This year has kicked off with a new addition to the family. I just bought a Canon R6 Mark II.
Camera upgrades are expensive and not things I take lightly so I thought I’d write about my thought process when it comes to upgrading, and what made me pull the trigger.
Table of Contents
Firstly, do you need to upgrade?
Before we begin it’s worth pointing out I don’t consider myself a gear snob. Since I was a child I’ve always approached big purchases with a similar approach of research and consideration. Admittedly as I’ve got older these purchases have generally gotten bigger but my approach is much the same.
My main consideration with any expensive purchase is ‘How is this going to improve my work?’. I’m a strong believer that the photographer makes the work, not the camera. However I can also appreciate certain cameras can help me create that work better than others. In fact, I’m generally of the opinion that good quality glass is a better investment than the camera itself.
You don’t always need the latest camera
The last time I upgraded my camera body was about 6 or 7 years ago when I moved from a Canon 7D to a 5D Mark III. At the time I was starting to shoot a lot more seriously and the main reason to upgrade was to move to a full frame sensor and get better low light performance.
At the time the Canon 5D Mark IV had just been released but the main changes were more related to video work which isn’t something I tend to use often. I chose to save the money and opt for a Mark III instead. It offered everything I needed for my work, despite having just been replaced by a newer, better model.
It’s been my workhorse ever since and I absolutely love it, so why think about changing?
The world is moving to mirrorless (whether you like it or not)
I’ve been watching with great interest over the last few years as the camera industry has migrated to mirrorless from the traditional DSLRs. The cameras are smarter, faster, smaller, lighter and the lenses sharper.
It may be the traditionalist in me but mirrorless isn’t something that’s appealed to me. I grew up with film cameras so the idea of Electronic Viewfinders (EVFs) that show me in real time what my exposure looks like, or state of the art autofocus systems that can track an eyeball accurately at up to 40fps just feels like… well, cheating.
I’ve spent years developing my focus technique and I pride myself on being able to get sharp images, shooting wide open on prime lenses often while running backwards shooting children. I shoot with back button focussing to allow me to work fast enough to adapt. It’s difficult. There’s a big part of me that resents the camera making it so easy.
Getting hands on with mirrorless
However I feel about mirrorless, there’s no denying it’s the future. Like it or not the DSLR is dead. I knew that whenever my camera was ready for an upgrade, I’d have no real choice but to jump to mirrorless. All my opinions were theoretical though. I hadn’t even held a mirrorless camera yet, or looked through an EVF.
So when I saw a great offer from Try The Kit for an extended free loan over the Christmas period, it seemed like a fantastic opportunity to get my hands on a mirrorless camera for an extended period of time and see whether I really would hate it as much as I thought. (Spoiler: I didn’t…)
Canon R6 Mark II vs R5 – Pros and cons
My first dilemma was which would be the right potential upgrade path for me? At this time Canon had just announced the R6 Mark II. I’m not sure the changes in the Mark II would make me want to upgrade if I already have a Mark I body but the jump in resolution and improvements in autofocus are enough for me to disregard the first generation body.
So for my needs it really comes down to two choices – The R6 Mark II or the R5. The R5 is the obvious upgrade from a 5D but there’s a BIG jump in price and when you compare the two the key differences are resolution and video. Video-wise I hardly ever shoot video on my 5D. That may well change but the R6 is a very capable performer. Am I going to need to shoot 8K video any time soon? Almost certainly not.
R6 Mark II vs R5 key differences
- Resolution – R5 is 45MP, R6 Mark II is 24.2Mp
- Video Capability – R5 shoots 8K video, R6 Mark II shoots 4K
- Autofocus – R6 Mark II has inherited newer, more advanced AF functionality from the R3
- Top Display – R5 has a top LCD display, R6 Mark II doesn’t. Might not seem much but I’ll come back to this below
- Memory Cards – Both have dual card slots (yay!). R5 has one SD and CFexpress. the R6 Mark II has two SD slots.
