Evaluate of the Canon EOS R7 in Ikelite Housing

DPG wish to thank Ikelite for supplying the Ikelite 200DLM housing for the Canon EOS R7 in addition to a pair of Ikelite DS230 strobes and varied equipment used on this evaluation. DPG would additionally prefer to thank Pura Vida Divers to be used of their dive operation.

 

It’s been very practically 5 years since Canon launched its first full-frame mirrorless digital camera—the EOS R—and changed the venerable EF lens mount with the RF mount. We’ve seen a slew of cameras with “R” within the mannequin identify since—RP, R5, R6, R3, and so forth—nevertheless it’s been all about full body. Certainly, with the dominance of Sony, Panasonic and Olympus/OM System within the cropped-sensor market, we’d forgive you if you happen to’d imagined Canon had deserted the thought of manufacturing a mirrorless digital camera with a smaller sensor altogether. Fortunately, this was not the case: In Could 2022, Canon lastly unveiled its first mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors—the entry-level R10 and the “fanatic” R7.

Whereas attempting to fathom a digital camera firm’s mannequin naming conventions is a idiot’s errand, to anybody coming from a Canon DSLR—myself included—it was apparent that the R7 was very a lot the meant successor to the broadly admired 7D collection of cropped-sensor DLSRs. Having owned the 7D and shot the 7D Mark II extensively again within the day, I used to be eager to know if—after virtually eight years of improvement in digital camera tech—the R7 would certainly show to be a worthy inheritor to the Canon APS-C throne.

Over the previous few months—for much longer than anticipated as a result of irritating climate situations and a few premature well being points—I used to be fortunate sufficient to have the chance to check out the R7 in Ikelite’s compact housing (together with a pair of Ikelite’s flagship DS230 strobes) in my yard testing grounds in Florida, on the Blue Heron Bridge and whereas shark diving in Jupiter.

 

A inexperienced turtle winging over a shallow reef: The Canon EOS R7 in Ikelite’s housing with a pair of highly effective Ikelite DS230 strobes made for a formidable rig (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, f/13, 1/50s, ISO 100)

The gorgeous eye and sample of an invasive pink lionfish: “Canon colours” is an actual factor, and the R7 is not any exception. The colours proper out of the digital camera are phenomenal (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, twin Ikelite DS230, f/4, 1/250s, ISO 100)

1. High-Spec’d Digital camera, Extremely-Compact Housing

In reality, sensor measurement apart, the R7 shares little greater than a non secular connection to the 7D Mark II. The R7 packs half as many pixels once more into the APS-C sensor (32.5MP vs 20MP), shoots half as many pictures once more in burst mode (15fps vs 10fps), and whereas each cameras make use of Canon’s tried-and-true Twin Pixel AF, the R7 has 10 occasions as many autofocus factors because the 7D Mark II (651 vs 65). The truth that the R7 has a single processor versus two within the 7D Mark II additionally goes to point out simply how a lot expertise has progressed in what is sort of a decade. One thing that hasn’t taken an enormous leap ahead is the RAW buffer: The 7D Mark II’s buffer depth was 31 frames, however the R7’s buffer isn’t way more spectacular, filling up after a simply 51 photos.

For Canon DSLR customers, the change to mirrorless shall be jarring at first. The R7 is considerably extra light-weight than the 7D Mark II (22oz vs 32oz) and dramatically much less cumbersome, and since the R7 matches very snugly within the Ikelite housing, this interprets to a particularly compact and travel-friendly rig. Curiously, that is tempered a bit of for macro pictures, because the RF 100mm f/2.8L loaned for this evaluation is barely longer (5.8″ vs 4.8″) and heavier (26oz vs 22oz) than its DSLR counterpart, the EF 100mm f/2.8L. Nevertheless, one ought to remember that the RF lens presents a most magnification of 1.4x in comparison with 1x for the EF lens.

