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    Best of Canon 2023: #2 EOS R8 and RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM

    By 16 Comments4 Mins Read Canon EOS R
    2023 2 1536x518 - Best of Canon 2023: #2 EOS R8 and RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM

    Please check out our other articles as they come out in this series, and of course the article from yesterday about the #3 on our lists.

    Craig's #2: Canon EOS R8 Camera

    Picking the runner-up was probably the hardest part (really not that hard) of making the list. Part of it was getting over personal bias and my love for the EOS R50, but I don't think it was the best camera package released in 2023. That goes to the EOS R8 for me. Both of those cameras are obviously for different purposes and budgets.

    The EOS R8 is essentially the follow-up to the EOS RP, which was a fine camera, albeit built from the EF era parts bin. The EOS R8 feels like an original EOS R camera. I felt it was good value at its $1499 launch price, but now you can get one for anywhere between $1000-$1200 regularly, which makes it an even better value.

    Canon gave the EOS R8 all that was needed for it in my opinion to be the best value full-frame camera for photography on the market.

    The one knock? I do wish it had a joystick, but there are always trade-offs in value segments.

    I have been shooting with the EOS R8/RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM combo for about a month now and I am happy that it really doesn't matter how much you spend, great results for general shooters are pretty much available across the board.

    Richard's #2: Canon RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM

    I still remember when Canon announced the TS-E 17mm in 2009. Really up to that point, it was pretty much a running joke that Canon couldn't make a half-decent ultra-wide lens for either love or money. It was so bad that there was a run on Canon EF to Nikon F adapters to use the now legendary Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8G because Canon had no answer to that lens.

    Fast forward to today, and Canon has left that all in the dust, as they have flexed their optical design muscles in creating ultra-wide after ultra-wide that have been excellent performers, whether it be for the RF, EF-M, or the EF mount.

    That brings me to this. Canon once again, goes “because we can…” in creating the widest full-frame constant aperture zoom lens to date. By all accounts, Canon left nothing on the table when it comes to performance, as we showed in our MTF analysis here.

    This will be one of those halo lenses for some time to come, and if you want to go wide, there's nothing out there that can match this lens.

    I suspect this lens will be in short supply for most of its life – for starters, it's really difficult even with automated manufacturing and assembly to do a lens like this consistently, so Canon will take their time in production and testing. Secondly, it's a freaking 10-20mm lens on a full frame.

    I had another pick in this slot, and while over breakfast, I thought about it and decided on the 10-20mm instead. My honorable #2 position item is the R50 camera body.

    I picked this camera not because it was the best, but because it was the best in its price range and strategically important for Canon to come out with a competitive, cheap camera in the same vein as the M50.

    For those that aren't aware, the EOS-M M50 was an insanely popular camera for Canon and probably kept Canon's camera market share in the high 40s for a few years. This is what the R50 should be for Canon. It's surprisingly almost the same size as the M50 but with the bigger RF mount. The control layout also is nearly the same between the two cameras. That to me, indicates that Canon wants this camera to be the next M50. Strategically this is one of the best cameras that Canon did this year in my opinion, as it rounds out the lower end of the system with a capable camera that is competitive in the marketplace, but the Canon RF 10-20mm is just a little more awesome.

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    16 comments

    2. I have the R8+28mm with the EL-100 out on the big table in our house to make it effortless to snap candids over the holidays. The HF anti-flicker is great when using ES, the 40fps increases the odds of having a sho where everyone has their eyes open :)

      I find it strange that the R8 has such a small online presence, but I suspect that people using the 100-500 would prefer the R7/R6 over the R8. So it could be I’m looking in the wrong places ;)
    3. I have the R8+28mm with the EL-100 out on the big table in our house to make it effortless to snap candids over the holidays. The HF anti-flicker is great when using ES, the 40fps increases the odds of having a sho where everyone has their eyes open :)