- Price – There’s a BIG jump in price from the R6 Mark II to the R5.
There are other differences. The R5 has a larger rear screen and a higher resolution EVF for example, but the above are the main differences in terms of what’s important to me.
Key upgrade considerations for me
Autofocus
Now we’re getting to the important stuff. Autofocus performance is one of the main things I’m excited to try with these cameras. The release of the R6 Mark II throws a curveball here as it leapfrogs the more expensive R5 somewhat due to inheriting a lot of the features and technology from the more expensive R3. Throw into the mix that the R6 is shown to perform slightly better in low light as well then the R6 is the clear winner for me.
Resolution
When I look over the specs and assess what’s important to me, the R6 wins hands down. My current camera is 22.3MP. I’ve never found that to be lacking (and I’ve just shot a campaign that’ll be going on billboards all over Leeds – more on that to come!) so the resolution of the R6 is fine for me. I think ~24MP is the real sweet spot for resolution.
Yes the added resolution of the R5 appeals but I really don’t have a need for 45MP. Higher resolution means more storage, slower editing etc. The original R6 was 20MP. Again, fine but a slight backwards step from where I’m at which wouldn’t have sat too well with me given the cost of the upgrade so the recent Mark II release made this decision a lot easier than it would have been.
Price
The difference in price between these two models is significant. As it turns out, for my own needs the R6 is the better fit so it’s a no brainer with the exception of one thing…
Top LCD screen
Now, you might think I’m crazy but the lack of LCD top screen on the R6 seemed like a BIG deal for me. I use mine on the 5D all the time and I couldn’t imagine not having one.
To the point that, despite the R6 being the clear choice for my own needs in every single department I was still seriously considering buying an R5. That would be one awfully expensive LCD screen… To be fair, by losing that screen they’ve been able to incorporate the more traditional mode dial which is arguably more useful. I just wish I could have both (Like I do on my 5D Mark III)
I was toying with borrowing both cameras over Christmas so I could compare but in the end I decided to just borrow the R6 (The Mark II wasn’t available to borrow yet). It’s clear that on paper it’s the best fit and I figured it would be a good opportunity to see how much I really missed that top screen. I also borrowed the stunning new RF 50mm f/1.2L. If you’ve read my blog on ‘Why Every Photographer Should Own a 50mm Lens‘ you’ll know that I LOVE the 50mm. There’s no doubt that the RF version of this lens is an incredible (and eye-wateringly expensive) piece of kit. I was VERY excited to try it.
My thoughts on the R6
So… given my trepidation in terms of the world of mirrorless how did I find it? Within a few minutes of playing with it I liked it, a lot. Within a few hours I was starting to be really impressed. Within a few days? Well… I loved it. I was absolutely blown away by the autofocus and the low light abilities were really impressive. I couldn’t believe how much more capable it was than my 5D.
I could see immediately how the eye tracking especially would make a significant difference to my family photography. As much as I pride myself on my focus technique I can see how this camera will compliment my technique and help me make sure I don’t miss.
The body is smaller than I’m used to. I have mixed feelings on that. Yes it’s lighter and smaller so there are some logistical considerations but I missed the feel of my 5D a little. I shoot with back button focus and my thumb naturally rested just above the top of the R6 body. Similarly some of the controls have moved a little so my brain is needing to retain. I know my camera’s controls like the back of my hand.
In reality I don’t think it would take much time to adapt, it’s just muscle memory. By the end of my trial with the camera it was already starting to feel pretty natural.
What about the EVF? It felt alien to me and I’ll admit I jumped a few times when lifting the camera to my eye to discover playback of a previous shot or a menu on screen. That was disorientating. Being able to see exposure changes in real time? It’s handy I suppose. It’s not really a game changer for me.
