Canon’s EOS-1D X has long been known as one of the most powerful cameras for working professionals. Twelve years and three iterations later, Canon is finally ready to unveil the newest in their 1-series of cameras. The Canon EOS R1 camera is the first mirrorless 1-series. It promises to continue the tradition of highly reliable cameras for professionals.
The new EOS R1 is the first Canon camera with “cross-type AF.” Additionally, a new Canon-designed 24.2MP sensor includes built-in neural upscaling. Allowing creators to double image size for 96MP JPEG images in just ten seconds. There’s much more to be excited about regarding the new Canon EOS R1. So, let’s dive into some of the best new features.
Key Features of the Canon EOS R1
- Auto-focus upgrades, including “Cross-type AF.”
- 24.2MP full-frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor
- Neural upscaling feature to create 96MP JPEG images in ~10 seconds
- Pre-continuous shooting (½ second)
- Faster and more accurate performance across the board
- 40fps electronic shutter with virtually no rolling shutter issues
- 6K/60p RAW video, 4k/120p MP4 video
- 9.44 million dots and 0.9x magnification OLED EVF
- New shooting modes for action and group portrait scenes
What’s New About the Canon EOS R1?
There’s a lot to love in the new EOS R1. Canon indeed loaded this camera with all of the latest and greatest technology. Some of the most notable features for creators include the upgraded autofocus system and 6K RAW video at 60 fps. Additionally, this is Canon’s best-ever OLED EVF, and overall performance that is faster and better than ever before. The specs on this camera certainly make it relevant for years to come. Let’s dive in and look at some of the new features in greater detail.
Canon-Designed 24.2MP Sensor
This brand-new sensor is Canon-designed and optimized to balance high speeds and excellent image quality. The sensor was designed to provide just enough pixels for a two-page magazine spread. With excellent low-light performance and lightning-fast read-out speeds. For photographers who need more megapixels, the R1 has an in-camera upscaling feature. This can double the size of your image and create a 96MP image in about ten seconds. The read-out speed of the new EOS R1 is fast enough that issues with rolling shutter distortion have been virtually eliminated. Finally, thanks to a new DIGIC Accelerator used in processing, you can expect to capture up to 40 fps of RAW images using the electronic shutter.
New Auto-focus features
Canon understands how important auto-focus is for working professionals. They went all-in with auto-focus technology on the new EOS R1. New and improved subject tracking allows continued focus on moving subjects, even after being briefly obscured. Also included on the R1 is Canon’s Eye Control AF. Now more powerful than the already highly praised Eye Control on the Canon EOS R3. Once calibrated, look through the viewfinder where you want your image to focus, and the AF area will move with your eye. And yes, even photographers wearing glasses can utilize the Eye Control AF. The new auto-focus features offer some of the best-in-class autofocusing capabilities to ensure perfect focus every time.
6K RAW Video
The EOS R1 isn’t just a camera for photographers. Videographers will find an impressive list of features specifically designed for video. First and foremost, 6K RAW footage up to 60fps can be captured, and up to 120fps for 4K footage. Up to 240fps can be captured at 2K or Full HD for ultra-slow motion. A built-in tally lamp also allows videographers to capture 4-channel audio. Finally, the EOS R1 can also capture video and still images simultaneously, allowing you to capture higher-resolution images of key moments during your video.
Impressive New OLED EVF
Canon saved their very best electronic viewfinder for the new EOS R1. The new EVF features 9.44 million dots of resolution in an OLED display and boasts a 0.9x magnification. Additionally, photographers who shoot in the daylight will love the display’s brightness, offering the highest brightness for any EOS R-Series camera. For those holding out on mirrorless because of the electronic viewfinders, this EVF is truly one of the best on the market and will help make the switch feel natural. Additionally, viewing in low light is a major improvement from any previous optical viewfinder.
Action Priority Mode
Action Priority Mode is a newly developed AF mode that Canon releases on the R1 camera thanks to the DIGIC Accelerator chip. This technology can recognize certain movements in selected sports, automatically adjusting the autofocus point to the player performing that particular action. Currently, this feature works for volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Still, we can expect the list of sports to expand in the future. Ultimately, this new autofocus mode should help sports photographers capture more in-focus images of the most significant moments.
Who Should Buy The Canon EOS R1?
The EOS R1 is a camera offering features that satisfy most working professionals. Photojournalists, sports, studio, wildlife, and portrait photographers will all find various features to help them in their everyday shoots. Nearly all kinds of photographers can benefit from the improved autofocus, making that one of the stand-out features of this new workhorse of a camera. Seeing the popularity of the original Canon 1D X and its successors in the news and sports industry is something we expect to see with the new EOS R1. As the benefits of mirrorless cameras continue to grow, you can expect the Canon EOS R1 to become a staple in the world of working professionals.
Comparable Canon Cameras
The EOS R1 joins an already impressive lineup of other Canon Mirrorless cameras. Most notably, the new EOS R1 is comparable to the EOS R3, which offers a 24.1-megapixel sensor and Eye Control AF. The EOS R3 was the first Canon mirrorless camera to offer eye control AF, making it an obvious choice for sports, news, and wildlife photography. As we now know, the EOS R1 offers even better Eye Control AF and an even more impressive electronic viewfinder (5.76 million vs 9.44 million). Even with the new EOS R1 being released, the EOS R3 should still serve a valuable place in the market as a slightly more affordable alternative to the Canon EOS R1.
Conclusion
The new Canon EOS R1 should be an incredibly popular camera for those who demand the most from an everyday workhorse. Canon set our expectations high with the original 1D X in 2012 and has released multiple 1-series cameras since then, each meeting the needs of even the most demanding creators. This new camera is monumental for Canon, being the first 1-series camera in their mirrorless lineup, which is growing each year. If you’re a creator who shoots professionally, you can be confident that the new Canon EOS R1 will be your new workhorse for years.
