Canon EOS R1 review: The ultimate speed machine for professionals

The Canon EOS R1 is a camera built for speed. It’s Canon’s first mirrorless model to carry the flagship 1-series designation, designed for professional sports, wildlife, and action photography. With a price tag of ₹6,30,995 (body only), it is an investment that makes sense only for those who truly need its capabilities.

I tested it with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, and while its performance is undeniably impressive, it raises the question - who is this camera really for?

Build and Handling

The EOS R1 is built to last. The body is rugged, fully weather-sealed, and feels incredibly solid in hand. The integrated vertical grip makes portrait shooting easy, and the textured grip ensures a secure hold, even with larger lenses.

The electronic viewfinder is one of the best I’ve ever used, with a 9.4-million-dot resolution and a bright, sharp display. The fully articulating touchscreen is useful, though a tilt-only design might have been better for video work and when using external monitors.

Speed and Autofocus

The EOS R1 is one of the fastest cameras on the market. It shoots at 40 frames per second with the electronic shutter, ensuring you never miss a moment. The pre-burst shooting feature continuously buffers 0.5 seconds of images before the shutter is pressed, helping capture split-second action.

Autofocus performance is outstanding. Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF now features cross-type focusing, making it even more accurate in tricky lighting conditions. Eye-controlled autofocus, which lets the camera focus on what you’re looking at, works well but requires some time to calibrate.

For sports photography, the new Action Priority mode automatically detects key movements in football, basketball, and volleyball, adjusting focus dynamically. It’s an interesting step toward AI-driven autofocus, though not perfect yet.

Image Quality

The 24MP stacked sensor produces sharp and detailed images with excellent colour reproduction. Thanks to an improved optical low-pass filter, images are free of artefacts like moiré and false colours.

Low-light performance is impressive, with usable images up to ISO 51,200. AI-powered noise reduction makes even ISO 102,400 shots look decent. However, the dynamic range is slightly behind competitors like the Nikon Z9, meaning shadow recovery in post-processing can introduce noise more quickly than expected.

The in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is rated for up to 8.5 stops, allowing handheld shots at very slow shutter speeds. This is useful not just for stills but also for creating motion blur effects in sports photography.

Video Performance

The EOS R1 is a serious video tool, offering 6K 60fps RAW recording, 4K 120fps, and Full HD at 240fps. Proxy recording is available, allowing high-resolution video to be saved to one card and a lower-resolution version to another for faster editing.

For hybrid shooters, the simultaneous stills and video recording mode allow capturing 18MP JPEGs while filming Full HD video, making it useful for journalists.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The EOS R1 runs on the LP-E19 battery, which offers exceptional battery life. During my testing, I shot close to 3,000 frames without needing to recharge.

For professionals who need to transfer images quickly, the camera includes an RJ45 Ethernet port and supports direct wired transfers to iPhones via USB-C.

Who Should Buy the EOS R1?

This camera is built for professionals who need high-speed performance, reliable autofocus, and a rugged build. If you shoot fast-moving subjects for a living—whether it’s sports, wildlife, or news - the EOS R1 is a fantastic choice.

For most other photographers, though, the EOS R5 Mark II or even the EOS R6 Mark II will offer more practical and cost-effective options.

The Canon EOS R1 is an incredible machine for those who need the absolute best in speed and reliability. It is a specialized tool designed for professionals, and while it excels in its niche, its high price and feature set make it overkill for most users.

Buy if:

    •    You shoot professional sports, wildlife, or action photography.

    •    You need unmatched speed and autofocus performance.

    •    You require a rugged, weather-sealed camera for extreme conditions.

Skip if:

    •    You need higher resolution - the EOS R5 Mark II offers 45MP.

    •    You don’t need 40fps burst speed - the EOS R6 Mark II is a better value.

    •    You want better dynamic range - the Nikon Z9 performs better in post-processing.

At ₹6,30,995, the EOS R1 is a serious investment. For professionals who need its capabilities, it is unmatched. For everyone else, there are better options at a lower price.