R v R8

[KMR13]

Hi - it’s me again🙃

So I I hadn’t heard about the R until I read a post on the canon R Facebook group ….searched  l here —-didn’t find much:  
I was planning to buy an R8 after much thoughtful consideration & discussion in this  forum

I’m re-entering the camera market having been away from using a DSLR - I owned a Rebel T1 or T2i !!!! To recap  I like shooting swim meets (for daughter, 2 seasons left) but mostly , beach pics, large birds (in Florida they practically pose for you!)… pets, family events, nature/ outdoors and seashells I arrange in mixed media with other found objects.

I don’t really want a camera for its video capabilities (not a content creator) — it’ll be nice for the teens to use, maybe, butchers iPhones…  so video is not my reason for buying - I prefer full frame as I still have 2 EF lenses.

So I saw a discussion about the R over the R8 and that has me wondering:  . , would I i get an equivalent but less expensive camera if I go with the R instead of the R8 ?

What do I lose photographically if I choose an R over anR8 ? Or vice versa?

I am going to an in-store vendor event this Friday and was told to expect some pretty significant discounts.

Budget is around $1200-1500.

[justadude · Accepted solution]

Hi Karen,  I gave you some good info on your Facebook post in the Canon group on this question.  Hope you had a chance to read it, but just in case...

As someone who owns the RP, R8, R6 Mk ll, and also has owned various Canon DSLRs, I know where you are coming from, and can offer my opinions from actual use on the mirrorless models.

First, even with a lower price, forget the RP. The R8 offers an autofocus system that is leagues ahead of the RP. Also, dynamic range has improved a lot, and low light capabilities of the R8 leave the RP in the dust. You are also talking about 4 years of advancement in the sensor and processor.

As for the Canon R, it does offer more megapixels, but in all honesty, megapixels are overrated. One of my clients had billboards made with photos I was hired to take for them, and these were with an older 12MP camera. Anyone that tells you that the R8 images won’t be able to be enlarged as much, or cropped as much… check around and find out how large we were making prints 15 years ago with much lower megapixel cameras. With the R8 I have often made 30”x40” prints for clients that are very sharp, very clear.

The biggest negative of the Canon R is it came out in 2018… the R8 has an advantage of 5 years newer technology. It has the same advantages as I mentioned over the RP as far as dynamic range, low light capabilities, and a crazy fast autofocus system.

[justadude]

LOL, yeah that confused me the very first time I used that site which I think was back when I got my 80D and I was comparing it to a Pentax APS-C model.  I was thinking the camera on the right had ALL of the info on the right all the way through.  I was reading something thinking "That doesn't sound right for Pentax".  Took me a couple minutes to realize what they were doing.  

[KMR13]

Thanks to all ! 
I came home with a TAX FREE purchase & sale price on body, lenses & batter- at the vendor event  ! & a few freebies!!

R8 -                                                     RF 100-400 F5.6-8 -  
RF 24-105 F4-7.1

free camera backpack. SD card, and 1-1 lessons  in the store. 
my old EF kit lens from 2009 won’t work with R8 even with adapter. Possibly another EF lens I have from I laws will work. I’ll test that in store with adapter another time. 

Some folks here in the forum   were recommending a F2.8 70-200 mm lens but that must be very expensive because it did not come up - one other kegs suggested was nearly $1000…. 
what is so special about that lens? 

[justadude]

Very cool!  Congratulations on the new gear, Karen!  You are going to have fun with that combo.  Between those two lenses, that covers a lot of ground.  I have the RF 24-105 F/4-7.1 as well, and my wife also has one. For a kit lens it is surprisingly sharp.  It is actually the sharpest kit lens I have ever owned, and that covers a lot of kit lenses.    

[Ron888]

That sounds great! I love a good deal,even when it's someone else getting it😄. In my opinion you chose well, that's a very good combo.
I see there was some discussion about the large aperture 70-200 lens for shooting sports in dim light.I'd be curious to see how your lenses go in such a situation.I suspect they'd get *some* good usable images.Anyways,just thinking out loud.It's not important.As you said elsewhere,you usually have good light

[March411]

How fun, Congrats!

R8, RF100-400mm and the RF24-105mm is a great start. The RF70-200mm 2.8 is a faster lens by a couple stops over the two you picked up and I would say sharper to the edge. It also performs well in low light. With the lenses you picked up the 70-200mm would be somewhat redundant in focal length. That being said I love my RF100-400 as an all day carry and it's weight and size are perfect for hiking. You will get some memorable frames out of the equipment you picked up. 

This is a fairly low light image with the RF100-400 on my R6 II. Nice and sharp with great color.

[KMR13]

The 2.8 lens  is also at least $2,000 ! 

🙀

I am sure I’ll make do in brightly lit indoor pools and under bright sunlight!  😊

[March411]

😁 More like $2500 for the "older version" and $3000 for the newly released Z.

You can grab the f4 for $1500..... it's a steal 🙄

Making due also sounds like a real good idea at this point.....