Last Updated on 01/30/2025 by Lara Carretero
Since its release, the Canon EOS R3 has confused so many photographers. It still lacks a pre-capture mode, makes scene detection harder to do, and is more or less the same camera as its bigger brother, the R1. With the latest firmware update, we’ve taken a deeper look at the Canon EOS R3 in the big space of the camera world. And it made a lot of sense for us to remove the Editor’s Choice rating from the camera.
Here’s a list of the changes that we made to the review:
- Added in the Declaration of Journalistic Intent
- Redid the conclusions to fuse the pros and cons with our likes and dislikes
- Moved the tech specs list
- Added in more details about firmware updates
- Added in a major autofocus update
- Added in a major ease of use update
- Added in more images that we shot in our offices to prove that we’ve actually used the camera. Content Credentials were added to these photos.
Here’s the big updated text that we added to our Canon EOS R3 review. You can read the review in full at this link. Intrigued and want to purchase it? Check it out here on Amazon.
Autofocus Update January 2025
In late 2024, we stated that we’re changing our review standards and taking a stand for what we believe to be fair treatment to humans. You can review our statements in this article linked here.
As of January 2025, no Canon cameras can achieve perfect and precise autofocus on humans with deeper levels of melanin in their skin when shooting in low light. Granted, the R3 isn’t the brand’s highest level of camera. But still, Canon has had time to fix this and also address other issues such as adding in pre-capture mode. Still, we wonder why the brand’s cameras can find the eye and a little tiny black bird amongst trees yet can’t find a Dominican performing artist in a dimly lit venue.
Nikon and Sony can both do this. Sony can do it now with the Sony a1 II and Nikon has been able to do it with the Nikon Z9. Canon could’ve easily provided some sort of update to fix this, but hasn’t seemingly made any attempt at even acknowledging it in their firmware communications. For this reason, we’re removing a full star from the review and also removing the Editor’s Choice Award.
Ease of Use Update January 2025
Here are the details of the newest firmware update for the Canon EOS R3, which can be downloaded here.
- Adds [Protect Images] and [Rating] during FTP Transfer.
- Adds the ability to select [Wired] as a connection option when [Airplane mode] is set to [On].
- The following issues have been fixed:
a. Fixes an issue, in which when Wi-Fi is disconnected, Err70 occurs.
b. Fixes an issue, in which when shooting subjects that are smaller in the frame, the card access indicator blinks and operations can no longer be performed.
c. Fixes an issue, in which while operating both the touch function on the LCD monitor and a customized button, and then performing shooting, operations can no longer be performed.
d. Fixes an issue, in which when performing shooting in high-speed continuous shooting + mode with the [Highlight Tone Priority] option set to [ON], focus may not be achieved when certain ISO speed settings are used.
If the Canon EOS R3’s firmware is already Version 1.8.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
The big one to me is change 3b, which states, “Fixes an issue, in which when shooting subjects that are smaller in the frame, the card access indicator blinks and operations can no longer be performed.” This is something I remember happening at times and then thinking that it was such an odd happening. Crazy enough, it caused me to believe that my Sony Tough SD cards were having issues. But when I switched to make my ProGrade Digital cards the primary card instead, it still happened. I specifically remember this occurring when I was shooting a gig using the Canon EOS R3, too. Luckily, I had a bag on me that also contained my other memory cards. So, I ended up switching them out to my Fujifilm cards. But those gave issues too. So eventually, I just switched cameras to my Canon EOS R5 and my EOS R. Both of those got the job done. It’s nice to know that Canon has fixed this problem and more importantly, addressed that it wasn’t an issue. Considering all the bad flak that Sony’s Tough cards get, it makes sense.
Because of the recommendations of other manufacturers, I’ve tried to move away from Sony’s Tough cards as much as possible except when using my Leica SL2s – and that’s because of the IP durability rating on the camera. I mean, why not pair the super durable cards with the super durable camera.
I also at times found that highlight tone priority was an issue when trying to photograph birds and such at super high speeds. Luckily, I never saw the problem that Canon speaks of in 3d of their changes. I’d always shoot at ISO 1600 to 6400 anyway. I’m sure sure what ISO speeds Canon is referring to, but the Canon EOS R3 was otherwise great with birding.
We didn’t test the other features because FTP transfer isn’t something we think that most photographers do. Some wire services want it for extra security – but transferring images directly to an FTP server is kind of annoying vs uploading them to a device like an iPad and then doing it that way with easier management and a bigger screen.
As it is, I rarely ever want to step into the Phoblographer’s own FTP servers.
We’re glad that Canon made these changes – but we’re still disappointed that they still never gave it pre-capture mode. Seriously, Canon? Come on.
What’s more, Canon still didn’t make it easy to do scene detection, which it calls “subject to track” in its menu system. Of all the cameras, this is the one that I’d want that on. It further solidifies the feelings of customers who think that it’s kind of like the neglected plant in the room that’s supposed to bring you joy yet you refuse to do the work. Actions like this say a lot about a person – and they say even more about a billion dollar company.
If you purchased the Canon EOS R3 with the intention of only shooting one type of subject matter consistently (such as humans or birds) then I think that you’re in good shape. But why not give us the ability to do more? There are times when I’d use this camera for events and I’d need to photograph both people and pets. Switching easily is so much better than using an auto-mode of some sort – especially because Canon’s autofocus isn’t as good as Sony or Nikon’s at this point.