Bought the R6 two years ago and was blown away with what it could do. I decided at Christmas to treat myself and bought the R5. Now I have two cameras that I use frequently and in different situations. I really think canon stepped up and over any other camera manufacturer in todays climate. Looking forward to watching your future journey with the R6.
I bought the R6 two years ago and was blown away by what it could do for the price. It really is an awesome bit of kit. The animal eye focus was a game changer and I can't fault it.
I love my R6. I sometimes do wish for more MP, especially for birding and cropping, but it performs wonderfully. I bought the RF100-500 a couple of weeks ago and together they make an awesome combo.
Great video! Welcome to the mirrorless club, truly is a great system for nature and wildlife photography. Looking forward to seeing your videos and content with it going forward
Congrats Paul and welcome to the club. I just updated too - new R3 2 weeks ago. Haven't had a chance to use it in anger yet. edit: I really do recommend that you go with back button AF. With regards to the DPAF points, if you are using older mark 1 super telephoto lenses, you get punished - you only get 80% AF point coverage and FPS is also slowed down (even on the R3). I think you have the mark 2 500mm f4, which offers full performance, so you'll be fine (other than performance hits due to battery level of course). The R6 II would have been a better option imho - reduced rolling shutter, no 30 minute video limit, reduced video recording overheating too. Better AF than the original R6.
Welcome to having an R6 love mine had it about 9 months now stick with the double BBF it works love the almost silent shutter really helps looking forward to seeing what you make of it
Best of luck with your new camera. I think you'll find it to be a revolutionary difference from DSLRs, even the 1D X. You should try out a couple of Canon Rf lenses; they're going to work better than adapted ef lenses, especially third-party ones. Try the 100-500. It's been fantastic for me. I took 3600 pictures with it the other day. Discarded out-of-focus and clipped wings and still had 2900 to sort through for content and composition. Game changing.
FV mode is really useful on the R6 and R7 to simplify adjusting settings with just the front dial and a rear dial or wheel while looking through the viewfinder. Also with my R6 and now the R7 and my Sony A7iv I have zone tracking with eye af enabled all the time on the front shutter button. It works so well that I use it most of the time with a fast shutter speed. I have my Af-on back button set to switch to single point AF and it also drops the shutter speed to 1/320th for stationary subjects or to grab a subject from a busy background. This hybrid front/back autofocus works great for me with both cameras and you don't have to disable autofocus on the front shutter button. The back button will override the front buttons AF settings if it is held down first.
Congratulation to your new gears in new year. I am really sure you will be not disappointed with Canon R6. I have been using R6 for two years. This camera is really great for all kinds subjects. Happy birding in 2023.
Great to see you've gone for the R6, I'm sure you'll be very happy will the results, as I am with mine. When assigning your buttons I do suggest you give the DoF button on the front ago for your animal eye focus. With this set, and single point set up on the rear AF button, it's so quick and easy to switch between to two focus modes without barely moving a finger or hunting for the right button. Give it a go.
Hi Paul, my experience echoes yours. I bought my R6 for photographing deer, badgers, foxes, where the silent shutter has made a huge difference for me - especially with deer, enabling me to continue to photograph behaviour, unobserved, instead of taking one frame and immediately alerting the animal to my presence. Totally agree with your other comments about only changing cameras when the functionality matters to you. My 1Dx and 1Diii still take beautiful photographs.
Congrats on the new camera! I was never a big fan of back button focus until I got an R5 last year. Now I use dual back button focus and wouldn't go back.
I finally decided to stick to DSLRs forever for action photography. OVF always captures the first frame of fast action right. Because the moment is seen at the speed of light.
