LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Well, there is definitely a learning curve compared to my previous Canons (starting with a T3i) and up to my current one, a 5DIV.
I was concerned about a "toy camera" look and feel. Nope. Even though it is noticeably smaller compared to the 5DIV it has the same well built, well finished look. I know, it's not as stoutly built or as well sealed, but the look and finish are fine. It fits well in my hand (which are on the large side) and all the controls are easily accessible.
There are fewer buttons. No "Mode" dial, for example. Instead, there is a Mode button in the center of the rear control wheel. Press the Mode button and you can use either control wheel or the touch screen to make your choice. The Mode is always shown on the top display even when the camera is off. Take the battery out and it goes away. Obviously it uses some power even when the camera is off. Canon recommends removing the battery whenever the camera is not in use for any period of time. Even overnight I would say.
A quirk that I noticed: There are 2 control wheels. On top, one towards the front, one towards the rear. In Av Mode the front wheel sets aperture and the rear wheel does nothing. In Manual Mode the REAR wheel sets aperture and the front wheel sets exposure. May be able to re-program that. Haven't checked.
Most of the control functions operate differently then on previous Canons. For example, on the 5DIV there is a dedicated ISO button. Push it and then use the control wheel to change ISO. On the EOS R you push the M-Fn button. This brings up a display with 5 functions to select from. You use the rear control wheel to select the function to change and the front wheel to make the change. Sounds inconvenient but after using it a few times it doesn't seem to be. Not to me, anyway.
Most all the buttons, wheels, and bars are customize able. Since I don't shoot video I use the Video button to instantly re-center the focus point/points. The * button I use to shift between One Shot and Al Servo. The M-Fn bar I have set to toggle between Auto ISO and 100 ISO. It has a safety feature to prevent accidental switching since all it requires is a touch. The bar doesn't actually move. It's just a touch sensor like a touch screen.
The menu is very similar to previous Canons and is displayed with a push of the Menu button, just like on previous models.
The LCD display comes on as soon as you turn on the power and stays on until:
1) The camera goes to sleep.
2) You reverse the screen.
3) You put your eye, or anything else, close to the EVF.
4) You disable it in the menu, leaving you just the EVF.
While the movable LCD screen certainly requires some care in using it, it doesn't seem fragile.
The new control ring on the RF lenses and lens adapter allows ISO to be changed by depressing the shutter release halfway while rotating the ring. Or, you can push the AF ON button located on the rear and rotate the ring.
The EOS R with the RF 24-105 weighs about 6 oz less then my 5DIV with EF 24-105 L IS (Earlier version, not the MkII lens).
Contrary to what some have claimed, Canon has not prevented the use of non-Canon batteries. The camera can use either LP-E6 or LP-E6N batteries interchangeably. I have 2 LP-E6 batteries that are at least 3-4 yrs old. One is a Watson and the other a Power2000. Both work just fine in the EOS R and display all the same data as the Canon LP-E6N batteries do. Same as in my 5DIV. No problems at all.
So far, even though there are differences, I don't find anything about the camera to be clunky or awkward. It will definitely take some practice to be comfortable with but I think I will find it to be quite user-friendly.

Attached is a jpeg I shot while sitting on the floor playing with the camera. I just set the camera on full auto to see what it would do in relatively low light. RF 24-105 lens. f/4.5, 125th/sec, ISO 8000. Focus point was the book titled "The Sword And The Shield".
(I know, I need to dust! My job since I retired, as my wife occasionally reminds me.)

(Download)

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Thanks, an interesting and useful post, much appreciated.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Great report thanks for posting. My Oly allows a great deal of felxibility for programming the buttons. I woudl guess so does the Canon.

Odd about the recommendation to remove the battery. I think that is a design screw up. When turned OFF, there should not be any drain on the battery. I don’t recall having any issue with either of my Mirrorless cameras draining the battery when OFF. (When shooting they are battery hogs, be sure to carry a spare battery).

Re the shot, what focal length did you use and what distance were you from the focus point? I ask because the DOF seems very shallow, however the focus point is sharp and I think the color is great. Oh yeah about the dusting thing, you can’t fill that in so either dust more often or don’t move objects then the dust is not obvious (says a single guy who really needs to dust more).

