The Canon EOS Ra will scratch the itch of Astrophotographers, but it will leave everyone else wanting, and waiting for more.
It has been just over a year since the Canon EOS R arrived on the Mirrorless camera scene. While it may have been lacking features that many expected, over the last 13 months, the EOS R has been updated to the point where it has become a very competent camera. Canon fans want more, though. The EOS R is lagging behind Sony in terms of feature sets and resolution, and Canon has said that a higher Megapixel EOS R camera is in the works. So, when we heard about a new EOS R camera from Canon hitting the market, we got excited, but, unfortunately, it’s not what you’re thinking. Join us after the break to find out more about the Canon EOS Ra and who it’s geared towards.
The new Canon EOS Ra is essentially the same camera as the Mirrorless EOS R. It looks the same, smells the same, it’s the same size, has almost the same feature set (yes it still only has one card slot), and it has the same 30.3 Megapixel sensor. The Canon EOS Ra can record 4k time-lapses, and of course, it uses Canon’s new RF mount lenses. What sets the Canon EOS Ra apart from the EOS R is an infrared cutoff filter that sits on top of the sensor, and the 30x magnification in live view mode. This filter will allow the EOS Ra to capture more hydrogen-alpha rays (the 656.3 nm wavelength). Sounds like gibberish, right? Basically, this camera can capture deep-red wavelengths emitted by nebulae in vivid color, without any special camera alterations. This is a camera that’s geared towards Astrophotography and nothing else.
Astrophotography is a genre that is growing in popularity, and Canon is merely trying to cash in on this. Still, nobody asked for this camera, and its appeal will be limited to a small set of photographers who will honestly gasp at the $2,499 price tag that Canon has put on this camera. This is a camera that Canon should have released, but not right now. Not when their sales are tanking, and not when the masses are expecting much more from them.
What Canon needs to do is take a long hard look at why so many photographers are jumping ship. Sony is continuing to pull away from Canon at an alarming rate. Sony already has a fully fleshed out Mirrorless camera range that appeals to everyone from beginners to pros, and to videographers and beyond. If any company were in a position to release a camera like this, it would be Sony. Meanwhile, Canon has one entry-level Full Frame camera in the EOS RP and one middle of the road Mirrorless camera in the EOS R. Yet, here we are with a specialized camera that will appeal to a very, very small percentage of photographers, and that won’t do anything to help the company’s bottom line.
Ever since the EOS R was announced, Canon fans and fans of photography, in general, have been waiting to see just what Canon can do. So far, they simply haven’t done enough. There have been no more words on a supposed high megapixel camera that Canon has mentioned. There has been no more information about Canon Mirrorless cameras with IBIS, nor have there been any words in regards to APS-C Mirrorless cameras with the RF mount that will appeal to hobbyists and beginners. The silence is deafening. The decision to release this camera now has us wondering if Canon understands their customer base at all. Are you really that out of touch with your customers Canon?
The EOS Ra will no doubt be a fine camera for the very few that need it, but the masses are still left waiting and wondering when Canon will release the cameras that are sorely needed from them. If you would like more information about the new Canon EOS Ra, you can head on over to Canon’s official website. The Canon EOS Ra will be launched mid-December 2019 with a retail price of $2,499. You can pre-order one from Adorama right now.