I just got my hands on the new Canon R1. B&H delivered this to me a couple of days ago, and I’ve been busy getting used to it, configuring it, and preparing for what’s going to be a ten thousand image journey before I write a full review.
The Canon R1 is quite a beast, and it’s noticeably larger and heavier—probably about five percent bigger than the Canon R3.
First Impressions of the Canon R1
When I first picked up the Canon R1, I had a bit of a reality check. My initial fears about its size and weight were somewhat confirmed. I don’t want to jump to conclusions until I’ve shot at least ten thousand images with it, but let’s just say, it is as big and heavy as it looks.
In comparison, the Canon R3 feels very lightweight. I can’t count how many times I’ve handed the R3 to someone and said, “Look how light this is. Isn’t that surprising?” And it always is! People are often amazed at how compact and light it feels, contrary to their expectations.
But with the R1, it feels and operates just as hefty as it appears. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, we’ll see.
I’ve been wanting to share my approach for a while now, and it’s all about being intentional with the lenses I use throughout the day, based on weight. The balance of your gear can make a huge difference, especially when you’re shooting for hours on end, and using ultra heavy stuff, no matter how amazing the end result looks, usually not necessary allllllll day.
I’ve grown to appreciate Canon’s silver ring lenses for their lightweight design. These lenses, like the 50 1.8, 16 2.8, 24 1.8, and 35 1.8, are what I like to call featherweight lenses. They weigh next to nothing—seriously, maybe as much as a few pencils. This makes them perfect for the early part of the wedding day when I’m capturing those getting-ready shots.
Starting with these lightweight lenses helps ease the all of my subjects into the day. They’re not staring into a massive lens, which can be intimidating. Instead, it’s a small, unobtrusive lens on a camera that doesn’t scream “look at me!”