So… the top LCD screen? Did I miss it? Yes. I use my back screen for menus and reviewing images, I never use the quick settings screen. I’ve always referred to the top screen. I can see that with mirrorless I’m likely to use that back screen more OR it may be that as I get more used to the EVF I’ll get more used to using that as the primary reference. In any case, while I missed it, I didn’t ‘£1,200 miss it’. There will of course be an R5 Mark II which will no doubt change the game again but for me, it’s unlikely to be an upgrade that would make sense to me for the kind of shooting I do. The R6 Mark II is perfect for my needs.
Migrating from EF lenses to mirrorless RF lenses
When considering migrating to mirrorless it’s not just the body you need to think about. I have a modest but not insignificant collection of EF L glass lenses. The EF mount was introduced in 1987, replacing the earlier FD mount and has been unchanged until the introduction of the RF lens mount in in 2018.
It’s a huge jump for Canon to change mount and not something they took likely. The RF mount architecture enables much faster communication between the camera and the lens, much greater data transfer, and support for the latest focusing, image stabilisation and optical technologies.
Canon offer an EF to RF adaptor that allows older EF lenses to mount onto newer mirrorless cameras so you don’t need to upgrade all your expensive glass immediately.
So we come to my biggest revelation with this camera aside from the autofocus capability. My EF glass performed better on the R6 with RF adaptor than they do on my 5D. My EF 50mm f/1.2L especially is a funny old lens. When. it’s sharp it’s really sharp but it’s… how shall I put this? ‘Full of character’. It can be slow, it’s sometimes soft. I’ve fine tuned the autofocus on it but found if I tune it for one distance it can be soft at another. It’s a lens of compromise.
Shooting with my 50mm on the R6 with the adaptor it’s the sharpest it’s ever been. I couldn’t believe how well it performed. That’s not to say the RF 50mm lens wasn’t absolutely beautiful. It’s fast and sharp and I love it. But, it’s not the ‘must have’ revelation I expected it to be. My lenses performed beautifully so it actually makes the upgrade decision a lot easier.
In some ways I think having all EF glass is better than upgrading just one lens. I often have to switch out lenses quickly. If I can keep the adaptor on the body I can just switch lenses as I usually do. As you start to upgrade lenses things get more complex.
Say I’m shooting with an EF 35mm on an RF adaptor and switch out for an RF 50mm for example that adaptor is attached to my 35mm lens. So when I quickly reach for my trusty EF 70-200mm (which I do a lot) then I suddenly have to find the adaptor and fit it before I can carry on. It’s not a huge hassle but when you’re mid-shoot it slows you down.
It’s unlikely I’d be able to afford to change all my lenses to RF at the same time so I’ll have to deal with that later (you could always buy multiple adaptors if it really bothered you I suppose) but for now I’m certainly in no rush to change my glass. It’s all working beautifully.
Moving to mirrorless and some things you might not have thought of
I was sold. As soon as the courier arrived at the door to pick the camera up I knew I’d seen enough to justify upgrading my 5D. The R6 Mark II was so new it wasn’t available to borrow so I’d actually been using an original R6. Knowing how much that had impressed me I ordered myself a Mark II pretty soon after. They were on back order everywhere but happy to say I now have it in my hands and I couldn’t be happier about my decision.
That said, there are a few little ‘gotchas’ that it’s important to bear in mind if you’re thinking of upgrading from DSLR to mirrorless. For me, this initial upgrade is nice and simple. The R6 Mark II body, with an EF adaptor is a straight replacement for my 5D and I can carry on working exactly as I have been, with my same lenses.
Other than buying a couple of new SD cards (The 5D has one SD slot and one CF slot) my storage requirements don’t really change. (If you’re thinking of an R5 don’t forget you’ll need more storage – both on your machine AND on the cards in the camera. Don’t forget also it uses the new fast CFexpress card which are expensive. Oh and you’ll need a new card reader for that unless you’re going to copy from the SD).
