Canon EOS Ra: The camera for astrophotographers is now available to purchase

The Canon EOS Ra has now launched having leaked online earlier this month. The mirrorless camera can now be pre-ordered on Canon's website for US$2,499 or £2,599.99 in the UK. Please note that this price only includes the camera body, so you must buy lenses separately. Essentially, the EOS Ra is a specialised version of the EOS R and features the same 30.3 MP CMOS sensor in a magnesium alloy body. 

While the EOS R is an all-purpose camera, Canon has designed the EOS Ra for night-shots and astrophotography. The difference between the two cameras lies with their infrared filter, as the one in the EOS Ra i capable of transmitting up to four times more Hydrogen Alpha light than the one in the regular EOS R can. Practically, this allows the EOS Ra to shoot more detailed night shots than the EOS R could. This is not a new concept though, as Nikon already sells the D810a, its take on a dedicated astrophotography camera.

The EOS Ra also supports 30x zoom for long-distance night shots. You can view the full specifications for the camera here. The EOS Ra is available to pre-order now and will start shipping on December 3.