All Canon RF APS-C cameras

While companies like Sony and Fujifilm joined the mirrorless world a (very) long time ago, classic DSLR manufacturers like Nikon and Canon dived in much later. Canon entered the mirrorless digital camera world in September 2018 through the release of, amongst others, the Canon EOS R, while at the same time, developing the new Canon RF mount. In fact, you’ll find all of Canon RF lenses on my dedicated page devoted to both the brand’s full-frame mirrorless cameras and the new APS-Cs I’ll be talking about on this page. For precision’s sake, all Canon RF APS-C lenses will be called “Canon RF-S” to be distinguished from the lenses dedicated to Canon’s full frame sensors (released under the name “Canon RF”).

For the record, Canon has released several full-frame mirrorless cameras (Rp, R, R6, R5) as well as the first monobloc RF mount camera, the Canon R3, in 2021. If you are still hesitating between a Canon APS-C and a full-frame camera, the link above details all of these cameras. On the other hand, should you not know which APS-C camera to get, I strongly recommend you have a look at what other brands are offering regarding sensor size, and especially the Nikon Z, the Fujifilm X but also the Sony APS-C cameras.

In this page, I chose to keep up with current news and allow you to have a glimpse at the first two Canon RF APS-C cameras, the Canon R7 and the Canon R10, both announced in June 2022, and both with an APS-C sensor (there will be others for sure). You can also find some Canon RF-S lenses (thus compatible with the APS-C cameras on this page) on our summary table.

The purpose of this page is to introduce you to the two cameras through an analysis of their technical data which will lead to giving my opinion on which one to choose.

If you are a beginner or if you need more details, I invite you to check out my article explaining all the different points you should consider when choosing a camera.

For those who prefer well-organized data, I have summarized all the relevant specifications you would need to know to make your choice between these two cameras. Just have a look at the summarized data in the table below.

Let’s start with the Canon R10, the most basic and least advanced of the two cameras. In my opinion (I’ll talk about it below), it’s a very good camera to dive into the world of Canon mirrorless cameras, or to begin or improve your photographic skills.

The R10 has a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor, uses the Canon RF mount, and has a low pass filter (also found on the Canon R7). As a downside, as is the case with the Canon R and Rp (full frame), the R10 is not stabilized which could, however, turn out to be very useful in some cases. Having said that, the first two zoom lenses announced at the same time as the R7 and R10 (Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM) are stabilized, which is especially useful since they only offer a limited maximum aperture. Regarding the camera’s body, the Canon R10 is the smaller of the two with a “lightweight” of 429g for a size of 123 × 88 × 83 mm, which makes it a nicer, more compact camera to carry. However, unlike the R7, it lacks an all-weather build. The camera features the DIGIC X processor (as is the case with most of the brand’s cameras) and can shoot at 15 fps with a mechanical shutter, and up to 23 fps with an electronic shutter, which is better than most of its competitors, and probably more than enough for the needs of most people.

The camera uses a classic contrast and phase detection autofocus and 4503 autofocus points with 651 selectable areas on almost the entire image. The ISO range goes from 100 to 32,000 and can be increased to 51.200. As far as the autofocus is concerned, the Canon R10 is sensitive to light down to -4EV with an f/1.2 aperture. If we look at other technical details, the Canon R10 has a 2.36M.Points OLED viewfinder, a 0.95x (eq. 0.6x in FF) viewfinder magnification, a built-in flash (a first on a Canon R mirrorless!), and a single SD card slot. Ergonomically, there is a touch screen mounted on a ball joint, a joystick, a focus switch (AF/MF), WiFi/Bluetooth, and a 1.04MP LCD screen resolution. No grip is provided on this camera. Finally, its maximum shutter speed will be limited to 1/4000 with the mechanical shutter and to 1/16000 with the electronic shutter.

Looking at the video shooting side of the camera, this new Canon R10 offers 4K60P but with a x1.56 crop, and 4K30p without crop. It is also possible to shoot videos in Full HD mode at 120 fps. The recording time will be limited to 2 hours, which is enough for most purposes. As for the battery, Canon had the great idea of using batteries from some DSLR or EF-M mirrorless cameras. If you have a Canon 800D or M6 II, for example, you will be able to use your old batteries with this one. However, the autonomy is not its strong point with “only” 430 images (with LCD screen) and 260 with the viewfinder.

In the end and in my opinion, priced below 1000€, this camera is well-rounded and compact while offering very good value for money. This is not an entry-level camera and it is likely that Canon will soon propose a smaller and lower-priced one. The price difference with the Canon R7 is still significant though.

Released by Canon at the same time as the EOS R10, the very nice Canon R7 may rightly be considered to be the rightful heir of the Canon 7D Mark II (DSLR). It is clearly a step above though, as the overall Canon R7 characteristics will show. In my opinion, the Canon R7 is a high-end APS-C mirrorless camera, suitable for sports or wildlife.