      I find it strange that the R8 has such a small online presence, but I suspect that people using the 100-500 would prefer the R7/R6 over the R8. So it could be I’m looking in the wrong places ;)
      Personally, I would prefer a larger camera (e.g. R6/R5) with the 100-500 mm lens. However, you can add an extension grip to the R8 which helps.
    4. I rarely mind the lack of a joystick on my R8, I find the touch and drag on the LCD is faster and more intuitive. Only real downside is that you can't use it with gloves.
      I often have the 50mm 1.8 mounted on the camera and love the size and weight for street and family photography.
    5. Personally, I would prefer a larger camera (e.g. R6/R5) with the 100-500 mm lens. However, you can add an extension grip to the R8 which helps.
      That’s what I did with the RP+100-500 and now with the R8+100-500, the mini-grip makes a big difference.
    6. That’s what I did with the RP+100-500 and now with the R8+100-500, the mini-grip makes a big difference.
      The RRS plate adds the same little bit of grip height as the Canon grip extension, and provides the added functionality of tripod mounting and QD strap carrying. The plate is modular, so the upright portion can be removed (I typically do not, as I don’t find it obtrusive).

      As with the Canon grip extension, the RRS plate for the RP fits the R8 (which is a good thing since they didn’t make one for the R8). I did need to buy it used, as the RP plates have been discontinued by RRS.
    7. The RRS plate adds the same little bit of grip height as the Canon grip extension, and provides the added functionality of tripod mounting and QD strap carrying. The plate is modular, so the upright portion can be removed (I typically do not, as I don’t find it obtrusive).

      As with the Canon grip extension, the RRS plate for the RP fits the R8 (which is a good thing since they didn’t make one for the R8). I did need to buy it used, as the RP plates have been discontinued by RRS.
      Thank you for the heads up. Wished that RRS would have kept the RP plate in stock because it does fit the R8 which is currently in production.
    8. Thank you for the heads up. Wished that RRS would have kept the RP plate in stock because it does fit the R8 which is currently in production.
      Agreed! When I ordered the R8, no major vendor was still making RP brackets. I found a SmallRig L-plate still in stock at a camera shop in CA and ordered it, but a couple weeks later a used RRS BEOSRP-L showed up at KEH so I got that.
    9. Agreed! When I ordered the R8, no major vendor was still making RP brackets. I found a SmallRig L-plate still in stock at a camera shop in CA and ordered it, but a couple weeks later a used RRS BEOSRP-L showed up at KEH so I got that.
      I will keep a look out at KEH and if one pops up I will buy it.
    10. Craig’s #2: Canon EOS R8 Camera Picking the runner-up was probably the hardest part ...
      Having decided pro Richard with the #3, this time, I am fully with Craig's decision.
      The R8 looks like a mini R6m2 from the spec list. And after getting my R6m2 I was looking for an R8 as second body for a long time.
      I was only because of the very slight size advantage that I decided against it and will take my R6m2 for travel as well.
      If I start looking for a backup body, this might be different and the R8 will come into the game again ;)
    11. The RF 10-20mm/4.0 is magnificent, no doubt - but when will we finally get the rumored RF fisheye zoom? Having seen with the 10-20 what Canon could do with the RF short flange distance and their lens manufacturing prowess (as compared to the EF 11-24mm) I have high hopes for a small yet equally well-designed RF fisheye in 2024 (or 2025).
    15. The RRS plate adds the same little bit of grip height as the Canon grip extension, and provides the added functionality of tripod mounting and QD strap carrying. The plate is modular, so the upright portion can be removed (I typically do not, as I don’t find it obtrusive).

      As with the Canon grip extension, the RRS plate for the RP fits the R8 (which is a good thing since they didn’t make one for the R8). I did need to buy it used, as the RP plates have been discontinued by RRS.
      Shoot, I would have given you my RRS plate since I no longer have the RP and am unlikely to have an R8. I also had opted to use the plate in place of the grip extension. If anyone who sees this needs it for their RP or R8, I would be happy give it away if you cover the shipping cost (I’m in the US) so it sees use again.
    16. Shoot, I would have given you my RRS plate since I no longer have the RP and am unlikely to have an R8. I also had opted to use the plate in place of the grip extension. If anyone who sees this needs it for their RP or R8, I would be happy give it away if you cover the shipping cost (I’m in the US) so it sees use again.
      Appreciate the offer! I'll see your offer, and raise it by a SmallRig L-plate for the RP that I bought new (a little shop in CA had one in stock, it was also discontinued) before the RRS version came up used on KEH. I'll even pay shipping within in the US to anyone who'll use it. Message me if interested.

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