Canon EOS 1RS

This camera was not on my plans but I came across this advert on the very popular selling site, it was local to me, so I ended up buying it. I paid only £60 for it, most of it was money gathered from selling other cameras featured on this site.

Any single digit Canon camera is something special and I always kept an eye open for a EOS-1n. The EOS-1n is a fantastic, reliable workhorse that many people still enjoy using. The EOS-1RS is an exotic variant which utilizes a pellicle semi-transparent mirror that does not lift up during exposure. The result is a ½ to 2/3 of a stop reduced exposure as the 1/3 of the light goes towards the viewfinder. The advantages of the pellicle mirror are: a) no blackout during exposure, you can still see through the viewfinder and b) reduced noise, vibration and shutter lag.

Once you pick up the camera, you realise that it is a big camera to hold. It is taller than the Nikon F4s and heavier although the mass distribution is much better. This results in the camera feeling actually lighter than it is and seems to fit better in my hands than the F4s. Fit and finish is superb, as you would be possibly expect from it and there is a degree of water-proofing, meaning it can deal with a bit of rain but do not take it underwater. Top plate is made out of some sort of exotic plastic, I haven't still seen any EOS-1n with a cracked top plate, I have seen plenty with scratched ones but none cracked.

Noise levels are kept low but I cannot say that this is a quite camera. I would definitely expect it to be more quite but as it is, it is in the same category as the Canon EOS-5 or the Nikon F4s but don't expect rangefinder noise levels. Another disappointment comes from the viewfinder. It is a bit darker as expected but it feels so tiny, especially compared with cameras such as the Nikon F90x. Those wearing eye-glasses will struggle to have full view of the viewfinder, pity really, I would love it to have been bigger. As it is, it offers 100% view coverage, as you would probable expect from a camera of this calibre.

The RS mode

In RS mode - standing for Rapid Shooting - the camera shoots on a rate of 10fps and has a shutter lag time of 6ms. See the RS mode as a kind of camera setting, it does not allow much customisation apart from changing the motor-drive speed and a few custom functions. When the camera is set to RS mode, the following steps take place:

1. When pressing the shutter button half way, the camera will focus and close down the aperture
2. The shutter will get into a “ready position”
3. The secondary mirror will fold back
4. pressing the shutter button any further, a picture will be taken.

Now, although these four steps appear so well defined on paper, in practise they aren't; everything happens so quickly, step 2 will make the shutter produce a sound very similar to the sound of the shutter being activated. It needs a level of familiarization with it. At times I had to look at the frame counter to see if it took a picture or not (of course it had). Practice a bit before you start shooting, on high speed, it can go through a film within 4 seconds, so be careful. As I am writing these lines, I cannot say that I am fully familiar with this shooting mode, I prefer shooting the camera on “A” mode.

Myths and facts around Pellicle Mirrors

Let's see some of the most common statements found on the internet around the use of pellicle mirrors in SLR's

a) Cameras with Pelicle mirrors are not suitable for low light level photography: Not true. Because of the lack of vibrations from the mirror movement, the EOS 1n RS is as good to hold and take a picture as any other camera. On the plus side, because 2/3 of the light goes through the mirror on the AF sensor, this camera is more sensitive to low light levels and does not require AF assist light in order to focus.

b) Pellicle mirror cause flare when shooting against the sun. So does your lens.

c) Pellicle mirrors cause the overall resolution to be lower: That is more of a theoretical problem than it is a practical one. Canon has provided tests online and it actually shows that the difference is negligible, definitely not noticeable.

When switching the camera on “A” mode, it pretty much behaves as an EOS-1n apart from the fact that the mirror does not come up. The camera can be as complex or simple as you want it to be. The four exposure modes and the drive are easily accessible but if you are willing to dive into the different modes and custom functions make sure you have the manual somewhere near. Extra functions are available via the side compartment door – you can tailor this camera to your shooting style and there is a way of resetting everything if you messed up the CF.

A few ergonomic hiccups: First of all, the buttons on the side-door are tiny and difficult to press if you have big fingers. It becomes even more difficult to reset the camera when you have to press two of them at the same time. Also, the main “On-Off” switch is small and fiddly. Finally, if you are an anxious person like me and have the bad habit of chewing your nails, you will find difficult to move the small switch that activates the battery grip buttons for holding the camera vertically. I know I am really picky but ….

Shooting with this camera has been a very pleasant experience. Despite the very good weight distribution, this is a heavy camera and eventually it is becoming a bit tiring to carry it around but it is going to compensate you with its performance. As I said earlier on, allow yourself to get used to the way this camera operates, the shutter button is quite sensitive and rather unforgiving, it is much easier than you think to take a picture when you have the shutter button half-pressed.

Conclusion

A very interesting camera indeed. Unlike other Canon cameras I've used, that you will take them out of the box and start shooting, this camera requires that you spend some time testing it and familiarize yourself with it before loading it an go into that “once-in-a-life-trip-to-the-exotic-destination” to take pictures with. Once you get accustomed to it, it is a tool that know no boundaries. Criticism is easy – yea, I wish it had a bigger and brighter viewfinder and was more silent – but it hasn't. Still it will do its work and do it accurately and reliably.

Best camera I ever had? Possibly – if not, it is definitely up there.

Highly recommended.