Canon R5. From DSLR to Mirrorless. My thoughts so far from a professional photographer 

Hi Roy, wonderful to have you back! I just love the passion you give to us about you journey in photography! It’s always evolving, be it with new tech, or old. It’s a search for something meaningful, a light, a colour, a shade… I’ve started my journey this year with a 6D Mk2. You’ve made me understand the character a prime like de 50 f1.4 has… You deal with it, but there’s something special about that! Thank you for your channel and content. Hope of everything good for you. Kind regards.

Thank you for your pragmatic honesty! You make me smile a lot - honesty and self humor - such wonderful qualities to love this life, and your thoughts!

I came to the R5 from the 5D3. Like you, I am picky about all aspects of my equipment and my use of it. I have absolutely zero problem with color. Instead of using the camera matching profiles, I use the ones that I generated from a Color Checker Passport (full sun, shade, tungsten, flash, etc. ) My Lightroom import profile is a dual illuminant profile generated from the Passport. It is interesting that it gets it right so often. There is no color issue with the R5. There is/was a color issue with Lightroom.

New subscriber. Honestly the best youtube photography channel. Really appreciate your honest real photography talk. Lots of learning watching your videos. Really appreciate the time and work you are putting in these videos. Myself also a photographer since mid 80s. There is definitely something about the 5D mark IV RAW files, love what comes out of it.

Glad you're back. I enjoy your subjective impressions and your overall approach.

This is my favorite channel on the air-so much good information-and so practical-I am considering a new camera -and I am a dedicated Canon photographer-R5 is on the top of the list-but I do love my 5D Mark IV-A truly wonderful camera!!

Hi Roy, Love the review. So in-depth from a photographers perspective instead of reading an info sheet. I am looking now to upgrade to the R5 and RF 70-200mm. Keep up the awesome videos! Peace!

Great natural delivery, authentic and interesting. Thanks Roy!

Hello sir from New Zealand. I’d just like to say thank you for your input and advice. You have a great channel and you are teaching this old 57 year old some new tricks, much appreciated and again thank you for sharing.

Thanks for your review, it’s always interesting to see your view on a camera as I know you are out there earning a living with them. I used the 5d mk1 for 15 years for weddings and still love the colour from these cameras, I finally switched this year to the mk4 and really don’t like the colour through Lightroom, I have used Lightroom from day one. Your video helped me re-evaluate and I am going to try other RAW processing software.

I love your review Roy. Great job.

Another great review. After not seeing a video for awhile I was hoping you were out on assignment. Nice to see you putting a new camera through the ringer.

Absolutely brilliant review. So honest and self-deprecating. Enjoyed the thoughts on using EVF and general mirrorless workflow. I am loving the 5D Mk1, all kinds of Nikons and a whole range of more modern'ish DSLR and MFT cameras so the R5 is about 20 years away for me. Hope you continue to be successful with this one (please not stop your DSLR videos though!)

Good work! Really love hearing what a working photographer has to say about gear xx

Great video, as always. I'm still in the 5DmkIII era, but I think the R5 is the way to go (after the 5DmkIV, of course!) Welcome back!

Hi Roy. As always I enjoy your honest, down-to-earth approach to your videos. I have been shooting with the R-series bodies for about 18 months - 1x R5 and 2 xR6 units: all with battery grips. The output I create can vary a lot in size, and resolution, so I found the solution was to use R6 units for lower res and for backup. I also found the R6 has about one EV better DR. Like you, I still shoot with my Canon DSLRs, but have had no real issues in transitioning across. That said, I try to take a set of cameras from each platform (so, all R-series or DSLRs with the appropriate lenses), but then again I have multiple bodies, which was a big outlay, but I also prefer not to change lenses in the field, so I have always lived with that cost. I will say that I TOTALLY agree that one has to study the manual and spend some time with it and the controls to align the camera's controls and settings to one's style of photography - I find a lot of people don't do that, and get overwhelmed (or if they haven't understood the use of features, underwhelmed) when they go out to shoot. I think it makes a lot of sense to configure a set of characteristics for a particular type of shooting, and assign them to one of C1 - 3 modes. Like you, I find the CF-Express Type B cards very pricey, and the reader is a ridiculous price! Still, the performance of the cards is good in clearing the buffer quickly, especially when shooting continuous RAW at high speed. As to the RAW rendition. Given that DPP and Capture One can process the images with some success, I am wondering if perhaps the issue you describe is more with a tardy Adobe creation of profiles for the new Canon tech, and less with the images themselves? I don't know... So far I have loved the RF lenses: I have the 24-105L, 100-500 and the 24-240 for when I want to go out with just one body for fun. I have to say that the latter lens is amazing for its range and honestly can't tell any significant difference against the 24-105 across their common focal lengths. I got this when my 24-105L was on back-order for 7 months (NZ is on the end of a long logistics path). The Canon EF-RF adapters I have used with my legacy native and sigma lenses have all worked fine so far, which is hugely encouraging. Looking forward to hearing of your latest adventures and experiences with your gear.