The camera includes a stabilized 32 Megapixel sensor and a low pass filter. Canon promises a maximum 8-stops improvement with both sensor and lens stabilised. The ergonomic design is similar to the one of recent R5 and R6 from Canon, with dimensions almost similar to a Canon R6 (612g and 123 × 88 × 83 mm). The camera has the same processor than the Canon R10, the DIGIC X. Regarding burst rate, the camera offers an identical burst rate to the R10 at 15 fps with a mechanical shutter, climbing to 30 fps with an electronic one. Finally, the Canon R7 has a nice option to straighten the horizon without cropping, through a slight tilt of its sensor during shooting thanks to stabilization.

The autofocus is the same as the one found on Canon R10 with 651 selectable zones, but with 5915 AF points. The ISO range is also identical: from ISO 100 to 32,000, extendable to 51,200. However, the Canon R7 is sensitive to light down to -5EV with an f/1.2 aperture. To go further into technical details, there is also a 2.36 M.Points OLED viewfinder with 1.15x magnification (eq. FF 0.72x), no built-in flash and two memory card slots. Also included are WiFi/Bluetooth, a rotating screen, a new quick control wheel around the joystick, two switches (an AF/MF switch also found on the Canon R10 and a switch to shift from photography to video mode), and a 1.62MP LCD screen offering better resolutions. A 1/8000 shutter speed is available with the mechanical shutter while staying the same, at 1/16000, with an electronic shutter. A noteworthy feature is the interesting “pre-shoot” function that saves the images shot half a second before you push the shutter button. This could be very useful with sports/wildlife photography. This function was introduced by Olympus and is increasingly found in other brands.

Regarding video-recording, there are no restrictions as such. This camera offers 4K60p video shooting without crop (but not at maximum quality), a first for the brand on a mirrorless APS-C camera. It will also be possible to shoot Full HD videos at 120 fps. The recording time is estimated at 6 hours maximum. Videographers should take note of wider editing possibilities during post-production with a C-Log 3 mode. Finally, regarding the batteries, it is the same battery that is used on the Canon 7D II/5D III DSLR or the more recent R/R6 mirrorless, such as the LP-E6NH, therefore you will keep the same charger. Convenient. As far as autonomy is concerned, Canon announced 770 images with the LCD screen and 500 images with the viewfinder (way superior to the Canon R6).

In the end, Canon offers here a more than attractive camera, appropriate for shooting wildlife and sports with its 1.6x cropping feature, allowing some people currently equipped with 7D Mark II to switch to a mirrorless camera, although, admittedly, there are few RF-S lenses available. However, an EF-RF ring is included with the camera as a launch offer (let’s see if they will continue to do so in the future) which will allow you to adapt EF lenses onto your Canon R7 while waiting for you to sell everything and buy RF telephoto lenses!

In March, just 6 months after the release of the R10 and R7, Canon introduced a new APS-C mirrorless camera, the R50. Canon took the initiative to offer a more compact and affordable mirrorless cameras, specifically designed to target beginners, following the release of these two top-of-the-range cameras. Despite its compact size, the R50 makes very few concessions in comparison to the R10.

The R50 inherits the R10’s 24MP APS-C sensor, which lacks stabilisation (as with the top-of-the-range R10, Canon has apparently decided not to include it here). It has the same processor, the same viewfinder and the same autofocus system. Which begs the question: What’s in it for you if you buy the more expensive R10? Well, among the notable differences, the R50 sacrifices its 4K60p recording capacity. It also has a much smaller buffer, which reduces burst times. Speaking of bursts, although the speed remains the same in mechanical shutter mode, it drops to 12 fps in electronic mode, half that of the R10 and even lower than in mechanical mode.

In both cases, the sensor remains unstacked, a feature reserved for top-of-the-range cameras, which encourages the use of the mechanical shutter and maintains a ‘useful’ shutter speed similar to that of the R10. However, despite the performance of the autofocus, the buffer still limits its use in sports/wildlife photography. For comparison, the R10 can shoot at 1/16,000th of a second in electronic mode, while the R50 is at least 1/8,000th of a second. In most situations, the difference is anecdotal. The rear screen of the R50 is tiltable and, as such, is larger than that of the R10. On the other hand, the R50’s lack of a joystick, despite its practicality, and the removal of a control button on the front, is a loss in terms of ergonomics.

As regards connectivity, the R50 is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, in keeping with the standards set by recent Canon mirrorless cameras. Storage is standard for a camera in this range, with a single SD card slot. It also has the same battery as the R10, but with a longer battery life, which is a considerable advantage, especially when using the electronic viewfinder. What’s more, the R50 has an all-weather design.

In spite of its entry-level positioning, the R50 offers many advantages in terms of performance, which puts it almost on a par with the R10, but at a slightly lower price. And to be honest, the difference in price between the two cameras is more than justified. The R50 is an excellent choice if you don’t need a large buffer and advanced ergonomics aren’t a priority. Otherwise, the R10 will justify its higher price.

Positioned as an entry-level APS-C mirrorless camera and the most affordable camera in the range, Canon released the R100 two months after the R50. This time, significant compromises had to be made to keep the price competitive.

