Canon EOS R Ergonomic evaluation and score 2 April 2020

The EOS R was released towards the end of 2018. Many initial reviews were highly disparaging for a variety of reasons.

It seemed to me however that most of the Canon basics were present and correct so I waited until the price dropped then bought one with the excellent 24-105mm f4 lens.

Along with most other people I have not been able to get out as much as I would like to put the camera through its paces but I do have enough time with the camera now to post an ergonomic evaluation and score.

Unlike the subject of my previous ergonomic evaluation, the Fuji X100V, the EOS R follows for the most part (see below for the exceptions) the standard Canon Mode Dial and twin dial control layout with most controls in standard Canon locations.

So evaluating the EOS R is a straightforward job.

Having used the camera for several weeks I am pleased to report that it provides a substantially more engaging user experience than some of those earlier reviews might have led one to believe.

This involves setting menu items and allocating button and dial functions. The menus have a clear graphical user interface and easy navigation Canon/Sony style with screen by screen scrolling sideways and individual item scrolling up/down. This is the quickest, most efficient system.

The menus are standard Canon fare. This is mostly logical and easy to understand with few mystery items. If an item is greyed out just press Set for info about the reason.

The advanced User Guide is well written and easy to follow with plenty of graphics.

There is a My Menu but no separate Video menu.

There is nothing “wrong” with Canon menus but I think it is time that all the camera makers conducted a  root and branch review of their menus to make them more photographer friendly.

This is decently managed. The M-fn button is very well positioned and easy to find by feel. 

Unfortunately the user has no say in the items allocated to it.

This also applies to the Q Menu which presents the user with old Powershot style screen the items on which are not user selectable.

Otherwise Prepare Phase is managed well enough with sufficient access points to get the job done without burdening the camera or user with redundant buttons, dials and suchlike.

The EOS R manages this nicely. The handle is well shaped providing a comfortable and secure grip on the camera. The right index finger falls naturally onto the shutter button. The front dial and M-fn button are easily located and operated by feel.

The thumb support is deep enough for a secure hold and is shaped to give the thumb the optimal diagonal stance across the back of the camera for maximum grip without cramping.

I wondered initially if I would press the AF-ON button inadvertently but so far this has not happened.  It is not in the best location however and should be further to the left where it would be easier to press when required but less likely to be pressed inadvertently. Canon had it right on the EOS 5D models and from pre release product photos appears to have gotten it right again on the EOS R5.

This is also well managed by the EOS R. The EVF is very good giving a clear, sharp natural looking view of the subject. Camera data are clearly displayed in bright white on a black background beneath the image preview.

The monitor screen is also very clear and a pleasure to use. It is of the optimal fully articulated type which can be turned to face forward or any other direction for maximum versatility. Unfortunately camera data are overlaid on the lower part of the monitor preview.

The other negative of the viewing experience is about the way Canon achieves the appearance of “no viewfinder blackout” with the R and several other recent models. The no blackout is actually a fake achieved by lingering a review image of the last frame for a fraction of a second. This produces the “herky-jerky” effect when the camera is moved just after an exposure. I do hope Canon provides follow up models with a faster processor to eliminate this annoying phenomenon.

Much of the early criticism of the EOS R was about some issues with the way it operates.

With the R Canon introduced two new features.

One is the M-Fn-stroky-bar-thing located right where the thumb stick should be. This is a complete failure. Not only are the parameters which can be changed by the bar more easily adjusted elsewhere on the camera but operation of the bar is unsatisfactory. Fortunately it can be disabled.

There being no thumb stick the position of the AF frame is moved using the touchscreen, which is fast but awkward and requires a stretch of the right thumb or with the 4-way (no 8-way available) cross keys which are more accessible to the thumb but produce a rather slooow progress of the AF frame across the screen.

The other is replacement of the traditional marked mode dial by an unmarked dial/button module with dual function as mode dial and rear command dial.  I was sceptical about this at first thinking ----if it ain’t broke why fix it ?

However the new arrangement does allow for the mode dial, rear control dial and LCD panel all to fit onto the top plate to the right of the viewfinder hump.

As it happens I couldn’t care less about the LCD panel and hardly ever glance at it but apparently some people like to have it there.

I have now become accustomed to the new dual function dial and am finding it works well, particularly if I want to change shooting mode while continuing to look through the viewfinder. The center button of the dial is easily located by feel and when pressed brings up a panel in the viewfinder. The dial can then be used to scroll between the options displayed.

My main criterion for operation is that all primary and secondary exposure, focus and zoom functions be readily adjustable while looking continuously through the viewfinder  without having to change grip with either hand. The EOS R meets this criterion.

In fact once one has the camera set up it provides a pleasing user experience.

The camera does all the things I expect in Review Phase. You can jump instantly to 100% at the focus frame which is indicated in the playback view. Scrolling around and between frames is easily achieved.  No problems here.

This is a good ergonomic score for the EOS R which I marked down for some problems with operation but it scored well for holding and viewing.

This camera also has substantial deficiencies in its performance when compared to comparably priced products from other makers. I will report on these in another post as they are not ergonomic matters.

Overall I think the EOS R looks like a stop-gap model using a legacy sensor and some carry-over features to tide Canon over until they can get the R5 onto the market.

Despite all this it is still quite an enjoyable camera to use and it makes excellent pictures.  

Forget about birds in flight though.