With mirrorless cameras rapidly gaining popularity, the Canon EOS Ra is a welcome contender for amateur and professional astrophotographers alike. The EOS Ra first caught my attention late last year, and I anxiously awaited an official announcement from Canon so that I could pre-order it. I’ve been shooting with it for about five months now for both Milky Way landscapes and some deep sky targets, and I’m definitely happy with what I’ve seen.
What I Love:
My Canon EOS Ra arrived in January, and it nailed its first impressions. The box is emblazoned with a beautiful photo of the California Nebula — a nice touch for an astrophotography camera. Apart from the badge, the EOS Ra has the same physical exterior as the EOS R, which means you get the same ergonomic design, articulating LCD touch screen, and updated control layout. It’s lightweight compared to my 5D Mark IV and feels sturdy and comfortable in hand — although for a camera that spends 99% of its time sitting on a tripod, this isn’t as important as it might seem. The button layout is a bit different from Canon’s DSLR line and can take some getting used to (especially for a camera that you always use in the dark), but it hasn’t been too much of a struggle.
The main selling point of the EOS Ra is that its sensor is four times more sensitive to the hydrogen-alpha (Hα) wavelengths produced by astronomical objects, which allows it to produce stunning images of stars and nebulas with colors that really pop.
Beyond the specialized sensor, the Ra touts a few other nifty features for astrophotography. The 30x optical zoom is a game-changer when it comes to getting focus just right on the stars and reducing coma. I’ve found that my Milky Way shots with the Ra are noticeably sharper than anything I ever shot with my 5D — being able to get the focus of stars just right really makes a difference in producing a stellar image.
As a mirrorless camera, the EOS Ra is well-suited for astrophotography, even without the modified sensor. The OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) allows for composition and focusing at night without relying on live view — something that a DSLR just can’t accomplish. Focus peaking is extremely useful for landscape Milky Way composition, and is one of my favorite features of the camera.
The EOS Ra’s low-light performance is top notch. When comparing a single Milky Way exposure taken with the Ra versus the 5D Mark IV at the same settings, I definitely notice less noise from the Ra. The dynamic range is also stronger, especially when it comes to boosting shadows for a clean foreground, and I’ve noticed better color in the sky and Milky Way core.
One of the highlights of the EOS Ra as an astronomical camera is the variety of lenses available. The native lens mount of the Ra is Canon’s new RF system, but it can easily accommodate EF lenses using an adapter. This is good news if, like me, you already have a collection of Canon glass.
Some of my favorite wide angle lenses to use for astrophotography are the Sigma ART 20mm f/1.4, the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8, and the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L. While the EOS Ra can also be connected to a telescope, the ability to use any DSLR telephoto lens rather than having to invest in astronomical equipment is a big plus. I’ve shot all of my deep sky subjects with the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens and the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer tracker, and I’ve definitely been pleased with the results.
Wish List:
I love the Ra, and there are a couple points for improvement, though nothing close to a deal-breaker. The addition of a built-in intervalometer would be very welcome, especially since the Ra is designed for long exposures. Like the EOS R, the Ra only has one card slot, and another feature I miss is built-in GPS. However, your photos can be geotagged by connecting the camera to your smart phone via Bluetooth and launching the Canon Connect app. Just remember to launch the app every time you go out to shoot. It would be nice if the camera tagged my photos without any extra setup, like the 5D does.
I’d also love to see a night mode to tint the screen menus red (the LCD screen is gorgeous but can really knock out your night vision), and illuminated buttons would be helpful when fumbling around with settings in the dark.
Conclusion:
Overall, I’ve been very happy with my EOS Ra. I’ve gotten some fantastic night sky shots with it this year, and am looking forward to seeing what else I can do with it. I’m planning to try more deep sky objects that take advantage of the hydrogen alpha sensitivity, such as the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae. I’d also love to try the Magellanic Clouds (the next time I make it back to the southern hemisphere) as well as continue to improve on my Milky Way work.
If you’re looking for a dedicated camera that will really give your astrophotography a step up (especially if you’re already a Canon shooter) I would absolutely recommend giving the Canon EOS Ra a try.
Canon EOS Ra ()
Feature photo by Lynsey Schroeder
