Canon EOS Ra Review

Canon EOS Ra especially for astrophotography: Modified EOS R

The EOS Ra is a modified EOS model designed to meet the specific needs of astrophotographers. It is based on the EOS R, which has been available since September 2018. The EOS Ra captures four times the amount of hydrogen alpha light compared to the EOS R. The EOS Ra allows the capture of the clearly red color components of diffuse nebulae in space, which are interstellar dust clouds consisting mainly of hydrogen and helium. This is not possible with a conventional camera, since the UV/IR blocking filters installed there absorb exactly those light components from the IR spectrum that otherwise give these nebulae their typical red coloration.

Thanks to the special infrared blocking filter, the Canon EOS Ra absorbs four times as much hydrogen alpha light as the normal EOS R, allowing red fog to be recorded in space. [Photo: Canon]

Thanks to its compactness and small flange focal length, the Canon EOS Ra (similar to the image) can be easily mounted on telescopes. The rotating and swivelling touch screen facilitates operation. [Photo: Canon]

Thanks to the technical basis “EOS R”, the EOS Ra has a 30 megapixel resolution 35 mm sensor and the same autofocus sensitive to -6 EV. A 30x magnifying glass is also available for focus control. If desired, the detail can be converted to the APS-C format, for example, but the resolution is then only 11.3 megapixels. According to Canon, other formats are also possible in order to adapt the camera to the image section of the telescope to which it is connected. Thanks to the small flange focal length of the EOS-R bayonet, adaptations are no problem at all. The compact and lightweight design of the EOS Ra makes it easy to mount it on a telescope. Thanks to the rotating and swivelling touch screen, the operation of the camera on the telescope as well as the image control is made easier.

Thanks to the 4K video function, the EOS Ra is also the first astro camera with such high-resolution video. It also allows the creation of 4K time-lapse videos. Thanks to the support of the EOS utility software and the Canon Camera Connect app, the EOS Ra can be controlled remotely, wired or wirelessly (WLAN and Bluetooth). The Canon EOS Ra should cost almost 2,770 Euros, 280 Euros more than the UVP of the normal EOS R.

The Canon EOS Ra is a customized version of the mirrorless full-frame camera EOS R. It also resolves with 30 megapixels. Compared to the EOS R, however, the EOS Ra has a new infrared filter arrangement in front of the sensor. This passes four times as much hydrogen alpha light to the sensor. In this way, the full-frame camera can capture the reddish color of diffuse nebula more clearly and more differentiated.

The EOS Ra features a touch screen and a 30x magnification that allows photographers to closely view the details in the image. The display is also rotatable and swiveling and sets the focus on your fingertips on the touchscreen. Due to the lack of mirrors, the housing of the EOS-R family is compact and relatively light. The EOS Ra can be easily mounted on a telescope. 

Astro-filmmakers should also get their money’s worth with the EOS Ra. The camera takes videos and time-lapse of the nightly starry sky in 4K. With an ISO value of up to 40,000, the EOS Ra should still take decent pictures in low light. In darkness, she should also be able to quickly focus 6 FW AF the desired object. 

Canon EOS Ra Datasheet