Canon EOS R8 Review by Ken Rockwell

Canon EOS R8 Review by Ken Rockwell
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[@Kilmej78]

I dont know how you dont have over 1M subscribers. Been rocking with your written content for decades. God a was 21 when i started reading you.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Probably because I'm out shooting all the time rather than just talking about it without much to say. See www.kenrockwell.com/tech/2-kinds-of-photographers.htm. Thanks!

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

Focus stacking handheld with the latest R6II R7 R8 are very impressive.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Yip! Thanks!

[@grandrapids57]

Thanks for all the good teaching over the years.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thank you!!!

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

Great overview! Lots of great improvements over the RP but my RP is serving me just fine, I think I'll hang on to it.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Got it; this is like night and day however. Thanks!

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@KenRockwellTV oh I get it there are a ton of improvements everywhere. For what I use my RP for though, even it is greater than my needs to be honest.

[@shieldaigbencher]

I traded my eos r for the r8. Night and day. I did have the rp as a back up. Honestly, get the r8 if you can afford it somehow. The autofocus moves you 100 years into the future.

[@lsamoa]

@@RoastBeefSandwich Same. The RP is still a great little camera. I tried the R8 but didn't gel with it. RP FTW!

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@shieldaigbencher The autofocus of the RP is really where I'd like to see the biggest improvement really. As far as image quality it leaves nothing to be desired in my opinion. I may try an R8 at a local store to see if it would be worth considering.

[@philjaxon7262]

Yesssir, Ken Rockwell the OG!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thank you!!!

[@angeloplayforone]

Nice to see a review by you about new cameras.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@tejasghate799]

planning to get the R8 along with the 28mm RF pancake lens for street photography. It makes so much more sense than the over hyped Fuji X100 series. I also get to remain in the canon eco-system and use all my older EF lenses with adaptor.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Yes, and the pictures are much better from Canon Esther than the drab colors from Fuji, at least to my taste. Don’t forget the even smaller APS-C versions like the superb R50, which also makes much better pictures than the Fujis.

[@johnh6535]

I got this to add to my R5 ... I love the R5 but don't need it and hardly use it now ! This is so much lighter and tbh lighter for me is better. I loathe heavy kit and it was this or an A7cR. Given I have a load of RF lenses I went for the R8. I don't need IBIS, dual card slot, big battery .... and carry it more. The IQ seems as good as my R5 even cropped for what I do !! The MP war is crazy and though I have got great results from my R5 cropped the R8 is the more sensible choice to the point the R5 is in danger of being sold !

[@KenRockwellTV]

Consider also the R6 II. Not much heavier and much better ergonomics due to a full set of controls vs. the abbreviated controls of the R8. www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r6-ii.htm Thanks!

[@dannythemedic]

LOVED YOUR written stuff back in the day

[@KenRockwellTV]

What about today? My work is even better! Thanks!

[@keithwiebe1787]

Great review. It's hard to go to one place to find out all the features. I knew it had focus stacking but thought I had to stack them in Canon's software but found out the composite was just not enabled. Going from my 5dm3 and this thing feels like a toy yet here I am very much enjoying it's video capabilities and focus abilities on stills and of course the focus stacking. Just got the RF 16 and totally enjoy the couple pound combo. The old 5dm3 feels like a beast. Haven't even put on a shoulder harness yet. I think it would just get in the way.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks! All the Details are at my website full review at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r8.htm and of course way more at my users guide at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/eos-r8-users-guide.htm thanks!

[@yuvaraajas]

Hi Ken. I bought R8 after watching your review. Its great. I am trying to decide between RF 24-105 f/4-7.1 vs RF 24-240. Which one do you recommend?

[@KenRockwellTV]

As my full written review (kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r8.htm) says at kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r8.htm#rex, the RF 24-240mm is way better because it replaces two lenses. Not having to swap lenses means you get every shot instead of missing half of them changing lenses. See my full 24-240mmm review loaded with sample images at kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/24-240mm.htm

[@bruck177]

“cuts his handles off toothbrushes when he’s out backpacking” - learn something new with each of your videos 😂 great video!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thanks!

[@FamousPixs]

Can You Please Review the New Pentax Camera???

[@KenRockwellTV]

Hopefully. Thanks!

[@AnandaGarden]

Thanks, Ken, enjoyable as always. I'm sometimes tempted to sell the R6 and get an R8 for the next-generation autofocus. The R6 struggles a bit indoors.

[@mandofan2616]

The R6ii struggles a bit too, so R8 is prob no different.

