Two weeks ago I was thinking about how to test Canon's entry-level EOS R8 and EOS R100 cameras in the miserable French weather when I thought, “Hey, why not take a vacation somewhere warmer to try these models?” After Googling the closest place with 75+ degree weather, I found myself in the warm Canary Islands. It also turned out to be a great place to take pictures, so everything turned out perfect.
Both cameras have very different prices, currently around $450 and $1,300, respectively. However, they are still the company's most affordable new full-frame, crop-sensor mirrorless cameras, and Canon markets them as ideal for tourism and adventure, so I thought this is a great way to test out the capabilities. of both.
Like any potential buyer, I wanted to see if they're better than a smartphone for traveling, specifically if the larger sensors can counteract a smartphone's ai computational photography. I also looked at ease of use and automated operation, flexibility for sunny beaches or dark bars, vlogging, and more. After testing them in some of the most picturesque places in Gran Canaria, I discovered that one of them was a camera worth buying and the other, not so much.
Computational photography with smartphones
Before detailing my experience with these cameras, I want to talk about computational photography and ai. Most smartphones incorporate these tricks, such as taking several photos in quick succession to get the best one or improving low-light shots. They also often offer better exposed shots with superior white balance. However, there is a price to pay in terms of over-sharpening and other artifacts that can give photos an artificial look.
I tested this by taking some photos with a Pixel 7a and a camera on automatic settings, as many travel photographers do. As I suspected, at first glance the smartphone photos look better, but a closer look reveals the camera's superior photos in terms of detail, color accuracy, skin tones, realistic noise levels, and more. I think it's important for buyers to understand this and have a basic idea of how to adjust the images in the listing, or their new purchase could end up in a drawer.
CanonEOS R100
It looks like the 24-megapixel APS-C EOS R100 should offer a lot to travelers. It's small and lightweight at 356 grams, so with a compact lens, it's not a huge burden compared to a smartphone. At the same time, the larger sensor potentially offers higher quality and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.
However, small size comes with big trade-offs. The handling is mediocre and the configuration is not very intuitive. I would love to tell you that you can control it on the screen, but the screen is not touch sensitive and is almost useless for vlogging since it is also fixed in place. The electronic viewfinder has low magnification and is relatively dim, making it difficult to use in the sun, especially with glasses on, which is unfortunate if you're at the beach, for example.
It has only one UHS-I card slot, so storage is relatively cheap, but you won't have a backup if the card fails. You get a microHDMI connector for output to a TV, along with a microphone input, but no headphone jack. The USB-C 2.0 port can only transfer files, not charge the camera or allow you to use it as a webcam.
It's compatible with Canon's smaller LP-E17 battery, but is rated for a decent 430 shots on a charge and many more in real life. A big plus is a built-in flash with exposure compensation to dim it, although settings are limited in the fully automatic mode that most beginners will use.
Performance and video
The R100 has anemic performance, to put it mildly. It shoots and focuses at just 3.5 fps maximum, the slowest in its category. It feels slow when shooting RAW photos, even in single shot mode. Fortunately, it is much more reactive when recording JPEG files.
The sensor has one of the worst roller shutters I have seen in silent mode. Fortunately, it has a mechanical shutter on the first curtain that eliminates this, and the silent mode setting is hidden where many people will never find it.
There is eye detection AF for people only and it works well if the subject is close to the camera. It's fine for family photos and the like, but not ideal for candid or street photos during your trip. The autofocus isn't great in low light either, but is otherwise pretty reliable.
The R100 is fine for recording the occasional travel video, but it's not suitable for content creators. The maximum resolution is 4K 24p, but it comes with a 1.5x crop, or 2.2x with electronic stabilization, which eliminates the bokeh advantage of a large sensor. And there's no option for log, 10-bit or any other high-end video features. That said, 4K video is relatively sharp and colors are nice and accurate.
