Canon R5 Anticipation for R5 Mark II?

[jcass]

Having been on an upgrade cycle of 7 to 8 years, I confess that I am likely to purchase an R5 Mark II on introduction after having my R5 for a year and half. That'll be two firsts for me: upgrading after only 1 1/2 years, and buying a camera at intro. Of course, this is depending on an actual release and the final specifications of the camera.

I love my R5 and plan to keep it as a second body. There are a couple of features though that just keep tugging me down the road to upgrade:

1. Pre-buffer shooting. I always miss birds launching by a hair and would like to take photos of lightning. In sports, I have a good sense for the moment of the action, this can only help.
2. Auto-focus improvements, especially QPAF and low light AF. The R5 is fantastic, but it does hunt in low light and improvements in the R6 II and R8 AF have been lauded. I admit, this is a weakness of mine and I can use all the help that I can get.
3. Increased resolution/size of viewfinder and display. My eyes just ain't what they used to be. My unicorn is the articulating viewfinder.
4. Multi-function hot shoe. My old flashes suffice, but the incompatibility moving forward is frustrating.
5. Stacked sensor... dynamic range... improved low light image quality. No complaints in my R5, but can you imagine it being better!

I'd like to know what other folks think about the Mark II... should the February announcement actually occur. I think it will. What features do or don't matter to you?

 

[koenkooi]

Indications are an R5 ii is likely to be announced in about 6 weeks ....[...]

There will likely be a 2-3 month gap between the announcement and the first batch getting delivered to customers, so don't get your hopes up too much!

 

[SO8]

There will likely be a 2-3 month gap between the announcement and the first batch getting delivered to customers, so don't get your hopes up too much!

I'm not in a rush.

 

[KEN_A]

Aiming to get the new R5 II and will order when announced. How long it will take to get is anybodies guess though.

 

[Photofarmer]

Always puzzles me why announcement and delivery dont coincide. Seems dumb to me

 

[koenkooi]

Always puzzles me why announcement and delivery dont coincide. Seems dumb to me

The most positive explanation I can think of is to use the pre-orders for fune-tuning the allocations, e.g. send 50% to the US, 30% to the EU, etc. The more likely explanation is that marketing likes seeing the anticipation and buzz.

 

[MrSparks999]

Same strategy as used by Apple

 

[SO8]

Always puzzles me why announcement and delivery dont coincide. Seems dumb to me

Drip feeding 'rumours' of spec etc .... like the Fujifilm X100 VI ... rumour of it coming out was right. Name was not X100 Z but VI as the rumour people hadn't understood Fuji's numbering system. The full spec was leaked very obviously maybe a month before. Canon do the same. They test the water, leak a few goodies and then the full spec nearer the time. All part of their marketing strategy I guess. The Pro's who get to try it out prior to release and those in the 'know' who sign to promise they won't say a word aren't always subtle either.

It's all good fun for us I guess.

 

[Dcweather]

I'm fine with my R5 as it is, except that its features are different-enough from the R7 to cause confusion. Maybe the R5 II will be more like the R7. That would be a benefit. The other issue for me is that, since getting the high-mpx R7 and almost always shooting reach-limited, I have a lot less use for FF than for crop. So, not sure I will upgrade. What I really need is an R7 II - but that is likely years away.

I hope not!! I'm counting on at least a facelift version sorting out t he R7 major issues which are bigger than any in the rest of their line up.

 

[RedCobra]

I hope not!! I'm counting on at least a facelift version sorting out t he R7 major issues which are bigger than any in the rest of their line up.

If they dump the third wheel and make it like the R7 I won't buy it. I sold my R7 due to its poor AF compared to my R5 and my OM-1

 

[jcass]

If they dump the third wheel and make it like the R7 I won't buy it. I sold my R7 due to its poor AF compared to my R5 and my OM-1

I also like the layout of the R5 and I'm hoping for a very similar - if not same - layout on the R5 II. The touch-button would be an addition that I'm interested in trying.

