{"id":85904,"date":"2024-08-15T09:32:27","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T13:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/?p=85904"},"modified":"2026-01-15T20:25:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T01:25:07","slug":"canon-r8-sample-photos-and-portraits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/canon-r8-sample-photos-and-portraits\/","title":{"rendered":"Canon R8 Sample Photos + Portraits + Mini Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Canon EOS R8 + 85mm f\/1.2L | Taken with a Nikon V1 (still the best product photography camera imho!)<\/p><\/div>\n

I added a Canon EOS R8 for some work situations because it’s the only affordable mirrorless camera with a usable silent shutter.\u00a0 Yeah, that’s pretty much it.\u00a0 After all these years I still don’t have a Nikon FF mirrorless because the older Nikon DSLRs still produce top notch images, and their files work perfectly in the older raw editing software that I use.\u00a0 The Canon made sense, since it’s basically an RP<\/a> mark II and I have a ton of batteries and adapters for it.\u00a0 After all, the gear side of photography has always been one of those compromise triangles, and you have to use the tools that work for you and your workflow, budget, etc.\u00a0 Here are some real world samples from the last month or so.<\/p>\n

(Update: This post gets regular hits like every day, so I’ve been adding random photos shot over the course of a year now!\u00a0 If you’re interested in more posts with the R8 please click on the tag at the end of the post)<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + 85mm f\/1.2L | Taken with a Nikon V1<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + 85mm f\/1.2L | Taken with a Nikon V1<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + 85mm f\/1.2L | Taken with a Nikon V1<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 | Taken with a Nikon V1<\/p><\/div>\n

I’ve been shooting this in 100% electronic shutter low burst mode.\u00a0 There are tiny tiny hints of banding moving across the frame depending on the light in the room, but it’s pretty much usable now.\u00a0 The readout speed is also fast enough to not wobble\/skew, and it can stop most human motion.\u00a0 I’ve read that it’s a bit of a dynamic range hit, but this sensor (same as in the R6 II) still isn’t really going to give you the punchy contrast and malleability of a Nikon\/Sony sensor raw image.\u00a0 These Canon’s have always been designed to give you nice bright people photos with a color choice that is usually agreeable to many.\u00a0 The tone curve and processing that’s baked into the raw files is something one just has to accept when shooting this brand of camera.\u00a0 I’ve noticed that these .CR3 files take much longer to process on this now ancient desktop editing PC. (It even takes some time on my newest 2 yr old Macbook)<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L @ f\/1.2\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 at 1.2, BW Conversion<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 at 1.2, BW Conversion<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm 1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 (with modeling light from LED panel)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 (with modeling light from LED panel)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 (with modeling light from LED panel)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 at 1.8<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2 at 1.8<\/p><\/div>\n

The pictures look a bit different from the RP, brighter with more mid tones.\u00a0 It is sharper though, since Canon dialed back the megapixels just a tad from the RP and this is sitting on the sweet spot of 24, which has been more than enough for like 12+ years now and will continue to be so.\u00a0 On default settings I’ve noticed the sensor is a bit more prone to fluorescent and LED light casts, having a bit more of a greenish tint to the light.\u00a0 It’s crazy how in the DSLR days, Canon files were really so red and magenta tinted, but this generation of mirrorless sensors is moving in the direction of Sony\/Nikon\/iPhone files in terms of having a hint of green in skin tones.<\/p>\n

The silent shutter came in real handy for this event with the US ambassador to the UN when she visited Clarkston.<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

Auto WB in the ambience priority preserving mode is really warm<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

This bright and airy food photo is really a hallmark of Canon’s metering, tone curve and overall rendering of their files.\u00a0 Nikons and Sonys will give you a much darker file with more range to edit, push and pull–it depends on what you want from your files in the editing suite, and how much time you have to turn around images.<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + Nikon 50mm 1.4 Ai-S (Manual Focus)<\/p><\/div>\n

Even though I’ve built up so much muscle memory from manually focusing the Nikon 50mm ai-s, it’s still nice to have focus magnification in the EVF on the mirrorless cameras.\u00a0 I mapped the punch in visual assist to the top directional button on the R8.\u00a0 I’ve been using this setup on Canons since it was on my 5D mark II, and it’s still relevant on the new mirrorless tech.\u00a0 It takes a bit of the digital edge off with its natural vignette and lens flare. These wedding shots are out of camera.<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + Nikon 50mm 1.4 Ai-S (Manual Focus)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + Nikon 50mm 1.4 Ai-S (Manual Focus)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + Nikon 50mm 1.4 Ai-S (Manual Focus)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + Nikon 50mm 1.4 Ai-S (Manual Focus)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L | Left @ f\/1.2 Right @f\/4.5<\/p><\/div>\n