I was literally just looking at your channel if you had any videos on the mirrorless system and this just popped up. Talk about timing.

Thanks Rou for the video - You have a new subscriber! I discovered you as I have a 5DMKiV that I have had since 2018 and am learning all the time with it and my gear! I am contemplating upgrading to mirrorless as I have some opportunities in the video space which have presented themselves, but im just not ready to take the financial plunge - but this video makes me feel much more comfortable and I might just rent an R5 & adapter for a few shoots to see what’s what! Looking forward to more quality video’s - cheers!

Yes it a complicated beast. When I got my 1D Mark IV years ago it actually took me years to understand such a camera. I went through the entire manual & all the custom functions over a long time. It’s an evolution understanding these bodies. It was also very intimidating when using such a body as I had such limited knowledge & experience at this level. It was like getting to know someone. That how these cameras are built. They are not simple. You pick & choose how the body works for you.

Another great vid Roy. Interesting to hear yours views on the leap to mirrorless and the learning curve your currently on. My first canon was an AV-1 many many years ago and now have the 5D4, there have been many canons in between but I could move effortlessly from one to another. Not sure I’d find it quite as simple with an R5! If I was attempting to make a living from photography then I’m sure I’d get an R5 but as a ‘happy snapper’ I’m more comfortable with the investment level dslr’s are currently at. Keep the vids coming!

Fascinating video, thanks Roy. I am a hobbyist photographer who shoots mostly birds down by the river or in my back garden. I have a 90D and an R8. I absolutely love them both but I find it easier to get great shots with the R8, the eye detect auto focus is brilliant! I also struggle slightly to get the exposure spot on with the 90D, it’s usually a bit over or a bit under. The 90D has a canon 100-400L usm ii attached permanently where as the R8 now has the RF 200-800. I treat my 90D like a classic car now, I love using it but the R8 out performs it in all areas so has become my daily ‘Driver’.

So excited when Roy uploads a new video :D Best photo content on the planet :)

Great to hear your reflections on the R5. I finally pulled the trigger late last year and bought the R6. I had a wedding booked and earlier this year and figured I’d need a few months to get acquainted with the new system. Like you say, it is much more complicated than I expected. I think it’ll take me another year before I feel as comfortable with it as I did with my 5DM3. I’m glad you mentioned the colours out of the R5. I used the 5D3 as my second body for the wedding and was shocked at how richer they were compared to the R6. Sure they can be massaged but that’s precious more time spent in Lightroom that I wasn’t anticipating. I’ve only bought one RF lens at the moment, the 70-200 f2.8 and am still using all my old EF glass. I’m also chasing character so the RF28-70 has been high on the next purchase list. Shame it’s so eye watering my expensive, not to mention it’s size and crazy filter diameter. We’ll see I suppose. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, so many of which chimed with me too. Subscribed!

Nice, thorough and well reflected video. I bought the R5, coming from 5D Mk II (not sold yet), and my personal difficulty is to get used to the EVF. I'm also migrating from EF into RF lenses and bought the RF/EF adapter with the programmable control ring. I've set the control ring in reverse and assigned it to the AF method, which I find perfect for my use. Having a right thumb with reduced dexterity, I basically cannot use the AF-ON button, though two easy reachable control wheels are a godsend for me. Thus, the three wheels are set as default to aperture, shutter and ISO with the lens control ring set to (reversed as it fits my logic) control the AF method. And yes, there's still lots to learn about the camera, and I'm looking forward to master it. I'm really satisfied with my migration to MR with this camera.

Roy-I think your videos are the very best-I love my mark IV and just can’t find a reason to change-maybe sometime in the future

Congrats on the new camera great video

Great info. I’m an R6 shooter and very similar experience excluding the megapixel difference.

Great video. Don’t worry about the quantity of videos you do - but of course we’d like more. Maintain the sincerity and down-to-earth tone. I feel like this is how videos should be if people focused on genuine quality content before algorithms. Nice work and thanks for the info.

