Canon EOS Mirrorless Shutters Explained: R100, R50, R7, R8, and R5
When you start comparing Canon’s mirrorless lineup, one of the first technical differences you’ll notice is how the shutter works. For photographers who want silence, speed, or durability, the choice between mechanical, electronic first-curtain (EFCS), and full electronic shutter matters a great deal. Across Canon’s EOS R range, each model implements shutter technology a little differently, reflecting its market position and price point.
The Canon EOS R100 is the most limited. It does not allow full-time electronic shutter across creative modes. Its normal operation is EFCS, meaning exposures start electronically and finish with a mechanical curtain. That means every photo still puts wear on the shutter mechanism. There is a “Silent Shutter” option, but it’s restricted: you can only use it in Scene Intelligent Auto and certain scene modes, in single-shot stills, without flash. You can’t set the camera to full electronic in manual, aperture priority, or shutter priority. In practice, this means you cannot make the R100 an “all electronic shutter” camera, and the mechanical components will always see use.
Step up to the Canon EOS R50 and you gain far more flexibility. This camera supports both EFCS and full electronic shutter across the creative shooting modes. With EFCS you can shoot up to 1/4000 s, while full electronic gives you up to 1/8000 s and a higher burst rate. That said, electronic shutter still carries the usual trade-offs: no flash, potential rolling shutter skew in fast action, and flicker with artificial light. But for general travel, street, and portrait photography, the silent mode is not only viable but preferable in many cases.
The Canon EOS R7 goes further still. It offers all three modes: mechanical, EFCS, and full electronic. This makes it one of the most versatile cameras in Canon’s APS-C lineup. With the mechanical shutter you can get 15 fps and reliable flash sync up to 1/250 s, with EFCS you reduce vibration while maintaining compatibility with flash, and with electronic you unlock up to 30 fps and a maximum shutter speed of 1/16,000 s. For photographers shooting sports or wildlife, the ability to switch between modes depending on the environment is invaluable. It also means you can “save” the shutter mechanism by using electronic most of the time and reserve mechanical for flashes or tricky lighting.
The Canon EOS R8 strips away the full mechanical shutter entirely, giving you EFCS by default and a full electronic mode as an option. That means there is always at least one curtain involved unless you deliberately set it to Electronic. When you do, you gain the benefits of silence, speeds up to 1/16,000 s, and astonishing bursts of 40 fps. But the same warnings apply: rolling shutter distortion and flicker are real risks. The R8 balances portability and capability, but for heavy flash users or fast-action shooters, you may still prefer the hybrid EFCS. Switching is easy: just go to Shooting Menu 7, choose “Shutter Mode,” and select Electronic to lock in full electronic shutter.
Finally, the Canon EOS R5—Canon’s high-end full-frame workhorse—offers the full range: mechanical, EFCS, and electronic. It is also rated for around 200,000 actuations in mechanical use. By using electronic shutter most of the time, you can effectively extend the mechanical shutter’s lifespan indefinitely. A photographer who normally would rack up 60,000 shots a year could, by relying on electronic, keep actual curtain actuations to a fraction of that, stretching the shutter’s working life from 3–4 years to well over a decade. But the R5’s electronic shutter is still rolling, not global, and so you must manage banding and skew when conditions demand.
The choice of shutter mode affects more than durability—it shapes how you work. Mechanical is safest with flash and artificial light, EFCS is a balanced middle ground with reduced vibration, and electronic offers silence and speed but with potential artifacts. If you want to prolong your camera’s mechanical life, electronic shutter is the best option, but it cannot replace mechanical reliability in every scenario. The practical approach is to mix: use electronic when conditions are friendly, switch to EFCS for most controlled work, and engage mechanical only when absolutely needed.