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The Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10 are finally here after weeks of leaks and rumors – and the two mirrorless cameras are the affordable all-rounders that amateur photographers have been waiting for. (Want to jump to our first verdicts? Check out our hands-on Canon EOS R7 in review and our hands on Canon EOS R10 in review).
Unlike the rest of Canon’s EOS R series, the EOS R7 and EOS R10 feature APS-C sensors, which are smaller than full-frame sensors. That means they collect around half as much light as cameras like the Canon EOS R6. But the smaller sensors also bring benefits like lower prices, smaller form factors, and a crop factor that’s often useful for wildlife photography.
Both cameras are unofficially the mirrorless successors to some of Canon’s most popular DSLRs. The high-end Canon EOS R7, which features a 32.5MP APS-C sensor, sits between the mid-range Canon EOS 7D Mark II and Canon EOS 90D. According to Canon, the EOS R7 is the new APS-C flagship and is designed for sport and nature shooters.
But it’s the Canon EOS R10 that will draw the attention of novice or amateur photographers who previously found the EOS R system more affordable. The size and specs of the EOS R10, which includes a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, means it’s more of a successor to the Canon EOS 80D or Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D (EOS 200D Mark in Australia II called) from the year 2019. This means it’s aimed at anyone looking to capture smartphone-beating family or travel snaps.
One of the biggest upgrades of the EOS R7 and EOS R10 compared to Canon’s older DSLRs is their autofocus capabilities. Both cameras feature Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, the same autofocus system found on more expensive cameras like the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6. This brings benefits like full-frame AF coverage and intelligent object tracking, which allows the cameras to track people, animals (dogs, cats, birds) and vehicles. For humans and animals, the system tracks faces and eyes, and can even find heads when neither is visible in the frame.
The two cameras also offer fairly fast burst speeds of 15fps (when using the mechanical shutter), again useful for capturing moving subjects. Switch to the electronic shutter and the EOS R7 offers slightly faster burst speeds of 30fps than the EOS R10, which maxes out at 23fps.
Your hit rate is affected by the conditions and lenses used, and the cameras’ buffers are a bit of a bottleneck. At that maximum rate of 15fps (with mechanical shutter), the Canon EOS R7 can capture raw images for just over three seconds in a single burst, while the EOS R10 is capped at just under two seconds. Still, both cameras can last much longer when shooting JPEGs, and these are promising speeds – especially for the entry-level EOS R10.
The EOS R7 brings several features that the EOS R10 lacks. These include in-body image stabilization (IBIS), weather protection (on the same level as the EOS 90D), two UHS-II card slots (the R10 only has one) and the higher-resolution 32.5MP sensor comes in handy , if you like to crop a lot into your photos when editing. The EOS R7 is also a more powerful video tool, offering the ability to record uncropped 4K/60P video (this is cropped on the R10) and a headphone jack next to the microphone input.
Of course, these differences are reflected in the respective price tags of the cameras. You can pre-order the Canon EOS R7 ahead of expected June shipping for $1,499 / £1,349 / AU$2,349 (body only) or $1,899 / £1,699 / AU$2,899 with the new RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5- lens . 6.3 IS STM Kit lens announced alongside the cameras. That price makes it a potentially strong alternative to the similarly priced Fujifilm X-T4.
The Canon EOS R10, meanwhile, is available for pre-order for $979 / £899 / AU$1,499 (body only) or $1,379 / £1,249 / AU$2,049 with the RF-S 18-150mm kit lens. Shipping is expected in July . For vloggers or those who simply want a smaller, wider kit lens, the EOS R10 is also available as a kit with the new RF-S 18-45mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens, which is $1,099 / £999 / AU costs $1,649.
Analysis: The End of Canon Hobby DSLRs?
The Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10 aren’t brand new cameras, instead the camera giant combines the sensors, body designs and features of previous models to create some much-needed affordable options for its EOS R range.
Canon says “the new sensors share some components with existing sensors, but have been redesigned with new micro-lenses and circuitry”. That means the EOS R7 is likely based on the 32.5MP sensor we’ve seen on the Canon EOS 90D and EOS M6 Mark II, while the EOS R10’s 24.2MP sensor is that of the Canon EOS 80D and EOS M3 will be similar.
This is standard practice for Canon and both new cameras clearly benefit from the new Digic X processor unlocking these improvements in autofocus and burst speeds. But what’s particularly interesting about them, aside from the fact that they’re the first RF mount cameras with APS-C sensors, is that they’re the spiritual successors of some of Canon’s classic DSLRs.
Canon’s hobby DSLRs are typically refreshed every three years, and the latest new models – the Canon EOS 90D and Rebel SL3/EOS 250D – hit the market way back in 2019. Given the specs and prices of the EOS R7 and EOS R10, it looks like these new cameras will usher the torch from Canon’s older DSLRs into a new mirrorless-only era.
What they won’t necessarily do, however, is the end of Canon’s EOS M series. Based on Canon’s EF-M mount rather than Canon’s newer RF mount, this older mirrorless system hasn’t been officially discontinued despite a lack of development in recent years. And while the Canon EOS R7 and EOS M10 are aimed at a similar audience, the EOS M series will likely (for now) remain a smaller and even more affordable option for beginners.
One thing is for sure though – these two new mirrorless cameras show that Canon’s focus is very much on its EOS R system, which is why it’s finally opening it up to non-professionals too.
