The rumors have been spreading like wildfire over the last month or so, but the wait is finally over. Canon has recently announced its most recent drop of new cameras and lenses. With this drop, they are primarily targeting casual shooters and content creators with some really great affordable cameras and lenses. If you’re looking to up your vlogging game, or want to produce higher-quality images than your smartphone but don’t want to break the bank with a heavy camera and lens then there might be some intriguing options for you!
Cameras
Let’s start by discussing these new camera bodies. Canon has added two new mirrorless cameras to its lineup, the EOS R8 and the EOS R50. Perhaps Canon has been receiving lots of hype and excitement about their high-performance and high-end mirrorless cameras such as the R5, R3, and R6 but they are also tapping into a different market as well.
In today’s world, there are more causal creators than ever before. Many people want to produce higher-quality content but aren’t necessarily looking for professional-grade equipment. Many consumers want smaller, lightweight cameras and don’t need 50+ megapixels. This market is growing quickly, and Canon has responded with the new R8 and R50. The R50 is great for relatively new content creators just getting started while the R8 is its bigger brother and is designed for creators a bit farther along in their journey and want slightly better photo and video capabilities.
Canon EOS R8Specs:
Price: $1,500 USD
24.2 MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
4K 60p 10-Bit internal Video
2.36m-Dot OLED EVF
40 fps max burst with electronic shutter
The Canon EOS R8 is the latest addition to the EOS R series of full-frame mirrorless cameras from Canon. This camera promises to offer photographers and videographers a camera that is versatile, fast and packed with tons of features to help them capture stunning images and videos. So, let’s get into it and see how this thing stacks up against other Canon cameras.
This camera is a slight step down from the extremely versatile and popular EOS R6 ii. The R8 is made with magnesium alloy and polycarbonate resin, making it lightweight and durable. The body is also weather sealed protecting it from dust and moisture. The R8 has a DIGIC X image processor delivering fast performance and high-quality images. This camera is also equipped with a 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder and a great vari-angle touchscreen LCD. And unlike the R50 there are ports for headphones and remotes on the R8.
When it comes to video the R8 is great. This camera can record 4K video at 60 frames per second or 1080p at 120 frames per second and can output 10-bit 4:2:2 video via HDMI. In addition, the R8 has built-in 5-axis digital image stabilization to provide smooth video. You can also use this camera for live streaming or as a webcam with a USB-C port. And finally, with canon’s dual-pixel CMOS AF II system this camera can smoothly and quickly track and change focus while recording. This camera is great for recording video!
The EOS R8 might be even better when it comes to shooting stills. This thing has the exact same 24.2-megapixel CMOS full-frame sensor as the incredibly popular EOS R6 ii. Between this, a high dynamic range, a great EVF and LCD screen, and of course insanely fast 40 frames per second burst mode with the electronic shutter this is a very versatile and powerful camera for its price.
Canon EOS R50Specs:
Price: $680 USD
24.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
UHD 4K 30p Video Recording
2.36m-Dot EVF
15 fps max burst with electronic shutter
This is a great option for those who are new to mirrorless cameras and want to find a nice middle ground between price and capabilities. For $680 I think you’ll be surprised at just how capable this camera is.
This thing is small, lightweight, and compact and that’s how it should be! The R50 comes in at about 350 grams or just 0.75 pounds making it a great option for traveling, street photography, or vlogging. It comes with a mic port, a micro HDMI output, and a USB-C port for charging and webcam/live streaming functionality. In addition, this thing has a very high quality and high resolution 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder. Most cameras at this price point don’t even have EVFs. The R50 also has a great vari-angle high-resolution touchscreen EVF.
The R50 is designed for vlogging and everyday video recording. You can shoot up to 4K at 30 frames per second or 1080p at up to 120 frames per second and can continuously record for up to 1 hour internally. This camera is also designed for vertical recording if you plan to upload to mobile platforms. The R50 is a great mirrorless camera for video at under $700.
It’s very solid when it comes to still photography as well. Perhaps it doesn’t have a full-frame sensor like the R8 but you still get over 24 megapixels and this thing is pretty great for a crop sensor camera. You also have AI-assisted and Dual Pixel autofocus capabilities that can recognize faces and eyes and can quickly track and change between subjects. The R50 can shoot at a maximum burst rate of 15 fps so you can also capture some pretty fast-moving action.
If you’re looking to get into the mirrorless world and don’t want to break the bank then this is a great camera for you!
Lenses
Not only did Canon announce two awesome cameras but they have also released two new lenses to accompany them. The RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 and the RF-S 55-210mm f/5-7.1 telephoto are some exciting new optics that will soon be available for purchase.
RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3Price: $300 USD
The RF 24-50 is made for Canon's full-frame mirrorless cameras and is considered a wide to normal lens. This thing is very versatile and will be an excellent option for landscape, street, lifestyle, and portrait photography. This lens features optical stabilization and has two aspheric elements as well as Canon Super Spectra Coating to reduce ghosting and lens flares. On APS-C sensors this lens has approximately a 38-80mm focal length.
RF 55-210mm f/5-7.1Price: $350 USD
The RF-S 55-210 telephoto is designed for Canon's full-frame and crop sensor cameras such as the new R50. This thing has a maximum aperture of f/5-7.1 with optical image stabilization. On a crop sensor camera, this lens has an approximately 88-336mm focal length. Just like the 24-105, this camera features the same elements and coating to reduce flares and ghosting. In addition, the RF-S 55-210 features smooth and quiet autofocusing.
Conclusion
I think Canon has filled a very specific and targeted niche in the market with this newest release and I think they have done a great job. These cameras and lenses are all very solid and stack up extremely well against the competition. If you’re looking to get into the mirrorless game, either with a very affordable and capable APS-C crop sensor or with a solid and well-made CMOS full-frame sensor, then consider these new offerings from Canon and I doubt you will be disappointed.
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