Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS R→Canon EOS R1
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS R. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS R1
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate40fps electronic, 12fps mechanical vs 8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE)
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Battery life~530 shots (CIPA) vs ~350 shots (CIPA)
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Generation6 years newer (2024 vs 2018)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution24MP (down from 30MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS R | EOS R1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.3 | ||
| Street | -0.1 | ||
| Travel | -0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.8 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.6 | ||
| Documentary | +2.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.8 | ||
| Landscape | +0.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +2.1 | ||
| Casual | +0.3 | ||
| Food | +1.1 | ||
| Macro | +3.0 | ||
| Architecture | +0.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS R | EOS R1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £400 used | £6,399 | |
| Released | 2018 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 30.3MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 30MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 6K RAW/60p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF — 5655 AF areas, Eye AF | Dual Pixel CMOS AF III — 100% coverage, deep learning subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — up to 8 stops combined | |
| Burst Rate | 8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE) | 40fps electronic, 12fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 660g (body only) | 920g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.71× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Canon RF mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type B |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS R and EOS R1 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS R1 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS R
Camera family history