I’ll say proper from the beginning: The RF 100mm f/2.8L is my favourite macro lens ever. I’ve used it earlier than each topside and underwater, and each time I shoot it, part of me is tempted to grow to be a Canon shooter simply for this lens—it’s that good! It focuses rapidly, it’s ridiculously sharp, even large open, and it resolves a ton of element. On the R7, the 100mm is the equal of a 160mm macro on a full-frame digital camera, giving an outstanding working distance, which makes it a lot simpler to get photos of skittish critters.

 

Atlantic longarm octopus: Even at wider apertures, the RF 100mm is extremely sharp and offers nice separation from ugly or distracting backgrounds (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, twin Ikelite DS230, f/4, 1/250s, ISO 100)

 

After all, wide-angle photographers taking pictures cropped-sensor DSLRs all the time had an ace up their sleeves—the Tokina 10–17mm fisheye lens. For a lot of, this small and cheap lens, whereas not being optically the world’s most spectacular glass, stays the go-to lens for taking pictures the ocean’s largest topics, in addition to being nice for close-focus wide-angle work. Fortuitously, whereas this versatile lens isn’t (but) out there for RF mount, it features nicely on R our bodies with the EF-RF adapter and I didn’t discover any points as regards to autofocus accuracy or pace. It’s price noting that you simply even have the choice of adapting the Canon EF 8–15mm f/4L fisheye, which is optically superior however not fairly as large at its widest.

 

Lemon shark in the dead of night: With the EF-RF adapter, the much-loved Tokina 10–17mm fisheye lens performs in addition to, if not higher than, on Canon DSLRs (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, f/14, 1/250s, ISO 100)

 

The Ikelite housing for the R7 was the primary housing from the U.S. firm that I’ve utilized in in all probability 15 years. The Dry Lock (Micro) port system is way superior to their previous four-screw port mount, and regardless of the housing’s plastic building, it feels sturdy and sturdy. There may be additionally one thing reassuring about having the ability to see—with your individual eyes—your digital camera protected and dry via the clear again. The housing comes with a vacuum valve, so all you have to buy is a vacuum pump if you happen to don’t already personal one. (There is no such thing as a digital detection circuitry included; it’s a case of drawing a vacuum and checking to see that the vacuum has held after ready for a time period.)

Ikelite presents a variety of strobe fashions aimed toward shooters of various ranges, with their present flagship being the DS230, a pair of which had been loaned for this evaluation. Central to Ikelite’s “flash philosophy” is electrical triggering, so all Ikelite housings come as customary with a single electrical bulkhead and a handbook strobe scorching shoe. Thus, “out of the field” you possibly can hook up your Ikelite DS-series strobe(s) and set off it/them in handbook mode. For automated strobe publicity, all you have to do is add the suitable Ikelite TTL converter (linked between housing and sync cables) for on-the-fly switching between handbook and TTL. Whilst you have a number of extra O-rings to take care of, there’s little doubt {that electrical} triggering makes for a really strong and dependable connection.

Whether or not you need the added advantages that include a TTL converter is a private selection, however one housing accent that I contemplate to be very important is a (ideally 45-degree) exterior viewfinder, which gives a full, clear picture of the digital camera’s EVF (whereas creating area on your regulator). As an exterior viewfinder wasn’t provided with the housing, I solely used the digital camera’s rear LCD, nevertheless it made for a wonderfully gratifying taking pictures expertise all the identical. Given its high-quality optical parts, an exterior viewfinder is a considerable funding, and it’s debatable whether or not the R7’s mediocre 2.36M-dot viewfinder justifies it.

