How the Canon EOS R System is changing David Noton's photography

David Noton has been shooting landscapes and travel for over 30 years, during which time he has seen technology change enormously. When he began, he was carrying around a heavy large-format film camera. Later he used medium-format kit, and since 2005 he has shot with Canon DSLRs. But during the past 18 months, he has been transitioning to shooting with mirrorless cameras, which has in turn changed the kinds of images he produces.

David, who runs a freelance photography business in Dorset, England, has shot images in countless locations around the world, to be used by commercial and editorial clients or sold as fine art prints. Here he shares his experiences in moving to mirrorless.

A diverse kitbag

When you're on the move, the portability of gear is an important consideration. "In the past, I've travelled the world with huge great camera bags, multiple bodies, multiple lenses and heavy tripods," David says. "However, recently I've done a few trips when I've literally gone abroad with just one camera, the Canon EOS R, two lenses and no tripod. That's an incredible change."

David began using the Canon EOS R when the camera was launched in September 2018. Until then, his main camera body was the Canon EOS 5DS R, which he still loves to use for the highest quality images made possible thanks to its 50.6MP sensor.

Spontaneity and low light shooting

From the outset, David says, he was impressed by the results he achieved with the Canon EOS R and its range of next-generation RF lenses. Although switching systems took some getting used to, he has embraced the possibilities mirrorless offers, from more spontaneous shooting through to being able to work in extremely low light.

"I began by using the Canon EOS R alongside the Canon EOS 5DS R, but then I started to take advantage of various aspects of the camera, particularly the fact that it's far more compact," he says.

Stabilised shots without a tripod

On a trip to Mexico at the beginning of 2020, David took his Canon EOS R and three RF lenses. Although he also took a lightweight tripod, he hardly used it and almost all of his shots were hand-held. "I'm not saying that tripods are now redundant, but working without a tripod does enable a more responsive and spontaneous approach, particularly for travel photography and when people are involved," he says.

David mentions one particular image (below), taken in Campeche on the Yucatan Peninsula, as an example of how the Canon EOS R System has changed his photography.

"In the past, for a picture of that beautiful architecture, taken at that time of day, I'd have picked my vantage point, set up my tripod and waited for the perfect balance of the blue in the sky and the lighting on the buildings," he says. "But with that kind of picture it's so useful to have some people in the frame to bring it to life. I love the energy a figure can give to a picture.

"In this shot, the woman crossing the road really makes a difference, particularly because she's got a child on her back and is wearing traditional Mexican dress. I was shooting with the camera hand-held at 1/10sec. With the 5-stops of Image Stabilization on the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM lens, combined with shooting at ISO1600, I could take a more reportage-style approach to that kind of subject. Cities are about people, and shooting them with a mirrorless camera enables me to include people even when the light is low."

Other features of the Canon EOS R System have also enabled David to expand the range of images he can produce. Shooting from above head height or down at ground level using the Vari-angle screen has allowed him to make more creative use of a situation. Silent shooting has also been useful, for example when shooting busy marketplaces or other situations where you want to capture an unposed scene or just don't want to draw attention to yourself.

The Canon EOS R’s benefits also extend to the images being produced at the printing stage. "The impressive depth of detail the EOS R is capable of recording really makes a difference, especially when making large prints," says David. "Shadow details can really bring a picture to life. I can expose for highlights when shooting, knowing I'll be able to retain an impressive amount of detail in the darkest shadows in the final image."

Aside from changing the way he works and the images he shoots, David says one of the most attractive aspects of shooting mirrorless is that it's fun to do. "Lugging a big bag on a crowded metro train is just a burden that takes all the fun out of shooting," he says. "Now I'm really enjoying my photography, and that's really important.

"I also enjoy the way camera equipment is evolving. You don't stand still as a photographer, and technology is part of it. The things you want to photograph and the way you want to photograph should keep changing, and you need to keep experimenting. I can't just say a certain type of landscape is what I have done and always will do. The goalposts are always moving, and adopting new technology helps keep my work fresh."