Canon EOS R10 vs Canon EOS R7

The EOS R10 and EOS R7 have been making a lot of noise in the camera industry since its release date in late May. Canon, one the best in the business  and a global leader, expanded its extremely popular EOS R series cameras with 2 new models featuring smaller APS-C imaging sensors.  A first of its kind for the EOS R series.

 

Canon’s new R7 and R10 are unbeatable by anything else in its price range.  The first thing that jumps out at me is that both cameras share the same autofocus system as Canons top of the line EOS R3 mirrorless camera model, which happens to be full frame and cost about 6k.  Many professional photographers suggest the R3’s autofocusing system the best available amongst the competition, so its rather exciting to see this feature being introduced in lower cost models. 

DIGIC X & Auto Focusing

The DIGIC X image processor, which is one of Canon’s many proprietary secrets of engineering, is featured in both the R7 and R10 and is much faster than the DIGIC 8.  DIGIC X powers 4k resolution video capture and reduces noise. 

Dual Pixel CMOS Auto-Focus technology is widely considered as one of the most advanced tracking systems, with presets to automatically identify different subjects such as people, animals, and vehicles.  This system is so powerful that at simple default settings you will achieve amazing shots while tracking your subject, even when the subject may be moving at great speeds in any direction, including closer and father away in distance.  Testing this, the camera automatically knew where the action was and what to focus on with impressive detail to the focus box as I watched it follow my subject as it moved swiftly, so did the focus area.  I know many consumers will appreciate this very much.  It’s like an AF gift that the R7 and R10 inherited from the R3.  This is a very big deal.

The expanded EOS R series of models ranges from the EOS R3 which is the top model, then the R5 and R6, and now the EOS R7, and then the EOS R10 as the latest additions to this great series of cameras.  As the price suggests, the EOS R series are for pros, so naturally adding these two new models at a lower price point within this powerful camera line offers something for the everyday consumer looking for something a bit more professional while packing a big punch, and simultaneously offering something to professionals looking for something powerful but a bit lighter weight and more consumer like. 

Canon’s R10 is an incredible camera.  Everything about it screams value and cutting-edge technology.  In fact, both the R10 and R7 share many features, however, they have their differences and judging by their model numbers of 7 to 10, one can assume these differences may be significant and substantiate the $500 difference in price.  So, let’s have a deeper look, review the specs and see how it translates to each model.

R10 vs R7

• The R7 offers a 32.5-megapixel (APS-C) CMOS sensor which will allow you fast continuous shooting with high speed autofocus and more definition and sharpness especially if you crop your shots often. The R10 has a 24-megapixel (APS-C) CMOS sensor which is still considered top level for compact cameras and delivers brilliant fast action photos day or night.
• The R10 offers us a pop-up flash while the R7 does not, however this does translate into weather sealant. The R7 is dust and moisture resistant and the R10 is not.
• The R10 has a standard back dial you typically see on cameras. The R7 has an added wheel or circle around the dial that you can customize with features, giving you a little bit more functionality at your fingertips.
• For magnification, the R10 gives us 0.95x with a 28-degree angle of view, and the R7 will give you a little more zoom with 1.15x with a 33-degree angle of view. Both of which are very suitable for just about every type of photography, but that extra bit of exposure benefits the R7 giving it a better view finder.
• The R7 also offers a better rear LCD screen with 1.62 million dots vs the R10 which has 1.05 million dots. The R10 screen is beautiful, but you will get more definition from the R7.
• The R10 and R7 both offer a max FPS with max Res AF+AE of up to 15 FPS for their mechanical shutters which is certainly a brilliant speed, however the R10 offers a shutter speed of 1/4000 whereas the R7 will give you double that with 1/8000 shutter speed. There is an electric shutter feature with speeds that max out at 1/4000 for the R10 and 1/16000 for the R7.  Electric shutter can sometimes cause jelloing but they have their perks.  Lastly, The R10 offers an X-sync speed of 1/200 vs the R7’s 1/250, so you can get a bit more light exposure from the R7.
• The R10 gives 4k in 60p video sampled down from 6k for a very sharp image but must be filmed at a 1.6x crop. On the other hand, the R7 will give you the same 4k in 60p, sampled down from 7k for even sharper images but with a 1.82x crop.  With the R7, you do have the option of shooting 4k60 with no crop, but the finish is a little softer and it is suggested to use the crop if you’re seeking the sharper image.
• We see another big difference between stabilization. The R7 boasts a 5-axis in body image Stabilization with auto-leveling technology, or IBIS for short.  You can get up to 7 stops of shake correction with the R7 which is a spectacular feature for handheld video recording and low light photography.  Although the R10 does have digital image stabilization, which is good, it is not the IBIS that the R7 has built within the body.  IBIS is a top-notch stabilization feature.  With IBIS the R7 has new features like Auto Level, which will level out your frame if the camera is tilted.
• R7 and R10 both can shoot in 10-bit HDR, but the R7 could shoot in 10-bit HDR+C-Log3 which allows you to capture maximum dynamic range resulting in a flat profile that gives more flexibility for post-production edits.
• The R10 has one card slot and a USB-C 2.0 slot vs the R7’s dual card slots and USB 2^nd Gen 3.2 USB-C.
• The R10 weighs 13.48oz and R7 weighs 18.70oz with a slightly larger body. They are both lightweight cameras.

Canon also released 2 new RF-S lenses which will be optimized for the smaller APS-C sensor size of the new EOS R camera system.  The RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM gives an 18-45mm focal length with a field of view equal to 29-72mm lens coverage on a full-camera frame and RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM offers longer-range standard zoom and a 29-240mm lens coverage on a full frame.

Final Thoughts

The R10 is an amazing camera that knocks anything else in its price range out of the park.  Its small compact size, combined with the powerful professional features of a high caliber camera will bring stunning colors and sharpness to your images.  This is a great camera for personal and professional photography settings.  On the flip side, the R7 is a masterpiece with power unmatched in its price class.  The slightly larger size and handle feels like a professional grade camera, built with so much power and so many features you only see in more expensive cameras.  I would even say that the R7 exceeds its price class, easily.