I think you can go into the settings and adjust the profiles to get the colour tone you want.

I much appreciate your detailed and thoughtful experience-based comments. The comparisons to the 5D Mark IV are most helpful. Fascinating that the R5 files, while full of "juice" and depth, do tend to break more suddenly than those of the 5D4. And I really appreciate your point about the R5 autofocus in low contrast scenes. This would have been a major disappointment for me, as I shoot landscape a lot, and better autofocus than with my 5D4 is major reason for a planned upgrade to the R5. I will still likely do so, but now will not be expecting miracles. I'll be 'focusing' on finding ways to make sure the AF snaps on properly, such as, as you suggest, finding a close-by high contrast area. With the 5D4, I've found that the centre AF point, just like with the Canon 6D, gives the most reliable AF performance, so I'm used to working with cameras to get the best out of them. BTW, I must say that you are one of the most articulate speakers in the RU-vid photography space, and that is saying a lot, as I regularly view about a dozen of the top channels. Your clarity and smoothness in presentation goes well with your insightful knowledge based on abundant pro experience. Welcome to RU-vid!

Great video. I felt much the same as you in terms of adjusting to the complexity and customizability of switching from Canon APS-C DSLR to Sony full frame mirrorless. It was a bit daunting at first, but once you come to terms with programming everything to suit you, it's a game changer. The eye detect AF in particular has greatly improved my portrait photography and makes nailing focus at f/1.4 effortless. I think when you try some of the RF primes, you'll find your opinion change about the character from the lens. I've tended to avoid lenses like the 24-105mm f/4 because of what you describe. Although technically excellent, they seem to lack some of that ephemeral "it" factor that you get from wide aperture prime lenses. That being said, everyone seems to think the RF 28-70mm f/2 breaks the mold.

Great insights we’ll presented!

Thank you for your time and channel. Proof there is a difference between “RU-vidr” camera channels and professional photographer with a RU-vid channel. I am a horses for courses type. I started mirrorless a bit early with the Sony a6000 then Sony A7II. I also still shoot Canon,1DS Mark III my favorite and a 5D Mark IV. What I don’t understand is the color! The color and just imagery of the 1Ds Mark III are just always beautiful and very pleasing. I actually prefer seascapes,sunsets,sunrises, and portraits on the 1Ds Mark III over that of the 5D MkIV any given day. I have been considering the R5, but have been wondering if Canon was becoming more Sony in image quality. Which is not bad, quite good, but not exceptional.

Nice review. DxO PL 5.x and CaptureOne do indeed pull more color. I'm starting to use both much more than LR nowadays. Re your comment on the R6, rest assured, you still made the right choice going w/ the R5... it supports a *much* wider range of video formats than the R6 (all of the ones supported by the Sony alpha)

Nice to hear that you like the RF 24-105L. I have an EOS R (Mirrorless 5D IV) and love it. That lens has been back ordered forever. I have been debating the 24-105 vs the 24-70 for large 100 - 180 stitched panos / mosaics. I shoot landscapes in monochrome and try to print wall size.

Great video. I find myself agreeing with everything you say here. I do not make a living from photography but still take it pretty seriously. I too was shooting on a 5D mkiv (with a 6D as my second body) but realised that not only is the future mirrorless but that the present is practically so already! For me that meant making the huge decision to sell my 5D and make a leap of faith into the R series. My choice was the R6 as I have neither the requirements for, nor the desire for 45mp with all the attendant computer issues that involves. Having made that leap I was amazed with what the R6 brought to the table. I haven't yet been able to afford to change my EF lenses but as the adapters work so well that is something I can do as and when the funding is available. What I have done is replace my 6D with a second R6 body. This was simply to enable me to have two identical sets of controls instead of going back and forth between the R6 and the 6D. As you mentioned, these are highly complex bits of kit and my old brain cannot cope with jumping between two systems. Setting up the cameras is a complex process to me but I am gradually working out how best to set them up to suit the various subjects I shoot. If I was in your shoes, with a few each of RF and EF lenses and the issue of having to have back up kit then I believe the only logical solution would be to get a second RF mount body. That way you could use all of your lenses (native RF or adapted EF) on both bodies. All the best.

