Rainbow: Colorful toys captured by the Canon EOS R.

The Canon EOS R is an impressive mirrorless camera that might be an interesting choice for tech-savvy millenials.

The EOS R is equipped with a CMOS 30.3-megapixel full-frame sensor with an ISO range of 100-40,000. The sensor uses dual-pixel autofocus for greater focusing accuracy, combined with a Canon DIGIC 8 image processor.

With its full-frame sensor, the EOS R can serve as a professional working gadget and also features 4K (3.840 x 2.460, 30/25 FPS) video despite its 1.6x crop factor.

The camera’s weather-sealed body is also very useful for outdoor photography.

Its lens variants, however, are still very limited.

Canon’s new lens mounting system for the EOS R is the RF mount. With a diameter of 54 millimeters, it’s the same as the EF mount for Canon’s full-frame DSLR lenses, but it has a shorter 20-mm focal distance range. Therefore, the EOS R can be fitted with Canon’s DSLR lenses of the EF series by using a special adapter.

King of the clouds: The Canon EOS R captures the contrast between the color of an eagle’s wings and its white chest feathers against a blue sky.

Unfortunately, the RF mount is different from the EF-M mount of Canon’s previous mirrorless camera series, the EOS M, which uses an APS-C sensor. Therefore, EOS M lenses are not compatible.

That is why Canon has introduced new lenses to go along with the EOS R.

So far, four lenses have been made available, the RF 24-105 mm f/4 L IS USM and RF 28-70 mm f/2 L USM zoom lenses as well as the RF 50 mm f/1.2 L USM and RF 35 mm f/1.8 IS STM prime lenses.

Mirrorless cameras generally have short battery life because a lot of energy is needed to light the viewfinder and rear monitor screens.

The EOS R, however, has a battery grip that can accommodate two LP-E6N batteries, which are also used for the EOS DSLR series. By doing this, the duration of battery consumption is fairly long, lasting for a minimum of one day with normal use.

The design of the EOS R resembles the EOS M50 but bigger. Users will need to adapt to the buttons and wheel designs of the EOS R as they are completely different from those of the DSLR. Apart from rear buttons, the upper part of the camera still has smaller ones. It takes time get familiar with the design so as to avoid mistakes and operate it faster.

Say cheese: A model tries out the Canon EOS R, the first fullframe mirrorless camera from Canon.

The operation menu on the main screen of the EOS R is similar to Canon’s various mirrorless series cameras.

When it is bright, its focus speed runs quite well thanks to the electronic viewfinder (EVF) technology with a high frame rate. Under dim light, its focus speed is promptly reduced and if operated hurriedly it may narrowly miss its target. Anyway, the focus speed of the DSLR remains the best for minimum light conditions.

This means the EOS R is not quite the best fit for photojournalists, who require speed and accuracy.

The Canon EOS R produces good quality photos though, thanks to its full-frame sensor and Canon’s typical colors.

This camera is convenient, light and responsive, particularly for its relatively premium body-only price of Rp 37.5 million (US$2,574).

Though not yet perfect, the EOS R can still fulfill the expectations of photo and video hobbyists and practitioners wishing to experience using a mirrorless full-frame Canon camera.

Slow motion: The canon EOS R captures a drop of milk falling into a strawberry soft drink.

— Photos by JP/R. Berto Wedhatama