Canon EOS R10 Review

Although its EOS R system gained traction with pros and enthusiasts, Canon's entry- to mid-level mirrorless ILCs haven't had quite the same level of mass-market success as its long-running EOS Rebel SLR family. The company hopes to change that with the EOS R10 ($979.99, body only), an APS-C sensor camera that shares the same lens mount with the full-frame EOS R family. The R10's autofocus system is smarter than that of any Rebel SLR and leverages a brisk burst rate to capture fast-moving subjects in sharp detail, while 4K60 video is on board for vloggers and moviemakers. It doesn't quite wrestle away our Editors' Choice award from the Fujifilm X-T30 II, but the EOS R10 is likely a better fit for Canon creators who already have lots of compatible gear.

Canon had a rocky start with consumer mirrorless cameras. Its EOS M camera arrived late to market when it launched in 2013, at a time when competitors like Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus (now OM System) had already been making electronic viewfinder (EVF) cameras for a few years. The EOS M struggled with autofocus speed—a common problem with early mirrorless models—and after its lukewarm reception, the company didn't even bring the EOS M2 follow-up to the US.

Flash forward nearly a decade and EOS M continues in the form of vastly improved models like the EOS M50 Mark II and EOS M6 Mark II. They are good cameras for creators who value a light kit, but the supporting lens system doesn't offer the options enthusiasts; wildlife and sports specialists; and portrait photographers crave. There's simply not a lot of room to grow with EOS M; Canon made only eight lenses for the system and it's been several years since it announced the most recent EF-M optic.

Although the EOS M lens system has stagnated, Canon has quickly expanded its full-frame RF lens system for high-end models like the EOS R5 and R3. EOS R and EOS M cameras and lenses aren't cross-compatible, however, and, before the release of the R10, the full-frame EOS RP ($999.99, body only) was the most affordable entry into the system.

With the EOS R10, there are now two sub-$1,000 entry points into the RF lens system. They serve different purposes, however—the EOS RP is a relatively slow (5fps) full-frame camera with an autofocus system that's a couple of generations old. It's still a capable camera for many applications but doesn't match up with the EOS R10's 15fps mechanical shutter and next-gen autofocus for snapping shots of tough subjects like wildlife and competitive athletics. The EOS RP isn't as competent for video, either.

The EOS R10 sports gently curved lines that create a distinctively Canon-like silhouette. And, like most cameras, the body features a basic black finish with a leatherette wrap. The body is made from a mix of engineering-grade plastics and magnesium alloy. It's slim at 3.5 by 4.8 by 3.3 inches (HWD) and weights just 15.1 ounces without a lens. The camera is not weather-protected, so don't use it in rough conditions.

You can buy the R10 in a body-only configuration for $979. It's also available with the featherweight (4.6 ounces) RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens for $1,099 or with the longer zooming RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM for $1,379.

The RF-S 18-45mm and 18-150mm also represent the full gamut of made-for-APS-C RF-mount lenses. Canon expects R10 owners to use full-frame lenses with the camera, at least until it has time to develop a few more dedicated RF-S options.

Thankfully, Canon already offers a handful of compact, aggressively priced RF lenses that make loads of sense for EOS R10 customers. The RF 16mm F2.8 STM prime ($299), for example, slots in as a wide-standard option for the R10. The RF 50mm F1.8 STM ($199) is a good pick for portraits with defocused backgrounds. We also like the RF 100-400mm ($649.99) or RF 600mm F11 ($799.99) for wildlife. Alternatively, you can pick from the midrange RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ($549) or premium RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM ($1,699) if you want a better standard zoom.

Canon also introduced a second APS-C R model, the EOS R7, at the same time as the EOS R10. The former is a higher-end model with a stabilized 32.5MP sensor, a full magnesium alloy chassis, and extensive weather protection. The R7 costs more ($1,499 without a lens) and our review is in progress.

Despite its position as the entry-level RF model, the EOS R10 has a rather advanced control system. Dual control dials are handy for creators who want to take advantage of fully manual exposure, while a rear eight-way joystick lets you take command of the autofocus system.

Of course, fully automatic operation is available for anyone just getting started, along with the standard semi-automatic exposure modes. The body even has a built-in flash, a helpful feature for photographers who haven't invested in a bright prime or external Speedlite.

The R10's sculpted handgrip is ergonomically sound. I tried the camera with a few lenses ranging from the tiny RF-S 18-45mm up to the telephoto EF 400mm F4 DO II ($6,899.99) with the EF-EOS R ($99.99) adapter; it handles comfortably with lenses both large and small.

