Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera with 18-150mm Lens

I have been a professional photographer for over 17 years, and I’ve used Canon cameras and lenses for my entire career. That said, I’ve never used a mirrorless camera, so I thought the R10 might be a great way for me to dip my toes in the water. If you’re like me, a long time DSLR user, you’ll have a lot to experience anew with this system, and I have to say I’m impressed. Professionally I use a Canon 5D mkIV, with a battery grip and flash bracket, and my usual glass is the 85mm L 1.2, the 70-200mm L 2.8, and the 24-70 L 2.8, and numerous other specialty lenses and equipment…I say that to let you know that the R10 and kit lens are quite small and light for comparison. And that was part of the reason I was interested in the R10…I found that I was using my phone for ... MoreI have been a professional photographer for over 17 years, and I’ve used Canon cameras and lenses for my entire career. That said, I’ve never used a mirrorless camera, so I thought the R10 might be a great way for me to dip my toes in the water. If you’re like me, a long time DSLR user, you’ll have a lot to experience anew with this system, and I have to say I’m impressed. Professionally I use a Canon 5D mkIV, with a battery grip and flash bracket, and my usual glass is the 85mm L 1.2, the 70-200mm L 2.8, and the 24-70 L 2.8, and numerous other specialty lenses and equipment…I say that to let you know that the R10 and kit lens are quite small and light for comparison. And that was part of the reason I was interested in the R10…I found that I was using my phone for much of my personal pics because my pro rig is just too bulky for casual work. Now with the R10 I can bring my camera along for family outings again. Too, my 5d, as it’s currently set up, is too large for a camera strap, but the R10 is light enough that I don’t mind wearing it around my neck during a day hike, or exploring the city. I will say, the R10 is quite small, so it can feel slight in your hand, at least initially, but because it’s intuitively designed, and has enough of the usual classic Canon organization, it didn’t take too long for it to feel natural. The things that take the most to get used to, for me at least, is the lack of a large dial on them back of the camera, and using Live View. I know my 5D has a version of Live View, but I prefer to use the viewfinder, but on the R10, for its size, the Live View seems a better method, and one I need to practice with. Too, I love that the screen can rotate to accommodate any viewing angle. Functionally it handles great, the focus is spot on, and it produces images with plenty of resolution. Personally all my Canon cameras have been able to produce professional images, provided the glass (lens) is quality. I’ve owned or own the following Canon cameras, the Rebel, the 20d, the 30d, and every iteration of the 5d, and every single one produces images I could sell. I think the R10 could probably do the same, if I were to use L glass on it. Still, that’s not what this camera is made for, and I don’t intend to spend much money on lenses for it. The included S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens gets me most of the way toward a decent walking around lens…(I did purchase the Canon R50mm 1.8 as well, but that’s just because 85mm is my favorite focal length, and with the crop sensor, the 50mm is actually closer to 75mm.) The S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Is amazingly small, provided you’re used to DSLR lenses, and gives you a decent focal range to work with. While not exceptionally fast at 4.5, it produces clean images across the frame, with good contrast. Not much bokeh, obviously, unless you are shooting something extremely close to the camera, but typically your images are going to be pretty sharp and in focus deeper than you’d want for portraiture, but for sports or landscapes, this is very usable. Remember as I said before, you have the 1.5 or so crop factor to deal with, so this lens isn’t quite as wide as you might think (at 18mm you’re really closer to 27mm, and at 45mm you’ll be closer to 67mm). There is so much to talk about with this camera, especially as one coming from the DSLR world into mirrorless-land, but I’ll try to condense some of my favorite features, and a few things I don’t love. I really love the ability to shoot with a completely silent shutter. It takes some getting used to, as you don’t have the confirming sound that you did indeed capture an image, but there is much to like about getting real candid pics since your camera’s sound isn’t constantly announcing itself. I love the weight (or lack thereof), and I love the frames per second you came produce. I generally shoot single shot on my 5D, so it’s fun to capture action with the mirrorless R10. I absolutely love the eye detection feature…while not perfect, it something I wish dearly was on my 5D. I love being able to check focus in this way, and it’s particularly useful when shooting video. I should say that I’m not a huge video guy…so I haven’t put the R10 through it’s paces in this regard, but I have played with it, and it certainly is enough for me to make videos of my family…and because the camera is so light, you can do selfie videos which would be impossible with my 5D. One of the main things I was disappointed about was that the flash shoe isn’t standard size. For some reason I don’t know there was anything other than a one-size-fits-all, so when I took the R10 into my studio to use my studio strobes (or with my Canon 600EX II for that matter) I couldn’t test to see how well it and the 18-45mm would look with shaped light and f8, my usual studio aperture. I know there are adapters, but I wanted to use what was included with the kit. I’m not crazy about the battery life, but I’m spoiled by my battery grip of my 5D so that’s not a fair complaint. Too, another thing I miss from my 5D is my dual memory card slots. Still these are pro features, and the R10 is a camera to grow with - and if you begin to love photography - grow out of. I’ve seen so much I love with the mirrorless system due to the R10, and if this was my first big camera (as was the Rebel for me), it would wet my appetite for what a larger format could offer. I used my original Rebel for a few years, casually at first, then getting odd jobs for friends, then for strangers, and finally making the jump to the D’s. I think the R10 will serve the same purpose, to introduce and make people fall in love with photography by giving you creative control that cell phones just can’t match. When I pulled out the R10 at a cookout, my brother asked, sarcastically, if “people are still buying cameras.” The answer is they should be, and the R10 is a great way to start. (What I actually told my brother is, “Let me have a look at the pictures of your son’s football game you took on your cell phone…oh yeah, a nice, blurry mess, huh?” This was all tongue-in-cheek, obviously, but Canon cameras can do things cell phones can only dream about, and if you are going to print your photos, the gap between a dedicated camera and a phone is vast…I’m glad to have the R10, and I’m excited to use a camera for personal work again. Ps, I’ve included a picture of the R10 and my 5D together to give you an idea of the size difference. This isn’t to say one is better than the other, but rather they are both better than the other at different tasks, and I’m glad to have them both.