[@AnandaGarden]

Ah, thanks. Maybe, ugh, Sony.

[@roo1538]

@@AnandaGarden Or Nikon Zf!

[@AnandaGarden]

Love the Zf dials! Ideal camera: Zf body, Sony eye tracking, Canon R5 sensor, optional snap-on fan for limitless video.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Why not R6 II? R8 is great but missing a lot of controls.

[@adokapo]

Great review Ken. Wish that they start to include internal storage in cameras. It happens every now and then that sd card is my computer back home and camera is in my pocket. Not great combo 😂. That and faster wireless is what we need in this day and age. Shame that we lost amazing battery life from dslrs. On the bright side we can have pocket sized cameras with huge sensors and very sharp and compact lenses. Nothing beats Sony in that department. But Canon and Nikon are doing much better now then they used to. Still Sony NEX5T/A5000 is what im caring in my pockets.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Casio used to put storage in-camera for exactly that reason 15 years ago. Thanks!

[@hpwan2]

Hi Ken, if I want to use old Nikon lenses ( back to pre-AI time) is it a good idea to get something like the Canon R8 (or Nikon Z5) + adapters or a used Nikon Df (looks like that's the only DSLR option to install Nikon lenses from Pre-AI era without any issue)?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Go Df www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/df.htm all the way. It’s the only camera designed to work well with traditional F lenses. Forget Mirrorless for any manual lens; they have no way to snap the automatic diaphragm open and closed instantly for each shot for full aperture focussing as SLRs and DSLRs do.

[@Eyeamsurreal]

Wow! Succinct and exceptionally informative. Thank you very much!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thank you!

[@Exploragrapher]

Hi, I like how you do your reviews. Quick and concise. Very useful for someone who needs just the meat. I do have a question. I am in the market for a R8 and asked a sales guy at my local camera store about weather sealing for the R8. He says that the version sold here in some asian countries don't have weather sealing and that's what it is slightly cheaper (body only around USD 1,150 before discount). Is it true that this is a weather sealed and a non weather sealed version of the R8? Or does this sales guy not know his products?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Salespeople rarely know more than their commission structures; that’s why they’re working in a store rather than making a living as a photographer. The R8 is the same everywhere. I ignore weather sealing; it’s just a marketing feature. I use an umbrella when needed regardless of what I’m shooting. As always, my written reviews have all the details about weather sealing www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r8.htm#wx thanks for asking, and if you’re going to get anything, the biggest help to supporting my work is is to use any of the links on my site or in the description here. I always buy online from the links I share for great service and they I can just return it for cash if I just don’t love it. Thanks!

[@2000prhegde]

Thanks for a great review. I am split between this and RP as a back up camera for videography and occassional wildlife. Which do you reccommend

[@KenRockwellTV]

R8 is a few years newer and better. Go R8.

[@steadisteve]

shooting sports...indoors and out...6fps prob too slow....but worried about using the electronic shutter and having banding issues...did you test that at all?

[@KenRockwellTV]

As my written review says at kenrockwell.com/nikon/z/z8.htm#shutter, there is no rolling shutter and even flash works with the electronic shutter, which tells us banding should be a thing of the past. Always check my written reviews for all these details, no way anyone could include all this in a video. Thanks!

[@ChargedPulsar]

Thank you Ken, this video was very useful to me.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thank YOU!!!

[@pagpapaitim]

i have and love this r8, but just wanted to let you know i still shoot my nikon D40 on jpeg for food shots.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Cool! Thanks.

[@tonycapo8015]

Great review Ken as usual, but is this not more of a replacement for the EOS R and not RP? And how would you compare the R8 with the R?

[@KenRockwellTV]

No; look carefully and you'll see that the R8 is the RP, just with more features on the inside. Otherwise it's the same body and better etc. The EOS-R is a different, larger camera. I have a complete comparison at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r-vs-r8-vs-RP.htm and www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/compared/r-vs-rp.htm Thanks!

[@tonycapo8015]

@KenRockwellTV Thanks Ken!

[@jamesmgreen15]

Thanks, I have the Canon RP (more for people and places and Canon 200D/SL2 (more throw-in quickly for anywhere, and the lenses are smaller and affordable). I guess my particular hobby only needs are covered, but I do like FF. I do wish Canon made more well built lenses available...................I am also looking at the new Nikon ZF but it seems no USER Preference saving might make it harder than I want?? I don't use everything often enough for it all just to be more or less muscle memory for me and that FV mode on Canon has got me a few shots I might have missed.................Off to your web page for the complete low down on this one...Thanks again.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thank YOU!

