After picking up a Canon EOS R it’s tempting to just go shoot, but I have found a few settings worth changing to get the most out of the camera. By default things like the touch bar (M-Fn bar) are disabled, so here are the best settings for the Canon EOS R based on years of using one.
EOS R in 2026: Canon officially discontinued the original EOS R in June 2023, so new bodies are limited to whatever stock retailers still have. Canon has committed to repair support through November 2029, so if you already own one it is fine to keep using. The closest current Canon full-frame mirrorless equivalents are the EOS R8 (similar weight class, newer autofocus) and the EOS RP (cheaper, smaller). The touch bar in this guide is unique to the original EOS R and was not carried over to any later Canon body.
Charge the battery: Before using your camera I recommend charging the battery so your first use is from a full charge.
Additionally, update the firmware before getting started. Canon added meaningful improvements throughout the EOS R’s life, including the introduction of Eye AF and (in firmware 1.4.0) a major improvement to Eye AF performance. The most recent firmware update for the EOS R is version 1.8.0, which added support for newer RF lenses as they were released. You can download the latest firmware from Canon’s EOS R support page.
My recommended settings for the Canon EOS R:
First ensure your camera mode is set to P, Av, Tv or Manual. When in full auto the camera won’t show you all of the photo options.
Shooting Menu 1: Image Quality, change quality to RAW and JPEG to “-“ since most phone apps and desktop apps support RAW photos now there isn’t much reason to shoot JPEG.
Shooting Menu 3: ISO Speed Settings, change Min. shutter spd. to auto(1), if you select auto you’ll have the option to set it faster. This makes your minimum shutter speed faster resulting in sharper photos. If you still can’t seem to hold your camera steady enough you can set this higher.
Additionally, in the ISO speed settings, you can set the max ISO used in time-lapse movie recording. Typically when shooting a time-lapse you’re using a tripod so setting the max ISO to 400 or 800 will yield better results. Best of all you can get light trails at night using lower ISO settings during time-lapse recording.
Autofocus Menu 4: Set AF-assist beam firing to off, normally the camera will shine an orange light to improve the autofocus speed in low light, but I found this to be more of a nuisance than a help.
Playback Menu 3: Playback information display, turn off displays that aren’t relevant to you, I keep on 1,2,3,6,7, and 8. You’ll waste time cycling through menus you aren’t using so this one will save you time while reviewing.
Playback Menu 3: Magnificatn (apx), change to Actual size, this will set it so when you zoom into a photo while reviewing it’ll instantly go to 100% which is perfect for checking if the photo is sharp. I highly recommend changing this setting on your EOS R.
Setup Menu 3: Beep, Disable, I find the beep incredibly annoying while shooting but you can turn it off here if you prefer.
Setup Menu 4: Display settings, set Display control to manual and Manual display to Screen, This is purely preference but I got extremely annoyed by the viewfinder turning off the screen when my fingers got near the viewfinder. Changing the setting to this will fully disable the EVF viewfinder.
Setup Menu 5: Set the camera up so you can wifi to it from your phone. This involves using the Canon Camera Connect app to connect to the camera. Once you’re on the go being able to connect to the camera to get RAW images off is a huge plus.
Setup Menu 5: Set the Multi function lock to only lock the M-Fn bar. I found that I would hit the touch bar often and this makes it so the lock button locks the touch bar function. The built-in disable function for the touch bar involves holding the bar for a few seconds was a lot more inconvenient than just tapping the lock button.
Operation Menu 4: In Customize buttons I recommend setting the arrows to “Direct AF point selection”, this will allow you to move the focus point with the arrow rather than the touch screen. This is how my previous Canon cameras worked so I found this to be optimal since I could line up my focus point by hitting one direction. I will note the default arrow buttons are used in Flexible-priority mode so if you plan to use that it may be useful to keep the defaults.
Operation Menu 4: Customize the touch bar in Customize M-Fn bar, I set this to autofocus modes. By default, this has no functionality selected and I found scrolling through the AF modes as being useful.
