EOS R7 vs EOS R10: which is right for you?

With the launch of the Canon EOS R7 and Canon EOS R10, the Canon EOS R System is once again breaking new ground. As the first RF-mount mirrorless cameras outside of the Cinema EOS range with APS-C sensors, the EOS R7 and EOS R10 provide more compact alternatives to full-frame EOS R System cameras such as the EOS R5 and EOS R6. But the EOS R7 and EOS R10 still pack an incredible array of photo and video technology into their lightweight bodies.

If you're looking to upgrade from an older camera or make the move to mirrorless, the new additions to the EOS R System range expand your options. But which camera is right for you? Aside from APS-C sensors, what common features do the EOS R7 and EOS R10 share, and what are the key differences between them?

Here, we compare the EOS R7 and the EOS R10, with insights from Canon Europe Product Marketing Manager John Maurice, plus wildlife photographer Dani Connor, who took the EOS R7 on a trip in search of the elusive Iberian lynx, and travel content creator Diana Millos, who explored the architecture and culture of Seville with the EOS R10.

There are numerous similarities between the EOS R7 and EOS R10. Both bring all the benefits of APS-C to the EOS R System, including lighter, more compact bodies and greater reach from your existing lenses – thanks to the 1.6x "crop factor" of the sensor, subjects fill more of the frame than on a full-frame sensor, which means a 300mm lens effectively has the same field of view as a 420mm lens. Both cameras are designed to use the growing range of superb RF lenses, as well as EF lenses with no loss of quality or functionality thanks to a choice of EF-EOS R Adapters, so you can continue to use your favourite current lenses.

Inside, the EOS R7 and EOS R10 have the powerful DIGIC X image processor, and both feature the sophisticated Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system with advanced subject detection that's found in the professional EOS R3 and EOS R5. This means both cameras can automatically detect and focus on people, animals or vehicles in a scene, and even track the eyes or body of a person or an animal with precision for reliably sharp photos and videos. The autofocus system makes both cameras capable low-light performers, with the EOS R10 able to focus1 down to EV -4 and the EOS R7 EV -5 – that is, approximately the level of darkness of a scene lit only by a half-moon.

Both cameras have vari-angle touchscreens, enabling you to shoot comfortably from almost any angle, and pin-sharp 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinders with 100% scene coverage and high refresh rates for superb responsiveness. The viewfinders on both cameras can be set to Optical Viewfinder Assist mode to reproduce the dynamic range of an optical viewfinder, making it easier to transition from a DSLR to a mirrorless shooting experience. The EOS R7 viewfinder has a slightly greater magnification of 1.15x as compared to the EOS R10's 0.95x, which provides a more immersive view and gives EOS R7 a slight advantage in genres such as wildlife and sports photography.

The EOS R7 and EOS R10 also share a whole range of creative features. For instance, both offer focus bracketing, which captures a sequence of shots at automatically-incremented focal distances that can be combined into a single, more detailed image – and in addition they're the first EOS cameras to offer in-camera depth compositing and cropping, so that the combined image can be viewed immediately.

Both EOS R7 and EOS R10 support RAW, Compact RAW and HEIF file formats in addition to JPEG. Features such as HDR, Auto Image Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority mode are designed to retain the maximum of image detail alongside formats that enable this detail to be retained.

"A lot can happen in half a second. If you're photographing a bird bathing, for example, you might find that the bird will have dipped underwater by the time you've pressed the shutter release. So RAW burst with pre-shooting is a very useful function."

Dani found this invaluable during a trip to photograph endangered Iberian lynx in Spain with the EOS R7. "Usually, when an animal wakes up, it will stretch or yawn, but you might not react quickly enough to get the start of the movement," she says. "But now, with this function, you can record the entire sequence. It's a great feature for wildlife photography."

A difference between the two cameras, however, is that the EOS R10 has a 75% crop in RAW burst mode, while on the EOS R7 this feature works at the camera's full 32.5MP resolution.

Both the EOS R7 and EOS R10 are lightweight cameras that are easy to carry and use when travelling or on long shoots. At just 429g, the EOS R10 is a great choice if weight is critical for you, and it even has a built-in flash (guide number 6), so you don't have to carry a separate flash. Although the EOS R7 weighs in at 612g, it benefits from a higher level of dust- and water-resistance and longer battery life.

The EOS R7 is compatible with the same powerful LP-E6 battery packs used by the Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EOS 90D, while the EOS R10 uses the smaller LP-E17 battery that powers the EOS 850D and EOS 250D. This may be a consideration if you're thinking about an upgrade to a mirrorless APS-C camera from one of these APS-C DSLRs.

At the heart of the EOS R7 and EOS R10 are newly-developed APS-C sensors – 24.2MP in the EOS R10 and 32.5MP in the EOS R7. Apart from the difference in megapixels, the EOS R7 has sensor-based In-body Image Stabilisation (IBIS), which facilitates auto-levelling as well as correcting for different types of camera shake, even when you use lenses that don't have optical IS. For video recording, Movie Digital IS is also added to the mix, helping produce even steadier footage.

"IBIS is a big benefit, especially for content creators who shoot handheld or without a particularly complicated rig," explains John. "With the EOS R7, you can shoot with a slower shutter speed and keep the ISO low for the best image quality. Plus, you can use it creatively. If you want to use a long exposure to create an artistic result but you don't have a tripod, the EOS R7 can enable you to keep the stationary features sharp while the moving parts of the scene become blurred."

When it comes to video, both the EOS R7 and EOS R10 are capable of recording 4K 30p with no crop (EOS R7 7K oversampled, EOS R10 6K oversampled), as well as Full HD at 120fps for detailed, slow-motion video. Both can shoot 4K 60p, but the EOS R10 achieves this high-speed option using a 64% horizontal area crop, which means that the scene might need to be reframed if you switch from stills to video recording.

The EOS R7 also has Canon Log 3, which provides more flexibility for people who want to get serious about video production and colour grading, and features USB 3.2 Gen 2 for the rapid data transfer speeds required in professional workflows, particularly when working tethered, as compared to USB 2.0 in the EOS R10. "You also get dual card slots in the EOS R7," John adds, "and you can configure them so that you're able to write movies to one and stills to the other – and that's something that today's content creators who want to do both are sure to welcome."

Which camera is right for you? Both are an ideal step up from an APS-C DSLR to the mirrorless EOS R System and the growing range of superb RF lenses, with the ability to continue using your favourite EF and EF-S lenses too thanks to a choice of EF-EOS R Mount Adapters. The EOS R7 takes on the essence of the Canon EOS 7D series, naturally suited for photos and video of moving subjects, especially wildlife. The EOS R10 continues the EOS xxD series of cameras such as the EOS 77D, ideal for advanced amateurs seeking a powerful all-rounder suited for creative exploration, especially travel. Both cameras represent a performance upgrade from older mid-range DSLRs in a more portable form, with exciting creative features and vastly improved autofocus, speed and video capabilities.

1 During still photo shooting, with an f/1.2 lens, Centre AF point, One-Shot AF, at 23°C/73°F, ISO100. Excluding RF lenses with Defocus Smoothing coating.

2 Continuous shooting speed may vary depending on various conditions – see specifications for details.