Canon EOS R1 sports a huge auto-focus upgrade

After teasing its new flagship camera earlier in the year, Canon recently lifted the lid on the EOS R1 full frame mirrorless DSLR aimed at “elite photographers”.

A combination of faster and more accurate auto-focus technology plus faster shooting speeds looks set to endear the new camera to sports photographers in particular. The EOS R1 wields Canon’s latest Dual Pixel CMOS – Dual Pixel Intelligent AF tech, which reportedly tracks subjects more accurately.

According to Canon, it tracks the faces and upper bodies of subjects to help avoid pulling focus onto anything else that moves in the way – as routinely happens in fast-paced sports. Supporting this is a new mode dubbed “Action Priority”. Here’s how Canon described the mode in its press release:

“[Action Priority] automatically identifies common action poses in basketball, soccer and volleyball, identifying and tracking the main subject in fast and dynamic situations and capturing the headline-grabbing moment of action.”

To help capture blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments, the Canon EOS R1 can take up to 40 frames per second via its electronic shutter. It also takes 20 frames of “pre-continuous shooting” before you’ve even pressed the shutter, which could help salvage any missed action.

According to Canon, its upgraded auto-focus technology means you can better photograph subjects on the other side of a net, for example. Image: Canon.

It’s no video slouch either, supporting 6K resolution at 60fps, 4K at 240fps, or 1080p at 240fps.

Canon EOS R1 release date and price

An indication that this is some seriously professional-level kit, the Canon EOS R1 retails for $10,999 here in Australia. Pre-orders are live now, with the camera expected to arrive locally this November.

If that’s a bit rich for your blood, the EOS R5 Mark II comes in at a more affordable $6,699. Both cameras definitely fit into the professional or ‘prosumer’ categories reserved for serious photographers. If sports photography is your bag, the upgraded auto-focus technology could make things a lot easier.

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