 

Scaly tailed mantis: The LCD on the R7 is shiny and straightforward to see, which makes straight down taking pictures a lot simpler (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite DS230, Backscatter Mini Flash 2 and Backscatter Optical Snoot 1, f/11, 1/250s, ISO 100)

 

I am going to finish this part on a optimistic notice about battery life—uncommon for mirrorless. The R7 comes with the LP-E6NH battery, which is similar one used within the full-frame R5 and R6 Mark II, and is rated at 770 pictures with the LCD and 500 pictures with the EVF. I discovered the R7’s battery life a nice shock. Whereas I didn’t have any wildly lengthy days taking pictures with it, I by no means as soon as discovered myself interested by battery life. For my type of taking pictures, I simply did a number of hundred photos over the course of a number of days and had no trigger to fret. Taking pictures video or spending eight hours out on the ocean taking pictures your complete time are situations once I’d advocate bringing a second battery, however for a traditional two- or three-dive day, I feel the R7 battery fares very nicely.

 

Even after a productive dive and photographing sharks all morning, I nonetheless had loads of battery life left to {photograph} this wacky hybrid batfish on the finish of my night dive (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite DS230, Backscatter Mini Flash 2 and Backscatter Optical Snoot 1, f/13, 1/250s, ISO 100)

2. Huge, Daring and Lovely Photographs

The primary headline-grabbing spec of the Canon EOS R7 is its newly developed high-resolution sensor. There are few cropped-sensor cameras that pack in as many as 32.5 megapixels, and the R7 was certainly able to resolving heaps and many element—at the very least at low ISO settings.

In lower-light conditions, when you have to enhance ISO, the next pixel rely can come at a value—noise—and I did discover that noticeable noise crept into the R7’s RAW information pretty rapidly when growing sensitivity. There’s a touch of noise at ISO 400, and it’s fairly noticeable within the RAW information while you attain ISO 1600. By comparability, out-of-camera JPEGs—with noise discount utilized—are very clear. Fortuitously, it’s a simple matter to cut back the tremendous noise within the RAW information throughout post-processing and output superb-looking photos.

 

Longlure frogfish perched on a sponge in ambush: The R7, particularly when paired with RF glass, produced lovely photos, loaded with element, and razor sharp (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, 1x Ikelite DS230,1x Backscatter MF-2, 1x Backscatter OS-1, f/3.2, 1/250s, ISO 100)

 

A bane of Canon cameras up to now was dynamic vary—how a lot element is preserved within the shadow and spotlight areas of a picture. Not so with the R7: I discovered that I may convey out a lot of particulars within the shadows and highlights when processing the RAW information. Dynamic vary was much better than older Canon cameras, particularly their DSLRs, with the attainable exception of the 1D X Mark III. After all, you’ll not have as a lot latitude in post-processing as you do with a higher-end full-frame sensor, however you do have a great deal of leeway in case publicity is a bit off or you have to recuperate a part of a picture. When paired with the RF lens particularly, the element and sharpness of the photographs was extraordinarily spectacular.

 

I used to be pleasantly shocked by the dynamic vary of the R7. Not in contrast to the full-frame R5, which I’ve additionally used, it was vastly superior to each different Canon digital camera I’ve shot (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, f/9, 1/80s, ISO 250)

3. Fast and Assured Autofocus Efficiency (Ultimately)

The 7D collection was marketed as a line of cropped-sensor cameras able to taking up quick motion, as that they had nice autofocus and will shoot bursts at excessive body charges. The R7 could be very a lot in the identical mould, however makes massive strides in each areas, at the very least on paper. Canon claims the R7 inherits the top-of-the-line autofocus system from the flagship R3. I haven’t used the R3, so I can’t evaluate it, however I did have considerably blended emotions in regards to the general autofocus efficiency of the R7. In some situations, it was very, excellent, and also you virtually don’t should do something in any respect. In different modes, it may be a bit unpredictable.

Canon’s two predominant autofocus modes are known as “One Shot” and “AI Servo,” and there are any variety of totally different configurations in every mode. For macro, my favourite was One Shot, Expanded Spot Focus, and Topic Detection enabled. With macro topics, the R7 was uncanny in its capacity to seek out what it was within the body I needed it to concentrate on and would achieve this practically flawlessly. Seemingly a problem with all mirrorless cameras, if you happen to lose concentrate on a topic whereas utilizing an extended focal size lens, it may be problematic to have the digital camera relocate the topic once more. I had this expertise with the R7, and there have been a number of situations when the digital camera simply refused to lock on to what I needed it to concentrate on. It was extra of a nuisance than something, however I may see it inflicting photographers to overlook a vital shot.