Firstly, the sensor is still a 24MP APS-C. However, it is an older version with a slightly lower dynamic range and ISO rating than the more expensive cameras. The processor is also an earlier version, a Digic 8 rather than a Digic X. This means that it lacks the wildlife/vehicle AF detection found on the more expensive cameras. The burst rate is even more limited than on the R50: 6.5 fps with the electronic shutter is only possible by sacrificing subject tracking, and the buffer is practically non-existent.

Of course, being an even lower-end model than the R50, 4K60p recording is not possible, and although the rear screen is more defined than that of the R50 and R10, it cannot be rotated. On the other hand, the EVF is a little less defined, but retains the same magnification to ensure good viewing comfort. The R100 uses the same battery and should offer the same battery life as its predecessors.

As is the norm with Canon and most recent mirrorless cameras from other manufacturers, all the necessary Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity features are present. For storage, there is a single SD slot, but it is limited to UHS-I (a UHS-II card can be used, but is limited in speed). All-weather construction has been sacrificed and ergonomics reduced to its simplest expression in order to achieve such a low weight.

Priced at 700$, this may seem high, but given the lens supplied and the performance offered, it’s still a reasonable price. However, if you’re looking for something a little more ‘serious’, we think it’s worth investing in a higher-end camera.

Here are the elements to consider if you are hesitating between the two cameras. A few details could have been added still, but I think that the essentials are here.

We just had an in-depth look at the main characteristics of the two Canon cameras. As already mentioned above, I think that these cameras do not target the same photographers because their characteristics, but also their price-tags (it matters, doesn’t it?) are different. At the time of writing, the R7 (1500€) was still 50% more expensive than the R10 (1000€).

Let’s start with the Canon R10. In my opinion, it is a very good camera for beginners or for people trying to improve their photographic skills, or even for those considering a switch from a Canon DSLR camera such as the Canon 850D or 80D. It’s a good camera that provides some serious features. However, the camera is not perfect. It is not stabilized, does not offer 4K60p without cropping, uses a battery that limits autonomy and only offers one SD card. Also, you will be limited by the camera’s abilities when it comes to bursts compared to the Canon R7 (but mostly on the buffer side) but also with the 1/4000 maximum shutter speed. The autofocus may be a little worse in low light, but for beginners and the vast majority of people, this will not be a problem. Its compact size (weight/size) is a clear advantage which will make it a suitable camera for travelling light! However, in this market segment, the camera has to contend with other brands offering (for the same “affordable” price) as good an offer or an even better one. For example, the Fuji X-S10 offers for the same price, a stabilized sensor, 4K60p without cropping, and a real range of APS-C lenses in the X mount.

For a slightly lower price, you could opt for the R50, which has even more limited buffer capacity and does without 4K60p. Here again, for a similar price, Fujifilm’s competitors offer advantages with the X-T30 II or X-S20. As for the R100, it has a number of compromises – old technologies, a fixed screen, a more plastic construction that is not protected from the elements – but it is a credible alternative to the competition, which no longer offers much in this price range.

Should you be on the look-out for a more advanced camera, consider the Canon R7. Compared to the R10, this one will offer you a stabilised camera, and it is, in my opinion, a nice difference! Moreover, with the Canon R7, you will also have a better autofocus sensitivity in low light, a faster maximum mechanical shutter speed (1/8000) and larger burst rates and buffers. Also noteworthy are the interesting options for recovering horizons and images before shutter release. Videographers will also find more features on this camera with 4K60p uncropped shooting, a longer recording time (6h), a headphone jack, and more post-production flexibility. Finally, you will also get a better autonomy (better battery), and more storage possibilities with 2 SD card slots. In my opinion, this is a very good camera to persuade DSLR photographers with a 7D Mark I or II to switch to a mirrorless camera, or those who have a full frame RF mirrorless camera and want to take advantage of 1.6x crop for sports and wildlife. However, this camera will be a bit heavier and bigger than the Canon R10. It’s up to you to decide if the Canon R7’s available features are worth the extra 500€.

Anyway, I hope this article helped you learn more about the first two Canon RF APS-C mirrorless digital cameras. It should make things easier for you. As I said in the previous paragraph, and in my opinion, the two cameras are not really intended for the same photographers as the budget involved is quite different (in addition to the technical points mentioned above). Depending on needs and budget, you should be able to choose between them. I invite you to have a look at our other pages detailing current cameras by brand.

As of today, obviously, the number of lenses available for the Canon RF-S mount, i.e. Canon lenses built for these APS-C cameras using the RF mount (the ones on this page), is limited. We sincerely hope that Canon will decide to propose more lenses than they did, at the time, for the EF-M mount.

By the way, you should know that Canon has already released APS-C mirrorless cameras using the Canon EF-M mount. I talk about this in some detail on the dedicated page.

There you go! However, as usual, I will obviously be including in this page all new Canon RF APS-C mirrorless cameras released in the future!

Take care and choose the right one for you!

Sylvain