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| Multi shot panorama stitched in Photoshop. Canon EOS R5, RF 50mm f1.8 lens |
They signal Canon’s shift away from DSLRs and EF-M system cameras towards a catalogue having both full frame and crop sensor bodies and lenses using the RF mount.
As an ordinary consumer and in the absence of any announcement from Canon I would have to regard the likelihood of any new EF, EF-S or EF-M bodies or lenses as effectively zero.
If that is true the R7 and R10 become very important models for Canon given that most buyers are price sensitive and that crop sensor cameras have long been preferred by amateur users.
The R7 and R10 are both proper cameras in the now-traditional Canon style. They have an EVF over the optical axis in landscape orientation, a proper handle of ergonomic design, a fully articulated touch screen monitor, buttons and dials located mostly in the optimum places, good haptics and a comprehensive set of user configurable controls.
Both provide a generally enjoyable user experience with a few hiccups in the case of the R7.
This ergonomic assessment and score follows my usualschedule which you can read about here.
Setup phase of use
The two cameras have a very similar menu system and main controls. The menus are arranged in basic Canon standard layout which is familiar to many users and decently functional but which could be improved. For instance I would like to see stills and video on separate tabs.
There are several setup items scattered about on other menus. For instance Customize quick controls, Displays and OVF shooting info is in the camera (red) menu but should be in Setup. Likewise Image review is in the red menu but should be in the Playback (blue) menu.
Several menu items particularly in the AF tab are presented in techno-jargon which should be clarified.
Fortunately there is a useful My Menu to which often used items can be allocated.
Function of the main buttons and dials can be user configured with many options available.
One downside is the 900+ page owners manual which is a bit daunting to put it mildly.
I would like to see all camera makers streamline their entire user interface so as to make camera photography more accessible to potential users coming from the smartphone world.
R7 Setup score 12/15
R10 Setup score 12/15
Prepare phase of use
Prepare phase is the minute or few in which we change settings to accommodate a new use case.
Both cameras manage this well. Shooting mode, AF area, AF/MF, Drive mode, ISO, Tracking, Subject detection, Eye detect, AF Servo/one shot, Stabiliser and many other settings can be changed readily without having to delve into the depths of the menu system.
R7 Prepare score 12/15
R10 Prepare score 12/15
Capture phase of use: Holding
Each camera is comfortable to hold with a well designed handle and thumb support. The R10 handle is smaller overall and shorter but still permits a secure grip. The R10 would not suit any of the larger RF mount lenses but is unlikely to be used with one of those in any event.
R7 Holding score 14/20
R10 Holding score 14/20
Capture phase of use: Viewing
Each camera has a good quality EVF and associated optics. That on the R7 offers a higher specification but both provide a pleasing user experience.
Each has a fully articulated touch screen monitor of good quality.
Each enables extensive user configuration of both EVF and monitor as to color, lightness and other parameters as well as data which can be displayed.
R7 Viewing score 15/20
R10 Viewing score 15/20
Capture Phase of use: Operating
Both cameras provide a good operating experience. Both are two dial models (the R5/6 are three dial models). However RF lenses have a control ring which can be configured as a third dial if desired.
Both cameras have a thumb stick which has good haptics and works well but see below for R7 issues.
All primary and secondary exposure and focussing parameters can be adjusted with the eye to the viewfinder and without having to change grip substantially.
In extended use I found the R10 more user friendly than the R7.
Issues I found with the R7 are:
* The top/rear control dial is located in an unusual position around the thumb stick. The reason for this is unclear. As both the R7 and R10 have the on/off switch located on the right side of the top plate we know the top/rear dial on the R7 did not have to move to make way for the on/off switch.
* My thumb wants to find the top/rear control dial where it is on the R 5/6/10 and wants it to turn left<>right not up/down.
* Over the years I have used many cameras with co-located controls and found all of these to be an ergonomic curse. The arrangement on the R7 works but I always have to hold my right thumb in a slightly un-natural position to avoid bumping the dial when using the thumb stick and vice versa. I just never got comfortable with the co-located thumbstick/dial arrangement.
* The cowling in front of the top/rear dial protrudes into the space between the dial and the Mode Dial thus inhibiting my thumb from entering that space and therefore making it more difficult to turn the Mode Dial than is the case on other RF mount cameras. It’s a little thing but buggy little things accumulate to impair the overall user experience.
* In use I repeatedly engaged Video when I thought I was turning the ON/Off/Video switch to Off. This is an ergonomic design fault which I see has been fixed on the R6.2 by locating a separate stills/video switch on the left side of the EVF hump.
Actually I see no advantage to locating the On/Off switch on the right side although numerous new users complained about it being on the left side on the R/RP/R5/R6, which I guess is why they moved the switch.
R7 Operating score 16/25
R10 Operating score 18/25
Review phase of use
Both cameras fulfill all reasonable user expectations in Review phase . Image review, scrolling, enlarging and other operations are easily performed.
R7 Review score 5/5
R10 Review score 5/5
R7 Overall score 74/100
R10 Overall score 76/100
Comment
Both these cameras score well and are generally a pleasure to use. I marked the R7 down on operating for the reasons detailed above and the fact that there is no ergonomic or other need for the top/rear control dial to be located around the thumb stick.
The R10 would not be as pleasant to use if one mounted one of the heavier lenses. It works well with any of the smaller lenses however of which there is a growing number.
I wish Canon had simply used the R6 or R6.2 body for the R7. It would have scored significantly higher and been much easier to use as a second body to the R5 or R6 or R6.2.
Other brands
The R7 and R10 score higher than other APSC cameras which I have tested.
The Fuji X-T1 scored 55, an indication of the numerous ergonomic problems inherent in the user interface of this model and subsequent X-Tx iterations. Fuji has sought to address this issue with some of their more recent models including the X-S10 and the current X-Hx models which do have a proper handle and a user interface more like that of a Canon camera. I have not yet tested these.
Sony’s A6xxx models have used the same cramped, compromised basic design for many years. I scored the A 6500 at 61 which puts it in the usable but not enjoyable range.
I scored the Nikon Z50 at 71 indicating a more satisfying user experience from this model but with plenty of room for further improvement.
End