[@malmedia]

Hi Ken, I am a bit confused by one of the things you mention in your video and on the site... - You said... Oddly in the Fv mode Auto ISO seems to ignore any auto or manually set minimum shutter speeds below about 1/60. Weird, but it has been this way ever since Canon invented the Fv mode. - I am not seeing that issue. When I am in am in FV mode with auto ISO and auto Shutter, the shutter will go below 1/60. I had the lens cap on and my shutter went down to 1/8 while my ISO went to 25600. So I am not sure what you mean by it ignoring speeds below 1/60

[@KenRockwellTV]

I mean I’ve never seen Fv mode shoot at the slower possible speeds if you set them as auto iso minimum shutter speed when it still has enough light to be able to shoot at ⅛ at ISO 100 versus 1/60 at iso 400. Of course when ISO hits the assigned maximum it will have to drop the shutter speed. What it won’t do in Fv mode as P mode will do is go down to the slowest speed as set before it starts increasing ISO.

[@malmedia]

@@KenRockwellTV ahh, yeah. My guess is they may be prioritizing motion blur over graininess. So it may always push iso up before slowing down shutter, especially depending on focal length.

[@game2572]

Does any full frame camera have a built in flash

[@KenRockwellTV]

Not in Mirrorless. Try the Nikon D810 from 2014-2017: www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d810.htm .

[@bobjohnson9597]

Im currently using the gx85 you convinced me to buy by reading your review and have taken it all over the world. Now i wNt to get a new camera in apsc or full frame which I have never oqned a ff. So would you suggest the Canon R8 or R50? At my age auto focus is the most important feature to me. I would truly appreciate if you could let me know your suggestion. Thank you sir.

[@KenRockwellTV]

They each take the same pictures. The R50 is smaller, but because of that has fewer buttons. Look also at the R10 and R7 which have more controls (assuming you appreciate having all the dials rather than having to make many adjustments in menus) and the more expensive APS-C are about the same price as the R8. Only difference in photos is less depth of field on full frame. Personally for general use an R7 and rfs 18-150mm is my fave do everything lightweight setup.

[@bobjohnson9597]

@@KenRockwellTV your a wonderful guy and your word is gold thanks.

[@jademathieuartiste]

I am looking to change my SL1 to an other canon. I have lenses with my SL1. I do portrait and shows photos. What is your recommandation?

[@KenRockwellTV]

They’re all good, depends what you want to do. The 90D was the best they’ve ever done in APS-C DSLRs. www.kenrockwell.com/canon/90d.htm

[@oceansunsetak]

Very good review yes you can carry a spare battery but there's no indicator to tell you when you're low and you only get about 40 pictures in cold weather I had a great Wildlife shot the other day I press the shutter button on the screen in red not enough battery to take the shot I'm glad I still have my 60D

[@LouisLuzuka]

Which iPhone 15 pro max did you get? The 1TB natural titanium?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Natural. Still need to open it. Thanks!!!!

[@komanguy]

Why no IBIS? Apart from that, it’s great camera for the price.

[@adimg19]

If it had IBIS it would be an R6II

[@KenRockwellTV]

No ibis needed as almost all the Canon lenses have better optical stabilization. Ibis came from Sony who is a master at making sensors, but cheaps out and many of its lenses lack stabilization. This is painful for ultrawide, with which ibis can’t work in the corners. Thanks!

[@TheAETHER22]

Is the lack of stabilization a big downside?

[@KenRockwellTV]

With a stabilized lens, the R8 has full stabilization and most RF lenses are stabilized. In-camera sensor shift stabilization rarely improves any further if your lens is stabilized, and my published tests confirm this. Canon’s lenses have in-lens stabilization which is superior to sensor-based systems. Sensor shift stabilization was just a Sony sales feature since they lack stabilization in many of their lenses. The Canon method is superior. Thanks!!

[@maurogalch2098]

I would like to use mirrorless but I will wait for R7 Mark II. Will it arrive by 2025? Great review. Congratulations from Brazil

[@KenRockwellTV]

Tough customer!!!! R7 just came out this year and it ROCKS. It's the world's only self-leveling camera. Full review at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r7.htm

[@cineffect]

What matters to me is can one edit the video files easily on a Windows machine?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Beats me; I use nothing but Mac.

[@ryandobal]

yes!! you can edit video files from just about any camera on both windows and mac using easy software such as wondershare filmora! hope this helps

[@cineffect]

@@ryandobal I know, but I meant the files from Canon R8, I've heard they are special.

