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