Tactile controls are a strong point here. Canon includes a handy AF/MF toggle on the faceplate, between the grip and lens mount; I can swap it with my ring finger when I grip the R10. The top plate includes front and rear control dials for exposure adjustment, a Mode dial, as well as multi-function (M.Fn), Record, and Lock buttons. It's a lot to put in a small space but, to the R10's credit, the controls do not feel at all cramped. I especially like Canon's approach to shutter release; it sits at a slight angle atop the handgrip, just where my index finger rests when I hold the camera.

The rear controls are just as strong. The Menu button sits alone to the left of the EVF, while the focus joystick and AF-ON button are just to the right. Exposure lock (*) and the focus area select button are further off to the right side, adjacent to the rear thumb rest. A four-way control pad, Info, and Play buttons reside below.

Buttons and dials aren't the only control surface. The rear display supports touch input and offers up some intuitive features. You can tap on the screen to set the point of focus or take a picture, and an on-screen Q (for quick) menu offers one-touch access to useful settings like focus and metering modes; file formats and video resolution; creative styles; and other sundries.

The screen design is vari-angle and can swing out to the side to face forward for selfies and vlog-style videos. The LCD is a healthy 3-inches across; sharp at 1.04 million dots; and offers excellent brightness, color, and viewing angles. It's a good match for use outdoors in the sun, though I wish Canon included access to screen brightness in the Q menu; as it is, the option is a little buried in the camera menu screen. The camera does let you set up custom My Menu pages, though, which somewhat fixes the issue.

An eye-level, EVF is on-body as well. It's a good size (we rate it at 0.60x) and its picture appears about as large as with others in this class like the Fujifilm X-T30 II (0.62x). It's a step up compared with the Canon EOS T8i's optical pentamirror (0.51x), but not the biggest or sharpest EVF you can get in a mirrorless camera. Some competitors offer EVFs that appear bigger to your eye, though, including the similarly-priced Sony a6400 (0.7x), the upmarket Fujifilm X-T4 (0.75x), and the EOS R7 (0.72x).

Note that Canon oversells the R10's magnification, advertising it at 0.95x. In a bit of a marketing cheat, it uses a 50mm lens to generate the figure, which is a telephoto angle on the R10's sensor. We've normalized the figures for a fairer comparison and so you can compare the size to that of full-frame cameras with sensors that appear larger to the eye, like Canon's EOS R3 (0.76x).

At about 2.4 million dots, the EVF is sharp enough for its size, but not groundbreaking like the huge HDR viewfinder in the high-end EOS R3. That tech hasn't trickled down to lower-cost models. I'm happy with the EVF's default 60fps refresh rate and like that you can push it to 120fps, a better fit for tracking moving subjects. The only cost is battery life—there's no discernible drop in resolution when you switch to 120fps.

A rechargeable Canon LP-E17 battery powers the EOS R10. Battery life is on the slim side, with a CIPA rating of 340 LCD/210 EVF photos per charge. CIPA ratings are useful for comparisons with other cameras—the Sony a6400 is a little better at 410/360, for example—but take the estimates with a grain of salt. If you lean heavily on burst capture, you can get far more photos per charge. Using the flash, recording video, and transferring media over Wi-Fi will drain the battery more quickly.

A spare battery isn't a bad idea in any case. LP-E17 has been around for a while, so you may even have spares on hand if you're upgrading from an EOS Rebel T6 or a newer model. You can also charge the R10 on the go via USB-C with a power bank.

In addition to USB-C, the R10 has a micro HDMI port to connect to an external video recorder, a 2.5mm wired remote port, and a 3.5mm microphone input. There's also a built-in flash, as well as a hot shoe accessory mount. There is a single UHS-II SDXC slot for media storage.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on board as well. The R10 works with the Canon Camera Connect app to connect to Android and iOS devices, and it can interface with PCs via the EOS Utility. The R10 also supports direct printing to Canon printers, uploads to the image.canon(Opens in a new window) cloud service, and pairs with wireless Bluetooth remotes, but we didn't test those features.

Mirrorless cameras have long eclipsed SLRs in autofocus performance and the EOS R10 includes one of the smartest focus systems in its class. It eclipses SLRs in area of coverage—the EOS R10 can focus right up to the edge of the sensor, whereas an EOS Rebel SLR limits focus points to a smaller central area of the frame. The R10 also betters SLRs in subject recognition—its focus system identifies many objects and draws the focus box around them, plus offers discrete recognition modes for people, animals, and motorsports.

