New Canon Gear - Declining Interest for You?

[Dave Throgmartin]

Does anyone else find that their interest in new gear releases are greatly reduced?

I'm currently using:

Cameras - 6D bought new in 2013, 6D hand me down 2018, 80D bought new 2018
Lenses - 16-35 f/4 bought refurb ~ 2015, 24-105 f/4 bought used ~ 2014, 100 macro bought new ~ 2014, 100-400 II bought new 2018

My lack of interest basically come down to lack of new releases in the EF system and wondering what on the market would actually be any better than what I'm currently using.

Cameras - The 6D is very long in the tooth and I'd be open to replacing it. However, would the 6D2 actually be any better? If it were I'd have no trouble paying $1200. This appears to be the end of the line for the 6D series with a mirror or at a minimum there will be a long wait for 6D3. The 5D4 would be an upgrade, but at $2700 is very expensive and I'd have a tough time justifying it. The 80D is a quite good bald eagle photo camera and I'm very happy with it.

Lenses - I consider the 16-35 f/4 and 100-400 II to be best in class. I'm very happy with them. I'm not sure if the 100 macro is best in class or not, but is quite good and I have no complaints. The 24-105 f/4 is a middle of the road lens, but I use it all the time and it is "good enough". I don't think the 24-70 f/4 or 24-105 II are either noticeably better. The 24-70 II I'm sure is better, but I'd give up 71-105 and IS and it costs $1600. I'd be willing to spend that for the right lens, but given the concessions it does not appear worth it.

So, there you go. I think I'm basically maxed out with no new releases in sight that would be tempting. It is a weird place to be.

Canon mirrorless does not interest me at all. I have too much money in my current system. I don't want to take a beating selling my stuff on the used market for $0.50 on the dollar to build an RF kit or use all my Canon stuff with an adapter on a Canon camera!

Maybe the Sony A7R2 to use with my current kit as as specialist landscape camera for 42 MP and malleable files would be an option? This has obvious drawbacks as well.

Dave

[Joel Eade]

I am very content with my Canon EF kit but I am a bit envious of the AF capabilities of the Nikon D850 and the Sony a9 when it comes to birds in flight.

I am not interested in a complete system change but I would consider getting a D850 and their 500mm PF lens just for birds in flight but for now the lens is not readily available. The next version of the Sony a9 with their 100-400mm lens might be of even more interest if they increase the sensor resolution.

Then again Canon may release something with equal AF capability and a high resolution sensor. Since 2020 is an Olympic year I suspect we will see new releases soon from the major manufacturers.

I also am NOT interested in the Canon mirrorless system currently.

[Kayaker72]

First, off, that is a very nice and capable kit. As always, shoot to need, and if you aren't needing something....

I totally get where you are coming from. A

s I am sure is obvious, I think and consider a lot of different options. From different lenses to small camera systems to medium format.

But, the conclusion I am coming too is that I may be "mostly" () set for the foreseeable future and it is a very odd place to be.

Cameras: 5DIV. Really, just love it. It is a tad big, especially with the L-bracket mounted, but still, it is not leaving my kit for a long time. I have been thinking of getting a second FF body. The thought I had, was to get the EOS-R or some other newly released body, but that seems to be waning. At this point, I am as likely to pick up a second 5DIV or rent as needed. BTW, I got mine on a refurbished sale for $2,300 in 2017..if interested, keep your eyes open.

As I am shooting a M3 for my EOS M kit, I could see being tempted by a new M body, but that system has seen little use since I picked up the G7X II, which is admittedly inferior in terms of IQ, but "good enough" and the size/weight/ability to charge from USB is great. So, I am not sure what I am going to do here.

Lenses: The core is really set. There might be a bit of churn, but this is as easily me selling off a lens or two. If I add, it would be more of a niche lens, for example, I am shooting more portraits of family especially my suddenly teenage nieces and nephews. I am finding the vast majority of my favorite shots are from the 50Art and another focal length with a faster aperture might be nice. So, I may add a prime, or rent, but that is TBD. But that really may be it.

The R system does interest me, a little. For the bodies, there is a minor advantage in terms size/weight, but I do like the idea of the AF spread over most of the frame. That is not enough for me to get into the system. The bigger draw is the RF lenses.

While RF lenses are remarkable, it is incremental improvements from the EF, especially EF "L" lenses. I do not see me personally really benefiting enough to justify the switch.

Starting this year, I had thought I'd probably pick up a new, not announced much less released, high resolution EOS-R as my second camera and slowly transition to RF lenses by swapping a lens or so a year. But, right now, I am as likely to keep my core kit for 5-10 more years and then only transition as things start to fail or by some new tech that blows me away. Maybe transition to an EOS-R "Mk 3" in 5 years and then start a slow transition of EF to RF lenses?

But, my gear is not limiting me. I do not see any significant changes to my kit for the foreseeable future. Really, what I need is more time, but that is another story.

[Dave Throgmartin]

I am very content with my Canon EF kit but I am a bit envious of the AF capabilities of the Nikon D850 and the Sony a9 when it comes to birds in flight.

I am not interested in a complete system change but I would consider getting a D850 and their 500mm PF lens just for birds in flight but for now the lens is not readily available. The next version of the Sony a9 with their 100-400mm lens might be of even more interest if they increase the sensor resolution.

Then again Canon may release something with equal AF capability and a high resolution sensor. Since 2020 is an Olympic year I suspect we will see new releases soon from the major manufacturers.

