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Canon EOS R8: Best Bang for Your Buck?
Canon EOS R8: Best Bang for Your Buck?
by Keenan Hursh
It’s not every day that a camera appears on the market with incredibly high-performance features and statistics, all at a ridiculously reasonable price point. This usually wouldn’t make sense as all the big manufacturers are constantly competing with one another, and prices are almost always extremely competitive. That being said, there is currently a camera that goes against all of this and it’s available for purchase right now.
The recent EOS R8 from Canon has been available for a little while now. I wrote up an article when they released it, along with the R50 and some new lenses, but I think this camera is worth mentioning again. This 24.2-megapixel, full-frame body might just be one of the absolute best bangs for your buck on the entire market. Period!
The sheer number of advanced features that are included in this camera, combined with an exceptional resolution on a full-frame CMOS sensor, a very high-resolution EVF, advanced autofocus and IBIS, and impressive video recording capabilities at an astonishing price of only $1,500 USD makes this camera a bargain, to say the least.
So, let’s get into the details and discuss what makes this camera so special. Here’s why the Canon EOS R8 just might be the best bang for your buck when it comes to mirrorless, full-frame cameras.
The recent EOS R8 from Canon has been available for a little while now. I wrote up an article when they released it, along with the R50 and some new lenses, but I think this camera is worth mentioning again. This 24.2-megapixel, full-frame body might just be one of the absolute best bangs for your buck on the entire market. Period!
The sheer number of advanced features that are included in this camera, combined with an exceptional resolution on a full-frame CMOS sensor, a very high-resolution EVF, advanced autofocus and IBIS, and impressive video recording capabilities at an astonishing price of only $1,500 USD makes this camera a bargain, to say the least.
So, let’s get into the details and discuss what makes this camera so special. Here’s why the Canon EOS R8 just might be the best bang for your buck when it comes to mirrorless, full-frame cameras.
Key Specs
If this list of specs isn’t enough to convince you just how powerful this thing is for its price point, let’s break it down a bit more. This camera is often compared with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II which is only 2 steps below the company’s flagship R3 and sits at a price point of $2,500 USD. What’s interesting is that for a thousand dollars less the R8 houses many identical features and the performance of the two cameras is incredibly similar.
- 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
- 4K60p 10-Bit Internal Video, Canon Log 3
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.0" 1.62m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
- 40 fps Electronic Shutter
- Movie Digital IS
- Vertical Movie Mode
- Microphone Input, Headphone Output
- Multi-Function Shoe, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
If this list of specs isn’t enough to convince you just how powerful this thing is for its price point, let’s break it down a bit more. This camera is often compared with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II which is only 2 steps below the company’s flagship R3 and sits at a price point of $2,500 USD. What’s interesting is that for a thousand dollars less the R8 houses many identical features and the performance of the two cameras is incredibly similar.
R8 vs R6 Mark II
To start, the R8 has the exact same 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and the exact same Digic X Processor as the very popular R6 Mark II. Which is crazy… For a thousand dollars less, you will get the exact same resolution, image quality, and processing power as one of Canon’s high-performance bodies. And on top of that, the sensor on the new R8 outperforms the 20-megapixel sensor on the original R6 which is still $600 more expensive. When it comes to light sensitivity both the R8 and R6 Mark II have native ISOs of 100-102,400 that can be expanded to 204,800.
Another common feature between the R8 and R6 Mark II is that they share the exact same, very advanced autofocus systems. In fact, both of these cameras use the same autofocus system that can be found in the flagship R3 which is designed for action and wildlife photography. This advanced AF system uses an artificial intelligence deep learning algorithm to identify human and animal eyes at astonishingly quick rates making sure that all your photos are in focus. Bottom line the R8 houses one of the best AF systems currently available on the market.
In addition, the R8 and R6 Mark II have almost identical video specs. Both cameras can record in full-frame UHD 4K at up to 60 frames per second. They can also both record at this resolution and speed at 10-bit 4:2:2 in H.265 meaning that you can capture high-resolution video with exceptional color and dynamic range. The R6 does have a slight edge in that it can output 10-bit 6K ProRes RAW video, so if you’re a professional video creator and you have the extra cash this might be the way to go. That being said, for a thousand dollars cheaper the R8 holds its own.
One feature where the R6 Mark II has a slight edge over the R8 is maximum burst and faster mechanical shutter speeds. If we take a look at each camera’s mechanical shutter the R6 mark ii sits at 12 fps which is double the R8’s 6 fps. But, what’s interesting, is that both of these cameras can achieve a max burst of 40 fps when using the electronic shutter. 40 fps for a $1,500 camera is pretty crazy. In comparison, the original R6 can only achieve 20 fps with its electronic shutter. Another difference here is that the R6 mark ii has a better buffer and can capture up to 110 RAW files in a single burst while the R8 can only capture up to 56 RAW files in a single burst. And finally, the R6 mark ii can achieve a shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second with the mechanical shutter while the R6 mark ii can only achieve 1/4000th. Both cameras can achieve 1/16000th of a second using their electronic shutters.
