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Canon EOS R3 - Field report by Martin Bissig

One week on the road with the Canon EOS R3

Fast as lightning. Unsurpassed.

A camera that lets you shoot sports, wildlife and news like never before. You focus on your subjects just by looking at them - a truly intuitive experience. Stay ahead of the competition with 30 frames per second and advanced connectivity that lets you meet tight deadlines.

Introducing: The next chapter in the EOS story

The EOS R3 will change the way you think about mirrorless cameras. The new Back-illuminated Stacked Sensor allows you to freeze action with an exposure time of just 1/64,000 sec. and bracket shots at up to 30 frames per second. Eye Controlled AF intelligently detects and tracks subjects during shooting - ideal for sports, news and wildlife photography.

Capture every move at 30fps

At the heart of the EOS R3 is a Back-illuminated Stacked Sensor - developed exclusively by Canon. It's faster and more sensitive than anything we've put in a camera before. So you get even more performance when you're working under pressure.

The new sensor has its circuitry on the back instead of the front, so it can take in more light, which reduces noise. Two layers of circuitry are stacked, increasing the speed at which the sensor can send image data to the DIGIC X processor. This speed not only enables continuous shooting at 30 frames per second (with full AF and AE), but also allows the camera to check focus 60 times per second. The uninterrupted electronic viewfinder updates at 120 frames per second, ensuring an incredibly realistic image even when shooting fast-moving subjects.

The sensor's specifications have been optimized to achieve a perfect balance between resolution, low-light characteristics, and transferable file size to meet the needs of professional news and sports photographers. The Digital Lens Optimizer maximizes the detail of the lens in combination with the sensor to deliver image quality that far exceeds expectations. State-of-the-art electronic shutter

The breathtaking speed of the EOS R3's sensor will change the way you think about the electronic shutter. Until now, rolling shutter effects were hard to avoid when shooting fast-moving subjects, causing distortion and leaving photographers no choice but to switch to mechanical shutter mode. With the EOS R3, however, things are different.

Because the sensor can read out image data so quickly, rolling shutter effects are virtually eliminated. Now photographers can freeze motion with an electronic shutter, at breakthrough speeds of up to 1/64,000 second - and completely silently. What's more, flash sync is also possible with an electronic shutter, at speeds of up to 1/180 sec - and with either Canon Speedlites or even flash units from other manufacturers.

The EOS R3's electronic shutter is as quiet as you'd expect - except this time it operates at an incredible 30 fps, with full AE and AF tracking, and with any RF lens. Those who don't need this tremendous speed can also choose the 15 fps or 3 fps options.

Instant readiness is a basic requirement in news photography. Here, the camera convinces with its reduced startup time and the menu option for shutter lag reduced by just 0.02 seconds. As you would expect from Canon, continuous shooting at 30 frames per second is possible in all shooting modes, including 14-bit RAW

Low light? No problem

With ISO sensitivity from ISO 100 to ISO 102,400 (expandable to ISO 50 to ISO 204,800), the EOS R3 can handle virtually any lighting conditions you encounter on the job. The sensor's new back-illuminated design provides even more dynamic range and reduces digital noise. Combined with the EOS R3's ability to focus in extremely low light, this is a camera that can truly be called the flagship of low-light photography.

Flare detection with electronic shutter

Thanks to advances in Canon sensor technology, the EOS R3 is the first mirrorless EOS with flicker detection when using the electronic shutter. High-frequency flicker detection can eliminate streaking when shooting with LED light sources, significantly increasing the number of usable images in challenging conditions.

The world's fastest, most intuitive autofocus.

The EOS R3 takes care of focus so you can focus on other things. Eye Control AF, advanced scene recognition, and exceptional low-light sensitivity make for an incredible shooting experience.

The revolution in autofocus: Eye Controlled AF

The EOS R3 offers a completely new and natural way of focusing: you choose an AF point or the subject to track by simply looking at it. A half-press of the camera's shutter button then either focuses on the selected AF point or initiates focus tracking on the selected subject. Quite simply, there is nothing else like it.

The combination of Eye Controlled AF and focus tracking makes the EOS R3 a great action camera. Photographing track and field athletes? Then simply select the runner you want to track by looking at him. After you press the shutter button, the EOS R3 will recognize that athlete in the group and track focus on him. And it works with everything from politicians in press conferences to motorcycles on race tracks to birds in the sky.

The Eye Controlled AF system is easy to calibrate, and calibration settings can be saved and recalled instantly. They can even be shared between different cameras via memory card. The same camera can be programmed for different photographers or for a photographer who sometimes wears glasses and sometimes wears contact lenses. Of course, AF point selection is also possible with the camera's Multi-Controller or our unique Smart-Controller.