Thanks for this mate, I am aligning my planets and will be purchasing a R5 or 6 this year. Weight is very important for me as I have developed wrist issues over the last 20 years working with a variety of heavy DSLRS & large format video cameras. Noise is also very important to me as I shoot a lot of hummingbirds and they can be very sensitive to shutter noise. The ability to switch from stills to video is one of the most important factors. Changing focus point for video on the rear view screen is a problem on my 90D. It looks like the R6 solves that problem. So many great points in this video, Paul. Thanks
Last year I switched from a 7Dmk2 to the R6 . I have had to stick with my Sigma 150-600 because the RF150-500 is way out of my price range. I am aware of and have experienced the focusing issues with the sigma but I get a higher keeper rate with the R6. I'm not sure I miss the crop sensor extra reach as I think the R6 gives a better image even after cropping. Th electronic viewfinder is good as it shows the "exposed" image to you . I find 30fps a bit much for sports as you can end up with loads of shots identical. For casual portraits it's great as it helps your subject relax. You say it's not just about getting the gear. Your right. Your vids have reminded me it's about getting out there , using some fieldcraft and knowledge of your subject and enjoying yourself looking at stuff through a lens and camera
Welcome to the mirror less bandwagon. Upgraded recently from 1200D to R7 and loving every bit of it. Can you please make a video about the autofocus settings you are using with this R6?
Hi Paul. Happy New Year mate. Love all your videos, and good luck with the R6. Sadly, the R6 is well out of my price range. So I'll be sticking with my brilliant 90D. I'll be looking forward to all your upcoming videos for 2023.
Paul you are spot on about it’s not all about gear and that there are experiences to be had. Nevertheless, it’s a great camera, I have it too. A vast improvement from my DSLR. Ithink you will stick with the dual back button focus. It’s a great way to use the camera and take great shots.
Hi Paul - really interested to see how you get on. I have an R6 (from the older 6D) and am now doing more bird photography (focus/eye tracking, burst rate, particularly with the electronic shutter, etc). Still getting used to the auto-focus/tracking but very impressed with it to date. Bit surprised that, as a pro, you didn’t go to the R5 with its increased resolution but delighted as I can follow your journey closely now and your tips will be directly relevant (taking account of the different environment here in Western Australia). 👍
I've used back button focus for years it's much better once you get used to it but what I would suggest is swapping the buttons over so your animal eye focus is on the AF-ON button you'll find it easier to use spot focus then slide your thumb down to animal eye rather than pulling your thumb up amd back.
Paul, I really enjoy your content and just enabled notifications specifically for your channel. I’m shooting with the R5 triple back button. 1 for animal eye, 1 for spot, and 1 emergency button where it’s registered for quick action that jumps off! Also shooting craw. I’m considering a macro lens this year and would love to see more of your work there! Thanks for everything you do!
Thanks so much for the feedback and your kind words! Sounds like you have a good system there with BBF. I'll be doing some insect and macro videos over the summer. I did bit in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JSwMyl9bj2k.html
Good choice. Regarding back button AF. The mirror less camera's can have problems to get focus in certain situations, (even if the object is close and in the open) that is why it is important that you instantly can to switch between spot focus and Eye focus. Often you first have to use spot, and than try Eye focus. Or if the AF (spot or Eye) does not grab the object, I use spot to focus on a tree or the ground at the same distance as the object, and than switch back. With some practice you will get used to it and it works fast. Enjoy.
Good luck with the switch, I've been pondering an upgrade myself and in the end gone with the 1DX mk2, couldn't quite stretch to the mk3 , just love the 1DX they just feel much more solid! Looking forward to seeing how you get with the R6 !
I own a 1DX and a 1DX MKII, after purchasing an R5 in October 2020, I haven't touched either one of them since, The R5 speed and autofocusing makes the 1D cameras feel like dinosaurs, and as far as felling solid, the R5 feels like my 7D MKII, it's not flimsy, all Canon cameras are solid. Be warned, if you ever try one of the EOS ML cameras, you'll fall in love with it.
@badboyvr4 I did try an R6 and it just didn't feel like the 1DX just as my 7D mk 2 doesn't! I guess we all view things differently and as long as you enjoy using your gear that's OK!