 

Banded jawfish: The autofocus efficiency of the R7 is among the many greatest I’ve ever used—as soon as I discovered easy methods to correctly set it up! (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, twin Ikelite DS230, f/10, 1/125s, ISO 100)

 

This Pederson cleaner shrimp was perched on a coconut, beneath a rock in very darkish situations, however the R7 with the RF 100mm macro had no points locking onto the topic (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, twin Ikelite DS230, f/11, 1/250s, ISO 100)

 

For large angle, I usually want to shoot in monitoring or steady AF modes. Large angle on the R7 is once I encountered some fascinating points. Relying in your AF configuration, I discovered the R7 constantly back-focused regardless of the place it confirmed the precise focus level to be. This was extremely aggravating, particularly because the monitoring and steady AF had been billed as being taken from the top-level R3. Ultimately, nonetheless, I used to be capable of finding a configutation that did work very nicely: AI Servo mode, Topic Monitoring enabled, and Broaden AF Space chosen. This remaining setting was the important thing: When utilizing Complete Space AF or any of the Versatile Zone AF modes, the digital camera back-focused 9 occasions out of 10. Broaden AF Space solved that downside, and the aforementioned settings grew to become my go-to for motion or shifting topics. With these settings, the R7’s wide-angle autofocus efficiency was glorious.

 

Silky shark with battle scars: The R7 tracked this silky from 15 to twenty toes away, all the best way till it was all however touching my dome port. Not as soon as did it lose focus (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, f/13, 1/13s, ISO 100)

4. A Excellent Instrument for Quick-Transferring Topics

For its time, the 7D Mark II and its 10fps burst taking pictures outlined it as the Canon cropped-sensor digital camera for quick motion. The R7 can comfortably declare that mantle within the mirrorless realm: It shoots 15fps with its mechanical shutter and even as much as 30fps with its digital shutter. With the proper AF settings, the R7’s autofocus system was spectacular sufficient to maintain up with the very best body charges, completely monitoring shifting topics—even these coming in direction of the digital camera.

For me, and I think, for most individuals, 15fps with the mechanical shutter is loads quick sufficient. Taking pictures full pace with the mechanical shutter, I discovered myself with manner too many photos to undergo! For large angle, I normally shot not more than about 5–6fps. For macro, I want to shoot a single body at a time, no matter digital camera. As already talked about, the R7’s buffer is barely 51 photos when taking pictures RAW, so remember that if you happen to’re utilizing increased body charges, the buffer will fill in just some seconds earlier than efficiency slows.

 

This check shark burst at 10fps was typical of the spectacular hit charge I achieved with the R7: The main target of each body was tack sharp (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, f/10, 1/200s, ISO 100)

5. Dependable and Versatile Strobe Management

The R7 doesn’t function a pop-up flash, so triggering is through the new shoe on the highest of the digital camera. With the Ikelite system, it’s a easy matter of constructing the reference to the handbook scorching shoe provided with the housing or with the TTL scorching shoe that comes with the non-compulsory Ikelite Canon TTL converter chances are you’ll want to set up if you’d like the choice of automated strobe publicity. Testing each handbook and TTL flash choices, I discovered the Ikelite system labored completely: I had no points with reliability nor any kind of communication points between digital camera and strobes. Ikelite’s TTL implementation is among the many greatest out there and works nicely for all kinds of topics, and whereas I personally want to regulate strobe energy manually, I may absolutely admire the attraction of TTL.

One method that I personally love is movement blur pictures, the place a gradual shutter pace creates the impression of motion whereas strobes are used to freeze the motion. By default, cameras are usually set to set off the flash when the primary, or entrance, shutter curtain opens initially of the publicity, creating unnatural motion-blur photos the place the motion is in entrance of the topic. To get the movement blur behind the topic, you must fireplace the flash on the finish of the publicity, when the second, or rear, curtain closes. It’s one of many first settings I regulate earlier than I begin utilizing a brand new digital camera.