Image quality
The bright spot of the EOS R100 is the photo quality. As you'd expect from Canon, image quality is excellent, with warm skin tones and accurate colors straight out of the camera. It can also handle low-light shots well thanks to the large sensor, with low noise up to ISO 6400. All of this will help you take great photos of mountains, the beach, nightlife and other typical vacation scenes. The ability to shoot in RAW format, along with the mechanical shutter, is another good reason to choose this model on most smartphones. And finally, the built-in flash is there to help you get beautiful images even in dark environments.
EOS 100 Overview
So would I recommend the EOS R100 for traveling, especially instead of a smartphone? Sorry Canon, but no. It's too simple to replace a good smartphone, and while it offers better image quality, it's too complicated. I would suggest Canon's older EOS M50 Mark II instead, as it offers the same image quality but has a touchscreen, is smaller and still offers good lens options. Sony's A6100 has better video and autofocus options, and if you can afford a little more, Canon's R50 is the same size but much more capable.
EOS R8
Like the EOS R100, Canon's R8 is the company's new simplest and cheapest full-frame camera. It gives you the same sensor and image quality as the $2,000 EOS R6 II for $700 less, but eliminates some of the features for speed, video, and more.
The main thing the R8 is missing is internal stabilization, so it depends on the lens and electronic vibration reduction, but that actually worked quite well for me. It is also missing a full mechanical shade, but has a front curtain shade that eliminates the roller shade. The EVF is much more basic, with lower resolution and magnification.
On the plus side, it has the same flip-down display as the R6 II, meaning it can serve as a capable selfie and vlogging camera. It also has a decent range of manual controls, with dual dials for the main settings, a full range of manual and auto settings, and a dedicated switch for photo and video. It's also smaller and considerably lighter than the R6 II, making it a better travel option.
It has microphone and headphone jacks, along with a microHDMI port. Capture photos at high speeds on a UHS-II card, but there's only one slot. The biggest compromise is a battery equal to that of the R100. Given the additional power demands of the larger sensor, it offers just 290 shots on a charge, maximum, and less than an hour of video recording.
Performance and video
For a budget camera, the R8 is fast. It supports only 6fps with the electronic curtain shutter, but can handle 40fps bursts in electronic mode. There is a significant rolling shutter though, so keep that in mind for action shots.
The R8 uses Canon's latest ai object recognition technology, meaning it can accurately track both animals and humans. It also comes with an automatic setting that allows the camera to determine the subject and track it accordingly.
I think autofocus is one of the most important features for travel photography, and the R8 delivers. You can locate and lock on to multiple subjects and quickly track them around the frame. That makes it more capable than other recent models like the Sony A7 IV and the Nikon Z6 II. Focus can be selected via the touchscreen with an eye on the EVF, which works well, but make sure you enable the “touch and drag” setting in the menu.
It's also a good camera for creating videos and content, with a few caveats. It can record uncropped video up to 4K 60p and supports Canon's C-Log 3 with 10-bit capture, along with HDR PQ. 120fps ultra slow motion is available at 1080p. That said, 4K 60p does have some pixel binning, so it's less sharp than the 30p mode. The lack of internal stabilization also makes it less useful for vlogging, because electronic stabilization adds 1.25 times the performance.
Image quality
Image quality is also a strong point of the R8, especially for tourists who want much more than a smartphone can offer. It's a great camera for capturing people and landscapes, with rich skin tones and accurate colors. At the same time, the 24-megapixel full-frame sensor is excellent in low-light conditions, offering plenty of detail and offering beautiful background bokeh. Serious photographers can shoot RAW photos and get the same level of detail found in more expensive cameras.
EOS R8 Overview
Canon's entry-level full-frame R8 is definitely worth taking on your travels. It offers impressive image quality and is also ideal for content creators. The main drawback is the lack of stabilization and a small battery, but you'll be fine if you carry an extra battery or two. Rival options include the Nikon Z5, which has similar image quality but inferior autofocus and video, and if you're more into vlogging, the Panasonic S5 is a better option for less money. If you're looking for the most affordable full-frame hybrid camera, the Canon R8 is a great option.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/traveling-with-canons-entry-level-eos-r8-and-r100-mirrorless-cameras-160054076.html?src=rss