Next-generation subject recognition and tracking

Using the same deep-learning AI technology we used in the EOS R5 and EOS R6, we've taken the EOS R3's autofocus to the next level. The camera now recognizes motorsports vehicles in addition to people and animals.
Hundreds of thousands of images from various photographers and agencies were used to teach the camera exactly what the real world looks like - and how it moves. 

- People. The camera detects the person's eyes, and tracks the focus on them. If the eyes are not visible, the face is focused on instead. If neither eyes nor face can be seen (for example, if a soccer player suddenly turns away), the EOS R3 prioritizes the subject's head, then the body. The camera's people-focusing capabilities have been optimized for better tracking of people wearing helmets or masks - perfect for spectacular sports shots.

- Animals. Dogs and cats are detected by the camera's subject tracking technology, as are birds - even when they are in flight.

- Vehicles. The EOS R3 is programmed to recognize race cars and motorcycles, from Formula 1 to GT and rally cars. It can even distinguish between cars with closed and open cockpits, and focuses on the driver's helmet when it is visible. Racing motorcycles are also detected, and again it is possible to track the driver's helmet to keep it in focus during the race.

Subject detection and tracking is now supported for all AF area modes. Thanks to the EOS R3's fast, stacked back-illuminated sensor, focus is checked up to 60 times per second when using the electronic shutter at 30 frames per second, the best AF tracking in a Canon camera to date. 

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II advantage

The camera's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology turns each of the 24 million pixels into a focus sensor that can be combined to form 4,779 selectable AF points and areas of varying sizes. These can be positioned absolutely anywhere in the image on 100% of the sensor area. Even the pixels that are not used for the selected focus point feed information back to the camera's AF tracking system, providing incredible accuracy.

The EOS R3's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology is the world's fastest and most sensitive AF system in a camera with a full-frame sensor. The camera is capable of focusing in as little as 0.03 seconds and in a lighting situation down to -7.5 EV² to focus. In such darkness, it's hard to see anything through an optical viewfinder - but the EOS R3 makes it easy with its electronic viewfinder.

Lightning-fast connectivity that puts you at the front of the pack

When every second counts, the EOS R3 puts you one step ahead of everyone. With world-class connectivity, you'll be able to quickly share your shots with your clients - via Wi-Fi, LAN or mobile network. So you won't just meet your deadlines, you'll beat them by a mile.

Transfer images while shooting

Thanks to FTP support, the images can be transferred to the agency or the customer in real time via WLAN or LAN. The security protocols SFTP¹ and FTPS ensure that the recordings are always secure. The EOS R3 supports the Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac and can operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz² band, providing greater range and less interference. The Wi-Fi security standard WPA3 is also available.

When shooting in locations with access to a LAN, the camera's RJ-45 port provides the fastest, most stable connection possible (up to 1000BASE-T) so you can get images and video where they need to go as quickly as possible.

The EOS R3 inherits many of the networking features from our award-winning EOS-1D X Mark III. Mann can even share network settings between the two cameras via a memory card, so agencies can easily provide setup configuration before an event.

To make setup even faster, especially in places you've worked before, up to 20 network settings can be stored in the camera for instant recall, such as for FTP servers, local computers or smartphones.

When the EOS R3 transfers image or video files, it also transfers voice tags, star ratings and in-camera crop settings. This saves photo editors valuable time in the battle for first publications.

The smartphone as a partner

Permanent Bluetooth Low Energy v5 pairing with your mobile device lets you automatically transfer images to a smartphone or tablet right as you shoot. From there, images can be quickly shared with clients or on social media.

Our Mobile File Transfer App (MFT) allows you to transfer images to FTP servers when a Wi-Fi network is not available. Whether you're using Android or iOS mobile devices, you can simply connect the camera via wifi or a USB cable to start uploading. Images can be tagged and metadata added - another way the EOS R3 helps keep you ahead of the competition.

The Canon Camera Connect app now includes an additional feature that lets you update the camera's software through the app, making it even easier to keep it up to date.

Support for various GNSS

The EOS R3's built-in GPS allows you to tag your shots with location data and ensures that the internal clock is set accurately. It supports a number of satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, and MICHIBIKI quasi-Zenith satellites for extra versatility in determining location data.

Camera remote control

You can also use your mobile device to remotely control the EOS R3 for shooting from exciting, hard-to-reach angles. So you can adjust settings, view live images, and trigger the capture of photos and videos - all from your smartphone or tablet's display. The EOS R3 is also Apple MFI certified, so it can connect directly to an iPhone via a USB Lightning cable. Android devices can be connected via USB 3.

Our free EOS Utility software also allows remote control of the camera from a Mac or PC - easily via USB 3.2, LAN or WLAN. Images can be stored on a memory card, a computer, or both at the same time - ideal for working in controlled conditions.