It was fun to hear your journey into mirrorless. You got a sub. I understand several of your points. I guess when one got used to growing up with film cameras and their simplicity has formed us. I have had so many different Canon cameras for my work and the focus assurance with mirrorless is just worth the jump. I agree it's the most important aspect of mirrorless when doing client work. IMO I think the R5 files are a bit better and more flexible then 5Dmk4. Yes getting the right profile for the camera in the raw converter is key. I use Capture One since the beginning of it and I find the colors seldom being an issue. Generally I find the Canon colors being a bit yellowish but is easily corrected. Lightroom has always been better on noise reduction though. No I haven't experienced sea sickness of the viewfinder but I find the "flashing" of it in darker environments fatiguing. About the disconnecting feeling try to mix photographing by looking at the back screen and the viewfinder, that's works for me. I also shoot tethered and that is relieving for the eyes, seeing the photo at larger scale and having a look at it with the clients. Camera on tripod and tethered gets the technical stuff out of the way and looking directly at the talents - I like that, (it's not always practical of course). Have you tried it?

Hey Roy. First time I’ve watched one of your videos. Like the content and appreciate your sharing. Re your ask… I’m dealing with the two body mixed lense mount problem by running two RF bodies with only adapted EF glass while travelling, to keep things simple. Cheers.

Thanks Roy, very helpful!

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting informations and your point of view. I was testing the R a little bit and it feels very good. Maybe a bit plasticky, like not that sturdy and heavy feeling like the old(er) DSLRs. In past i was used to, like when things are heavy, then they are well built 😀. Im just not a friend of electronic VW. I also have an older Canon bridge and a Sony Alpha 6000 and they both have an electronic VW. I like more the feeling when i see the target directly through the lens. About the flip screen: There are many discussions about some models, where people prefered it on the side, cause when it was on top, they had problems with a mounted microphone when filming. So some companies released new models where it flips out on the bottom, but thats even worse when you mount the cam on a tripod or hand grip. So many are still experimenting with different cage kits to find the best solution.

Hi Roy, thanks for your review ! Really a fresh change to hear about a genuine user experience rather than going on about a gazillion of megapixels and machine gun FPS rates! Would you be able at some point maybe provide a similar review of the R6? It undeniably is a little more affordable option for an average, non-pro user - still a little beast though...

Wow so much to learn

I have the Canon 6D and an RP. I think i love the files better from the 6D; more old school Canon colours. The RP, despite being at the lower end of the full frame range, it gives an inroad to the new Canon R system; find it very easy to use. Better AF and i do like using the EVF. Both i got used and a great deal on them. The 6D is still a great camera. Great video; thankyou.

Eye watering expensive.....I love it! So much of photography equipment is eye watering expensive! "Back in the day", you could buy a Nikon or Minolta and shoot for many decades without needing to upgrade camera, and the initial cost of the camera was minimal. My first camera I shot weddings with was a Minolta X700 that cost $300 USD, and I still have it, and it still works!

dino's unite! i get it. and my view is that the R line of cameras IS an evolution... the R5 doubly so. i come from DSLRs too, the 1dx line, and had it not been for shooting the C line of Canon's cinema cameras, i'd be stuck. two reasons, first the looking at a 'television' screen gets to be normal, and the menu system in the R line is a direct pull from canon's cinema line. i kept my 1dxmkiii to use with the R5, and i too noticed the 'clinical' nature of the rf lenses. two lenses you might want to try though are the 50mm 1.2 and the 100mm 2.8 macro - they do have character! also with the latest firmware - shooting video is now no issue. yay. great over view, ty.

I just picked up the R5 in January 2024, couldn't resist the sales, and I totally agree with your review comments. I recently responded on another RU-vid Photography Channel that I had a hard time finding a big difference between the R5 and the 5D Mark IV images, and found myself actually preferring the 5d Mark IV colors, also finding the R5 images a little flat. I'm not a professional Photographer and I haven't had the opportunity to use my camera as much as you have, but I agree it will take some time to get use to the eccentricities of the R5. I also have the R6 and I really enjoy using it along side the 5D Mark IV and also really like the images from the R6. I still need more time with R5 before I can truly decide if it's me or the camera, lol, it's probably me 🤣. BTW great video 👍😍

I am a Dinosaur as well... Last year bought a "Mint" Fuji XT-1 to get into mirrorless. Love it! Love the "what you see is what you get" when it comes to exposure settings and colour etc using the EVF. I will never need a R5 like you do but time moves om and if its your living then one has to move with times. I wonder if you could still get the same results a lot easier using a tried and tested system to you, you are happy and relaxed with, knowing it like the back of your hand? I have read yu can get bill board sized images with a much smaller size sensor? Anyway great to see you back on the "air" looking forward to more videos soon. I agree about the "old Canon's for colour. I have a mint 5D Mk2 and the colours from that, as you will agree, are fabulous. I love the 24-105 F4/L lens my favourite. Cheers Roy.

