Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1
Canon's 24-105 mm standard zoom.
Canon EOS R8 Review
A 24.2 MP full-frame body at 461 g with battery and card: up to 40 fps with the electronic shutter, 4K 60p oversampled from 6K, one SD card slot and no in-body stabilisation.
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Best Value Full-Frame
Check price at Amazon → The Verdict
A 24.2 MP full-frame body with Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, up to 40 fps with the electronic shutter (about 6 fps with electronic first curtain), 4K 60p oversampled from 6K, and one UHS-II SD card slot. It has no in-body stabilisation.
Owners describe it as the R6 Mark II's sensor in a smaller body without IBIS and like its size and weight for travel; short battery life and overheating, mostly in video, come up as complaints (see What owners report).
- Overall
- 8.0/10
- Image quality
- 8.3
- Autofocus
- 9.3
- Video
- 8.0
- Speed
- 8.5
- Handling and build
- 6.0
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Processor | DIGIC X |
| Stabilization | Digital IS only (Optic IS via Lens) |
| ISO Range | 100-102,400 (exp. 50-204,800) |
| Autofocus | |
| AF Points | 1,053 Zones (Dual Pixel CMOS AF II) |
| AF System | Subject Tracking (People, Animals, Vehicles) |
| Burst Speed | 40 fps (Electronic), 6 fps (E-First Curtain) |
| Video | |
| Max Resolution | 4K 60p (6K oversampled) / FHD 180p |
| Internal Rec | 10-bit 4:2:2 C-Log3 / HDR PQ |
| Profiles | Canon Log 3, HDR PQ |
| Video Features | Pre-recording, False Color, Aspect Markers |
| Build & Connectivity | |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M-dot OLED EVF (0.70x mag, 120fps) |
| Screen | 3.0" Vari-angle Touch (1.62M-dot) |
| Card Slots | Single SD UHS-II |
| Ports | USB-C, Micro HDMI, Mic, Headphone, Remote |
| Weather Sealing | Dust- and water-resistant (Canon: covers, including the shoe cover, must be closed) |
| Weight | 461g (with battery and card) |
Maker-published figures, with source and date: Numbers & Sources below.
What We Like
- 40 fps electronic burst, 56 RAW frames at that speed (Canon)
- 4K 60p from the full sensor width, oversampled from 6K
- 461 g with battery and card; owners like the size for travel (see What owners report)
- Autofocus singled out by owners upgrading from DSLRs or the RP (see What owners report)
Trade-offs
- Canon rates the LP-E17 at approx. 370 shots (screen) or 220 (viewfinder); owners report short battery life (see What owners report)
- No in-body image stabilisation (IBIS)
- One SD card slot (UHS-II), under the shared card/battery lid
- Overheating, mostly in video, is a recurring owner complaint (see What owners report)
In-Depth Performance
Image Quality & Sensor Performance
The sensor is a 24.2 MP full-frame CMOS (35.9 x 23.9 mm, 6000 x 4000 pixels) with a native range of ISO 100-102,400. For DXOMARK's measured dynamic range and low-light score, see What independent testers measured; for photos other people took with it, see Sample photos.
Owners describe it as the R6 Mark II's sensor in a smaller body without IBIS (see What owners report). With the electronic shutter Canon gives up to 40 fps, maintained for 120 JPEG or 56 RAW (100 CRAW) images; with electronic first curtain the maximum is about 6 fps.
Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
The R8 uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 1,053 AF zones. It detects people (face, eye, body), animals (dogs, cats, birds, horses) and vehicles (motorsports, aircraft, trains). The low-light AF limit is -6.5 EV.
Owners upgrading from DSLRs or the RP single out the autofocus (see What owners report).
Video Capabilities
4K 60p uses the full sensor width, oversampled from 6K; Full HD goes up to 180p. Internal recording goes up to 10-bit 4:2:2 with Canon Log 3 or HDR PQ, and video goes out over micro HDMI (Type D).
From a cold start at 23 °C (screen in use, Wi-Fi off, mains power), Canon rates continuous recording at about 30 minutes in 4K 60p and without a heat limit in 4K 30p and Full HD 30p. Overheating, mostly in video, is a recurring complaint among owners (see What owners report). The body has no in-body stabilisation; stabilisation comes from lenses with optical IS, and for video the camera also has digital movie IS.
Handling & Build
Canon gives the weight as 461 g with battery and card. Owners like how small and light it is for a full-frame body, especially for travel; some find the body plasticky or small in the hand, and some report the rubber on the grip wearing or turning sticky (see What owners report). The rear screen is a 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen.
Canon describes the body as primarily magnesium alloy, partly aluminium alloy and glass-fibre polycarbonate, and lists it as dust- and water-resistant, with the caveat that this cannot completely keep out dust or water droplets. The LP-E17 battery is rated for approximately 370 shots per charge on the rear screen, or 220 through the viewfinder (Canon, CIPA, 23°C); owners report battery life as short (see What owners report). The single SD card slot (UHS-II) sits under the same lid as the battery.
Sample photos from other photographers
Photos that other people took with the Canon R8 and published on Wikimedia Commons under free licences. We chose them; we did not take them. The settings under each photo come from the file's own metadata.
