Canon Teases Impressive Firmware Update With Improved AF for EOS R and EOS RP Coming Soon

While Canon's RF lenses have been met with general acclaim, many photographers have been clamoring for a more professionally oriented R mount body from the company. While that camera has not been announced yet, the firmware update recently teased by Canon seems to show a major improvement in autofocus performance on the way for the EOS R and EOS RP.

The video posted by Canon shows side-by-side comparisons of autofocus performance with the new and old firmware versions and seems to show major improvements in speed, accuracy, and usability. In particular, eye detection autofocus appears to have improved quite a bit, now working at much farther distances and holding focus more strongly, as opposed to the old firmware, in which the subject had to be very close to the camera for it to activate. Tracking also seems to have made great strides. Unfortunately, sports and wildlife photographers will still have to contend with the EOS R's middling continuous shooting rate of 5 fps with continuous autofocus, but for people like wedding photographers, it's surely a welcome improvement. For the sports and wildlife crowd, it's good to see the autofocus performance moving forward nonetheless, knowing that these improvements will make their way into the upcoming professional-level R body.