Canon R3 : I'm impressed!

Stephane SHG wrote:

Hi, I have a Canon R3 since december and I have to say that I'm really impressed. Until now I was on the Olympus side with a EM1 mk2 and PEN-f ( 2 great cameras) but after buying A Canon C70 last year I wanted to fully join the R-mount. Right now I only have 2 EF lenses ( A sigma ART 35MM 1.4 and a SIGMA 100-400mm ) but I plan to add a Ef 85MM 1.4 and the rumored RF 24L.

Things I love :

High Iso performance : this one is huge. Iso 25600 is perfectly usable. I like the grain pattern too (very fine grain), very easy to deal with on post prod.

Dynamic range : So much data on the shadows. I can open my shadow without any color shift or weirds stuff. I had to adjust my shooting style because the EM1 MK2 loved to be overexposed.

Color depth : I was surprised by this one because it's not discussed alot but the colors are So good! I can push my grading really far if I want and I still have deep and clean colors. I love how you get great tonality at low and high iso. Some cameras tend to look a bit desaturated at high iso this is not the case here. The White Balance is also very accurate.

EYE control AF : I was not sure I'd like it but this is a game changer for me. so much that the Joystick feels a bit dated now. I use that function 80% of the time it works perfectly ( I have contact lenses). On the same note the AF-ON button is great too.

Anti-flicker mode : Very useful function for indoor work. It works really great.

Viewfinder and back screen : Big viewfinder with nice colors and great resolution for that back screen. Excellent.

Electronic shutter : Full 14bit, no jello, same dynamic range ( did some test and I coul not spot differences in highlights and shadow recovery between electronic and mechanical shutter ). I only use Electronic shutter now.

Image quality : With that color depth, that high iso performance and the dynamic range it's no surprise that camera can produce really nice images. If you add the deadly accurate AF system into the mix that become a 10/10 for me.

As you can tell I'm very happy with my purchase. This is a great option for photojournalists and sport shooters.

some pictures from 1 event :

Iso 100, F1.4 1/640s Sigma ART 35mm f1.4

Iso 3200, F1.4 1/80s Sigma ART 35mm f1.4

Iso 100, F1.4 1/1600s Sigma ART 35mm f1.4

Iso 100, F1.4 Sigma ART 35mm f1.4

Iso 100, F1.4 1/400s Sigma ART 35mm f1.4

Iso 100, F1.4 Sigma ART 35mm f1.4

My next camera and can't wait to get it. Just waiting for the next price drop. Thanks for sharing.

richard cohen wrote:

There are 3 really great cameras out there that are vying for the best all around...the R3, A1 and Z9. The latter two have two advantages...first and foremost they have a large resolution advantage which for some kinds of shooting like wildlife, makes the R3 almost irrelevant. Second is price...the other cameras are less expensive. There is no reason the R3 should cost more than the others either new or used imo...and we are rapidly heading that way. I've seen big discounts on new ones and in the used market, all three cameras are now well below $5k. I've been tempted to try the R3 but the price never seemed to make sense to me. I guess I'm holding out for the R5ii which should be here later this spring. I like the smaller form factor.

Don't know where you live but in the UK the A1 is at the same price point as R3. Z9 much cheaper but that's expected.