CANON EOS R8

A remarkably light and powerful full-frame camera

- Gareth Bevan

The EOS R8 reminds us of just what a long way Canon has come since launching the original EOS R nearly four years ago – and of just how many cameras, for many kinds of consumers, the R system now encompasses.

At the end of 2022, the R series was up to 11 camera bodies and 31 lenses, and after producing some of the best Canon cameras to date, from the flagship EOS R3 to the entry-level EOS R10, the company has showed no signs of slowing down.

Despite being one numerical value below the APS-C-equipped Canon EOS R7, the EOS R8 actually sports a full-frame sensor. Canon says the R8 sits between the EOS RP, its entry level full-frame camera, and the EOS R6 Mark II, which is made for serious enthusiasts and professionals. And the EOS R8 is certainly a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster of the two, whether you see it is an upgraded RP or a down-specced R6 Mark II.

Key features 
The Canon EOS R8 uses the same 24.2MP sensor as the R6 Mark II, and also offers the same ISO range of 100-102,400 (which is expandable up to a whopping 204,800). The R8 can autofocus down to -6.5EV.

It also shares the incredible top electronic shutter speed of a blazing-fast 40 frames per second with the R6, making it one of Canon’s fastest cameras – and a real contender for sports and wildlife photography, although you might still be best served by the EOS R7, thanks to its 1.6x crop factor and in-body image stablisation. The R8 also has a 6fps first curtain electronic shutter.