Nice one Paul, a good honest explanation on the switch. It's certainly a game changer in many ways but it does take the challenge out a bit, lol... I love the Mirrorless system but I still think the DSLR still has a place in 2023 and in the future, lets face it they don't take better images they just make it easier to get sharp shots more of the time. The silent shutter is the best bit about mirrorless especially for sensitive subjects, battery life especially in cold weather can be an issue as they drain pretty quick as I experienced in Scotland in -17 before Christmas.. Still to have the DX and the R6 is a great setup to have and I admire you sticking with the 1DX for so long it was one of my favourite cameras and I've had a few. Top stuff mate, look forward to seeing more. Cheers Rich
While I am a dedicated dslr (Canon) I wish you the best of luck with the r6. One big item that I would be concerned with is the rolling shutter effect on moving subjects. Safe shooting and travels for 2023!
The reduction of rolling shutter in the r6m2 isn't relevant since Paul purchased the r6. The electronic shutter is a major point for mirrorless cameras, in mechanical mode you basically have a souped up dslr.
Interesting video Paul. A little disappointing that you didn't dust off the R6, prior to making it. LOL. I switched from a 1DX 3 to an R5 due to my age and the weight factor - so much better now.
great choice i love mine i use all 3 buttons at the back for autofocus each one doing it different especially when hidden among branches which is great when eye focus proves difficult, normal button button for birds in flight the middle one for eye tracking and the right hand one for single focus.
@@PaulMiguelPhotography my copy is outstanding for BIF when i say i use the normal button back button for BIF its normally the smaller birds like martins etc so i got the focus points on the whole screen it picks them up pretty good larger birds the middle button for more static and larger BIF the right one for single focus for pushing through branches etc also i use electronic shutter which means i do not get limitations on my older ef lenses you get H+ back and to be honest i havent suffered rolling shutter after a year of use and it also works flawlessly with my sigma 150-600mm so i get the 20 fps it takes some getting use to with silent shutter because the frames roll off really quickly but love it, i do not use the rear screen for photos/chimping etc all done in the viewfinder i only use the rear screen for video with C1 4K and C2 for Slowmo, i also use the adaptor with the ring which when on auto iso i use the ring for exposure compensation everything is fast and easy.
Thanks, Paul! Very useful information and nice considerations. I still use my 5D IV with good results. I definitely lose focus on the bird's head quite often, sometimes shooting birds in flight with a long Tele... It's difficult to keep productive with a heavy DSLR in those circumstances... The new eye id system makes me feel loosing the best piece of cake... Maybe I'll migrate in some months, before going to Patagonia next Fall... Thank a lot! Cheers from South Brazil.
I too recently (October '22) went to Mirrorless - I purchased the R5 - I agree the image quality isn't over the top better - but it is the functionality as you say that you get with this system, my Ef 100-400 Mkii Lens works great - I just recently found that I could set all 3 back buttons to different auto-focus methods - you most likely can do the same with the R6, But I don't know for sure - The triple back button auto-focus is a huge benefit, I can go from Spot to eye detect to a zone AF -simply by moving my thumb
The Canon R6 is great camera, but if you bought this for wildlife I would have bought the R7 and saved myself $500. Much more detail resolution with the 32MP crop sensor, equally as good autofocus, faster FPS, equally as good or better Video with no record limits and 7K downsampled 4K up to 30 fps. Put R7 on the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L and you got 160-800mm combo that is deadly. Also with 32mp sensor you can still crop and get descent size image.
I have the R7 and use 2 back buttons for auto focus. I think the two back button focus switches is getting to be pretty common. I have been using it since day one and love it. Not having to recompose to focus on your subject is a big advantage. Since you have some very good lenses I think you will be happy using the adapter. I don't know if you got the basic Canon adapter or the one with the control ring. I have the basic one and it works great but every now and then I wished I had the 3rd control wheel that the more expensive adapter would have given me. I was using the Sigma 150-600C and while it is a very good lens for the price I got tired of some of the focus issues and the long minimum focus distance and bought the RF100-500 out of the Canon Refurbished store. Once I started shooting wildlife with mirrorless I stopped using my DSLR for that. I think you will be happy with the R6.
hi I have the r7 with 100-500mmbut probably returning the r7. pics are 100% soft when cropping in. I have searched lots on you tube etc but no one seems to have a remedy. I'm sure it's not me.
