Canon EOS R8 + RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

The camera initially left me a bit cold, and even caused/causes some frustrations. After switching from the Canon 70D*, which was already feeling a bit worn out, I had high expectations, especially after a lot of glowing reviews. Initially, that was a bit disappointing... Why? Well, I use the control dials on the 70D quite a lot, and thought I wouldn't miss them/be able to bypass them on the R8. It turned out that this was absolutely not the case for the autofocus: it works absurdly slowly via the 4-way button, but half with the control dial and the autofocus by using the screen as a trackpad is only useful if you are very handy with your nose. One extra wheel on the back would have actually lifted this camera from "just a bit better than point and shoot" to "not quite a professional camera". This is half-heartedly compensated for by a multifunction key that hides an entire menu, I am not a fan.

After a 4-week trip, the solution turned out to be that I have to handle the camera differently. For landscapes or architecture, I can still compose perfectly via the viewfinder, for portraits or street, the screen is the best way. Via the viewfinder (which is very pleasant to use by the way) I just let everything happen in auto, but if people or something come into the picture, I hold the camera in front of me and I can start tracking with a quick tap on the screen. For people who come from a smartphone or camera with few buttons, this will feel much more natural, I think. In the settings, there is also some serious fine-tuning with the autofocus and tracking, which I was able to adjust more to my liking after a while.

But now for the good: The photos are absurdly good. With good lighting during the day, you don't notice that super, but once the camera has to use its dynamic range, the results are simply amazing. Open sky and full shadow in 1 photo? No problem! Even hardly any noise! (I shoot in RAW, no idea what this camera does with jpegs).

This camera is really light and small, especially for a full frame. An R10 was my initial choice but a Canon action on the R8 and the much more logical choice of RF lenses on FF made me change my mind. Especially because the R10 also lacks that wheel on the back and I can't care less about that joystick: my nose is in front of it anyway.

The autofocus (tracking). A love-hate relationship: I haven't really figured out how to make it work properly yet, but when it does it's magic. Especially with photos with the lens wide open, good focus is a must and the camera is damn good at that. Also with EF lenses in an adapter, which is also a bonus!

If you set this camera to "silent shutter" you simply don't hear anything. What a relief.

Unfortunately I discovered an "unimportant" function too late: the "lock" mode between off and on. Please use this when someone else is taking a family photo because otherwise your settings will be everywhere but where you want them to be. And of course you won't realize that until way too late. By the way, you can set what is and isn't locked.

Also don't get caught out by comments about the limited battery or the lack of weather sealing.

• The battery lasts for more than a day, if necessary take a few extra batteries with you (3rd party doesn't have to be expensive).
• Weather sealing? Unless you're going to photograph snow leopards in the Himalayas and have no other choice, just don't hold the camera in the rain.

The lack of a flash is a bit of a shame, so I'll have to buy one again. Not a dealbreaker though.

*disclaimer: the 70D actually still works perfectly, but it weighs twice as much. So I can actually feel the ravages of time?