I admire your work and am grateful for your insights. I'm just about on the point of liking my new R6, hoping I can make it do the basics well so that it gets out of my way, and hoping I'll like the character of my favorite lenses with the R6 sensor. Time will tell.

Hey Roy, thanks for the interesting video and content. I feel your pain with color rendition but as I'm sure you are well aware every generation sensor and processor is different. Having shot Canon cameras for many years and now shooting the R5 I can say that Capture One gives me the colors and look that I need. I never use Lightroom anymore as a Raw converter. I also shoot Nikon and Sony cameras depending on the project and lenses required and I love the results with Capture One. In addition, once you've used the R5 for a little while it will become more intuitive and less complex. I hope this is helpful information. Wishing you best of luck and a smooth transition to mirrorless and the amazing R5 camera.

This was a super helpful video (considering the switch from 5DMK4 myself for the AF when shooting portraits) - thanks! I appreciate all the context and hearing you speak from experience, etc. because it answered a bunch of questions I had. Sucks to hear you were not thrilled with the colour straight out of the camera (are you going to release your tweak profile??), and then everything else sounds like just a case of using the thing for a bit longer before it becomes second nature.

I’m not a pro but my last camera was the Canon 5D mk III, the only jarring thing was that the R5 falls asleep and there is nothing to see until it wakes up compared to the optical DSLR. What I found awesome was the animal tracking meant my bird photos were always in focus. I considered the R3 but wanted the 45 MP. Yes, I struggle to find the red dots. The adapter makes the EF lens bigger but it makes up for the missing mirror box. The DSLR was thicker because of the mirror box. I put my R5 with adapter next to the mk III and the mounting rings of the DSLR and the adapter line up perfectly.

I have used mine with Capture One and Rawtherapee, and honestly, the colors have generally been very pleasing for me. I am very happy with the output I get from RAWs on this camera. With the RF lenses, honestly, my favorite by far is the RF 85mm f/1.2, which is really a special lens --- amazing wide open. Along with a few of the Sigma Art lenses (esp. the 135mm f/1.8), this is one of my favorite lenses ever. The zooms are much more utilitarian in character. But 85mm f/1.2 is certainly uncommon no matter what. With adapting, I actually own a handful of basic EF-RF adapters and like to keep them on my various lenses I have on me at any time, so I keep them on the lens a lot of the time. The majority of my lenses are EF lenses, and many of those are Sigma EF lenses, all of which I've found to work brilliantly. Also worth mentioning is the EF-RF drop-in filter adapter. I have a Kolari Vision one, which is compatible with the Canon first-party adapter too. It is great to be able to throw in a little adjustable circular polarizer (or ND filter) on literally any EF lens and not have to carry differently-sized ones. Plus I can adjust it right by the camera and keep the hood on the lens. Excellent stuff.

The R5 review I've most hoped to see... And a very fine review it proves to be too! Like you, I've found it both remarkable and frustrating to use. It's a neat body sans grip, but becomes quite a big & weighty thing with the (essential) grip+batteries. Essential because I find the R5 has quite an appetite for batteries, as compared to DSLRs. I've got through 5 batteries between 2 bodies on a day long job. I take the battery charger with me on long jobs just in case... The RF lenses are superbly sharp, but a handful to handle changing them. The EF 70-200mm F2.8 felt much better built than the RF too. The craziest thing about the R5 is that the electronic shutter works only as a silent shutter, no shutter sounds option! Bizarre. Makes it very strange shooting with the electronic shutter. After 9 months working with the R5, I like it, but don't love it.

super review Roy. I feel you on the EVF - the lower end EVFs drive me crazy and I HATE them. For me, it's not the EVF size or pixel count, but the damn refresh rate. And Canon doesn't like to drop its EVF refresh rate in its specs.

Hey again. I've shot on the 5d2 3 and now the 4. Love them all. Love my chunky L series lenses too. Thing is, they feel balanced and natural to hold. There is plenty of room to adjust how I hold the camera. I picked up a mirrorless to give it a go and it just felt horrible. Not enough room for my fingers on the grip, front heavy and with a noticeably smaller rear screen to review on. It felt like a kids toy. I wish Canon would give us a 5d5 (6,7, 8, 9 ... ) as I hate the thought of being forced to use mirrorless. As for EVF. No thanks! Lol

I agree. EVF does the same to me after long use. Gives me motion sickness.

