Canon EOS R1: Worth the Upgrade?

Canon's EOS R1 stirred up debate upon release, partly because it felt like a modest upgrade over the R3 rather than a revolutionary flagship. If precision, speed, and handling can make or break your work, this is the review for you.

Coming to you from Jared Polin of Fro Knows Photo, this straightforward video tackles that exact issue, assessing if the EOS R1 genuinely stands apart from its predecessor. Initially skeptical, Polin argued the R1 was more of an "R3 Mark II," implying the changes were minimal. Yet, months of hands-on experience—from sports to safaris—revealed that those seemingly small updates might actually be significant. The sensor, a new 24.2-megapixel full-frame BSI stacked CMOS, paired with Canon's DIGIC Accelerator, offers unparalleled autofocus performance. It's particularly adept at high-speed action, locking and tracking with remarkable consistency. But Polin also notes that the R1 oddly misses the R3's ultra-high-speed burst option of 195 fps, capping instead at 40 fps.

The R1 also introduces an intriguing pre-capture feature, buffering images for half a second before the shutter button is fully pressed. Polin appreciates this capability, especially useful in fast-paced scenarios like baseball games, although he points out Canon’s cumbersome menu system complicates activating or deactivating it. The pre-capture feature means even brief shooting sessions can quickly balloon to thousands of files, a potential downside that requires careful management.

Key Specs

• 24.2 Megapixel BSI Stacked CMOS Sensor

• Sensor-shift 5-axis image stabilization

• ISO range: 100 to 102,400 (extendable to 50-409,600)

• Up to 40 fps continuous shooting

• Internal raw 12-bit recording up to 6K 60p and 4K 120p

• Dual CFexpress Type B card slots

• Fully articulating 3.2" touchscreen

• Large, bright 9.44-million-dot EVF

• Integrated vertical grip with illuminated controls

Beyond specs, handling is crucial, and Polin emphasizes the physical improvements. Although initially disliking the increased size over the R3, Polin now finds the larger, sturdier build advantageous, particularly when shooting in gloves or challenging environments. He does criticize Canon’s stubborn adherence to an articulating screen design, preferring Sony's more flexible screen solutions for real-world ease of use.

Image quality remains outstanding, although surprisingly slightly behind the R3 in high ISO performance—a minor sacrifice for greater speed and autofocus advancements. Real-world users, Polin argues, are unlikely to notice this subtle difference. More significantly, he underscores that 24 megapixels remain entirely adequate, dismissing the obsession over higher resolutions as largely unnecessary in practical photography scenarios.

Overall, the EOS R1 isn't revolutionary, but its incremental advancements, especially in autofocus and handling, make it a compelling upgrade for professionals who prioritize speed and reliability. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Polin.