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How to Adjust Canon EOS R Portrait Settings for Portrait Photography
The Canon EOS R, launched in 2018, features a 30.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor, enhancing image quality by omitting the optical low-pass filter. It’s equipped with the advanced DIGIC 8 image processor, offering a wide native ISO range of 100-40,000, and supports continuous shooting at up to 8 fps.
Its Dual Pixel CMOS AF system is a standout feature, surpassing its predecessors with 5,655 selectable AF points, covering 100% horizontally and approximately 88% vertically. The camera is encased in a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, ensuring durability.
It boasts a 0.5-inch OLED electronic viewfinder with 3.69 million dots, providing a clear, detailed view with a 0.76x magnification and a comfortable 23mm eyepoint. The EOS R can capture 4K (UHD) video at 30 frames per second, making it versatile for photography and videography.
Portrait Photographs Captured with Canon EOS R
How to Shoot Outstanding Portrait Photos with Canon EOS R?
STEP 1. Using Wide Aperture
For portrait photography, selecting a wide aperture (f/2.8-f/5.6) is ideal for achieving a shallow field depth, blurring the background and highlighting the subject. Additionally, specialized portrait lenses offer even wider apertures (e.g., f/1.4 – f/2.8), enhancing this effect further and drawing more attention to the subject.
STEP 2. Higher ISO
A fast shutter speed is necessary to counteract motion blur and ensure sharp images, especially in portraits where subjects may blink or change expressions quickly. This requires adjusting the ISO setting, starting from 100 ISO up to 400 ISO in bright conditions and increasing to 1,600, 3,200, or even 6,400 in low-light scenarios.
While higher ISO settings may introduce grain, they prefer blurry, unusable shots.
STEP 3. Pick a Perfect Background for Your Subject
The background in portrait photography should complement the subject without distracting the viewer. Opt for neutral, uncluttered backgrounds or contextually relevant scenes that enhance the subject’s story, such as a musician with their instrument. Creative backgrounds like colorful walls or textured fences can also add interest to the portrait.
STEP 4. Focus on the Eyes of the Subject
A sharp focus on the subject’s eyes is crucial for engaging portrait photography. This focus point creates a strong connection between the subject and the viewer.
To achieve this, select the central AF point, align it with the subject’s eyes, half-press the shutter to lock focus, recompose if necessary, and then fully press it to capture the image. The Canon EOS R’s precise autofocus system makes it an excellent choice for capturing detailed and expressive portraits.
See Also
Best Canon Lens for Portrait Photography