Another noticeable difference is that the R6 Mark II has dual card slots for redundancy and more storage whereas the R8, due to its smaller size and cheaper price point, only has one SD slot. Redundancy and more storage is nice when shooting lots of RAW images but is this a deal breaker? That’s for you to decide.
All in all these two cameras are incredibly similar and for a price point of $1,000 more, I’m not sure the R6 Mark II is worth it unless you really want a slight edge in max burst and video recording.
To start, the R8 has the exact same 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and the exact same Digic X Processor as the very popular R6 Mark II. Which is crazy… For a thousand dollars less, you will get the exact same resolution, image quality, and processing power as one of Canon’s high-performance bodies. And on top of that, the sensor on the new R8 outperforms the 20-megapixel sensor on the original R6 which is still $600 more expensive. When it comes to light sensitivity both the R8 and R6 Mark II have native ISOs of 100-102,400 that can be expanded to 204,800.
Another common feature between the R8 and R6 Mark II is that they share the exact same, very advanced autofocus systems. In fact, both of these cameras use the same autofocus system that can be found in the flagship R3 which is designed for action and wildlife photography. This advanced AF system uses an artificial intelligence deep learning algorithm to identify human and animal eyes at astonishingly quick rates making sure that all your photos are in focus. Bottom line the R8 houses one of the best AF systems currently available on the market.
In addition, the R8 and R6 Mark II have almost identical video specs. Both cameras can record in full-frame UHD 4K at up to 60 frames per second. They can also both record at this resolution and speed at 10-bit 4:2:2 in H.265 meaning that you can capture high-resolution video with exceptional color and dynamic range. The R6 does have a slight edge in that it can output 10-bit 6K ProRes RAW video, so if you’re a professional video creator and you have the extra cash this might be the way to go. That being said, for a thousand dollars cheaper the R8 holds its own.
One feature where the R6 Mark II has a slight edge over the R8 is maximum burst and faster mechanical shutter speeds. If we take a look at each camera’s mechanical shutter the R6 mark ii sits at 12 fps which is double the R8’s 6 fps. But, what’s interesting, is that both of these cameras can achieve a max burst of 40 fps when using the electronic shutter. 40 fps for a $1,500 camera is pretty crazy. In comparison, the original R6 can only achieve 20 fps with its electronic shutter. Another difference here is that the R6 mark ii has a better buffer and can capture up to 110 RAW files in a single burst while the R8 can only capture up to 56 RAW files in a single burst. And finally, the R6 mark ii can achieve a shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second with the mechanical shutter while the R6 mark ii can only achieve 1/4000th. Both cameras can achieve 1/16000th of a second using their electronic shutters.
Another noticeable difference is that the R6 Mark II has dual card slots for redundancy and more storage whereas the R8, due to its smaller size and cheaper price point, only has one SD slot. Redundancy and more storage is nice when shooting lots of RAW images but is this a deal breaker? That’s for you to decide.
All in all these two cameras are incredibly similar and for a price point of $1,000 more, I’m not sure the R6 Mark II is worth it unless you really want a slight edge in max burst and video recording.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, this is an exceptionally powerful and capable camera for just $1,500 USD. I can’t think of another camera around this price point that is jam-packed with so many powerful features. From a high resolution 24.2 -megapixel full-frame sensor to an incredibly powerful AF system to exceptional video recording and many other impressive features, the EOS R8 just might be the best bang for your buck available on the market today. This is an awesome camera from Canon and if you’re looking for a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera and don’t want to break the bank, this might be just what you need.
To wrap things up, this is an exceptionally powerful and capable camera for just $1,500 USD. I can’t think of another camera around this price point that is jam-packed with so many powerful features. From a high resolution 24.2 -megapixel full-frame sensor to an incredibly powerful AF system to exceptional video recording and many other impressive features, the EOS R8 just might be the best bang for your buck available on the market today. This is an awesome camera from Canon and if you’re looking for a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera and don’t want to break the bank, this might be just what you need.
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Keenan Hursh is a Photographer, visual designer, and creative story teller based out of Bozeman, Montana. He draws inspiration from his frequent excursions into the natural world and always brings his camera along to capture whatever adventures he finds himself in. Keenan is passionate about documenting and sharing fleeting moments from the natural world and focuses primarily on wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography.
When it comes to gear, he primarily shoots digital with his Canon EOS R5 and EOS 6D mark ii but also has several 35mm film cameras that get out every now and then.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images.
Growing up in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, Keenan has developed a deep passion for many outdoor activities. When he’s not out on a shoot or using his camera, Keenan enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, cycling, whitewater rafting, and paragliding. If he’s outside, away from the distractions of society and civilization, he’s in his happy place.
Keenan studied Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver while minoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Since earning his degree in 2019 he was worked with a wide range of clients, companies, and organizations throughout his career. Apart from photography he specializes in content creation, writing, brand development, and graphic design.
You can view Keenan’s portfolio on his website at www.keenanhurshphoto.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
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BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
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Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.