Making the Jump to Mirrorless

[Kayaker72]

Hey David,

Good to hear from you.

Yes, a number of us have migrated over to the R5. Myself, Joel, Busted Knuckles, Jonathan and I think a few others. It is a phenomenal camera. The primary advantages, IMO, are:

• FPS. I am usually at 9 fps with mechanical shutter. I do occasionally shift to 12 fps with mchanical shutter or 20 fps with electronic (silent) shutter. But 9 fps is usually enough. But, this is a big advantage over the 5D3 or 5D4.
• Customization. May sound odd, but you can customize most buttons. When going after wildlife, I have 2 if not 3 different types of AF I can switch between just by AFing with a different button.
• Eye-detect AF/X-detect AF. Amazing for birds and other wildlife. Good for people, but locking onto the eye as the subject moves allows you to focus on other elements, such as composition. I will say, I think this feature suffers a bit in low-light. But, I picked up the R5 during a lockdown, and my hit rate on perched birds went through the roof compared to my 5D4 or M6II.
• Size. The R5 is a bit smaller than the 5D3/4. It fits my hand better.
• IBIS. I just got back from a trip to Europe. I left my travel tripod at home. I did want to pack it, but it was cut at the last minute as I knew I could get down to 1/4 or even 0.5 sec hand held shots on my 24-70 II with IBIS. I was gone for 17 days, and I needed the weight/space for other stuff. So, yeah, IBIS works, even with EF lenses.

Some do appreciate the extra megapixels. I had to update my computer as transferring files literally made my computer (built in 2011) beep and stall. But, runs very smoothly with the new computer. Sometimes it is nice having a few extra megapixels, such as when cropping.

CRAW...I really should use it more, but it a nice new feature if you are looking to keep file size down.

EVF. Pros and cons, IMO. Both are significant. As the pro, the EVF does things that let you take better pictures, such as viewing the level/histogram/etc through the viewfinder. Huge. You also get to AF across your entire frame, huge. So, in terms of taking good photos, the EVF is a benefit, and I will say, I do not mind the R5 EVF. But, as a con, I simply enjoy the experience of photography more though an OVF. So, quality vs enjoyment.

Battery life. Battery is now more of a clock rather than a frame counter. I tend to get 4-6 hrs of use per battery. If I take 4,000 pics in that time or 100 pics, that is what you get on that battery.

Image Quality. The 5D4 was a step up over the 5D3. The R5 is a smaller step over the 5D4. In most cases, the IQ difference between the 5D4 to R5 is not noticeable, IMO. To the 5D3, you'll mostly see it in low light. Noise is finer/better. Banding, which really wasn't a problem, IMO, (I occasinally saw it) on the 5D3 is gone on the R5. Colors have shift a bit between each and I consider the R5 to be the most realistic.


All that said, the R5 is a great camera. It has replaced the 5D4 as my main camera to the point the 5D4 is used as a back-up when I want 2 cameras (and if size is a factor, I take the M6II) or I want to use the OVF.

There was a discussion on the R5 I started a year or so ago. People had been talking about it in pieces in other threads, so I tried to consolidate.

As for lenses, I still shoot EF glass. I havn't bought a single RF lens. Others have. They are great lenses. I would consider the 100-500 better than my 100-400 II....but I do not have a problem with my 100-400II. I wouldn't mind a more silent motor for video that you get with the RF lenses, but I do not take video professionally, and every time I've asked people if they can hear the ticking sound of the EF's USM motor, people do not know what I am talking about. So, I know it is there, and I hear it, but that is about it. I'll switch someday. Just saying that EF glass works just fine on the R5.