K i t Z o n e
112 DIGITAL CAMERA^ OCTOBER 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.comDigital Camera early verdict
The Canon EOS 90D is a heavyweight replacement
for the trusty old 80D, packing a pixel-dense new
sensor and hiccup-quick continuous shooting. With
the crop factor of the APS-C format, which increases
the effective focal length of lenses by 1.6 times,
it makes the 90D a compelling camera for wildlife
and sports shooters looking to capture fast action.
If that’s really your focus, though, the Canon EOS
M6 Mark II is a better bet, since its 14fps shooting
eclipses the 90D’s 10fps. However, if you’re a
vlogger or videographer, the 90D is more capable
in the filmmaking stakes, since it offers a fully
articulating screen and a headphone jack.Armed with the right EF lens,
the 90D is just as adept at
portraits as it is at action.Capable of focusing down to
-5EV, the 90D is a formidable
performer even in low light.Above: The improved Eye AF functionality makes
finding, following and focusing on eyes a breeze.In the hand, it’s much like wielding
a lighter 80D – an 80D without a
battery, almost. Which is interesting,
as Canon has done anything but
take the battery away...
While the 80D was Cipa-rated to
960 shots from a full battery, the
Canon EOS 90D has improved this
to an impressive Cipa-rated 1,300 –
from the same battery, the LP-E6N.
However, Canon tells us that informal
testing yields as many as 1,830 shots
per battery charge – something
that’s all the more relevant for the
target market, since the company is
pitching the 90D squarely at outdoor
sports and wildlife shooters.
This is where the aforementioned
similarity between the innards of the
Canon EOS 90D and the Canon EOSM6 Mark II becomes even more
fascinating. The 90D – the camera
that Canon feels is more appropriate
for capturing fast action – maxes out
at 10 frames per second (or 11 with
fixed autofocus). The M6 Mark II, by
contrast, hits 14 frames per second.
It’s a bizarre narrative, whether it’s
driven by Canon or merely in reaction
to public perception that DSLRs are
the superior tool for capturing action.In action
Regardless, it takes nothing away from
the 90D’s ability to capture fast-moving
subjects. We put the camera through
its paces on a fast-moving indoor
go-karting circuit; while we were
impeded from optimal shooting thanks
to the horrendously low light, we werenonetheless impressed by the body’s ability
to crank out frames faster than even a 5D
Mark IV (and with more resolution, to boot).
The lightning-fast focus acquisition and
image output is due in large part to the
latest Digic 8 processor, a huge step up
from the Digic 6 featured in the 80D,
which also provides the horsepower
for the impressive Eye Detection AF
that provides tracking in both stills
and video mode. An electronic shutter
ups the shooting speed to 1/16,000 sec
(beyond the 1/8,000 sec rate of the
mechanical shutter) to facilitate wider
apertures while shooting action.
The 90D has also learned a neat trick
from the Canon EOS RP: focus bracketing.
This enables you to shoot a predesignated
series of images at incrementally changing
focus positions, which can be ‘stacked’ in
post production to extend the depth of
field – ideal for macro shooting.
James ArtaiusDSLR Canon EOS 90D