Canon EOS R3 Eye Control & Motorsports AF Mode: Real Deal or More Specubating?

Canon's EOS R3 may just turn out to be a brilliant camera -- but what is absolutely clear is that Canon marketing's drip campaign of "leaks" and "look but don't touch" silliness (of what - mockup? prototype? pre-production sample?) has veered into the absurd. In this episode, we take a step back to look at the use case for eye control and motorsports AF and ask, "even if the R3 is EVERYTHING Canon implies it will be, what will it do for pro motorsports photographers that they can't already do with what they have?"

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[stuartmeador]

As wedding photographers 'back in the day' my friend and I each had Canon eye-focus cameras; I was continually teasing him that the cute bystander or pretty bridesmaid would be in sharper focus than the not so attractive bride or groom.... so... careful what you wish

[stephenscharf]

I'll add just another comment for folks' consideration. In tough, demanding, working environments, number 1, the gear has just gotta WORK. No one ever talks about what we used to call in Design for Six Sigma, "Design for X", otherwise known as the "...ilities": quality attributes e.g. 1) Durability 2) Reliabilty 3) Serviceability 4) Repairability. Being able to get spare parts. I've seen multiple camera bodies _cracked through the frame_ from slamming against the K-wall. Lens mounts ripped off of mirrorboxes. Pro motorsports PJs need rugged bodies that can take a pounding. To working motorsports PJs, these are WAY more important than...bells and whistles. With the notable exception of Hugh's and JChristina's content, 99% of the YT content I see I would classify as frou-frou because no one ever discusses RELIABILITY and DURABILITY. The bottom line is camera gear and lenses *have to work* everytime you hit the track for a race.

[peterfritzphoto]

Hugh, you’re one of the coolest dudes on YouTube! Seriously.

[thedondeluxe]

I think the main use for the eye control will be to initiate the auto focus by telling the camera where to "start". Then the algorithms take over. Controlling it with your eye will no doubt be faster and more precise than with a joystick or even with the touch screen. So as a dance photographer, I'm pretty hopeful about this.

[VirtualTourPhotographer]

Great to see you featuring Stephen Shcharfe in this episode. His work is truly brilliant... and more.

[peterfritzphoto]

It’s so clear you’re a screenwriter. I love your dialogue. First class.

[elams]

The phenomenal summary of motorsport shooting aside, your narration is, hands-down, the best on the tube. I could not even produce the same sublime speech over 1 sentence without a pause or stutter. Very enjoyable video indeed.

[BusStopBourbon]

Just got mine and as a wedding photographer the eye focus is fucking nuts. For anyone that wants the absolute best focusing camera; pre-orders are backed up to March(local camera estimates).

[tylerdoestech]

Personally, I'm shooting with a 1DX Mark II, and I have absolutely no reason to want an R3. I think AI autofocus modes are mostly a gimmick from companies using buzzwords. I love Canon, but I plan on being a DSLR shooter for a long time yet, even if it means having to add Sigma Art primes to my kit for my 5DS second body. When I upgrade my 1DX Mark II, I plan to go to the 1DX Mark III only for its video feature improvements.

[SJFphotography]

Great piece and I enjoy your style Hugh. We all buy gear for different reasons, whether we actually need it, or even if it improves our photography are not necessarily the reason for purchase for many at this end of the market. It's like cars, watches and all do the same thing and you can buy a cheaper version if you want that represents more value to some. Like many luxury items, high end camera's are no different, it can be more about how you feel about owning them that will sing to you the most, followed by some minor justifications on spec over your current camera. But if this is the thing which motivates you and helps you enjoy photography more, then who's to say this is the wrong choice for you, if you can afford it? For me at least, I will be buying an R3 to go with my R5 and replace my original R which now is my second body, and when the R1 comes out, I will replace the R5. Do I need them? No absolutely not. Do I want to own them and enjoy them for my own indulgence? Absolutely. Does this make me a bad person? or just like many others who happen to drive a top of the range Mercedes, or someone who wears a Rolex, or someone who lives in an exclusive street? It's surely all about choice and how you want to spend your money on things which make you happy, rather than any justification to others.

[chasingmanhattan]

Every time I feel myself getting hyped up over gear I come to this channel, haha. I really think the R3 will make a great camera body, but you're right to allude that in the real world, most of the rumored advancements for this camera are luxuries, not necessities.

[MrSpiff]

Well this is a small world! Stephen does absolutely beautiful work with his Fuji's (some of his industrial and landscapes are truly awe inspiring), and now that's one more person we have in common. I hope some day soon we can all get together for some lively conversation and photo stuff! All the best!

[cooloox]

Simple answer to your question: what could he have got with the new tech that he couldn't get with the old tech? The shots he missed!! Anyone can show their hits and say look at this... but what about the shots they missed because the camera's AF wasn't up to it? Those are the shots cameras with better tech will get. Just like with the Sony A1/A9ii and Canon R5/R6 - the hit rate on birds in flight is a lot better than it was using older tech cameras, even in the hands of top pros. The R5 will nail focus on the eye of a bird and track it... which no old tech camera could come close to doing. They would focus anywhere on the bird's body if they could keep up at all. Also, these new cameras will give far cleaner images in low light than the X-T2. Please keep it real.

[jeffreyhill]

Touch and drag of the focus point, plus initial eye af at the focus point, plus dual bbf on the R5 is going to be hard to beat.

[stephenscharf]

Ecellent video, Hugh. You've covered all the salient points of consideration for the R3, eye control, and AI-based AF modes for motorsports. And, thank you for featuring some of my racing work. If I were to put a "racing kit" together today, it would still be my current Fuji X-H1. I still use the X-H1 is because it is the strongest & most robust of the X-bodies to date, with a stiffer lens mount (important for mounting big glass). With respect to lenses, I'd carry a 50-140 f/2.8 and the Fujinon 200mm f/2.0, which comes with a 1.4X teleconverter. These two lenses would provide a FF focal length range of 70-450mm, and would cover me in almost all circumstances. The total weight is about 40% lighter than the FF Canon lenses I used for my MotoGP & World Superbike work: 70-200/2.8, 300mm/2.8, and 500mm 2.8. When you're covering a motorcycle Grand Prix circuit on foot for 3 days straight, that extra weight takes a toll on you, so any weight savings is a big deal. Cheers and thanks again.

[peterfritzphoto]

The overhead panning shot of Wayne Gardner in the promo materials of his doco is mine - shot at Phillip Island in Australia. Amazing time.

[whiterock]

Very nice philosophical treatise. I would think the eye tracking would actually be a lot more useful for video than photography unless of course you’re trying to pick out a specific face in the crowd. I think what would be really cool is if you could use it for focus ramp it you look at one spot set that is the first place and then look at a second spot set that and then do a slow focus ramp

[maxwellwellmax]

It's great to have competition!!. I like the bigger bodies from Canon and Nikon, and if they can add whatever they're behind on at the moment then we all win!.

[jessejayphotography]

As a solo, prosumer hobbyist shooter with a Semi-pro level budget the R3 is attractive to me in a few ways:
1. Eye control AF + DPAF may make it seamless to do controlled, choreographed rack focusing as a solo shooter in even the most demanding situations while keeping the EVF up and not having to touch a screen.
2. Internal compressed RAW recording with reasonable bitrates.
3. 1DX class body with weather-sealing for years of use.
4. First BSI, FF, stacked sensor from Canon.

[jshanni]

I still have my old Eos 50e from the 90's . The eye control was somewhat problematic, but I did use it at times. It was ok, largely because it only had three AF points so you were really just choosing left/right/centre . It will be interesting to see how it's implemented with 100 plus AF points.