I have had my R5 for 3 months now and yes the evf gave me a sort of vertigo for the first 2 weeks then I got used to it, I am a wildlife, birder and landscape guy and the camera is a work horse, yes you have to customize it for each genre, but once you have locked in man this is great. I notice when I was using the 14-35 it was good but then switched to the 15-35 and it gave the photos more character, hard to explain it. I did splurge on the 100-500mm, the Tamron was good but the miss rate or autofocus rate wasn't really up to para, guess I'm picky.

great vid i agree hundred percent with your comment on character with the rf lenses its just not there

thanks for the help! Would you consider sharing your bulk import preset to fix the canon colors? Thanks.

Hi Roy what is your opinion on camera colour calibration? I have profiles on my 5D mk4 and seems to help as a good starting point cuts the editing time for me.

I’m looking to switch to mirror less this year. I’ve always shot with canon - just not sure which way to go. This video is helping me narrow it down tho.

Roll on the Canon T90 :) Now that tank was a camera to remember. It was always a toss up between that and the Nikon F3 Titanium which I inherited from my father.

Really great!

I feel validated after listening to this. I sold my 5div and I find myself looking and considering repurchasing it. I feel like it is more work to edit these. I have forever wanted autofocus points that weren't clustered in the center. I'm not sure the trade off is completely worth it. I have only ever used Canon. I feel like there is always a compromise of what I want vs what I get in an upgrade. Guess that's life.

I come from film days so pretty much all manual including hand held light meter. I originally got a 200D as a DSLR and then 90D which I think is fantastic. A 5D iv used is on the radar just to try. The leap from SLR to DSLR is enough for me so no mirrorless for me for now.

I had issues with color as well-in particular, a magenta cast in shadows that only gets worse when recovering shadow information. I use Capture One and even though the colors are better by default than Lightroom/ACR. they are still nowhere as accurate, pleasing or malleable as in files from my Nikon Z7/Z7II and Z9. In terms of handling, I found using the mode dial at the back, right edge of the body was uncomfortable (it's positioned too far forward and is too short for positive traction with my thumb) and the AF joystick is unreachable with my hand positioned to use the shutter and main control dial. And the rear controls on the accessory vertical grip are so different from the horizontal layout of the body, I never could use it fluidly in the nearly 24 months I had the camera. I hope your longterm experience is more rewarding than mine was. Cheers!

When I switched over to mirrorless from my dslr’s. I said the same thing, i was going to use both. Well after i bought my second mirrorless I haven’t touched my dslr since. O still have it but it feels like stepping back into the flip phone era. Lol.

This explains why when my mate bought an R6 MKII his images went immediately down hill, his focus was spot on but colours and contrast didn’t look as nice as his old DSLR, I’m not going to bother, raw images out of my 70D look fantastic, are full of character and sell OK, I’m far from being convinced about these new Mirrorless efforts from Canon. Great video though, thanks mate, subscribed 👍🏻

Roy, your instinct says: ditch this new age crap, go classic. You have the looks, the tools and the eye of a classic photographer.

As a fellow pro dinosaur (30+ years for me), I really appreciate your comments. Just picked up two R5 bodies and haven't even charged the batteries yet. I've created photographs using 8x10 view cameras, to oatmeal boxes, to everything in-between ... yet I have to admit, these mirrorless cameras are a bit daunting. Especially considering I'm coming from a Canon pro flagship experience for close to the last 20 years. (Current system - 1Dx MK IIs and MK Is - they literally feel like part of me). If I was still shooting sports, I probably would've opted for R3s but since I don't, loosing the bulk is welcome. (At least I hope so - these things are TINY! Grips are definitely in my future. lol) Still not sure how I feel about viewing a video representation of the scene rather than the scene itself but time will tell. One thing I'm really looking forward to is the pivoting screen. Getting up and down off the ground isn't as easy as it once was! :) Thanks for helping me with this new journey!

Many pros LOVE! DXO Pure Raw, many being birders to who color is almost everything. Then bring the files into Lightroom.