The main thing for me is the lens change. Maybe I’ll happily stick with my EF lenses and there’ll be no problem. More likely, at some point in the future I’ll start to migrate them. Therein lies the issue. When I’m shooting commercial work I always bring a second backup body. If my camera fails for any reason I need to be able to finish the job. Up to now I’ve always just taken my old 7D. It’s far from ideal but allows me to finish a job in the event of an emergency. I’ve never needed it. Not once.
My 5D will replace that now as my backup body and touch wood I won’t need that either. However, once I start to migrate to RF glass things get more complex. I can put my EF lenses on the R6 but it doesn’t work the other way round. You can’t mount an RF lens on a 5D. So if my backup camera is a 5D then I need to also take EF lenses.
I suspect for me the change to RF glass will be gradual. At some point the R6 will become by second body. Or maybe I’ll pick up a cheap second hand EOS R. It’s not a deal breaker but it’s something to think about. If you’re not shooting commercially then it really shouldn’t be a problem.
Final words
So this has been a long post because there’s a lot to think about. Camera equipment is expensive and in this day and age especially, any potential upgrade should be led by a need rather than desire (Unless you have money to burn in which case all power to you). The move from DSLR to mirrorless is a big one. Probably the biggest change since the move to digital and not one to be taken likely.
For those of you considering a similar move, I hope my thoughts above have helped you consider the pros and cons. Here are my takeaways:
- A camera is just a tool. The equipment doesn’t make the photographer, but it can help them. Consider how (or if) the equipment can improve your work
- Whether an upgrade is ‘worth it’ depends entirely on you, what/how you shoot and your circumstances
- Don’t always assume that the more expensive option is necessarily the best for you
- Don’t forget to consider other knock-on costs or complications you might not have thoughts about (adaptors, cards, storage…)
For me, the autofocus was the deal-breaker. For the kinds of shoots I work on the added value of that capability is worth the upgrade alone. And bear in mind I was testing an original R6. The autofocus in the Mark II is even better.
I’m excited to see what we can do together.
Momena Jalil
23rd February 2023 at 8:42 pm
Thank you so much, you solved my dilemma. You answered all my questions and worries.
Simon Wiffen
23rd February 2023 at 8:44 pm
Ah great to hear! Thanks Momena
Ajide kolawole
6th March 2023 at 3:16 pm
Nice
Joe Caffery
19th March 2023 at 10:36 am
Great article that summarises how we should approach upgrades I’m in a similar dilemma and your article has helped me enormously to to rethink my choices. Mant thanks for taking the time and trouble to write this.
Simon Wiffen
19th March 2023 at 3:00 pm
Ah thanks Joe, appreciate that and glad it was helpful for you. Out of curiosity in what way did it make you rethink? Change of direction in term of an upgrade or decided against it completely?
Joseph Caffery
20th March 2023 at 8:56 pm
Hi Simon,
It made me think not R5 and maybe R6II (currently 1DX and 5DSr). Also been looking at OM-1 and their 150-400 lens which takes you to 1000mm with the inbuilt TC. Still not decided but you have allayed my “fears” so to speak about giving up high MP and still retaing 35mm eqv quality. I may still keep the 5DSr for landscape and macro with limited lenses and an electronic rail.
Regards
Joe
Simon Wiffen
20th March 2023 at 8:59 pm
Ah interesting. If you want to really muddy the waters you could always wait for the R5 Mark II ha. Let me know what you end up doing.
Jonathan Fung
4th May 2023 at 6:44 pm
Hi, Do you still keep your 5D mark III as your backup camera? or you traded that in for R6 II?
Simon Wiffen
4th May 2023 at 7:01 pm
Hi Jonathan. I kept the 5D as my backup camera. As I alluded to in the post that’s fine while I’m adapting EF glass with the R6 but I’ll have a decision to make if I start investing in RF glass. Will see. I’ve been really happy with adapted lenses so far (albeit the adaptor is a bit of a battery hog if you leave EF glass attached it seems)
Passper
1st June 2023 at 7:16 pm
I am really happy for this research made. Thank you very much. Its now me to look for money eh…. ninyingi konka ninza kuzibona (its a lot but i will vet it).