I also am NOT interested in the Canon mirrorless system currently.

Your bird pics are amazing, Joel. I enjoy seeing them.

Dave

[Dave Throgmartin]

First, off, that is a very nice and capable kit. As always, shoot to need, and if you aren't needing something....

I totally get where you are coming from. A

s I am sure is obvious, I think and consider a lot of different options. From different lenses to small camera systems to medium format.

But, the conclusion I am coming too is that I may be "mostly" () set for the foreseeable future and it is a very odd place to be.

Cameras: 5DIV. Really, just love it. It is a tad big, especially with the L-bracket mounted, but still, it is not leaving my kit for a long time. I have been thinking of getting a second FF body. The thought I had, was to get the EOS-R or some other newly released body, but that seems to be waning. At this point, I am as likely to pick up a second 5DIV or rent as needed. BTW, I got mine on a refurbished sale for $2,300 in 2017..if interested, keep your eyes open.

As I am shooting a M3 for my EOS M kit, I could see being tempted by a new M body, but that system has seen little use since I picked up the G7X II, which is admittedly inferior in terms of IQ, but "good enough" and the size/weight/ability to charge from USB is great. So, I am not sure what I am going to do here.

Lenses: The core is really set. There might be a bit of churn, but this is as easily me selling off a lens or two. If I add, it would be more of a niche lens, for example, I am shooting more portraits of family especially my suddenly teenage nieces and nephews. I am finding the vast majority of my favorite shots are from the 50Art and another focal length with a faster aperture might be nice. So, I may add a prime, or rent, but that is TBD. But that really may be it.

The R system does interest me, a little. For the bodies, there is a minor advantage in terms size/weight, but I do like the idea of the AF spread over most of the frame. That is not enough for me to get into the system. The bigger draw is the RF lenses.

While RF lenses are remarkable, it is incremental improvements from the EF, especially EF "L" lenses. I do not see me personally really benefiting enough to justify the switch.

Starting this year, I had thought I'd probably pick up a new, not announced much less released, high resolution EOS-R as my second camera and slowly transition to RF lenses by swapping a lens or so a year. But, right now, I am as likely to keep my core kit for 5-10 more years and then only transition as things start to fail or by some new tech that blows me away. Maybe transition to an EOS-R "Mk 3" in 5 years and then start a slow transition of EF to RF lenses?

But, my gear is not limiting me. I do not see any significant changes to my kit for the foreseeable future. Really, what I need is more time, but that is another story.

When Jessica gave me 2nd 6D I thought it'd be more two body shooting, but so far I haven't done it that much. The concept is appealing.

I expect Canon will release a higher grade EOS R in the near future. The high end lenses released so far seem like a lot of lens for the EOS R body cost and would fit better on a high end body.

Dave

[Minerve101]

I am also fully satisfied with the 5D IV, since I shoot mostly stills and occasional short videos of family. If it fell of a cliff tomorrow, I would likely get the EOS R with adapter instead of the 5D IV, to permit use of hypothetical R lenses well in the future. Otherwise I have no plan to change.

When the M5 refurb was deeply discounted I picked up one for "snapshot" occasions, because I had given my daughter my prior small camera (an SL2). I use the 22mm M-mount pancake most of the time on the M5, but I also have a third party EF- to -M adapter so it can be a backup body.

I also love my main current lenses: 16-35mm f/4 L, 24-70mm f/2.8 II L, 70-200mm f/2.8 II, and 400mm F5.6 L. OK, my 50mm f/1.4 could be better wide open. It is rare that I want shots with such shallow depth of field, so that the zoom is usually on my camera when I am shooting around 50mm.

There is no doubt that I would do better improving my skills than improving my gear at this point.

[Karsaa]

I am currently looking to have 2nd body to pair my 5div. Would looove to go for eos r but, r is missing the only thing i really live with and that is software intervalometer since i really really hate using external ones. sony a7iii got software update with apparently damn nice intervalometer, which makes me wanna get that to be my 2nd body. RF lenses on other hand are really really tempting for me....so looked towards eos rp...realising that its battery is utter carpage for my use.

So currently just going to go along with my 5div and ef lenses...and waiting that maybe someday canon realises that software intervalometer could be nice update to r =)

[Dave Throgmartin]

Well, I take it back. The EOS R actually looks like quite an interesting camera. It comes in between the 6D2 and 5D4 in both cost and features. I really like the idea of autofocus points across the screen and having the higher grade sensor with more pixels and better file flexibility (DR).

I haven't had it in hand yet, but would appear to be a contender.

Dave

[Kayaker72]

I haven't had it in hand yet, but would appear to be a contender.

Dave

As it should, I think you are right, it is between the 6DII and 5DIV in terms of cost and general (personal use specific) pecking order.

But, if I may ask, contender for what? Are you looking to upgrade?

[Dave Throgmartin]

I took the wife's 6D2 for a spin and found what I thought were some pretty substantial improvements. The autofocus performance improvement is truly night and day. The original 6D autofocus is mediocre when using anything except the center point, but this one is very accurate using all points. The focus points also cover more of the image than I initially gave it credit for. Add to this 6 more MP, the flippy touch screen, and reasonable price point and I'm sold.

I bought a 6D2 today and put it through the initial paces at Windpoint Lighthouse in Racine, WI. I really like the user experience with this camera. I haven't looked at the images on the computer yet.

Dave