I took 2 of everything when I went in a job so I understood that

Awesome review. You brought up some unique interesting complex issues with the R5. Ive been interested in this camera but unable to justify spending that much. Is the R5 built solid enough? I heard it feels like a small toy. I love my 5DIV and 6DII so much they are tanks and so reliable. I've dropped them, fell into ditches with them, banged them on trees and they just keep going without issues. Battery lasts forever as well. It's the focusing and ability to crop that attracted me to the R5, especially for bird photography. Maybe I'm just too careless to have something so expensive or unwilling to adapt to change yet. Lol anyways thank you Roy.

Very nice and thoughtful video Roy. I've had an R5 for over 2 years now and use it mainly for bird photography, so a very different field to you. However I found myself agreeing with you almost all the time! I was very interested in your comments about colour and your use of your own camera profile. I've also noticed issues with the colours and have tried various profile or prosets generated by others for Adobe Camera Raw, as used in Lightroom and Photoshop. But I have some reservations about most of them. Do you have any plans to share the one you have developed?

I have a R 5 and the colors really pop in Lightroom , maybe it is the camera you received...;)

On a technical note, I don't think there has ever been a standardised colour space even back in film days. I remember Fuji film having a green cast compared to say Kodak. I got a colour checker passport thing for Xmas, which is meant give you a perfect profile for Lightroom etc, but I haven't used it yet

Oh Roy, I'm a dinosaur too and have been a photographer for over 50 years. If I can make the transition rather seamlessly to the R5 I have every confidence you'll be just fine. I currently use EF and a few RF lenses as well. I too feel the EF lenses have more character especially the primes e.g. the Canon EF 135mm f/2 L lens. They work flawlessly as well with the R5.

You can get a R next to the R5 as backup. For for the prime you should get the 50mm 1.2. I have the Sigma 85mm art. It’s big, but for the money it’s very good stuf 👍 Little tip: please add some time stamps in your videos 😉

I jumped and I could never go back. Tbh the rf 70-200 really sold me just weight wise for work

Love the channel. I bought an R when it first came out. I have to say that I greatly enjoy my 5dsr and 1dx much more. I was under the false impression that the RF Mount would allow for more compact lenses on the smaller body, but it seems canon has decided to make extra large pro lenses to go with the smaller bodies. This is ergonomically unpleasant to me personally. I find the heavier DSLR bodies far better balanced with the L glass than the RF system. I have the 35mm 1.8 and it is fine but I don’t trust it to survive some places I go. I’ve held off on investing in the system in the hope that canon will introduce a compact line of weather sealed L lenses. I feel many photographers would buy into the system if it were more fun to actually carry around and use. The gap between the 50mm 1.2 and 50mm 1.8 for example is just crazy IMHO. The 1.2 is a $2000 bazooka and the 1.8 is $150 and chintzy. Why can’t we get a 50mm L at 1.4 for 8-900$ with full weather sealing, reasonably compact, with USM focusing? Anyway, this alone has caused me to look into Fuji even though I sacrifice IQ.

Could you please please share that preset that you apply above Adobe Color matching profile for R5 ? I am strugling with colors so so much. Thank you!

Greetings from a fellow dinosaur. Made the same switch from 5D Mk iv to R5 last April. Learning curve definitely steeper than anticipated but worth the effort. Use DPP for my RAW shots, but increasingly using HEIF for day to day shots. I think the RF 23-105 f4 L is a huge improvement over the equivalent EF, and will migrate to RF glass over the coming months.

I'm still trying to master the 5D IV. At the age of 69, most likely I'll stick to what I already have. Waiting for a new LCD screen as I burned a hole in it with the Zacuto Z- finder. Video is work when using those f/2.8 lens on the 5D, No video stabilization. Good review Roy. I'll be saving my money and using the old work horse.

Great channel. I'm more of an old dinosaur than you. I have a Canon 6D and I'm thinking about getting a 5D mk4. I know Mirrorless is the future (I have a Canon M50, a much underrated camera for the price) but I've always been behind the curve, waiting for products to be tested to destruction. I'm an enthusiastic amateur and I feel that the 5D4 may be a camera for life (given that some pro-bodies have a million clicks on them). I'd honestly stick with the 6D but I want the confidence of Pro weather-sealing. Mind you, given that a used 6D can be had for about £400 (ridiculous really), I may as well keep it.