The numbers, and where they come from
Published by the maker
| Sensor size (maker's figure) | 35.9 x 23.9 mm |
|---|---|
| Effective pixels | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel dimensions (3:2) | 6,000 x 4,000 |
| Native ISO range | ISO 100–102,400 |
| Continuous shooting | 40 fps (electronic shutter) |
| Buffer (RAW) | 56 frames (RAW at 40 fps) |
| Battery (CIPA) | 370 shots |
| Weight with battery and card | 461 g |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2.36 million dots |
Maker figures checked on 25 Sept 2026 — maker's spec sheet. Continuous shooting, in the maker's words: Max. Approx. 6fps with Electronic 1st-curtain shutter ... Max. Approx. 40fps with Electronic shutter, speed maintained for 120 JPEG or 56 RAW, 100 CRAW images
Computed from those figures
| Pixel pitch | 5.98 µm |
|---|---|
| Sensor area | 858 mm² |
| Format factor | 1x |
| Light gathered vs 35mm | the same |
| Print at 300 dpi | 51 cm |
| Diffraction limit | f/8.9 |
Computed from the figures above. Pixel pitch = sensor width / pixel count across. Light gathered = log2 of the area ratio to 36 x 24 mm. Diffraction limit = the aperture at which the Airy disc diameter (2.44 x lambda x N, lambda = 550 nm) reaches two pixel pitches. Other calculators use other thresholds and so quote other numbers.
What independent testers measured
These figures were measured by the outlets named in the last column, not by us. Each one links to the test it comes from, and the conditions it was measured under are listed beside it.
| Measurement | Result | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAW dynamic range | 14.7 EV | RAW stills at ISO 50/100 | DXOMARK, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
| Low-light ISO score | 3295 | RAW stills; DXOMARK's computed score from minimum SNR, dynamic range and colour depth | DXOMARK, checked 23 Oct 2026 |
What owners report
We read 198 public posts and reviews on 23 Oct 2026: reddit.com/r/canon (90), bhphotovideo.com (108). Each point below came up from at least two different people; the wording is ours.
Praised repeatedly
- Owners like how small and light it is for a full-frame body, especially for travel. [1][2][3]
- Owners describe it as the R6 Mark II's sensor in a smaller body without IBIS. [1][2][3]
- Owners upgrading from DSLRs or the RP single out the autofocus. [1][2][3]
Complained about repeatedly
- Battery life comes up as short. [1][2]
- Overheating is a recurring complaint, mostly in video. [1][2][3][4]
- Some owners find the body plasticky or small in the hand. [1][2][3]
- Some owners report the rubber on the grip wearing or turning sticky. [1][2]
- Owners point to the small choice of third-party lenses. [1][2]
- A few owners report faults such as error messages or the camera not waking up. [1][2][3]
These are public posts. We do not check whether the people who wrote them bought or used this camera.
How this score is put together
8.0 out of 10
- Image quality Weight 25% 8.3
24MP full frame, 6000 x 4000
- Autofocus Weight 20% 9.3
1053-zone Dual Pixel II
- Video Weight 20% 8.0
4K60 oversampled
- Speed Weight 15% 8.5
40 fps electronic, 56 RAW buffer
- Handling and build Weight 20% 6.0
no IBIS, single UHS-II slot, 370-shot battery
Scored against full-frame interchangeable-lens cameras. The overall figure is the weighted mean of the rows above — it is computed, not set by hand.
How It Compares
| Spec | Canon R8 | Sony A7C II | Nikon Z5 II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24MP FF | 33MP FF | 24.5MP BSI FF |
| Video | 4K60 | 4K60 (S35) | 4K30 full width / 4K60 (1.5x crop) |
| AF Points | Dual Pixel II | 759 points | 273 points |
| Burst | 40 fps | 10 fps | 7.8 fps (14 fps expanded) |
| IBIS | None | 7 stops | 5 stops |
| Buy | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
Lens options
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8
Canon's 16 mm ultra-wide prime.
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8
Canon's 50 mm f/1.8 prime.
Affiliate Disclosure
We buy our own gear or rent it. No manufacturers paid for this review. We earn a commission if you use our links, which keeps this site ad-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
The R8 has no IBIS (Canon rates the R6 II's at up to 8 stops) and one SD card slot instead of two. Neither camera has a top LCD, and Canon lists both as dust- and water-resistant. Both have a 24.2 MP full-frame sensor and shoot up to 40 fps with the electronic shutter. Owners describe the R8 as the R6 Mark II's sensor in a smaller body without IBIS (see What owners report).
Not in the body. Stabilisation comes from lenses with optical IS, and for video the camera also has digital movie IS.
Yes, with Canon's EF-EOS R adapter; EF lenses keep autofocus. Owners point to the small choice of third-party lenses for the camera (see What owners report).
Owners upgrading from the RP or from DSLRs single out the autofocus (see What owners report). The R8 uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 1,053 AF zones.
Related Reviews
Recommended Accessories
Essential gear to maximize your Canon EOS R8 experience:
Memory Card
ProGrade Digital Gold 128GB SD
A V60 UHS-II SD card for the R8's single SD slot.
Battery
Canon LP-E17
The battery this camera takes; Canon rates the R8 at approx. 370 shots per charge (CIPA, rear screen).
Gimbal
DJI RS 3 Mini
A camera gimbal; the R8 has no in-body stabilisation.
Lens
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L
Canon's f/2.8 L-series standard zoom, with optical image stabilisation.
More gear guides: Best TripodsBest Camera BagsBest SD Cards