I'm an experienced photographer and over the years, I've taken great care in upgrading my equipment to ensure I had the best possible product for the jobs I was doing. My fiancé loves taking pictures, but is intimidated by more complex camera systems -- like my Canon EOS R5. She admitted to me that she would love to have a mirrorless camera, but didn't want to plunge into the pro-level cameras. This is exactly who the Canon EOS R10 is made for. It's perfect for people who have experience with DSLR cameras and want to move to a mirrorless set-up and it's ideal for content creators. This camera is much more budget-friendly than some of the other mirrorless cameras in Canon's product lineup and it's very easy to use. Within a few minutes of unboxing the camera, my ... MoreI'm an experienced photographer and over the years, I've taken great care in upgrading my equipment to ensure I had the best possible product for the jobs I was doing. My fiancé loves taking pictures, but is intimidated by more complex camera systems -- like my Canon EOS R5. She admitted to me that she would love to have a mirrorless camera, but didn't want to plunge into the pro-level cameras. This is exactly who the Canon EOS R10 is made for. It's perfect for people who have experience with DSLR cameras and want to move to a mirrorless set-up and it's ideal for content creators. This camera is much more budget-friendly than some of the other mirrorless cameras in Canon's product lineup and it's very easy to use. Within a few minutes of unboxing the camera, my fiancé was outside taking photos of birds and plants around our house. The biggest takeaway I have about the R10 is that it is an 'entry-level' camera with advanced technology built into it. For example, the R10 has the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II focusing system integrated and it does a fabulous job in practice. On the flip side, it doesn't have as many focus points as the pro-level Canon mirrorless cameras do. The R10 is very lightweight but solidly built. It seems to be durable and since it has a more compact body than some other Canon cameras, it's very portable. The controls are all located on the right-hand side of the camera (for the most part) and a user can easily reach the buttons, dials, and joystick with their right thumb without removing their hand from the grip. The flip-out touchscreen is another piece of advanced technology that you typically don't get with entry-level equipment, but it's a very welcome addition to this camera. It makes the photo-taking experience much richer. The kit lens that comes with the R10 is a nice starter lens that will work for most users but is worth an upgrade depending on your use. The camera also features a maximum mechanical burst rate of 15 FPS, which is great for capturing sports and wildlife. The R10 is a robust starter camera but there are some staunch differences between it and the pro-level mirrorless cameras from Canon. For example, the R10 -- does not have weather sealing only shoots video at 4K @ 24FPS un-cropped/4K @ 60FPS cropped cannot shoot C-log does not have a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack only has a single memory card slot vs a dual-card slot has a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000 Even though the R10 is missing some of the pro-level features from Canon, it's still a worthwhile mirrorless camera for content creators. It takes crisp photos and it's very easy to use.

