Canon EOS R1 First Impressions - How does it stack up?

In todays video we compare the R1 to the other cameras from Canon and other manufacturers. How does it stack up?

My gear:

[nbs]

Appreciate your thoughts. What I am finding is many do not understand what you might call the number 1 Camera Manufacturer to date. Ever since they took the Leica design and improved on it continuously where they continue with their backwards film loading design in the M6 and Nikon and Sony converts love it and many of these YTBR's extol the brand. However Canon went to an easier more sensible flip-back. Of course Canon is not necessarily about innovation but more about market domination.

Canon's Flagship the R1 follows their pattern of maintaining dominance of the Professional photographer (even though Wedding Photographers are Professionals of a sort that is not the field of photography the flagship is for) If you follow way back the F1 was for a particular field and the have maintained that area for the EOS-1 Series of Camera to the EOS-1 DX Series. Sometimes special features were in the Semi-professional and Amateur Lines that were not in their Flagship Line such Eye Focus in the EOS-3 and the EOD-7NE. Clearly they have distinct camera lines to cover what their customers require. Due to this they came to dominate the camera market. They well understand the consumer.

The EOS-R3 clearly from it's design was never a reconfigured R1the board designs are far too different to be rejigged because Sony and Nikon came out with their Flagships. It is clear the EOS-R3 is aimed at the semi-professional market. Whereas the the EOS-R5 II is aimed at their high resolution users following their EOS-5D Segment. All the other R-Series Cameras follow their pattern of giving features to their Amateur User Base that they can use and appreciate.

I think the Canon Exec that you refer to is probably right on target with what has occurred with the release of the R1, R5 and R3. There is no doubt Canon has many Global Shutter Sensor designs they have built and tested. My own belief is that they see that their is a problem with having all Photo-sensors active until the complete sensor is read. It means having all 24Mega-Sensors turned on at once. This creates an in-rush of current and I suspect creates a MTBF that they are not comfortable enough to release to their Professional Customers. I do not think that the other sensor manufactures are more advanced than Canon, they just may be willing to cover over equipment failures.

With regards to market share in the mirror-less world, It is not the Flagship Cameras that dominate the market, it is the small amateur photographer and the camera he can afford and understands how to use that dominates the market. Canon being relatively new to the field has number 2 and 3 in sales.

As to mid-priced RF Glass what is the market for it. Flagship users have no interest in it. The semi-professional is also not interested in it. They also want the high-end glass. Maybe Canon will eventually fill out their line, however Canon probably has more Glass from them and from all the other third-party manufactures than any other mirror-less system through their EF to RF adapters. They may keep their RF-Mount closed till they can completely fill out their RF line first. What of it, if the third party glass is so important it is already available in the EF-Mount often before any other mount. We must not forget Sony's mount was sorely lacking as Nikon's Z-mount.

In conclusion it surprises me how many are ready to write off the Canon EOS-R1 before they even have a production model in their hands. I think the Professional User will be very satisfied once they get it in their hands. However Canon is not for everyone and it will not suit their needs, tastes and style. That is why there is Leica, Hasselblad, Fuji, Panasonic, Pentax, Nikon and Sony etc .even smartphones. Maybe their business is getting attention on YT by stirring up controversy and feed the rumour mill.

[jamesseward]

Yup the R1 should have been an R3 II and the R1 should have had a 45 megapixel cross type sensor and the R5 II is perfect the way it is. Someone at Canon must be on drugs or something lol!

[RogerZoul]

If a camera is not for you, sure it won’t land right. It’s about getting the shot. If you are someone doing those ball sports, this will land well. If you don’t need 50 MP, and need good high ISO performance, this will land very well. Me, I’m going for the R5M2 because I need those features it has and I don’t want to pay $6300 for 24 MP. That’s not where I live. But if I were a ball shooter, and getting paid, I’d be on it. The R3 is a wonderful camera, by the way. Great files at high ISO, and if you can get close, very nice.

[angryrabbitproductions]

Good comparison… I’ll add the following:
The Sony A9III, shoots uncropped oversampled 4K @120p… whereas the Canon does not oversample 4K @120p.
IMO, the A9III is Sonys best video shooter. It has the highest exposure latitude (think real world dynamic range) of any mirrorless camera to date. It matches the $30K Red V-Raptor-X in exposure latitude. The global shutter makes it excellent to use in VFX applications where rolling shutter can cause artifacts with LED walls.

While I’m a Red shooter for many years and owned the Canon R3 from launch… and have preordered the R1… the A9III is currently my favorite camera.. even more so than my Reds. It’s honestly the sleeper video shooter of the year.

[RogerZoul]

One comment before I get back to the video, the A9m3 prioritizes speed over image quality, whereas the Canon attempts to provide the best of both worlds. We will need to see how they match up in a content, but with a top ISO of just 25600, the Sony (and Z9 for that matter), just don’t compete. Maybe that 120 fps burst on the A9M3 is great, but how good could it possibly be over 40 fps? Given that you only get one chance at the action, you could still be missing the shot. Still, spec-wise, the A9m3 is impressive with a GS, ain’t gonna line. Finally, Canon put in stuff that the targeted users wanted, according to a video I saw on this platform. That is the purpose of a flagship, not just hitting the top spec on some list of specs. And a major downside of the A9m3 is those wimpy cards they used. I can’t’ believe Sony users really want those slow ass cards. Seems you forgot that spec.

[contentm]

The R1 can record 4K 120fps with audio. The R3 is $4, 000 now.

[flightscapeaviationphoto]

Agreed with all your points. As a shooter who uses the R5 Mark I and R6 Mark II … a 30MP would be THE sweet spot. My R5 can’t compete with the R6 Mark II when it comes to speed and LOW LIGHT. As an Airshow shooter, tracking an F-22 Raptor during a sunset demo as he’s clocking 450 mph in “golden hour” light with afterburners lit 🔥- R6 Mark II, all day IMO.

[_jaydirect_]

So much hate on the R3 now. I understand that the R1 is the “new king” of the hill but, that R3 is amazing. Am I biased because I own one? Probably..😂 There are rumors of an R3 MKii so, we’ll see.

[ValiRossi]

Most likely Canon listened to their customers and built this thing. Who needs all these specs? YouTubers?

[dominiqueschenck]

Well, let’s hope that, when you get the camera in your hands for a few weeks, you can share more about the philosophy / positioning of it. Specs don’t talk (listen to Evan on the Jared Polin interview and he uses only 6fps on a camera that has a potential of 120fps). Honestly the race to technical prowess is totally irrelevant - but I understand that people hope to generate sales that way.

[JerseyQ]

I don’t think you mentioned r1 has 16+ stop DR & clog2, with false color not the r3… that is major, also 4 ch 24bit audio

[benstill]

In body gps? Ken Rockwell says yes. Have not seen comment by canon yet. Do you know? Have 2 R1’s on order.

[davepastern]

those YouTube reviewers are full of shit...sorry, not sorry. Canon pays for them to say kind things and they are NOT to be trusted.