Test du Canon EOS R8 : un excellent premier appareil photo hybride plein format

With the surge of interest in content creation, full-frame mirrorless cameras are of more interest than ever. The Canon EOS R8 is the latest baseline full-frame model to address this growing need as people upgrade from their older DSLRs or cell phone cameras.

Ideal for amateur photographers, Canon’s latest camera is much lighter in weight than many of its full-frame mirrorless competitors. It’s also weather sealed and loaded with features that are easy to access and that make shooting with it an absolute pleasure. The EOS R8 makes it easy to transfer images and video clips to a mobile device or computer, so it’s a versatile camera that also appeals to content creators, vloggers and avid travel photographers.

I tested the Canon EOS R8 with a Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens with a SanDisk Ultra Plus 128GB SD card. I brought the camera along with me on a two-week Panama Canal cruise during which I put it through its paces—taking photos and shooting video clips in a wide range of indoor and outdoor settings. Read on to learn more about my adventures working with one of Canon’s newest, lightest and most affordable full-frame mirrorless cameras.

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Canon EOS R8 Design

Thoughtful, And Easy To Navigate

The Canon EOS R8 body’s overall design remains consistent with most other (often more expensive) Canon EOS digital cameras. Because I’ve used other Canon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, it didn’t take me long to get the hang of using the Canon EOS R8. Sure, the menu structure and bundled features appeared refreshed as compared with other Canon cameras I’d used previously, but the physical buttons, dials and menu layout are all reminiscent of the company’s other camera offerings.

Inside the camera sits Canon’s latest full-frame, 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, which is the same one found in the pricier Canon EOS R6 Mark II. The camera also uses Canon’s Digic X processor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus. When I started shooting with this camera, I immediately noticed the speed of the autofocus was faster than I’d expected from a camera at this price.

On the whole, I liked the positioning of the EOS R8’s physical controls. On top of the camera sits the mode dial, power and multi-function lock switch, movie shooting button, main dial, <M-Fn> multi-function button, still photo shooting and movie recording switch and the multi-function shoe.

On the left side of the camera are the three terminal covers that reveal the remote control terminal, micro-HDMI port, USB-C port and the separate 3.5 mm external microphone and headphone ports.

The front of the camera features a comfortably angled shutter button, Canon’s RF lens mount and lens release button, self-timer lamp and internal microphones (which are about the size of a pinhole). The bottom of the camera has a standard tripod socket and the battery compartment, which also contains a single SD card slot.

Extending out from the right side of the camera body’s front is the handgrip. I found it to be comfortable, while providing easy access for my finger to press the shutter button. Someone with larger hands, however, may find the hand grip to be a bit on the smaller side.

On the back of the camera body sit a slew of manual button controls: the menu button, viewfinder, 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen display/viewfinder, Info button, <*> AE lock button, AF Point Selection/Index/Magnify/Reduce button, AF On button, Q Set button, Playback button, Erase button, along with the up, down, left and right buttons can be found. Noticeably lacking, however, is a joystick-style rear dial, which I find typically makes menu navigation easier than using the directional buttons.

While the physical controls are handy in many circumstances, I found it easier navigating through most menu options on the touchscreen display. However, this requires more battery power than relying on the viewfinder when adjusting menu options and framing shots, for example.

Compared to other DSLR and mirrorless digital cameras that have a similar form factor, the Canon EOS R8 is surprisingly lightweight. I found the bundled Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens provided a reasonable shooting range while keeping the camera comfortable around my neck (using the supplied strap). Adding a different lens could add weight, but that you can even do so—and change how you use the camera—is one of the core advantages to interchangeable lens cameras like the EOS R8.

Since few mirrorless cameras that cost less than $2,000 have weatherproof sealing, I found this a welcomed feature—especially since I knew I’d be taking pictures within one of Costa Rica’s beautiful but damp rainforests. The Canon EOS R8’s mainly plastic body does not look or feel cheaply made or flimsy. In fact, I found it to be more durable and more comfortable in my hands than other Canon EOS digital cameras I’ve used in the past.

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Canon EOS R8 Features

Creator-Friendly, With Power And Variety

For content creators, vloggers, or travel photographers, for example, it’s easy to adjust the camera settings manually, but it’s even faster to rely on the Auto settings—especially if you need to get the camera up and running quickly to capture something happening around you. The Canon EOS R8 offers plenty of shooting options, with ISO support between 100 and 102,400 (expandable up to 204,800—although the higher you go, the more noise you can expect). Plus, it supports both the sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces.

I truly appreciated how the Canon EOS R8 gives so many easily accessible setting and configuration choices. When out and about shooting photos or video, I loved how quickly the autofocus sensors locked in on faces, eyes even animals. And I appreciated the fast and accurate subject tracking. Whether you’re looking through the viewfinder or using the display as the viewfinder (which again requires more battery power), there’s enough information displayed to make framing shots and tweaking settings a simple process. One omission: The camera lacks an internal GPS to record the location images or video are shot.

For content creators, features like head tracking, vertical video capture and the ability to continuously shoot up to 2 hours of video (additional accessories required). When shooting video, you have access to 5-axis digital image stabilization, so when the photographer is in motion (or the camera is being handheld), the result is smooth and clear content.

You can shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps (oversampled from 6K), or drop down to 1080p at up to 180 fps. And to make content creation possibilities even more versatile, the camera supports UVC and UAC, specs which make live-streaming and remote camera control possible. The camera also has Aspect Markers for different video aspect ratios, so during the editing processing, it’s easier to make content look consistent.