[@LouisLuzuka]

Finally 😮

[@KenRockwellTV]

Cool!

[@Twobarpsi]

Great review!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Thank you!!!

[@cas818028]

What are your thought on the 24-50 you got on there?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Great little lens, but I find the RF 24-105 STM or RF 24-240 much more useful. Full 24-50 review: www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/24-50mm.htm Thanks.

[@rajs4240]

Great video. You have a very good website. incredibly thorough information with wonderful example images. I don't shoot for a living. Considering switching from M50 to RF mount. Between R8 and R6 MKII, I'm attempting to make a decision (just for IBIS). Is R8's lack of IBIS a significant flaw? Will the handheld photo have any shake? I only take pictures of my kids and myself when we are on vacation. Use it infrequently. Is the additional cost of the R6 MKii worth it? You said that if we have an IS lens, IBIS is irrelevant. I only need your guidance. Shall I choose R8? Thanks. Will wait for your reply.

[@KenRockwellTV]

R8 works wonders with stabilized lenses. It really comes down to the R6 II having a much brighter finder for use outdoors and having all the rights dials and controls, some of which are simply missing on the tiny R8. Pic quality is identical; the R6 II is much more pleasant, fast and easy to shoot. Get the R6 II if you shoot often or the R8 if you’re doing a cross country bicycle tour.

[@gauravgoel8092]

Hello Ken, thanks for the detailed information in video on R8. I'm also in the same boat and can you help me decide between R8 and R6. R6 is cheaper than R6mk2 and with more features than R8. I'm also hobbyist only but What do you say about R6 vs R8 please.

[@rajs4240]

@@KenRockwellTV Thanks Ken.

[@rajs4240]

@@gauravgoel8092 I have the same question as well. Can we consider R6 if we get it for a good deal.

[@gauravgoel8092]

@@rajs4240 I'm also trying to figure out if IBIS, battery, doubke card slot in R6 but still old model, is worth against the latest R8. Or better to buy R8 , save money and invest in lens. Still I can't decide.

[@yougood1621]

Are you doing giveaway of this camera? Please

[@KenRockwellTV]

Not today. Check back tomorrow. Thanks!

[@borlach321]

Amazing how Canon & Sony put the latest tech into their entry level cameras and Nikon does NOT! Nikon has become a 2 camera company. Z8 & Z9...no thanks!

[@KenRockwellTV]

Good riddance to Nikon. They were hot from the 1960s through the early 2000s, and lost it in Mirrorless. Thanks!

[@frostgodx]

How bout that z30 😂😂😂

[@Chris-ey7zy]

Nikon number 3. Who are you kidding

[@kyleshearer1270]

...it's been 3 years since the z6ii was released. Even longer since the z5. If you want to criticize Nikon, it should be for "long" durations between releases. Whenever the z5ii or z6iii come, if they don't have the focusing system is the ZF, then we shall all groan.

[@HiFiInsider]

R7 is $100 less. Isn't the R7 a better model?

[@KenRockwellTV]

R7 is totally different, Canon’s top APS-C compared to R8 which is the most basic new full frame.

[@manhattanmike]

Can you use older flashes ?

[@AndrewJens]

There's a chance, but your best bet is to bring your older flash to a store and try it on the camera.

[@KenRockwellTV]

Yip, they work great!

[@paulo7200]

Canon: "We don't make any mid-range primes, and we don't let anyone else make them either!" Ken, I'd love to buy the R8 over the Sony A7c. Better design, Made in Japan etc. Just NO mid-range primes and no clear plan to make them available. Why?

[@KenRockwellTV]

Midrange RF primes www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/35mm-f18.htm (fast and macro!), www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/50mm-f12.htm (fast normal), www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/50mm-f18.htm (normal normal) and three fixed 85mm, including an ultra fast www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/85mm-f12.htm, an ultrafast with an apodization filter www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/85mm-f12-ds.htm and a normal fast macro 85mm www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/lenses/85mm-f2.htm - and I only use zooms. Looks great to me, thanks!

[@kospaang]

You talk to fast man... for any not UK/US ppl ... slow down - clear up ;-)

[@KenRockwellTV]

Easy fix: look for the gear or settings icon in your player. Click or tap it, tap Playback Speed and try 0.75x or 0.5x and problem solved! Thanks!

[@atticustay1]

This video looks like it was made 10 years ago

[@KenRockwellTV]

1948 to be precise, recorded on an Ampex Quadruplex machine!