I recently had the opportunity to borrow the new Canon R3. Obviously, the hype around the subject tracking, specifically car and helmet focus tracking was highly intriguing to myself, being a racecar photographer.
To say I was skeptical of the tracking was an understatement. My thought process was that I’d try it for 15 mins as a warm up, shut it off, use single point focus and quickly get in my groove.
NEVER have I been made more of a fool. The car subject tracking is impressively advance. As you point the lens in the direction of the car, it locks immediately and changes in size depending on distance of the car and helmet. I was truly amazed and found myself soon challenging it’s ability, even more than concentrating on making pictures at the time.
I went on to shoot IndyCar’s from the side, head on, going away, overhead and taking a knee. All the while obviously trying to trick this camera. I can be a bit of a “GOT YA!” type guy. After a day of shooting, I was ready for the R3’s judgement day, it was time to review the photographs.
I was excited to see images on the big screen. Did it do it’s job, I asked? All the while the voice of another motorsport photographer’s Instagram story opinion rang in my head “The Canon R3 car focus wont make you a better photographer” he said. He was so diligent and confident, I really questioned the camera before using it. Man was he wrong, the high speed burst of the electronic shutter along with impressive accuracy of the subject tracking really does provide value.
Although the focus assist is the prize of this machine, the 30 frame per second electronic shutter is what I ended up also finding value in. Think about it, I’m used to 10-15 FPS cameras. With 30FPS, that’s like having as many photos in one lap of a car that I’d normally capture in almost three laps!
What does that mean, you ask? That means more photos which is more opportunity for the car to show up sharp at slow speeds. Anyone who does slow pans knows, it’s a numbers game! More you take, more sharp ones you get! Focus tracking along with frames per second is part of how this camera makes you a better photographer.
The processing and function speed, build, low light sensitivity are incredible. The object and eye detection focus being so sensational has made me find that the Canon R3 is the camera to finally comfort and convince me that mirrorless age has arrived.
Prior to this camera I always got the impression that mirriorless cameras were Sony, for kids that had dads bank card, wore jeans and leather coats at the track on 95degree sweltering days. My opinion has since changed.
For someone who my friends could agree can be reluctant to change, I don’t mess around when it comes to photography. The future is now, mirrorless is now, the R3 is it, take me away!
-Chris