After shooting still images and video, I found it easier to either connect my camera to my MacBook Pro using a USB-C to USB-C cable, or establish a wireless connection with my Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max to transfer, view, edit, store, and share the content. I found this to be a better option than constantly removing the memory card, inserting it into a card reader connected to my computer or mobile device, transferring the desired content, and the reinserting the memory card back into the camera.

One feature some content creators appreciate, but that’s lacking in the Canon EOS R8 is a product mode that allows them to be on camera and have their upper-body in focus, but when they hold up a product, the camera automatically refocuses in on the product—and then focuses back on the creator when they move the product out of the frame. However, if you’re not a content creator who does product demos, this is a feature you probably won’t miss.

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The Canon EOS R8 Performance

Plenty Of Shooting Modes And Options

Based on my experience working with the camera, in a wide range of lighting conditions, the camera consistently captured rich and accurate colors in both still images and within the 4K video I shot.

Overall, I found the camera’s performance pleasingly uncomplicated. For a novice photographer, simply turning on the camera, selecting the full Auto mode, and turning on the auto-focus switch on the lens allows the camera to adjust most settings automatically based on your shooting location and ambient light.

Moving in and out of shooting locations with varying light conditions is not a problem for this camera. I also found that the autofocus (which uses 1,053 autofocus points) is quick, uses AI-based and highly accurate subject identification (especially when shooting people, animals, vehicles, and certain types of landscapes). As I worked with the Canon EOS R8, I was pleasantly surprised by the speed of the autofocus and the camera’s ability to identify quickly the type of subject I was photographing.

For example, when I switched from taking a photo of a person to a wild bird, or a vast landscape setting while out and about, the camera automatically adapted—ensuring my intended subject stayed in focus. And having so many autofocus points built into the camera makes it easy to dictate exactly what within the frame the camera should focus in on—whether it’s a tiny object or something extremely large (like a cityscape or landscape).

The camera also offers a handful of manually adjustable shooting modes that give you semi-automatic or full manual control over your photography or videography. Using these modes requires a bit more know-how, but I found them manageable with practice. Shooting modes include auto, daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten light, white florescent light and more. But you also get a handful of shooting style options, such as auto, standard, portrait, landscape, and fine detail. Plus, you get 11 manually selectable exposure modes, if you choose to use them.

When shooting fast moving subjects (like sports or wildlife), the 40 fps electronic shutter speed works exceptionally well. Since there are plenty of situations when the camera can’t be held still when shooting, especially without a tripod, the image stabilization works well.

To keep things simple when shooting, I most often used the traditional viewfinder, as opposed to the touchscreen display, which requires more battery power to operate. However, I liked how this the display can rotate to face forwards, making this camera a viable option for vloggers who want to record themselves and see what they’re shooting while using the display as their viewfinder. When using the traditional electronic viewfinder (as opposed to the touchscreen display), you can customize what the display shows, choosing from over 60 items—everything from shooting mode and battery level, to ISO speed and shutter speed.

Once you’re done shooting content, the camera offers a USB-C and micro-HDMI port, so you can transfer what you’ve shot from the camera’s memory card to your computer or mobile device or view it directly on your television. Out of all the cameras I’ve ever used, I found the Canon EOS R8’s wireless connectivity the easiest to set up and use. I set up a wireless Bluetooth connection with my iPhone, and found Canon’s mobile app well-designed and intuitive. In my experience, the content transfer process was consistently straightforward and reliable. However, if you’re transferring large image files or 4K movie clips, I found a wired connection between the camera and a computer or mobile device a faster choice.

Shown below are a handful of photos I took during my recent travels with this camera. Again, all were taken using the camera with the Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens.

Video Recording

The Canon EOS R8 can capture stunning 4K video at up to 60 fps. While most people will probably rely on the camera’s 4K (60 fps) shooting capabilities, a variety of other options are available, including 1080p (at up to 180 fps).

Unlike many mirrorless cameras, especially those in the less than $2,000 price range, this one can shoot a continuous video for up to 2 hours—assuming you have enough battery power and storage available. Using the optional Canon USB Power Adapter PD-E1 ($137), it’s possible to power the camera using an external source. Using this adapter, you can charge the camera’s battery while it remains inside the camera.

The video recording options are extensive, yet intuitive to navigate. Plus the ability to adjust the direction and angle of the 3-inch touchscreen viewfinder display is a huge benefit for vloggers and content creators looking for original angles.

I also really liked the flashing red frame that appears around the viewfinder display when filming. This frame makes it virtually impossible to think you’re recording when you’re not. And when shooting video, the camera’s autofocus impressed, especially when recording people. The camera requires minimal setup and tinkering, so I found it easy to start recording video quickly. But, if you want to adjust various settings manually to match your unique shooting style, this too is possible.

Canon EOS R8 Battery

Canon reports the camera’s supplied LP-E17 battery will last for taking up to 220 still shots or for up to 65 minutes of shooting video (when using the viewfinder, as opposed to the touchscreen display). This battery life isn’t incredible, but it’s satisfactory.

As long as you don’t rely heavily on the camera’s 3-inch touchscreen display as your viewfinder or to preview content you’ve already shot, I found Canon’s projections rather accurate. Using just the traditional viewfinder, the rechargeable battery that comes with the Canon EOS R8 repeatedly lasted for almost an entire day of shooting still images, though your mileage may vary.

The camera comes with a charger that’s relatively compact, with the AC power connector stored inside. You need the aforementioned optional Canon USB Power Adapter PD-E1A if you want to charge the battery while it’s the camera.