That is it for my suggested Canon EOS R customizations!
After you have spent a few weeks with the camera I highly recommend setting up your own custom menus. Below are the customizations I use in my custom menu. Most important formatting the SD card and setting custom shooting modes are frequently used by me. Plus having the wireless communication settings off-hand is helpful if you want to quickly transfer photos to your phone.
Canon EOS R Settings FAQ
Is the Canon EOS R still worth using in 2026?
Yes, if you already own one or can pick up a used body for the right price. The 30.3MP full-frame sensor still produces excellent files, the lens mount is the same RF mount used by every newer Canon mirrorless, and Canon repair support runs through November 2029. The main reasons to upgrade would be the lack of in-body image stabilization, slower burst shooting compared to current bodies, and the older autofocus system relative to the R6 Mark II, R8, or R5.
What is the latest firmware for the Canon EOS R?
Version 1.8.0 is the most recent firmware update for the original EOS R. It added support for newer RF lenses as they were released and refined autofocus performance. You can download it from Canon’s EOS R support page.
Does the Canon EOS R have IBIS?
No. The original EOS R does not have in-body image stabilization. You can still get stabilization by using RF or EF lenses with optical IS built in, and the digital movie IS option in the menu adds a software layer of stabilization for video (at the cost of a small crop).
What is the touch bar (M-Fn bar) on the EOS R?
The M-Fn bar is a thin, touch-sensitive strip on the back of the camera near the thumb rest. You can configure it to swipe through ISO, white balance, autofocus modes, or other settings. It was a Canon experiment unique to the original EOS R and was not included on any later Canon mirrorless body. If you find yourself triggering it accidentally, you can configure the Multi function lock to lock just the M-Fn bar (covered above).
Has the Canon EOS R been discontinued?
Yes. Canon discontinued production of the original EOS R in June 2023. Some retailers still have new stock and the camera is widely available used. Repair support from Canon continues through November 2029.
Most Canon mirrorless cameras share menus and structure, so if you’re coming from a Canon body to the EOS R, run through your favorite settings and apply them here too. There are plenty of features I did not cover, like using the Canon EOS R as a webcam.
If you have any questions about the Canon EOS R let me know in the comments below.
HI, Although I have AF beam firing turned off I cannot figure out how to stop the AF beam from firing in B mode. It always fires the beam for 2 seconds before releasing the shutter.
thanks
oh yeah, firmware 1.8.0
I’m terrible.
EOS R
Firmware 1.8.0
24-105 lens on MF. AF4 AF beam assist turned off.
Sadly I think the only way to disable the blinking for the 2 second timer is to put gaffer tape over the light.
Question, is there a way I can stop changing the aperture when I’m zooming in and out?
If your lens has a variable aperture it’ll most likely change while zooming. You can avoid it changing by setting the camera on manual or aperture priority and setting it above the higher of the range (typically the f-stop when the lens is zoomed in.
what is the ideal iso to shoot at to retain the best quality with my canon EOS R???
Sorry for the slow response but using a tripod with ISO 100 will have the most detail. If you are setting ISO manually while shooting I probably wouldn’t recommend going over ISO 6400.
Great ideas! One correction – the multi function lock is on Setup Menu 6, not 5.
Thank you! I will correct the guide!
Great tips here…thanks so much as this camera is still relatively new in 2020.
Thanks David! Glad this was helpful for you
Love these bits of advice!
TY
Happy to help!
Very interesting article, however, the RAW settings are a problem since CR3 is not recognized by post processing programs, therefore useless. I always use RAW setting when using my eos 1dx mk ii, so I am anxiously awaiting a fix to fully utilize this camera. Thank you, gary
Hey Gary, I use CR3 on my Canon EOS R and have 0 issues in any software (Lightroom/Photoshop). I would recommend Lightroom if you are having issues using raw files from the EOS R.