Canon EOS R10 Review: A compact camera is looking for a place among vloggers

Over the years, the use of cameras to produce all kinds of content has become extremely popular. You can often see how influencers or youtubers they purchase expensive camera-based video equipment. Canon has had to redirect efforts to adapt to a market that sees Sony as the brand with the largest audiovisual production ecosystem, and the EOS R series aims to bridge that gap. Should I buy this Canon EOS R10? This is the opinion of NIUSGEEK.

Canon EOS R10 Specifications

Canon EOS R10: here’s what you need to know

Very “mirror” design. As a 70D user, I have to say that this version of the “mini DSLR” was easy for me to get to grips with. We are facing significant savings over the traditional market that Canon has fed for years. In this case, improved access to video recording and customizable features is implemented.

In the knob on the right, Canon adds, just behind the photo shutter and the first customizable wheel, an exclusive red button for video recording, a “lock” to save the assigned values. The mode dial sits next to a second customizable selector that also turns the camera on and off.

Already on the back, next to the articulated viewfinder, we have a joystick to move the focus area, a D-pad for options and navigation, focus assist buttons, access to the menu and information screen. Right below the lens mount, there is another focus switch button from where we can switch between manual and automatic modes.

It’s an arrangement that optimizes space very well, and it’s below the limit to include micro HDMI, a USB-C port, microphones, headphone monitoring, a battery compartment, and a single SD slot. This can be a problem for those who are used to a dual file system, so take care of your data.

Easy navigation. The viewfinder system of this R10 reproduces the image on a rotating screen and an electronic viewfinder that we have integrated into the top edge. From both we can access the image and shooting options, although access to the general menu is always more convenient from a 3-inch screen.

The articulation of the panel makes it easy to use for recording. As an assistant, it works well when shooting in landscape and portrait mode.

My restrictions. To start, Canon equipped me with an RF 18-45mm lens with variable aperture from 4.5 to 6:3. Yes, it was not easy to test the camera with such a limited lens that does not load the matrix in any conditions.

For photos, we have the ability to capture up to 15 frames per second, although burst shooting can only hold 2 seconds. This is due to this model’s lower buffer compared to its more premium R7 sibling. Aside from the issues with the AI ​​Dual Pixel in autofocus mode, this is the perfect system for hobbyists and travelers looking for sharp, well-focused shots.

I think the problem with this computer is the ISO. I’ve had a few shots taken with this R10 in other reviews and the noise from the 12800 was already pretty noticeable. Again, the lens was slightly darker than the 24mm at 2.8 that I normally use, and pushing the ISO up with a less bright lens causes noise. That’s why I don’t think the link in terms of low light is fair. The RF 50mm format would undoubtedly be the best format to evaluate.

My video experience. Heavy use of this camera has been in video, no doubt. I had the opportunity to test this camera during my trip to Maui for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 presentation and I am very surprised with the result.

For publishing topics, R10 allows you to automatically adjust the position of the image depending on how we position the camera. Directly, we can record horizontally or vertically, and the camera automatically adjusts this content without having to rotate it in post-processing. Great for editing in CapCut or Premiere.

The R10 supports H.264 or H.265 video and can record 4K 60fps clips for up to 30 minutes or unlimited, adding the ability to capture 10-bit images in HDR PQ mode. The problem here is that this system is quite far from the standard of using LUTs, so you will only be able to optimize the image on HDR monitors or displays.

Another problem with the camera is autofocus and awkward switching between the subject and the background while shooting video from time to time, regardless of the brightness. This does not happen in photographs, and when recording clips, it happened very occasionally. I understand that this is a problem that can be solved with an update.

What is missing is stabilization in the R10 case. This requires you to look for stabilized lenses or turn on EIS, an option that crops an image that’s already cropped 1.6x in APS-C, and that leaves us with a bit of headroom when we move the 18mm lens back. Already at active 60fps the clipping is even greater with EIS.

These issues aside, the image quality is excellent, with excellent color reproduction. A brighter lens could have used a sensor capable of very good range and post-processing headroom. In addition, the R10 has “Pure HDMI”, which is handy if we want to use the camera as a video input for a webcam. Please note that for PC use, we also have Canon support via USB-C.

Buy more batteries. The LP-E17 gives us a headroom of 450 shots and an hour of high-res video, which doesn’t give us much room for long sessions and makes us recommend 3 batteries for a full day.

It is good that this battery has become popular among users of the Rebel and M series, which has increased its supply and availability. The downside is that we can’t use the USB-C port to power the camera while in use, and we can only charge the battery when the R10 is off. IF you need constant power, you can purchase the Canon PD-E1 adapter, but you won’t be able to charge the battery while using the camera.

Canon EOS R10: is it worth it?

Here are some scenarios. If you have a 70D or similar, you will enjoy the form factor when purchasing an EF-S to RF mount adapter to continue using lenses with this R10. In this case, you already have an arsenal at your service.

However, the big “but” here is that Canon is not alone in this race, and Sony has a huge impact on the audiovisual production community. This R10 is a good starting point if you’re looking for a higher-performing camera for the video-centric world, but its local price may put some off, especially when compared to the ZV-E10 or equivalent. If you have multiple lenses, stay with Canon, but be aware that the competition in this area is stronger.