Tony
13th June 2023 at 8:19 am
Thanks Simon,I’m having the same dilemma myself right now. I shoot mainly corporate portraits and events and am using a 5d4 with a 6D backup. I use the in camera wifi and Canon app to show images as we go on an iPad to my clients , as such I’m worried that the size of the R5 files would make this transfer too slow a process. I’m now leaning towards the R62 as well, thanks for your post.
Simon Wiffen
13th June 2023 at 8:24 am
Hi Tony. I guess the imminent arrival of the R5 Mark II adds further complication. I suspect the file size will take an even bigger jump there. Be interested to hear what you decide. I’ve shot a fair few corporate portraits and events since I got the R6 and it’s been a joy to use.
Steve Smith
14th July 2023 at 9:46 am
Great article. I’m picking my R6 mk2, adapter and battery grip up next Thursday. As i mainly shoot birds i generally use a EF 500mm f4 mk2 with or with converter so I’ve gone with the grip as a balance. Can’t wait
PS I’ve been using a 7dmk2 since its release in 2014 so it will be a massive upgrade and learning curve
Simon Wiffen
14th July 2023 at 9:54 am
Hi Steve – Ah I’m excited for you! I suppose you might miss the extra length you get from the crop sensor a little bit moving to full frame but the object tracking AF in the R6 is absolutely incredible, and there’s a setting specifically for tracking birds in flight. I think you’re going to love it! Let me know how you get on – yours is the perfect use case and I suspect the AF performance is going to blow your mind!
MATTHEW UFFINDELL
2nd August 2023 at 4:25 pm
Upgrading to the R6 from 5Dmk2 was a no brainer, autofocus is so much faster and intelligent, the optical screen is great in low light. I’m not interested in video so that and file size made me choose the R6 over the R5 and yes, the R5 has higher resolution but the price difference cannot be justified for the wedding and schools photography that I tend to use it for.
Simon Wiffen
2nd August 2023 at 4:26 pm
Yep agree on all of that!
Dale sutton
5th August 2023 at 8:21 pm
Funny I’ve just seen this post of yours, I’m thinking exactly the same, upgrading from my mark iii to the r6 mark ii. I think you have just made my mind up.
Simon Wiffen
5th August 2023 at 8:41 pm
Ah well glad it was helpful. No one size fits all of course but for me I’ve been really happy with my choice. Hope you enjoy whatever you go with, let me know how you find it
Rajarajan Rajamani
21st August 2023 at 9:32 pm
Glad I saw your page and read it. I have a good old 5D mk 1 that has long been due for an upgrade. Since I am not a pro (though would link to think of myself as one!) any upgrade like this is always low priority – Have been trying to get all the info and found this page very informative. Might now get the R6ii by Christmas ’23
Simon Wiffen
21st August 2023 at 9:35 pm
Glad you found it useful! Hope you like it if and when you make the switch. S
Nelson Autefault
26th August 2023 at 4:19 am
Really great read! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, very useful as I’ve been having the same worries about the lack of top LCD screen.
Simon Wiffen
26th August 2023 at 6:52 am
Thanks Nelson, glad you enjoyed it. I still kind of wish there was a too screen but honestly, I don’t really notice any more. I’ve got used to it.
Brett Landry
13th September 2023 at 4:00 pm
Thank you for posting this. What a big help this is. I too currently have the 5dmkiii. I shoot running races and real estate. Beyond that it is for my family. My son is in an mtb team and i love to shoot for them. I have all Tamron lenses and was happy to hear they will be compatible with the r6mkii, after a firmware update. I was on the fence about getting the r5 but that price jump is huge. I am looking at the beginning of the year for my purchase and your article pretty much helped me decide what i am getting.
