Canon R1 Dynamic Range performance

Canon's New Cameras include new features in both hardware and software and we all expect to perform better than previous generations but that's not always the case, at least in some areas or features such as Dynamic Range. Dynamic Range refers to the range of light intensities that a camera sensor or film can capture, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights. It's a measure of a system's ability to distinguish between the brightest and darkest parts of a scene while still retaining detail in both areas.

According to tests results posted recently at PhotonsToPhotos the Dynamic Range of the Canon R1 at ISO between 100 to 1600 is lower than the results obtained in the Canon R3 and slightly lower than in R6, R6 Mark II, R8 and even the R5 and R5 Mark II.

Starting from 1600 the Dynamic Range Performance is similar than the one seen in the R3 and the other above mentioned cameras.

Why Dynamic Range Performance is so important? 

Landscape Photography: Capturing detail in both bright skies and dark foregrounds.

Wildlife Photography: Maintaining detail in fur or feathers while also capturing background detail.

Post-Processing: RAW files often allow more flexibility in recovering shadow and highlight details because they retain more of the sensor's dynamic range compared to JPEG files.

It’s somewhat disappointing to see this, as the Canon R1 is expected to be Canon’s flagship camera for sports photography. For this purpose, excelling in low-light scenarios, such as those common in indoor sports, is crucial. While the differences in dynamic range aren't massive, the disappointment stems from the high expectations set for this new camera.