Why does Canon just have to make EOS R3 and R1 so big, and compromise portability?

[Zalkonian]

EOS R3 and R1 are only camera among the few Canon cameras that use latest stacked BSI type CMOS (I asume it's BSI since it's latest, am I right?) with low resolution for good low light performance what got me interested in considering it as an alternative Sony A7sIII. But sadly there always seem to be design problems and in the case of EOS R3 it is it's huge size.

I want to take a camera for bikepacking trips and mountain hiking so size and weight are important factors. There are camera clips to attachs camera's to backpacks such as Peak Design V3 but big Canon camera will just stick out a lot unlike say R6.

Why is it so big, due to battery capacity or some other important components that improve photo/video quality? I owned a Sony A7sI and it was amazingly compact for a full frame sensor camera. I had actually modified it to full spectrum for infrared and UV photography so I seen that there is very little space wasted inside the magnesium alloy/plastic chassis.

Some people do need larger battery capacity but it can be expanded by separate battery grip attachment to keep the camera as compact as possible and more travel friendly. New battery technology such as silicon nanowire batteries can help reduce battery size and weight.

Why do professional camera manufacturers just have to compromise quality and not design cameras as good as possible using for example front lit sensors despite charging many thousands of euros for them?? It would be easier to find the best fitting camera if they just learned from previous designs and used the latest technology.

[shadowsports]

@Zalkonian,

We understand size is important to you.  You've been told which Canon models have a BSI sensor.  The R5mkII is currently the "smallest" model with a BSI sensor.

Comparatively the R5mkII is 5mm thicker and 3mm taller than the R6mkII.  Roughly 3/16 of an inch, and barely 1/8 of an in. taller. This is what's available in a BSI sensor.  It will likely change, but no one but Canon knows when.  (Taken from another one of your posts).  All of the "scientifically objectifiable" reasons why BSI sensors are better is fine.  If you want Canon and BSI, you know what's available.  I previously provided a means for you to make product feature request and a way to leave suggestions and feedback.  Have you done that?  This is the way to let Canon know what you'd like to see in future products.   The Canon sales team are an excellent resource for making comparisons and identifying key differentiators between products.  I hope you will take advantage of these resources as well. 

Canon Sales / Support
1-800-652-2666

**Edit +1 to Trevor's reply above.  👍

[Zalkonian]

Unfortunatelly EOS R5 has smaller pixel size thus lower low light or smaller lighter aperture lens performance, can't reach native ISO of 102400 (I could not find any high resolution model capable of achieving such high signal amplification levels).

So unless this lower sensitivity can't be compensated by say pixel binning technology (and it must work not only in photo mode) it's not suitable for me.

[Tronhard]

Like my colleague Rick, I too noticed that in previous posts you had made the point about BSI/Staked sensors.  These sensors are specifically beneficial for fast moving wildlife, action sports and some news events where being able to capture fast action is necessary.  That is not something that in my experience is mission-critical for the kinds of subjects one is going to encounter backpacking, so again I ask what are your functional priorities and subjects.  

However, such sensors come with a cost, and that cost is inherent in the design, and (as one who shoots Nikon and Sony too) not limited to Canon cameras. Such a sensor will deliver about 1EV less dynamic range and ISO performance compared to a conventional sensor, so like all things, it is a compromise - at least for the time being.

The R1, and R3 mitigate this issue by having very low MP counts, while the R5II, with its higher photosite density, will be a bit more prone to this.   So, if you want to stay with Canon, for the time being you need to consider the pro's and con's.  Technology itself will not get you better photos, your skill as a photographer is far more critical.

There is one suggestion I will make.  Wait.  It is projected that Canon will release an R6III body in Q1 of next year, and it is suggested that this will have a BSI/Stacked sensor based on that in the R3 giving you 24MP in a much smaller body, with great focusing and tracking, good weather sealing and at a much lower price point.   The current R6II is a fabulous body in its own right.

[Zalkonian]

Never read about such BSI CMOS sensors, only disadvantages of them are slightly bigger manufacturing costs and more likely cross talk what may have been fixed in later iterations. Other than that BSI has a lot advantages, great fill factor and thus sensitivity that is badly needed. Actually Sony A7sIII has more dynamic range.

Canon r6 mark ii has 14.6 EV dynamic range while Sony A7sIII has 15. But maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges here?

[Peter]

https://photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Canon%20EOS%20R6%20Mark%20II,Sony%20ILCE-7SM3

Right cameras or I picked something wrong?

[kvbarkley]

For a pro, if the camera has the features you want,  you make it portable:

[Zalkonian]

As I said Sony A7s delivers superior quality while being impressivelly compact. Technology is tigthly packed like lego inside magnesium chassis.

Maybe Canon R1 and R3 used active cooling with fans that make them bulkier and more expensive?

[Peter]

https://photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Canon%20EOS%20R3,Canon%20EOS%20R6%20Mark%20II,Sony%20ILCE...

[WCETECH]

Maybe Canon R1 and R3 used active cooling with fans that make them bulkier and more expensive?

Forced cooling is a requirement in a lot of outdoor shooting, unless you want to miss the payday shot waiting for a camera to cool down. 

[wq9nsc]

A lot of us who have used 1 series cameras for years LOVE the ergonomic design.  These cameras are generally used with large wide aperture lenses and are built to stand up to heavy field use with those lenses and provide very comfortable balance in use.  They are designed to manage heat so they are reliable in a wide range of environmental conditions.  At least in the DSLR version of the 1 series, heat pipes dump heat from the electronics into the bottom section where the battery lives helping keep the electronics cool.  It is an integrated design that can't be exactly duplicated if it has to rely upon optional accessories being fitted together.

I have a couple of 5DS bodies with Canon battery grips and although it is nice to have the extra battery capacity and dual controls, adding this grip does not provide the beautiful balance engineered into a professional series body and the add-on is always going to be a compromise over an original fully integrated design.

As a marketing prof, NO manufacturer makes a product specifically for a singlw individual and all of us can find certain changes we would like if we were ordering a custom product.  The 1 series Canon bodies are very well designed for the intended market and that market clearly isn't you.  If Canon doesn't make what you want, don't bang your head against the wall-hopefully someone else makes what you want.

I buy camera bodies that fulfill my needs without respect to specific technology.  At this point, NONE of the MILC offerings from anyone are going to move me away from my 1DX III bodies.  At some point, this may change but in the interim I will keep happily photographing with gear that suits me very well.  Capturing images is much more fulfilling than "bench racing".

Rodger