 

A gradual shutter added some drama to this shot of a barbfish, which tolerated me placing the dome port proper in its face (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, Kraken Sports activities Hydra 2500 V2, f/11, 1/4s, ISO 100)

 

Sadly, with Canon cameras, you possibly can’t merely join any flash and allow rear curtain sync in digital camera; you’re required to make use of a Canon-compatible flash to be able to have the rear curtain sync possibility out there. Thus, with the handbook scorching shoe that comes with the Ikelite housing, you’ll solely have the choice of first curtain sync. Nevertheless, you will get round this limitation through the use of Ikelite’s TTL converter, which communicates with the digital camera like a Canon flash. The converter handles shutter sync routinely: At shutter speeds of 1/30s and better, first curtain sync is enabled, whereas at slower shutter speeds, sync switches to the rear curtain. (It’s vital to notice that the converter takes care of flash sync whether or not you’re taking pictures in TTL mode or handbook mode—if you happen to love movement blur pictures, the TTL converter is a mandatory buy.)

As a facet notice, whereas the R7’s flash sync pace maxes out at 1/250s with the mechanical shutter (1/320s with the digital entrance curtain shutter), apparently, I discovered that I used to be in a position to shoot at 1/400s with the Ikelite DS230s. Nevertheless, whereas the digital camera registered 1/400s because the shutter pace, the EXIF information recorded 1/250s. So both the EXIF is right and the digital camera is misreporting, or the EXIF is inaccurate and the R7 can really sync sooner than the specs counsel.

 

Movement blur added life to this lemon shark portrait (Canon EOS R7, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens, Ikelite housing, Ikelite 6-inch dome port, twin Ikelite DS230, f/14, 1/15s, ISO 100)

6. Closing Ideas

No doubt, the Canon EOS R7 is a really spectacular high-end APS-C mirrorless digital camera, a logical improve for shooters coming from the 7D collection of DSLRs or anyone shifting up from point-and-shoot and even Micro 4 Thirds. The R7 packs plenty of efficiency right into a small-form-factor mirrorless physique at a really aggressive value, whereas Ikelite’s equally compact housing presents an incredible platform to construct a succesful and versatile underwater rig. Add an exterior viewfinder, a pair of Ikelite’s glorious strobes, and a TTL converter, and you’ve got a full-fledged system that may serve you nicely for a few years.

If you happen to’re a critical shooter shifting into the Canon APS-C ecosystem, it’s price emphasizing the standard of the glass you’ll have out there to you: on the macro finish, the excellent RF 100mm f/2.8L, and on the large finish, the EF 8–15mm f/4L, which fills the body all through the zoom vary on APS-C cameras. And once more, let’s acknowledge the unbelievable longevity of the Tokina 10–17mm, the eminently inexpensive wide-angle possibility which can not maintain any optics data however can nonetheless maintain its personal in spite of everything these years.

Maybe crucial take-home message right here is that APS-C shouldn’t be lifeless in spite of everything. Removed from it. The Canon EOS R7 reminds us simply how cool it’s to be cropped!

 

Even with out the Eye AF engaged, the R7 appeared to know precisely the place I needed to focus and locked proper on to the eyes of this stareye hermit (Canon EOS R7, Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, Ikelite housing, twin Ikelite DS230, f/10, 1/250, ISO 100)

 

In regards to the Reviewer: Matthew Sullivan is a Florida-based wildlife photographer who has been diving since he was 10 years previous. He has traveled extensively, visiting well-known dive locations equivalent to Guadalupe Island, Indonesia and the Philippines, however he additionally likes to dive nearer to residence within the Pacific Northwest. When not taking photos underwater, he may be discovered trekking mountains, or exploring nationwide parks and rainforests seeking new adventures and wildlife encounters.

 

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