The Canon R8 (basically RP mark II with the R6 II “engine”) is a pretty nice camera.\u00a0 Stationary 4K video is very sharp and nice and the frame grabs<\/a> can work as still pictures in a pinch as well.<\/p>\n

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If you don’t have the EG-E1 grip for this R8 or the RP, big adapted lenses like the 85mm is a bit of a pain to hold.\u00a0 As your pinky finger doesn’t have anything really to rest on.\u00a0 I’m sure it’s super light with the native 50mm 1.8.\u00a0 On a side note the camera is small in real life but as a product itself, it photographs quite well.\u00a0 The Canon design language recalls the sloped top prism hump of the 1Dx sports cameras.<\/p>\n

This R8 doesn’t give me raw files that are a joy to edit or push or pull, no, it’s just an easy mode camera to deliver well exposed people photos right out of the box.\u00a0 For some projects and outings, that’s a good thing.\u00a0 It’s a really great camera, don’t worry too much about how they slot into company’s sneaky tier lists.<\/p>\n

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One final thing, thank you ( \/s ) Canon for finally moving the on off switch to the right side of the grip.\u00a0 It’s still not on the shutter button like EVERY other competing camera out there for the past 20 years (no that would make too much sense), but I guess it’s close enough.\u00a0 It replaces the “Lock” switch that was on the RP though so it does make it annoying switching from those cameras in my setup, but I guess I’ll take it.\u00a0 I just don’t understand Canon.\u00a0 They are the Toyota\/Apple of the camera world in terms of popularity (and resale value), and still like to move things around willy nilly.\u00a0 Some cameras the on\/off switch is on the bottom.\u00a0 Or up top in a non ergonomic friendly spot.\u00a0 Apple has a history of flipping things too, like now swipe this way to delete or do stuff.\u00a0 Guys, please learn from the design of Nikon cameras, pretty much perfected since like 2007 on the bigger DSLRs.<\/p>\n

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Random Photos:<\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L @f\/2.5<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2L wide open<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 24mm f\/1.4L<\/p><\/div>\n

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The scanning speed of this sensor (since it’s not a global sensor reserved for way more $$ models) can show light banding if someone else is shooting a flash while you are in silent E shutter mode. This can be a big negative in some situations.<\/p><\/div>\n

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In the end I still really like this camera and the photos it can produce are different enough from Nikon’s files! You can like both Marvel and DC, drink both Pepsi and Coke, and also shoot different camera brands. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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Focus Stacking with the Canon R8<\/strong><\/p>\n

The R8 does have a cool in camera focus stacking feature, great for tripod shooters that need to capture things with a larger depth of field without resorting to super small apertures.<\/p>\n

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Above 1) IMG_8908 is a normal shot with the R8 and EF 50mm 1.2L at f\/8<\/p>\n

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Above 2) IMG_8920 Focus Stacked in Camera at f\/8<\/p>\n

This was created in camera by the R8. It shoots the number of files you tell it to (which can be an absurd amount) and saves them all, but produces this one .JPG in succession. The above orig file was 5.3 MB.<\/p>\n

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Above 3) DC_IMG_8909 is Focus Stacked in Digital Photo Pro with about 12 raw files and it resulted in a sharper 17.3 MB file.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly the in camera one had a bit less CA but was a tad bit softer.<\/p>\n

You can look at the upper left hand corner of the photo to see the sharpness gains of focus stacking.\u00a0 Due to the “character” of the EF 50mm 1.2L<\/a> even f\/16 isn’t as clear as this quick test.<\/p>\n

A cool feature, but I don’t think something I would use too often.\u00a0 As I have smaller sensor cameras and lenses that can provide adequate DOF for product shots. But it’s a handy technique that I’ll have try in the future for flowers and bugs.<\/p>\n

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Above 4) The system rightfully requires f\/5.6 or smaller to do a good focus stack, but I tried f\/3.2 just to see.\u00a0 It had a little trouble with the blending of the top right edge of the laptop.<\/p>\n

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Above 5) IMG_8742 is the built in HDR mode that the R8 can create in camera too.\u00a0 The RP had this feature as well.\u00a0 I think the tone mapping looks alright, and could possibly help real estate photographers if you are looking at this camera.\u00a0 The R8 can do HDR PQ and save as a .HIF as well.\u00a0 I sent the same image above as a .HIF to my iPad Pro and iPhone to see the HDR look, and you know, I still prefer the color and contrast of standard sRGB images.\u00a0 Heck I still like high contrast images with very little tones and high on contrast. (As shown by my love of black and white Savage Sword of Conan magazines and old Jae Lee Namor comics from the 90s.)<\/p>\n

