When we reviewed the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III in the May/June 2020 issue, we concluded that it was the most capable interchangeable lens camera that money could buy… either DSLR or mirrorless. It was – and still is – an amazing machine; able to shoot any subject in any situation and deliver superlative results no matter what, with supreme reliability thrown in for good measure. Good though the Nikon D6 undoubtedly is as well, it’s nowhere near the multi-talented all-rounder that its Canon rival is. OK, so there was the little matter of the price tag – nudging $11,000 at the time and still up there now – but the rather bigger matter is its size and weight. It’s truly a big beast, tipping the scales at not much under 1.5kg even before you stick a lens on it. Even a smallish kit is into packhorse territory. Nonetheless, we stated that the 1D X III was so comprehensively accomplished because it was a DSLR, noting, “not once did we think that the EOS-1D X Mark III would be a better camera if Canon replaced the OVF with an EVF and made it a bit more compact”.
Well, now we have the EOS R3… and we’re allowed to change our minds, aren’t we? Since its launch, Canon has been implying that the R3 isn’t the EOS R flagship – that’ll presumably be the R1 with an ultra-high-res sensor of some sort – but for all intents and purposes it does look very much like the mirrorless reworking of the 1D X III… at least in terms of resolution and speed. It’s certainly being targeted at sports, action, wildlife and news photographers with, consequently, equal emphasis on both sensitivity and reliability.
The construction comprises a one-piece magnesium alloy chassis and covers with weather sealing to the same level as the 1D X Mark III, but with the addition of insulation to enable shooting in subzero temperatures. As per Canon’s pro-level DSLRs, there’s an integrated vertical/battery grip that makes the R3 much bulkier than all the previous RF-mount bodies, but it’s still significantly smaller and lighter than the pro DSLR. The body-only weight is 822g alone, or 1,015g with the battery pack and a memory card, which is 425g lighter than the 1D X III. The key size difference is in the height – 142.6mm for the R3 while the 1D X III is a full 25mm taller. Incidentally, the R3 is very close in size to Olympus’ OM-D E-M1X which, of course, is an M43 format camera, so Canon has done a great job in terms of making it as compact as it is.
X FACTOR
The R3’s sensor is Canon’s first backside-illuminated (BSI) fullframe CMOS imager and uses a stacked design to allow for a much faster data read-out. This configuration also reduces rolling shutter distortion and offers a blackout free viewfinder during high-speed shooting. It’s been designed and fabricated entirely in-house. Additionally, faster scanning enables the flash sync speed when using the electronic shutter to be lifted to 1/180 second. However, unlike the Nikon Z 9, the EOS R3 retains a mechanical shutter.
The stacked arrangement employs a second silicon chip behind the imaging layer, into which is incorporated integral memory (DRAM) – so the data can essentially be ‘marshalled’ prior to read-out, which speeds things up considerably – and also some data processing capabilities. It retains an optical low-pass filter. The effective pixel count is 24.1 million (from 26.7MP in total) and an optical low-pass filter is retained. Canon’s latest Dual Pixel CMOS AF II is incorporated, so essentially every pixel is involved in autofocusing, giving full-frame coverage. The native sensitivity range is equivalent to ISO 100 to 102,400 with one-stop extensions down to ISO 50 and up to ISO 204,800.
Five-axis in-body image stabilisation is provided via sensor shifting, with Canon’s Co-ordinated Control IS – which combines IBIS and OIS – delivering up to eight stops of correction for camera shake, depending on the lens. However, the worst case scenario is still 6.5 stops