Didn't you try the R5? The extra megapixels come in very handy for cropping. Especially for wildlife photography. There's a lot less rolling shutter on the R5 also. I'm glad you decided to go for BBF, you'll see it's much easier and you keep control.
Good video Paul😊 have you tried the RF 600 or RF 800 F11s? I borrowed them using the Canon Test drive service and was really blown away by how good they are.
Great review. I personally come from an EOS 700D, which I love til this day. Shooting is very simple and you get what you need. But: You mentioned the R6 making your life easier for its ability to quickly change settings via customizable buttons. This absolutely is true. Are you still using your „old“ EF prime lenses?
Not sure I’m pleased or sad. Go with what is best for you. As I’ve said in another of your videos, my Canon 7D2 works well for me. Your videos are great anyway whichever camera you use!
the 7D II is limited by high ISO performance - OK at ISO 800, sometimes usable at ISO 1600 but WILL require AI NR in PP. I own a 7D II btw, so I speak based on experience. AF performance is good (certainly better than any of my prior cameras) but is NOT in the same league as the DPAF mirrorless cameras. Night and day. The 7D II sensor is also not great with DR and is easily trumped by modern FF mirrorless cameras in this aspect. It's a no brainer to update imho. DSLRs are well and truly dead.
Thanks Bev. I still have the DX too! Appreciate your support - and the camera really is just a tool - it's up to the photographer to get the most out out of it.
Nice video Paul, watching your videos the 1DX is still a beast, but mirrorless has its advantages as you say 📸 as I commented on your Facebook page, I loved both images of the Sparrowhawk, but preferred the R6 slightly. 1DX as backup.... Absolutely. See you on the next one 📸👍🏽
Hi I am currently torn between buying the R6 or the R8 for wildlife, I am using the same lens as you the 500 f/4 IS version 1. Do you have any thoughts?
Good luck with the R6 Paul, it's a great camera, but you didn't mention the use of the flip/touch screen, do you only use the EVF ? After my 1DX i did buy the EOS R, used it for 1 year but i couldn't get used to it, so i sold it and bought a 1D-X Mark II... i hope you will have a better experience with the R6. 🍻
Hi Paul good video, have learnt alot thankyou. Also glad you told us about getting notifications as i wasn't getting any 🤣🤣🤣, may help if i had also subscribed😎, anyway have done both now so at least it should help us both now then..😂😂
I love my new R6 (I mainly do landscapes, concerts, weddings, dogshows) but I don't like the fact it only has 20 Mp. Cropping in post when photographing small birds is a problem
Good choice mate. R6 has its pros and cons as u will find out. I dont go out on a full day trip without 4 batteries. Canon's sales team cuts off frame rate from 12 fps (mech, H+) to i think 8 fps (H) at about 50% battery... 'to save energy' (or sell u more batteries), so you need to replace battery at half charge if u wanna keep up shooting 12 fps mechanical/EFCS. Why not 20fps? - rolling shutter for one, drop to 12bit colour depth (from 13bit mech. servo). Single shot AF mechanical gives you 14 bit color and we know u love single shot, but u will quickly fall inlove with the servo AF focus (it works even for chasing bugs crawling up the tree). Well, when u out of juice, electronic shutter will do too. Or a battery grip. Or both. Servo eats batteries like crazy, and so the EVF at 120hz. As for lenses, all EF glass work perfectly well if not better, not worth spending money on RF glass unless u want to reduce weight and get 1% IQ extra. Maybe 100-500 for a bit faster AF on the move, but taking time and testing everything before purchase is the prudent (and cheaper) way. On the BB AF, you can experiment with running both - front and back buttons, usually with standard AF points on the front and eye-detect on the back buttons (which have priority over the shutter button). U can also do the reverse, depends how your brain is wired. Don't be shy to share your struggles here, we have found a fix for most of them (except for the missing 'save settings to card' option which Canon don't wanna give to some clients, you need to spend less to get it). Btw, R6II has its + and -, like the mechanical shutter on Mark II is louder than Mark I.