I am looking forward to more of your thoughts, as you use the camera, on the real time EVF WYSISYG vs DSLR optical viewfinder. That is a big bone of contention for some, they prefer optical viewfinders. Others prefer the EVF. So I will look forward to more of your posts about using the camera. I’m guessing your not selling your DSLR just yet. LOL. Also I look forward to hearing how your legacy lenses perform on the R when using the adaptor.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Thank You!

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

As a Canon user I find this a very interesting post, thank you!

6 ounces doesn't seem like a lot. What are the total weights?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

There is a great deal of button, wheel, and bar programming available. I have only scratched the surface so far.
As far as the battery, the top display is now a dot-matrix LCD. I'm sure it doesn't draw much power, but obviously it draws some. As far as my recommendation to remove the battery overnight that was just my first reaction to seeing what was a fully charged battery yesterday down to 58% when I turned it on today. That overlooks the fact that I spent quite a bit of time working with it yesterday to learn the controls, etc. I won't remember to take the battery out so I will soon find out if it draws much at all overnight.
I was 4'-5' from the bookcase. Focal length was 58mm.
I don't see where I will miss the DSLR view finder at all. I like both but with the EVF I can do so much more as far as checking and changing settings without taking the camera from my eye.
I took a couple of test shots with my EF 100-400 L II and 1.4x III extender on both the EOS R and my 5DIV. Results were comparable. If anything the EOS R had a slight edge. Not enough to say which is better based on only a couple of shots.
I won't be getting rid of my 5DIV anytime soon. It is still a fine camera and a better choice for bad weather or rough conditions. Still, I believe that the handwriting is on the wall. Canon appears to have decided to jump into the mirrorless market with both feet. That is fine by me. I fully expect that their mirrorless line will not only equal but exceed their DSLR's as time goes by. Not long ago I was worried about the demise of the DSLR (which I doubt will ever fully happen). Now, with a full frame mirrorless in my hands and seeing in this short time what it can do, I'm not worried in the least. Bring on the future. I'm ready.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You're welcome!
You're right, it's not a lot. You can feel the difference when you pick them both up but I don't find it to be problematic at all.
It was 3lb 8oz vs 3lb 2oz.
Weighed on a cheap kitchen scale.

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

Thanks for this post.

That image looks very clean for 8000 ISO. What does a properly exposed 8000 ISO raw file look like?

rydabyk Loc: Florida Panhandle

I really, really like mine so far.
.
I never even thought of that, I'm going to do that to mine also, thanks!

As for the battery drain when off, I haven't really noticed any as of yet.

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

Really hope they come out with one with dual-card slot (for paid work) and more FPS.
If there were 2 slots and 7-8FPS while continuous AF is on, I would have bit.
It does sound like a good unit for a first attempt from Canon into FF mirrorless.
The RF mount and first lenses offered by Canon (and solid compatibility with EF lenses through the convertor(s)) are the real differentiators in the long run and Canon is blowing away the competition in this regard with the 28-70F2.0 and the 50mmF1.2 which are both unparalled.

I guess I will need to wait until after they release the higher end version...
Glad to see you are getting results and like it. Lots of negativity from the media on EOS-R (except from those who have actually used it :-)

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Don't know yet. Still playing with jpeg. I downloaded Canon's DPP4 photo editor but haven't installed it yet. I don't have any other program to open the new RAW file format.

That brings up an interesting point. Unlike all my previous Canons the EOS R did not come with any software disks. Everything would need to be downloaded from their site. Not a big deal really. Always been able to download from Canon in the past but also always had disks in the past. No more apparently. No problem downloading the digital manual but to download DPP4 I had to put in the camera Ser #.

rydabyk Loc: Florida Panhandle

My Lightroom opens the .cr3 filed with no problem.

Bill_de Loc: US

Nice first impression post.

Having recently picked up a mirrorless camera I found that making it 'mine' took a little time. There seem to be more options to do the same thing than any DSLR I ever handled.

Continue to have fun and take pictures. Film is cheap.

--

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I've read various rumors about when a pro model will be released. Later this year? Sometime next year? No telling. I was going to wait but decided to put my toe in the water now. Besides, I needed a new toy!
I think there is no doubt Canon will be producing pro models what with the amount of effort they seem to be putting into the format. Given that this is their first attempt at what is apparently a DSLR replacement I believe the future is going to be quite interesting.
As far as media critics, many of them remind me of film critics who totally pan a movie which then goes out and blows away box office records.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I'm sure mine would also, if I had Lightroom. But, I don't so.......