At fist sight the R8 might seem to be something of an
also-ran in Canon’s RF mount catalogue, notable for a list of features which it
lacks.
I think it is fair to say that if one or more of those
features is essential to your
photography, the R8 is not the right camera for you. The R6.2 and R5 do have those features but
they cost more.
The R7 also has several features not available in the R8 but
the R7 comes with downsides of its own, in particular an APSC crop sensor, risk
of shutter shock with the mechanical shutter, rolling shutter with the
electronic shutter and an unusual control layout with the rear control dial
around the thumb stick, not seen on any other Canon camera.
Pros and cons of the
R8
Let’s run through the cons first, with my comments about
each:
Features which the
R8 lacks
* In body image stabilisation (IBIS). This is really only an
issue if we are using a lens without an image stabiliser (IS). At the time of
writing Canon RF lenses without IS are the 28-70mm f2 L zoom, 16mm f2.8, 50mm
f1.8 and 28mm f2.8. Most lenses do have IS. Without the IBIS unit the body can
be more compact, lighter and less expensive
than it would have to be if an IBIS module was included.
* Thumb stick (joystick). I am a bit puzzled as to why this
is missing given that the less expensive R10 has one. In practice this has not
been as much of an issue as I imagined
it might be. The position of the active AF area can be moved with either or
both the cross keys and touch screen including touch pad function. I generally
use the cross keys when viewing through the EVF using the Q/Set button to
re-center the AF area position. Ergonomically this is not quite as efficient as
a joystick however the cross keys tend to be easier to control accurately than
the joysticks in lower price bodies.
* Full complement of buttons and dials. The R8 has fewer
buttons and dials than the R5/R6/R6.2. This means that fewer functions can be
accessed directly. However it also means that we have fewer things to remember
when using the controls. I suspect that some users will find the “fewer control
points” approach quite appealing.
* Shutter closing when powered off. This is apparently a
product of the shutter type used in the R8. My experience with the R5 is that
having the shutter close when a lens is removed really does reduce the
likelihood of dust on the sensor. So that feature is desirable but not
essential.
* Battery grip. Canon does not offer a battery grip for the
RP/R8 but they do offer the EG-E1 accessory grip which increases handle height
for a very secure and comfortable holding experience while retaining access to
the battery and memory card.
I believe there is an aftermarket battery grip available for the RP and R8 (Vello
BG-C18) but I have no experience with this.
Features with
lower specification in the R8 compared to the R6.2
* The R8 uses the smaller LP-E17 battery found in the RP and
R10. The R6.2 uses the larger LP-E6NH. No question the larger battery delivers
more exposures per charge. However I have found that for most purposes the
smaller LP-E17 is good enough for a photo session.
* The EVF and eyecup are lower spec items. When switching
from one to the other the difference in highlight and shadow detail is obvious
but if I am just using the R8 I adapt to the viewfinder which is perfectly
adequate as a framing device.
* The mechanical shutter in the R8 is a low-spec device
which only offers electronic first curtain and only at a maximum of 6 frames
per second. In addition the durability rating is lower. Professional and
dedicated enthusiast bird/sport/wildlife photographers might find these
limitations a problem, but for all kinds of general photography the shutter is
just fine.
* The level of weather resistance is less than that in the
R6.2. This could be an issue in inclement weather.
* There is only one memory card and it is only accessible
via the battery cover on the base of the camera. This might be an problem for sport/bird
enthusiasts who plan to make several thousand shots per session and for those
photographers who absolutely must have memory card redundancy but for most
users this is not an issue.
Features which the R8 does have (pros)
* The body is smaller, lighter and less expensive than the
R6.2 while still handling nicely and delivering a satisfying user experience.
* The touch sensitive monitor screen is the same as that on
more expensive models.
* The R8 has everything in the R6.2 pertaining to the
sensor, processor, image quality, autofocus and electronic shutter operation. In
other words it has the main core capabilities of the R6.2. And that is why the
R8 could be an attractive option for many budget conscious buyers.
These capabilities include 40 frames per second burst rate
for stills with AF and AE on each frame,
auto-panorama in camera, focus bracketing and stacking with compositing
in camera and raw burst with pre-burst. Even the much more expensive R5 lacks
these features which are pretty hot stuff for a moderately priced full frame
camera.
* Likeability factor. We really have to use a camera for a
while to appreciate this. The more I use some cameras the less I enjoy the
experience. The more I use the R8 the more I enjoy the experience which relates
to ergonomic factors and cannot be understood from a list of specifications.
Summary
A product which might have begun as an exercise in
re-packaging existing components has become something of a hit for Canon. I
rate it as the best value for money full frame RF mount camera. It might also
be a better choice for some buyers than the similarly priced crop sensor R7.
Highly recommended provided none of the missing or down-spec
features is a deal breaker.