Canon launches EOS R8 24.2MP full frame mirrorless camera

Canon has announced the EOS R8, a new full frame mirrorless camera, which the company says inherits a number of technologies from last year's EOS R6 Mark II. 

The new camera is aimed at photographers looking for their first full frame camera, but Canon has been quick to confirm the new model doesn't replace the existing full frame entry level camera the EOS RP, but instead sits slightly above it in the Canon hierarchy. 

The EOS R8 is built around a 24.2 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor, which Canon says is capable of achieving the same resolution as the EOS R6 Mark II. The camera has similar dimensions to the EOS RP, weighs 461g and measures 32.5 x 86.1 x 70mm.

The R8 also inherits the same Dual Pixel CMOS AF II as the EOS R5 and EOS R6 Mark II, and is capable of 40fps continuous shooting. Like those cameras, it is capable of detecting and tracking a range of subjects including animals, vehicles and people, offering head, face and eye detection for precision focus. Canon says it is also possible to select which eye to prioritise. 

Other features include full width 4K 60p footage that is oversampled from 6K, Canon Log 3 at 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 H.265 internal recording, and HDR PQ and HDR Movie modes along with clean HDMI output to compatible devices. There's also a single UHS-II card slot.  

At the same time, Canon have also launched a new STM lens, the RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM.

It offers image stabilisation up to 4.5 stops which increases to up to 7 stops when attached to an EOS R camera with IBIS, and a quiet STM focusing motor, with extra control from a customisable lens control ring.

The EOS R8 and RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM will be available from April 2023. No local pricing has been confirmed, but we'll update this story once we know more.