Simon Wiffen
13th September 2023 at 4:07 pm
Thanks Brett, glad it was useful for you. I’d imagine the AF of the R6 would make a huge difference to your mtb and race shooting, the subject tracking is fantastic. I agree the jump to the R5 is massive and hard to justify unless you’re a hardcore video shooter. Seeing a lot of potential R5 MkII specs being leaked so I expect there’ll be some good deals to be had on the R5 coming up soon although in a lot of areas the R6 AF is more advanced as it has the newer subject tracking etc. Sure you’ll love it anyway!
Diana
22nd September 2023 at 4:41 pm
This was very helpful!
Simon Wiffen
22nd September 2023 at 4:42 pm
Glad to hear it, thanks Diana. Are you making the jump?
Keith
27th September 2023 at 8:08 pm
Simon, an excellent piece which too me was far more informative than a couple of videos featuring ‘Canon Experts’ who frankly seemed so effusive about the functionality of the R6 MkII as to leave me totally confused and at times thinking ‘what did he or she just say’? Regarding equipment, we are similar in that I use a 5D MkII and like you, have a couple of Canon EF lenses (24-105 f4L IS USM & 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS II USM) with my photography of choice being Aviation. So your explanation regarding the benefits of an adapter did not go unnoticed and I’ll look forward to trying out the ‘subject tracking’. I have good friend’s who bought an R5 & and R7 respectively just about a year ago and I know that they have been really pleased with their purchases, the R5 owner also bought an RF lens and the pictures I’ve seen from that have been excellent. On the back of your article and my friend’s input you have helped me make my mind up and an order has been placed. I cannot wait to get going. Thanks again.
Simon Wiffen
27th September 2023 at 8:11 pm
Ah thanks Keith, really appreciate the kind words and glad you found it helpful. One thing I have noticed since writing is the RF adaptor seems to drain battery even with everything off. Related to IS I think but I’ve taken to leaving me lenses unattached until I shoot which bugs me a bit but getting used to it. Just something to keep in mind. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks again
Robert
2nd October 2023 at 9:19 pm
That has helped me a lot, I’m thinking of going from my 5d4 to R62 and also have some bad thoughts.
I actually went to our local camera shop yesterday to a play with a R62 and was very impressed straight away, its lighter, smaller but didn’t feel like a “toy” either. Feels perfect in my hands even with my EF24-70 fitted. One thing you didn’t mention is ALL your old non IS lens will now become stabilized lens when fitted to the R62.
Simon Wiffen
3rd October 2023 at 6:32 am
Glad you found it useful! I’ll admit it took me a while to get used to how small the 6 felt in my hands after the 5D (was reaching for mid air with my index finger for a while!. Definitely doesn’t feel like a toy but I also wouldn’t say it felt quite as robust as the 5D. There’s something reassuring about the weight I think. You raise a really good point about the IS. It’s interesting, I’ve not found the IBIS to be quite the game changer I thought it might be personally, although my EF glass is noticeably sharper on the 6 than on the 5 (especially my fussy 50mm). Was also really pleasantly surprised that there’s no noticeable difference in AF speed with the RF adaptor. All my EF lenses are better in every way on the R. It’s the autofocus that’s been the real game changer for me.
Chaz Wheels
19th October 2023 at 3:57 pm
Thanks so much for this article…massively helpful! 🙏
Baldwin
26th November 2023 at 1:51 pm
I was very interested to read this as my setup has been a 5d3 with a 7d as a second body, and I am awaiting my R6ii, grip, and a control ring adapter. I shoot food on location, related lifestyle and event work and have been in 5d series bodies since the original much beloved mk1. The R5 was/is in consideration (I’m still having second thoughts as I wait for the new body to get here) – but as I don’t crop heavily I have never needed the higher pixel counts, and I like no recording limit on the R6ii alongside several of the functionality and control layout features. I will most likely miss the top screen but if I had to pick top screen or mode dial I suppose I’d pick the latter. I suspect overall this is going to be an order of magnitude gear change for me as well coming from the 5d world. I agree with your gear philosophy – I have used the current setup (with a solid mix of good remote strobes and hot lights) very successfully for a LOT of gigs. The price of RF glass is just stunning aside from non L primes so I am more than happy to see my EF glass be at a new potential, aside from some apparent high speed fps constraints/issues with certain lenses.