This is a great review. I was curious what your thoughts were because from what I’ve seen of photos that have come out of the R5 (and R6) whilst they are technically excellent, they lack that character and I wondered if it was just me. I have a 5D Classic, and am interested in upgrading, but I feel that the Canon DSLRs generate the character I think of when I’m thinking of Canon cameras.

great Video i can understand that you as a professional photographer,are switching to mirroless cameras it certainly makes your work easier in many ways but in my opinion the fun in photography is being lost more and more the cameras do almost everything automatically eye autofokus etc. for me it is way to a good photo what facinates me about it. i'm just a hobby photographer but somehow the soul of photography gets lost .many pictures today are technically very good but somehow they all look the same without that certain.something for example the ef 50mm 1.2 technically not the best lens but with that certain Something i think it's not always just technology and a used Canon 5d one two or three can bei brought very cheaply today. i always find your videos very intresting i wish you a nice evening greats from a German bricklayer sorry for my Bad writeing english i Hope you understand me✌🏼

colors - SAME! i hated the colors - i spoke to canon and they were pretty rude about it - i felt they shiift towards red/magenta. i got so sick of it. So i moved to capture 1 and PS. but yes the colors are not so good - just had to change a few things, change workflow and now i am kind of used to it. I believe the r3 colors are fantastic tho. nice video.

Have you since bought the 28-70 f2 it’s got its own character I think you’ll love it

If you are a Dinosaur, who's been shooting with a 5Dmk4 for five years, you are definitely "Neolithic Man". As for me, I must be Paleolithic, as I'm still shooting with a 6D Classic, and moving backwards, recently purchasing a EOS 1n!… I know how you feel though, as I am feeling it too. I'm thinking of maybe trying an EOS R sometime in 2023… The thought of it makes me sea-sick though! Keep on keeping on! Us Dino-guys are watching what happens to you!… 😎

Hi I really learn a lot from your videos . I am a néw subscriber. I am having a canon 5d mark 4 . and what my question is , is canon 5d mark 4 producing enough image quality for professional big prints , and is it worth moving to a mirrorless high megapixel camera ? cheers

if you use ef-glass and the adapter for the R5 you have your backup or are the new lenses so much better that you don't want to miss them?

In my amateur opinion, the RF line of glass lacks the character of the EF lenses made between something like 1995 to about 2010. They remind me of the later EF stuff, like the 35/1,4L II, the 85/1.4L IS and 24-70/2.8L II. Super sharp, high resolution lenses, but a bit lacking in character. They feel a bit sterile. But they are probably popular today, since the whole photography world has been focusing on detail, sharpness and dynamic range in the last ten years. I will probably by into the RF line sooner or later, but I will probably stick with my old EF stuff for now. Thanks for the review. It confirmed what I suspected. Amazing technology, but not without flaws yet. Not saying it isn’t the future of interchangeable lens cameras, but maybe not necessary for amateurs like me either.

But do you *love the pictures you get from the R5 and RF glass? Parents routinely just gasp with happiness when they first see their images from 5dm3, they are so happy. Just such delight. And from the Sony a7r3 and Sigma Art set-up, there are positive responses. But not the gasp of surprise and happiness like from the 5dm3. The Sony pictures look green and flat, even after processing. Is the "Canon magic" gone with Canon mirrorless? I've gone back to doing the big portraits of each child during a session and the over the sofa shots with the 5dm3.

Hello Roy! Thank you for your great videos. Which camera between the 5dmark4 and the r5 performs best in low light situations in your opinion ? I want to upgrade my 80D as I struggle whenever I take a picture indoors, whether it's my home or a church or a castle/museum... But I'm not sure which camera body will be best between the two above!

Great video, Roy. Where are you at now with your transition from DSLR to mirrorless? I need to invest in a camera and am torn between a 2nd-hand 5DIV and a new R6 Mark II. Love the immediacy of the OVF…

Great video Roy. What did you mean by ‘struggling to find character in these lenses’?

Thank you for your honest & balanced review which is very helpful. After more than one year of experience with the R5 how does the image quality compare to the 5D4? (Maybe resolution aside coz thats an advantage of course.) What would you like to add to your review today?

The color issues out of camera are not a problem with the camera. They are a problem with Adobe. Although slow and a bit clunky, DPP, cabin’s proprietary software, yields stunning color rendition.

Subscribed!

A question if I may Roy, I've used cameras for almost 50yrs now & began my semi pro life with Olympus OM film cameras & moved to Canon DSLRs because OM didn't keep up with the digital revolution IMO, I always liked the optical viewfinders compared to the LCD viewfinders, although those I've used were on consumer level cameras, basically how good is the viewfinder display on the newest Canon mirrorless cameras?