Canon EOS R1 Review: A professional’s dream, an amateur’s desire

EOS R1

You don’t always realise it, but sometimes holding a machine changes the way you think. You stop seeing it as a collection of parts and features, and it becomes something else — an extension of how you see the world. The Canon EOS R1 evokes that feeling, and from the moment you pick it up, there’s no denying what it’s built for. It’s Canon’s most advanced mirrorless camera yet, aimed squarely at professional sports and wildlife photographers who demand speed, reliability, and intelligence from their gear.

Canon EOS R1 Design: Super-Premium and Solid
Let’s start with the obvious: the EOS R1 is big. At over 1.1kg with the battery and cards inside, it’s heavier than most modern mirrorless cameras and bears a silhouette closer to Canon’s 1D series DSLRs. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The size and weight give the camera a more substantial feel and add to its professional character. What stands out more is not the weight, but how balanced it feels. The vertical grip isn’t an afterthought here — it’s been integrated in a way that makes the camera symmetrical and stable, even with large lenses mounted. The built-in vertical grip is a significant advantage. It facilitates various shooting styles, and those who are into portrait or fashion photography, etc., will appreciate it even more.

Like other premium Canon cameras, the body is made of magnesium alloy and has a refined, almost understated texture that adds grip without feeling rough. The build quality is everything you’d expect from a pro-grade Canon camera — dense, tactile, and made to withstand demanding conditions. Weather-sealing is present, and the ergonomics are precise. Buttons fall naturally under your fingers, and there’s no guesswork about each dial's function. What surprised me most, though, was the smart controller's responsiveness — the small optical joystick that lets you move the autofocus point with your thumb.

EOS R1

Electronic viewfinders have come a long way, but the EOS R1’s 9.44-million-dot OLED panel is on another level. It’s not just about resolution — although that’s stunning — but how immersive it feels. With 0.9x magnification and a refresh rate up to 120fps, it creates the illusion that you’re not looking through a viewfinder at all. It’s like having a direct line into the scene.

But the real magic happens when you enable Eye Control AF. It takes a moment to set up — calibration is essential, and even then, it takes a few tries to get used to — but once it clicks, it’s uncanny. You look at a subject in the viewfinder, and the camera moves the focus point there.

That’s it. And while it’s not perfect every time, when it works, it feels like a glimpse into the future. This feature alone changed how I framed candid moments on the street. Instead of fumbling with the joystick, I was looking, composing, and shooting in one continuous motion.

Canon EOS R1 Sensor and Other Features Review
Canon’s decision to stick with a 24.2MP sensor might raise eyebrows, especially given the price point, and considering the competition offers higher megapixel sensors.

However, once you start shooting with it, the choice makes perfect sense. The sensor allows for incredible readout speeds — up to 40fps with the electronic shutter — and that’s what this camera is truly about: uncompromising speed.

I tested the camera in various scenarios, and the moment you press the shutter button, the camera freezes the scene without shakes, blur, or other issues. The burst speed is invaluable, especially when capturing fast-moving subjects like pets or children.

Now, most people think that fast shutter and high burst speeds are only useful in fast-paced shooting conditions. But consider it from a professional photographer’s perspective, such as a fashion photographer. When the model is changing poses in real-time, faster burst speeds are essential.

What impressed me more than the speed was the autofocus system's intelligence. Canon’s latest AI-driven subject detection and tracking felt like a significant advancement. The camera doesn’t just see a face; it understands posture, motion, and context. Whether I was photographing a group of musicians performing on a sidewalk or following kids playing with a ball, the R1 rarely lost track. I didn’t have to tell it what to follow — it simply knew.

Canon EOS R1 Image and Video Quality
Let’s discuss the megapixel count. In an era where 45MP and 60MP sensors are increasingly common, 24.2MP sounds underwhelming — until you examine the files. There’s something uniquely clean and flexible about the R1’s RAW output. The dynamic range is broad enough to recover highlights and shadows without introducing noise, and the high ISO performance is among the best I’ve seen from Canon. I was comfortable shooting at ISO 12,800 and pushing it higher without much hesitation.

But Canon hasn’t ignored resolution-hungry users. The new AI-powered upscaling mode can create 96MP JPEGs in-camera. I tried it on a wide cityscape, and while it doesn’t replace a native high-res sensor, it works well enough for large prints or aggressive crops. The best part is that it’s quick and doesn’t interrupt the workflow.
Even though the EOS R1 is primarily a stills camera, Canon hasn’t neglected video shooters. It can record 6K RAW at up to 60fps, 4K oversampled from 6K, and supports Canon Log 2, Log 3, PQ, and HLG profiles. I filmed a few short handheld sequences at a badminton tournament, and the footage looked cinema-ready straight out of the camera.

Autofocus in video mode was just as snappy and accurate as in stills. Subject tracking worked seamlessly even in erratic lighting, and the in-body stabilization helped smooth out most shakes. I didn’t experience any overheating even after longer clips — a significant improvement over older Canon mirrorless models. Dual CFexpress Type B slots meant I didn’t worry about data loss, and the USB-C port supported high-speed transfers without a hitch.
The Canon Connect app for smartphones allows the camera to connect wirelessly. The companion app transfers photos and videos seamlessly, a feature most photographers will appreciate for its faster and easier workflow.

Canon EOS R1 Battery Life Review
The LP-E19 battery is a workhorse. One full charge lasted me nearly an entire day across multiple shoots, including heavy use of the EVF, bursts, and video. I never felt the need to carry a second battery. The camera also offers USB-C charging and power delivery — a boon when traveling.

Canon EOS R1 Review: Verdict
The Canon EOS R1 is a flagship built for professionals who demand reliability, speed, and precision under pressure. With its Rs 5,70,000 price tag, it’s clearly not for everyone—but that doesn’t mean it won’t delight enthusiasts. Its world-class autofocus, silent shooting, and perfectly balanced body offer an inspiring experience. The R1 isn’t just about specs—it’s about how it makes you feel behind the viewfinder. It’s not a camera you buy because you need it. It’s one you desire because it brings out the photographer in you.