Thank you!
Simon Wiffen
26th November 2023 at 2:19 pm
Thanks Marc – Be interested to hear how you get on with it! S
Alan
28th January 2024 at 2:05 pm
What an excellent find and an excellent article!! Thank you Simon for taking the time to pass on your thoughts findings and conclusions. I’m in exactly the same boat and currently run two 5d mkiii’s with a 5dMKii as a back up…and like you, never had to use the back up. I photograph field sports (mainly tracking dogs as speed) and think the improved autofocus will help me enormously. Can I just ask about battery life…on a normal days shooting I can take up to 2,500 shots with one camera with my 70-200 2.8ii …how would the R6ii perform?….do you think a grip/2 batteries would see the day out…I’m guessing I would still need to carry spare battery(s) as I do now? Also, do you still use back focussing? many thanks for your time. Regards, Alan
Simon Wiffen
29th January 2024 at 6:34 am
Glad it helped Alan. The improved AF would help hugely with the kind of shooting you do for sure. In terms of battery life it’s definitely not as good as the 5D but then the battery’s doing a huge amount more so makes sense. It’s a higher capacity battery which helps but note you can use your 5D batteries in it too so you can use those as spares. For me the trade off has been more than worth it. (I’ve never needed more than two for a day’s shoot with the R6) One quick tip – I’ve noticed the EF adaptor seems to draw a little power if a lens is attached so I don’t tend to leave lenses on the body when not in use like I used to. I do still use back button focus yes, tho I’m not 100% sure if it’s as necessary as it used to be. It’s more habit now tbh.Let me know if you make the jump – would love to hear how that AF works for you with the dogs!
ClarkeW
7th March 2024 at 10:51 pm
Great article ! I’m strongly considering the R6ii and the decisions around EF vs RF lenses. Thanks for the time you took to write this. It’s much appreciated!
Simon Wiffen
8th March 2024 at 6:39 am
Glad you found it helpful, thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m still running EF glass on mine and yet to see a compelling reason to change that with the cost of RF glass. They perform better now than they did on my 5D MkIII. What are you shooting on at the moment? Be interested to hear how you get on if you make the jump!
Andrew Cooke
9th March 2024 at 2:55 pm
Great article Simon and thanks for both throwing light on some of my decision concerns but also throwing a load of new ones into the mix.
I’ve been a 5Dmk4 user almost since it first appeared having transitioned from an old Nikon D2000. I have the canon two battery grip and given I use the viewfinder not the screen a set of batteries can give me 2-3k shots. I still (occasionally) use the Nikon as my backup but that has the problem of having to carry two sets of lenses and having a crop frame back up on a full frame, and, and, and…. So I almost always run the gauntlet of no back up these days. I do mostly sports pro assignments but generally pro bono and have done a few weddings on the same basis.
Soooo. My dilemma is a plan to do more true paid professional work and on that basis there is no way I can operate without backup. There are some good deals on second hand 5D m4 bodies around but even at £1K it feels like throwing good money after bad. So I had been looking at R5 v R3 and hadn’t been considered R6 – I will now take a closer look. Your lens experience is very reassuring. I have that 50mm lens and find it invaluable.
I am in the fortunate position of probably being able to invest more if I want to but as you say I don’t believe in spending money for the sake of it. I like the weight and substance of the 5D with the grip so whichever way if I went R5 or 6 I would want to add the grip.
Its a nice and interesting dilemma to have though.