I just can’t believe the white balance on the old one is correct. Can you isolate the white on the vector scope and confirm the white balance? The white card doesn’t even look white.
I like my own R6 a lot. You're going to love yours. I bought mine 2 years ago, before I could afford an R5. Now that I have both, I use the R6 mainly for video. The R6's 4K video IQ is very good; but it's annoying to not have multiple video custom modes. If I want to shoot slo-mo, for example, I switch to my R5 where I have that mode saved. At some point I'll either get an R6 II or the R5 II if that comes true; then I'll have a more versatile photo + video setup. Do you plan to use the R6 for video much? If so, are custom modes important to you?
@@PaulMiguelPhotography like I said, the R6 only allows one video setting at a time. If you want to change frame rate, resolution, profile, etc., you have to menu dive. It's a pain. I now have one video setting on the R6 and three different ones on my R5, mainly for B roll. I'm sure you'll sort out what's best for you.
When I got my EOS R (the original model) departing from the 750d/T6i, I noticed that the CR3 files allowed much more work in post when increasing shadows or reducing highlights. I wonder what would be your thoughts about that, comparing the 1Dx to the R6. Thanks for sharing your experience! Cheers!
New year, new camera :) I am sure you will make fantastic images with the R6. I would be interested in getting your perspective on its performance with your existing EF lenses. I have recently switched to mirrorless and have found that the IBIS greatly helps my existing EF lenses (500m F/4 mk 1 and 400mm F/5.6). Happy new year!
I have the R6-500/4 combo, for me, with the IBIS I could now hand hold them instead of carrying a tripod with me. A Black Rapid strap and I’m good to go.
Great video as always 👍. I'm the same with the weight issue, I've the same set up as you and its so heavy, I compared it to a friends r7 and 100-500 , WHAT A DIFFERENCE ! Its about 2 thirds less weight , amazing. Why did you go for the r6 and not the r7 ??
It become a door stop. Also I think it would be very handy to defend myself against an intruder. In all seriousness.. I still have it. I can't part with it. It's a good back up to have!
@@PaulMiguelPhotography Haha, I thought you might say that XD I just really like the flexibility of having a "regular" focus button and an "eye tracking" button ^^
It seems that YT Togs are imo feel pressured to have to be seen with the latest gear . It's obvious there is a Golf club mentality ... And the RF has very very few Affordable lenses compared with EF Especially 3rd party
The irony is that back button focus is nowhere near as important on a mirrorless camera because of the more sophisticated focusing system. Whereas on the dslr it would be more advantageous.
Honestly, I don't get why so many photographers use back button focus. I understand why it's a step forward with DSLRs. The main reason is because with BBF you can separate shutter and focus and it helps to re-compose. But these modern mirrorless cameras have so amazing af systems, they track subject, animal / bird / human eye, and you can keep focusing while re-composing. Now we want the camera to focus almost all the time. If I'd use BBF and re-compose without focusing, then I'd not use advantage of the technology that my camera has (and that I payed a lot for). The cases when I really don't want the camera to focus are so rare that i'ts not worth to change the settings. I'd solve it with a focus hold button, or switch off the AF on the lens. So In my opinion (and experience) back button focus is a step forward when you use a DSLR, but a step back when you use a mirrorles with good AF system. (and you don't need to have a flagship camrea for this).
I used an EF600mm mk2 with an adapter on my R5. The lens is quicker to focus and still razor sharp. I've used the 600mm on 3 EF bodies and have compared side by side.
