Mirrorless “R”evolution: the EOS R system is ready!

Canon will be joining us at five different Mike’s Camera locations for a FREE event showing off the new EOS R. Be one of the first to see one in person, next week!

Mike’s Camera (Dublin) • September 11th, 6:30–8:30 PM PDT
Click here to register!

Mike’s Camera (Sacramento) • September 12th, 6:30–8:30 PM PDT
Click here to register!

Mike’s Camera (Boulder) • September 13th, 6:30–8:30 PM MDT
Click here to register!

Mike’s Camera (Denver) • September 14th, 6:30–8:30 PM MDT
Click here to register!

Mike’s Camera (Colorado Springs) • September 15th, 5:00–7:00 PM MDT
Click here to register!

Big news for Canon fanatics and keen photographers alike dropped early this morning, when the big C officially announced their first full-frame mirrorless system. The playing field is starting to get wider in this relatively new category—just what can we expect from the newest entry? First, a little eye-candy…

Quick spec sheet

  • 30.3 MP, full frame sensor with low-pass filter attached
  • New RF mount (12 pins, 54mm diameter, 20mm flange distance)
  • ISO range from 100-40000 (50-102400 extended)
  • 4K video up to 30FPS, HD up to 120FPS
  • HDR video available at HD and FHD resolutions
  • 5655 maximum selectable AF points
  • Focus as fast as 0.05 seconds
  • 1.28 pound magnesium alloy body
  • Dust & water resistant
  • Shipping October 2018, body-only for $2299.99 or as a kit with the 24-105mm f/4L for $3399.99

Revolutionary controls

The R is meant to provide a new level of control. Beyond the rather hefty-looking grip, the camera features a touch-sensitive tap/swipe bar, a rare innovation in a pretty well-established field of control mechanisms. Each lens also features a control ring, used to adjust manually-selectable settings without repositioning your hands (in addition to the standard focus and zoom rings). Visual feedback comes from a high-resolution EVF and a vari-angle LCD. For sensitive situations, a silent electronic shutter is available, to be expanded to allow burst shooting in a later firmware update.

A brand new… exposure mode!?

That’s right! Canon is debuting the new “Fv” exposure mode: that’s “flexible variable” mode. In Fv mode, you pick one variable to adjust—shutter speed, aperture size, or ISO—and the camera will automatically adjust the others, theoretically providing the security of Program with the available control of Manual, but without having to swap modes between shooting situations.

The glass

The initial RF lineup will comprise four lenses: three ultra-high quality L-series lenses and one “normal” prime with macro capabilities.

RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Release date: October 2018
Expected price: $1099.99

RF 50mm f/1.2L IS USM
Release date: October 2018
Expected price: $2299.99

RF 28-70mm f/2L USM
Release date: December 2018
Expected price: $1099.99

RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
Release date: December 2018
Expected price: $1099.99

Keeping it current

Taking an unusually adapter-heavy approach, Canon is releasing three different adapters to mount EF-compatible lenses on the new RF system. One, the vanilla flavor, just provides a straight connection (albeit a luxurious fully-compatible, auto-focusing connection) and is slated to run $99.99.

Version two, at $199.99, provides a fully-compatible connection as well, but adds the new RF lenses’ control ring. Who couldn’t use another dial? These two adapters should be arriving in October as well.

If you can wait until February, 2019, there is also a third option, and one that I think is really exciting: an adapter with a slot for drop-in filters! It will be available with a CPL ($299.99) or a variable ND filter ($399.99), with an optional clear protective filter also available. For EF shooters, this would be a great way to keep those sensor spots to a minimum! (Note that the R also closes the shutter when the camera is off. It’s not as pretty as a big, beautiful sensor, but it should help protect the most important part of the camera!)

There you have it!

Check out the sample gallery below, and come in to any Mike’s Camera or click here to preorder. Plan ahead: you’ll definitely want to be on the list for this one if you don’t want to wait forever!

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