Also, yes that’s a promotion for my website, the front end where it’s just my portfolio<\/a>.\u00a0 On a larger display as opposed to the phone you’re probably reading this on right now. \ud83d\ude09 Just pictures, no words or ramblings about gear like on this \/Journal section.<\/p>\n

Please give it a view on a laptop\/tablet if you have time.\u00a0 I know people just search to see if a camera is worth X amount of money or is any good for what they want to do, look at a few pictures and dip out.<\/p>\n

I look at other creatives stuff all the time, because I’ve always been interested in other people’s work and styles.\u00a0 It’s definitely hard in this age of constant scrolling to see anyone really give more than a few moments of attention.<\/p>\n

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More Recent Portraits with the R8:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon EOS R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Canon R8 + EF 135mm f\/2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 135mm f\/2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 135mm f\/2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + EF 85mm f\/1.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Canon R8 with some legendary Nikon lenses! \ud83d\ude42<\/h2>\n

Canon R8 + Nikon 105mm 1.4E<\/p>\n

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Yes this was “fall” time in Georgia this early November.  Still had cherry blossoms and flowers to showcase the lovely image quality of one of the best Nikon lenses.  You can see the examples of this on the Rp here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By shooting with this combo I like how the natural vignette (both the blur and darkening kind) will remain in the raw file.  Since to the camera and DPP software it doesn’t show an official Canon lens is mounted, and thus can’t apply any auto corrections.<\/p>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 105mm 1.4E<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 105mm 1.4E<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 105mm 1.4E<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 105mm 1.4E<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 105mm 1.4E<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Canon with the insane Nikon 200 mm f\/2 G VR<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 200mm f\/2 VR<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 200mm f\/2 VR<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 200mm f\/2 VR<\/p><\/div>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 200mm f\/2 VR<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 70-200mm f\/2.8 VR<\/p><\/div>\n

The last combo I think I’ll show on this long rolling “review” post is the Canon R8 with my now ancient Nikon 70-200mm f\/2.8G.  Mirrorless cameras have been great fun since their inception for messing with oddball combos that never could have existed back in the day.  I can’t believe I’ve had this lens for close to 18 years, and it’s been such a faithful tool\/friend (can an inanimate object be a friend?) and capturer of our memories.  This combo is of course manual focus\/manual aperture only, but it’s another way for me to not spend money if I don’t have to.  I’ve borrowed the Canon version of the 70-200 2.8 so I’m familiar with that one and don’t necessarily want to duplicate lenses in my loadouts. Whatever gets the job done in my opinion.<\/p>\n

The first Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 gets a bad rep because it vignettes on FX, and many people preferred it on crop DX.  I beg to differ.  I actually like the darkening of the corners because you can take it out in post, or accentuate it even more in post, which I find desirable for portraits.  If you shoot in the natural world, shadows and dark contrast is okay for people photos.<\/p>\n

What I’ve found with Canon’s raw files in DPP is that they really add lens corrections (like vignette removal) well before you can do anything with the sliders.  I find it hard to believe that like the EF 85mm 1.2 doesn’t vignette on the new mirrorless cameras (which it definitely should).  As a creative I’d just like to have a little bit more real access to the raw file potential from Canon, but alas I’m in the minority.  Anyways back to the Nikkor 70-200mm.<\/p>\n

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Left: Vignetting wide open at 70mm Right: Vignetting wide open at 200mm<\/p><\/div>\n

As you can see this adapted lens does definitely vignette when shot into a wide open blue sky.  Again, I don’t think it’s objectionable, as this is not a “work\/mission critical” setup.  I’m also not going to be using this to shoot documents and still life in front of white backdrops.  Stationary people on stage, or talking folks at the podium under a spotlight, you’re not going to notice it.<\/p>\n

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Canon R8 + Nikon 70-200mm f\/2.8 VR<\/p><\/div>\n

Maybe one day I’ll actually get a recent modern native Canon RF lens, but I think I’ll just keep on with the still great EF lenses (that I can still use on 35mm film) and all my oddball adapted combos.  As with all things, just because technology is newer doesn’t mean it’s better or solves all the problems you once had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More Sample Photos with the R8 to make sure I have all the seasons represented! Here are some shots from the recent Snowfall in Atlanta<\/a>. I will have to say the realtime image of the icy trees in the EVF lit by just moonlight looked pretty nice.  That is definitely a big advantage over DSLR’s.  With f\/1.2 and 1.4 lenses it was basically night vision.  Stay warm out there everyone.<\/p>\n

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Canon RF 24-50mm f\/4.5-6.3 Samples + Review<\/a><\/p>\n

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