Need more reach? The EOS R3's Remote Browser feature (available when connected via Ethernet) allows control over a wired network. This allows images to be captured and transferred remotely. Settings (including FTP details) can be adjusted even when the camera is in use.

Cloud support

Thanks to our innovative image.canon gateway, the EOS R3 also supports various cloud storage platforms. The camera even automatically uploads image and video files so they're instantly available in the workspace when you return from a shoot.

An unlimited number of shots (including RAW shots) can be stored at image.canon for up to 30 days before opting for another cloud service like Google Drive or Adobe Cloud.

Designed and built for professionals

Whether it's a sandstorm or a rainstorm , the EOS R3 is built to withstand the rigors of professional use

Whether it's a sandstorm or a rainstorm - the EOS R3 is built for the rigors of professional use. The EOS R3 is built to the same exacting standards as our renowned EOS-1D X series cameras. However, the EOS R3's magnesium alloy body is handier, smaller and lighter, making it perfect for field work.

Numerous rubber seals protect the camera from dust and splashing water, giving you the confidence to work in adverse environments. Top class image stabilization

The EOS R3 features in-camera five-axis image stabilization for photo and video capture. This works hand-in-hand with the optical IS found in many RF lenses, resulting in amazing protection against camera shake of up to eight stops. This allows for creative use of long exposure times even when shooting handheld, and opens up new possibilities for expressing motion in the image.

Compared to many other IS systems, more vibrations can be compensated for, resulting in even better sharpness.

Our best viewfinder yet?

When you turn on the EOS R3, its outstanding 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder is ready to go as soon as you bring it to your eye. Our goal in developing this all-new EVF was to give photographers the responsiveness and clarity they expect from an optical viewfinder and combine it with the image preview benefits of mirrorless photography.

 We used a high-resolution UXGA display with a refresh rate of 120 frames per second to achieve stunningly natural results. Thanks to the extreme speed of the EOS R3's back-illuminated stacked sensor, the viewfinder image shows virtually no lag and provides an uninterrupted view of the subject when shooting.

The EOS R3 features new interchangeable eyecups that prevent stray light from entering the viewfinder. Included with the camera is the standard ER-h eyecup. An optional larger eyecup ER-hE is available, recommended for photographers with glasses who want to use Eye Control AF.

What you see is what you shoot

As your window to the world, a camera's viewfinder should let you know everything without distracting you. That's why the EOS R3's EVF can be extensively customized. The display simulation mode shows the brightness of the image being captured at the currently selected settings, while depth of field, white balance and a host of other settings can also be previewed in real time and without additional delay.

For longer exposures or when shooting RAW files that will be processed later, it's worth trying out the EOS R3's optical viewfinder simulation. This turns off the preview of image style, white balance, etc., and - thanks to Canon's HDR technology - displays the natural subject view as on a DSLR.

The camera's 3.2-inch rotating and tilting touchscreen display makes it easy to shoot from unusual angles. At 4.15 million pixels, it's the highest-resolution display ever built into a mirrorless camera, and it's very easy to read even outdoors in bright light.

When you flip it out of the camera body, it rotates 270˚ for easy shooting from above or below.

Fits perfectly into your existing system

You can comfortably use the EOS R3 alongside your existing DSLR gear. As with all EOS R series cameras, all EF lenses can be used exactly as you're used to, thanks to three high-quality mount adapters. The EOS R3 is powered by a powerful LP-E19 battery - the same one we use in our EOS-1D X series cameras. This can be charged both inside and outside the camera body thanks to the USB charging function. The camera can also be powered by an external battery via the USB port for longer shooting times.

The EOS R3 is the result of three decades of evolution, permanently focused on the needs of professional photographers. It features unparalleled ergonomics with a familiar, intuitive user interface and intuitive controls.

Individually configurable controls

Whether you're shooting in portrait or landscape mode, the EOS R3's controls always sit naturally under your fingers and thumb. The integrated vertical grip makes the camera feel comfortable in your hand, and Multicontroller and Smart Controller are within intuitive reach of your thumb.

Three configurable dials on the camera body, as well as the lens control ring on many RF lenses, allow you to set shutter speed, aperture, ISO and exposure compensation without taking your eye off the camera.

With the EOS R3, more controls are configurable than ever before, including the ability to use the video mode switch to activate a completely silent photo mode. This is ideal for situations where absolute silence is required and discretion is paramount.

Two card slots allow image files to be written to popular SD cards (with support for the UHS-II standard) or the super-fast next-generation CFexpress cards. The memory cards can also be used to store camera settings, network configurations, Eye Control AF calibrations, and software updates.

This makes setting up multiple cameras much easier.