Simon Wiffen
9th March 2024 at 3:38 pm
Hi Andrew, glad it was helpful. I wouldn’t personally invest in a DSLR now but I suppose you could argue they’ve never been more affordable for the same reason. I suspect if you went with a 6 (or 3 or 5 for that matter) your 5D would make a great backup. Same issue as I had in terms of the limitation it puts you on lenses I guess. I’ve been shooting over a year and don’t see any compelling reason to upgrade my glass tbh. I’ve been delighted with the new lease of life my 6 has brought to my existing lenses. In terms of the grip I’m sure I read this week they’ve quietly discontinued the grip (not sure which specific one as I don’t use them) so assume a new version is incoming so something to bear in mind. If you’re shooting sports I think you’d be shocked at the improvements in the AF. May be worth hiring one with an EF adaptor to give it a whirl. I did that and ended up ordering mine within days of sending it back ha. It’ll blow your 5 out of the water in terms of the AF for sure. Be interested to hear which way you go!
Andrew Cooke
10th March 2024 at 8:21 am
I hadn’t read about the grip actually. That’s useful information. Hate to say it but that might drive me to R3 as I’ve been used to the extra battery cover for the last ten years and it is useful if you’re capturing a long morning of sports, music festivals or even just longer gigs. I also like the feel of the bigger camera. I’m sure there are non canon alternates will take a look.
Thanks again, I’ll let you know where I end up.
Simon Wiffen
10th March 2024 at 8:26 am
R3 looks like an unbelievable piece of kit!
Peter Talbot
4th April 2024 at 12:02 pm
Being not commercial photographer.and strapped.would RP better than the D equivalent,where the D equivalent would be more top end D and the RP being low end R model.
RP probably better software..etc..
Simon Wiffen
5th April 2024 at 6:50 am
Hi Peter, The RP is a funny little camera really. I’ve never been quite sure where it sits and without the numerical name it’s hard to know which D model it would actually be the equivalent to. I think with the initial R especially and then RP releases the specs were a bit all over the place while Canon found their feet and tested the water and then things have settled into a more traditional structure with the 6, 5, 3 etc. I’ve not used on personally but on paper the RP is a very capable full frame camera. I don’t think the AF system is as impressive as the others but I’d imagine it’d be a better buy at that kind of price point than a DSLR. It really depends what you’re shooting, what lenses you have etc
Sneha Ramesh
11th April 2024 at 3:37 am
I have been going through so many reviews and have been really confused about which camera to upgrade to. This came at the right time and has been the most honest and useful review I have read and I don’t think I need to read another. My mind is now clearly set on the R6mkii. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Thank you so much for your review!
Simon Wiffen
11th April 2024 at 6:30 am
Thanks Sneha, I’m really glad you found it useful and appreciate the kind words. I’m sure you’ll love it!
Mike
26th April 2024 at 4:41 pm
Very helpful overview as I was preparing for a vacation with my 5D Mark III and now am faced with the same issues as I was hoping to rent a landscape friendly lens. My shop only has RF lenses available at this point in 2024.
Aynsley Cooper
10th May 2024 at 4:46 pm
Well Simon, a year later I’ve consumed your observations on this matter and consider myself well informed.
Thank you, and great post.
Simon Wiffen
10th May 2024 at 4:47 pm
Ha, better late than never! Glad you found it useful. S
William Cooper
10th May 2024 at 6:36 pm
I’m old now, today I got my underpants on the right way around!
Good article, thanks.
Randesign Studio
15th May 2024 at 3:11 am
I was set on a 5D Mark IV upgrade to my 5D Mark III. Fortunately, I talked to another fellow professional photographer (Thanks Brett T.) who encouraged me to use my EF Lenses with the adapter and get the R6 II for it’s autofocus capabilities. I do miss the top screen a lot, but yes, I wasn’t sure about the large files and the large cost of the R5. The adapter works so well, and really is not that big. That was my main concern. I had imagined similar issues as you, and made the purchase about 6 months ago. I wish I had your article back then, but fortunately my friend and luck steered me to the best choice for me.
Simon Wiffen
15th May 2024 at 6:42 am
Ah that’s great – yes it sounds like a very similar conclusion. I’ve just about got used to not having the top screen now (I think!)