GOOD - Excellent photo and video capabilities - Phenomenal auto focus and subject tracking system - Good controls on body - Nicely compact size - Fast burst shooting BAD - 18-45 lens is thoroughly "meh" - Non-backlit photo sensor - No in-body image stabilization (IBIS) - Body isn't weatherproof - Battery life could be better - No headphone jack ( for video recording ) - Sheer amount of options and settings can be intimidating TL/DR For a photography enthusiast looking to step up to a more serious camera without dropping thousands on a professional rig, the R10 is one of the best options currently out there. If you're a big vlogger or internet personality, the R10 is very capable at video recording, but the lack of IBIS could make it a bad choice if you do a lot of ... MoreGOOD - Excellent photo and video capabilities - Phenomenal auto focus and subject tracking system - Good controls on body - Nicely compact size - Fast burst shooting BAD - 18-45 lens is thoroughly "meh" - Non-backlit photo sensor - No in-body image stabilization (IBIS) - Body isn't weatherproof - Battery life could be better - No headphone jack ( for video recording ) - Sheer amount of options and settings can be intimidating TL/DR For a photography enthusiast looking to step up to a more serious camera without dropping thousands on a professional rig, the R10 is one of the best options currently out there. If you're a big vlogger or internet personality, the R10 is very capable at video recording, but the lack of IBIS could make it a bad choice if you do a lot of walk-and-talk videos. DETAILS Cell phone cameras have gotten very good in the last few years, but their small size still greatly limits the sensor size, aperture control, and zoom. They're perfectly adequate if you only want to snap candids at birthday parties and family reunions. But if you want print quality originals for important events like weddings, high-quality zooms at kids' soccer games, or more manual control for specific creative composition, their limitations quickly become apparent. Canon's mirrorless cameras use a similar naming convention to their professional DSLR cameras in that lower numbers indicate higher-end cameras. However they don't use multiple product line names to divide cameras into different segments ( Rebel being entry-level or double-digit XXD models as prosumer products ). So with the EOS R10 being the highest number in the EOS R line, you'd expect it to be somewhat low-end, and that's misleading. The R10 has plenty of features far better than you'd expect on a low-end camera like a Rebel. The R10's auto focus and eye detection system is the same as you find in the much pricier R models. It's incredibly fast and accurate, far better than you'll find on nearly any sub-$1000 camera. Controls too are on par with higher-end cameras, with two top finger dials and compatibility with RF lens control rings. It will capture both HDR and SDR video in 1080 and 4K resolution at 24, 30, and 60 fps. All video except 4K/60 is supersample recorded using the entire sensor ( 4K/60 is cropped to use just the central native 4K resolution ). The camera has an enormous number of options and settings in the menu. The basic manual barely mentions any of them. Instead you have to dig through the 900-page advanced manual to understand what they all do. For the "as expected" features, the sensor is APS-C size instead of full-frame. It also only has a single SD slot, though it is UHS-II capable. The battery and SD cover is on the bottom of the grip, not the side, so some tripod mounts might block it. The viewfinder and swivel screen are perfectly adequate: nothing stellar, but not a let down. You have normal wireless connectivity, like WiFi and Bluetooth for transferring media and remote controls, including syncing to your phone. Physical connection ports include USB-C for normal file transfer, micro HDMI, 3.5mm microphone input, and standard remote shutter control. So, with all this goodness, Canon had to cut something out to keep it from undercutting the pricier EOS R cameras, apart from the smaller APS-C sensor and lower 24MP resolution. The big thing lacking is in-body image-stabilization ( IBIS ). Not that every sub-$1000 camera has IBIS either, but the next up EOS R to have it is the R7 at about $500 more. The camera does have digital stabilization for video recording, and IS lenses help a bit too, but people who take a lot of videos while walking around will certainly miss the feature. To make it worse for video recording, there is no headphone jack for you to be able to monitor audio input. Also, it doesn't have color profile control for either SDR or HDR shooting. Other small nags is the lack of weather sealing and the sensor not being backside illuminated. The battery life is also not great. The lens that comes in this particular kit is thoroughly mediocre. It is a stabilized lens, which counts for something, but the 18-45mm range ( 29mm-72mm equivalent ) is rather unimpressive, especially with a maximum 4.5/6.3 aperture. It's enough for beginners, but even middling photographers will quickly tire of it being so often not quite enough ( either not quite enough zoom, not quite wide enough, or just a little too dark ). It does have two good things going for it. The lens is quite light and retracts to make it very compact ( though the R10 does not auto deploy or retract it when powered on and off ). If you already have a selection of EF mount lenses, you can get EF to RF adapter rings, making it easier to migrate over. But if you don't already have lenses to use, the 18-150mm 3.5/6.3 lens found on the other R10 bundle is much more usable. All in all, the R10 is a strange mix of premium and low-end amateur. It has a lot of things you'd expect from a prosumer camera, like twin control dials and great burst shooting capabilities with UHS-II support and a fast 15 fps mechanical shutter. It also lacks a few things you'd want at this price point, like a BSI sensor, an alloy frame and weatherproofing, IBIS, and a bigger battery. Those are disappointing but understandable. Then there are downright weird omissions, like giving it fantastic 4K/60 HDR video recording, but no headphone jack or color log profiles. Finally, it gets weird the other way as Canon put the same auto focus system in the R10 as in the much pricier EOS R3 and R5. Balanced altogether, the good far outweighs the bad. The advanced auto-focus and eye-detection system in the R10 benefits every shooter of every level, whether stills or video, and any kind of subject. Most of the negatives are mostly annoyances, not deal-breakers. No IBIS can be a big problem when recording moving video or when using very long lenses. Vloggers and those making walk-and-talk videos every other day are the biggest impacted since this camera is in the price range for that activity. Those needing serious moving video will likely have a gimbal and dedicated video camera. And pairing a pricey telephoto lens with this body, and its compact sensor, is not something many people will do. If you've decided you want to get more seriously involved in digital photography with a healthy dash of videography, the R10 is one of the best places start. If you're primarily interested in video, the R10 can still be a good choice, provided you know about its shortcomings. If you primarily record from a tripod and you don't worry too much about color mastering, you ought to consider the R10 as well.