In practice, the autofocus system is effective. The camera locks onto faces and eyes for human subjects quickly. It also had no trouble spotting birds in branches and locking on their eyes in the animal detection mode. I also had success with squirrels, dogs, and deer, but did not have the opportunity to test the camera with the motorsports-tuned vehicle detection mode.

You can let the R10 pick a subject by itself, too; the Whole Area focus setting looks across the entire sensor to find a subject. If you'd like more control over what is in focus, a slew of narrower areas are available, including a few wide zones that are good matches for sports and portraiture; 1-Point and Spot focus for some extra control and precision; and Expanded AF Area Around, which puts preference on a central area, but also looks at the surrounding spot for subjects (my favorite). For birding, the Expanded AF Area is a winner because it is tight enough to navigate around branches, while the expanded and subject recognition work together to find the eyes of our feathered friends.

Focus speed is quick, too. The camera rapidly locks on and, when set to its AI Servo continuous focus drive, tracks subjects as they move through the frame. Burst capture is available at up to 15fps with the mechanical shutter, though you can go a bit faster with the fully electronic shutter (23fps) and enjoy fully silent operation to boot. We caution against using the electronic shutter for fast-moving action, however—the R10's sensor readout speed isn't quite quick enough to sidestep rolling shutter motion distortion. Thankfully, that's not a concern with the mechanical shutter.

The snappy burst rate comes along with a decent-sized capture buffer. You can capture about a second of action (15 shots) in Raw+JPG; about two seconds using the lossless compressed C Raw+JPG setting (30 photos); and around four seconds (65 photos) in JPG or HEIF format. It recovers quickly from bursts; I tested the camera with a 299MBps Sony Tough SDXC card and noted buffer clear times of between just two and four seconds. It's worthwhile to spend a little extra for a fast memory card if you're considering the EOS R10 for action photography.

I'd put the EOS R10 at the front of the pack of competitors when it comes to autofocus performance. The Sony a6400 has been the gold standard for sub-$1,000 ILCs since its debut because of its superlative tracking, which works seamlessly with eye detection for people, cats, and dogs. The R10 tracks just as well, has a faster capture rate, and recognizes more types of subjects. The only knock is that you need to remember to swap the subject recognition mode to suit your subject matter.

There's some room to tweak performance; the R10 supports Canon's fine-tuned "case-based" autofocus modes. Case 1 is the general purpose setting, Case 2 is more tenacious when tracking subjects, Case 3 is made to snap to subjects as they enter the frame, and Case 4 is for subjects that change speed erratically. By default, the EOS R10 automatically swaps between the four modes but you can set any manually as well as adjust the tracking sensitivity of each one.

The EOS R10's autofocus system is class-leading, but its image sensor tech isn't as bleeding-edge. Canon is using a 24MP APS-C imager here with a traditional CMOS architecture. As expected, the chip shows more high ISO noise than the Fujifilm X-T30 II's 26MP BSI CMOS chip.

For photographers using the R10 to capture JPG or HEIF photos, that means clean, detailed images with faithful colors and very little grainy noise through ISO 3200. Results take a slight step back at ISO 6400-12800, and fine detail is noticeably blurred by the waxy look of noise reduction at the top of the standard sensitivity range, ISO 32000. You can also push to ISO 51200 as an extended setting; although we're happy with color at the highest setting, noise reduction washes away textures.

Raw capture gives more leeway for editing and shows more detail at high ISOs. I processed photos in Lightroom Classic and noted a similar trend in picture quality as with out-of-camera JPGs. The Raw images show a bit more detail, though, and some textured grain, when made at ISO 6400 and 12800. Grain is more problematic at ISO 25600 and 32000, where it definitely cuts into clarity. Photos at ISO 51200 are roughshod with grain.

Crisper high ISO detail (versus JPG) isn't the only reason to work in Raw format. Although you need to use software to process photos, the welcome trade-off is more malleability for editing color, exposure, and contrast. In-camera processing is also an option, and you can set the R10 to snap Raw and ready-to-share JPGs side-by-side, providing you two versions of each photo.

Raw+JPG capture is a standard ILC feature, but Canon goes a little further with in-camera Raw processing options. I took advantage of the available creative looks and made four versions of a photo of a mallard hen (above). The R10 includes a bevy of filters, including vivid and natural looks; a few warm and cool tones; and grainy black-and-white, just to name a few.

The EOS R10 is competitive in terms of imaging, but not class-leading in the same way it is in autofocus. Picture quality is in line with other 24MP CMOS models like the Sony a6400 and Canon EOS M50 Mark II, and those represent the bulk of competitors. Fujifilm uses a 26MP BSI X-Trans CMOS sensor in comparable models like the X-T30 II and X-S10, however, and those cameras deliver clearer photos, especially in the ISO 6400-25600 range.

