Canon EOS R Hands-On Preview and Fujifilm XH2 Lens Performance
Canon has announced the new Canon EOS R, a 30mp full-frame mirrorless camera, with a completely new RF lens mount. We go hands-on with the brand new 30mp Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera. We've been having a look at the camera, have posted our first impressions from spending time shooting with the camera.
Canon EOS R Technical Features
The Canon EOS R is Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera, and features a 30.3mp full-frame sensor, with dual-pixel AF, with an impressive number of focus points, totally 5,455. The focus system is sensitive down to -6EV, which is the best offered by any Canon camera. There's also a top LCD display giving shooting information, as well as battery life when the camera is off. For high-speed recording, the camera offers 8fps with fixed AF/AA, and 5fps with continuous servo AF tracking.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 30.3mp full-frame CMOS |
| Lens Mount | RF mount (54mm diameter) |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF (-6EV) |
| EVF | 3.69 million dot resolution |
| Display | 3.15inch vari-angle touch-screen |
| ISO Range | ISO50-ISO102400 (Extended) |
| Video | 4K UHD up to 30fps |
RF Lens Mount and Compatibility
The lens mount is a new RF lens mount, with a 54mm diameter, and a 20mm flange distance. You can use Canon EF/EF-S lenses, with an adapter, and Canon are introducing 3 different adapters, one standard EF to RF, one with a control ring, and also one that can use drop-in filters. With a new lens mount, Canon has introduced four new lenses, including a standard RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, a 50mm f/1.2L USM lens, a 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro lens, and a 28-70mm f/2L lens.
Video and Connectivity
4K video recording offers frame rates up to 30fps, and there are built-in stereo mics. Video is recorded internally in 8-bit, and for 10-bit video recording you need to use the HDMI output. As you would expect, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built-in, which lets you remotely control the camera, and transfer images.
Fujifilm XH2: Testing Older Lenses on High-Resolution Sensors
“It can’t resolve the sensor,” is something lots of manufacturers have told us for years about their older lenses. But that’s wrong: older lenses can indeed resolve newer sensors, but just not with the same level of clarity of newer lenses. That’s part of the big idea of the Fujifilm XH2. Fujifilm doesn’t list the 35mm f1.4 R lens as one designed to take “full advantage” of the new high-resolution sensor. However, the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 R does something else that I like to call “bring joy.”
Experience with the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 R
So how does the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 R bring joy when mounted to the XH2? Well, there are a bunch of ways:
- The autofocus is very fast. It’s also just better. Even with a strongly backlit subject, it was able to find the eyes with face detection and nail the subject.
- The XH2 provides skin smoothing, so I don’t need to spend more time in post-production than I spent shooting.
- The colors are even better. Higher-resolution sensors typically have better colors.
- The older lens still provides character. There’s still that gorgeous swirly bokeh towards the edges that we love.
When you mount the Fujifilm 35mm f1.4 R on the new Fujifilm XH2, you’re not getting super sharp images. But, you’re getting the best sharpness the 35mm f1.4 is capable of. It’s not going to take full advantage of what the sensor is capable of doing by giving you tons of contrast, clarity and more. But instead, it’s going to simply bring you joy.