However, we expect EOS R10 to use the higher end of the ISO spectrum more than with other systems, at least if you're buying affordable lenses. Canon has prioritized low-cost lenses with slim designs and dim apertures, such as the bundled RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM and the RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM telezoom. Even pro lenses like the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM ($2,899) have fairly narrow apertures.

Despite using an older sensor, the EOS R10 manages full-width 4K24 and 4K30 recording, plus supports 4K60 capture with a cropped-in (1.56x) view. Those are strong video specs for the class; neither the Fuji X-T30 II nor the Sony a6400 supports 4K60. Unfortunately, the R10's feature set isn't quite fully formed.

The big omission is a flat C-Log profile; Canon wants you to step up to the $1,500 EOS R7 to capture footage that's suitable for color grading. With the EOS R10, you can use any of the built-in picture profiles for 8-bit 4:2:0 SDR or 10-bit 4:2:2 HDR footage, but that's it. Both the X-T30 II and a6400 include Log profiles, though they skip HDR capture and their SDR footage is also 8-bit 4:2:0.

Color grading aside, the EOS R10's footage shows excellent clarity, especially at 24 or 30fps. These settings downsample a 6K source for a sharper picture. The 60fps option uses the native 4K area of the sensor for a cropped-in view and doesn't show as much detail.

Vloggers may look toward the EOS R10 because of its design. The front-facing screen and easy carry size are big marks in its favor, but there are some downsides, too. A lack of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is one; the R10 relies on a mix of in-lens stabilization and a cropped-in digital stabilization mode.

I recorded some handheld vlog-style footage with the camera and RF-S 18-45mm lens to see how well the digital IS worked. Results are a mixed bag—the standard setting does a decent job with static handheld shots, but is a little jumpy for walk-and-talk videos. An Enhanced mode crops in even more tightly and is more effective, but you need to swap to a wider angle lens to use it effectively. We recommend turning to a gimbal, tripod, or monopod to get steady video if you record often.

For vlogging specialists, we also like the Fuji X-S10 because of its stabilized sensor and front-facing display, but it is not in stock at press time. The Sony ZV-E10 is another video-first camera to think about; its in-camera mic is superb, but like the R10 it omits in-body stabilization. We've not yet tested the similar Nikon Z 30 vlog-style ILC.

Adding a microphone is also a requirement if you want your video to have any production value. I used the in-camera microphone for our review footage, but the camera supports 3.5mm external mics. The only caveat is the lack of a headphone jack—you have to rely on the R10's tinny in-camera speaker to check audio in the field.

Let's face it—it was difficult for many photo hobbyists to embrace Canon's earlier EOS M mirrorless system. We like the size and ease of use the EOS M50 Mark II for folks who just want a camera, not a smartphone, but it's not ideal for creators who want to try exotic lenses and capture subjects that stress autofocus systems.

The RF system already offers more lenses than the EOS M system ever did and is clearly Canon's path forward. Before the release of the EOS R10 (and the higher-end EOS R7), all EOS R cameras and RF lenses have been full-frame. Lenses for those bodies are compatible with the EOS R10, and we're happy to see affordable, midrange, and high-end options as part of the catalog. There are still some holes to fill—we hope to see an ultra-wide RF-S zoom sooner than later, for one—but many of the lenses photo enthusiasts prefer are available in RF mount. Creators who are already in the Canon SLR ecosystem can also use EF-S and EF lenses via an adapter.

The EOS R10 is the most affordable entry point into the RF system, but I'm not quite convinced it's an entry-level camera. The ease of use is there for starters, but its price and capabilities cement it as more of a midrange body. If this is the new digital Rebel, it takes its cues from the enthusiast-minded EOS Rebel T6s from 2015, not underwhelming entry-level cams like the EOS Rebel T7.

Make no mistake, we like the EOS R10 quite a bit, but it falls just shy of earning an Editors' Choice nod. We're keeping our top recommendation for sub-$1,000 mirrorless with the Fujifilm X-T30 II; Fuji's mid-entry ILC wins us over with its BSI CMOS sensor, superior video toolkit, and more extensive X-mount lens library.

That said, the R10 is almost certainly the most sensible next camera for photographers upgrading from a Canon Rebel or 90D SLR, especially along with an EF-EOS R lens adapter. Creators who want to snap photos of wildlife and other subjects in motion might also prefer the R10 for its best-in-class tracking and subject recognition.

The Canon EOS R10 wows with an autofocus system that smartly recognizes and tracks subjects, but older sensor tech keeps it from being the best camera you can buy at this price.

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