I think that the ship has already sailed for Canon consolidating button/wheel layout across camera models. If Canon wanted to do that, then it should have implemented a consistent button/wheel layout at the introduction of the R Series. It seems most awkward for folks with the Mk I and Mk II of a model to switch between significant difference in controls, especially if both cameras are often used on shoots.

 

[Shotbycurtin]

I’ve not long sold my R5 bodies will they were still worth something pre upgrade. I didn’t really gel with the R5 mostly because I was plagued with the locking/freezing issues. (now fixed with the latest firmware upgrade) Canon had a look and insinuated it was user error which compounded my poor experience with the R5. The EVF lets it down also especially with fast action photography where some lag is noticeable. The small buffer when shooting RAW was also restrictive on occasion.

I did intend holding on for the R5ii though potentially a price increase might put it above the cost of a grey import R3. Also would the improvements really address my concerns and improve my confidence in the camera. I am tempted to go for the R3 as it would address the issues experienced with the R5. The R3 also had freezing issues which seems to have been sorted with firmware upgrades. The only downside is the drop in pixels as I do crop extensively on occasion. So in a nutshell I’m on the fence regarding R5ii or R3 and will see how things pan out with the final spec before deciding.

 

[koenkooi]

I’ve not long sold my R5 bodies will they were still worth something pre upgrade. I didn’t really gel with the R5 mostly because I was plagued with the locking/freezing issues. (now fixed with the latest firmware upgrade) Canon had a look and insinuated it was user error which compounded my poor experience with the R5. The EVF lets it down also especially with fast action photography where some lag is noticeable. The small buffer when shooting RAW was also restrictive on occasion.

I did intend holding on for the R5ii though potentially a price increase might put it above the cost of a grey import R3. Also would the improvements really address my concerns and improve my confidence in the camera. I am tempted to go for the R3 as it would address the issues experienced with the R5. The R3 also had freezing issues which seems to have been sorted with firmware upgrades. The only downside is the drop in pixels as I do crop extensively on occasion. So in a nutshell I’m on the fence regarding R5ii or R3 and will see how things pan out with the final spec before deciding.

The R3 is available right now, the R5II is still a few months away from shipping and you'll have to get lucky with the preorders, I expect demand will vastly outstrip supply for most of 2024.

 

[Shotbycurtin]

The R3 is available right now, the R5II is still a few months away from shipping and you'll have to get lucky with the preorders, I expect demand will vastly outstrip supply for most of 2024.

Not in a rush, got my hands full currently building a house. Hoping to follow some motorsport in Europe next year so the aim is to hopefully be sorted for that.

 

[SO8]

The trade in price for my R5 has gone up where I work by £500 since I last looked. I think I might just sell it, pocket the money and use my R8 until I can get an R5 ii as, unlike in previous times, I do believe we are soon to see it appear.

I’ve also just bought a 24-240 which I only intended for the R8 so the R5 wouldn’t be getting much use. It is fairly much mint so I will get a good price.

 

[Shotbycurtin]

The trade in price for my R5 has gone up where I work by £500 since I last looked. I think I might just sell it, pocket the money and use my R8 until I can get an R5 ii as, unlike in previous times, I do believe we are soon to see it appear.

I’ve also just bought a 24-240 which I only intended for the R8 so the R5 wouldn’t be getting much use. It is fairly much mint so I will get a good price.

I sold two R5 bodies for £2k each. Trade in gone up £300 each since. Hindsight etc.. Sounds like a good deal, snap it up while you got the chance.

 

[SO8]

I sold two R5 bodies for £2k each. Trade in gone up £300 each since. Hindsight etc.. Sounds like a good deal, snap it up while you got the chance.

Box is out of loft ... tactical sale tbh.

 

[SO8]

Box is out of loft ... tactical sale tbh.

And now sold … £ 2,497 …. Very happy with that. It will go straight into the R5ii savings fund ! Edited to add the price where I sold it has now dropped to £2,100.

 

[jcass]

Well, we're getting closer to an announcement, though I was mildly disappointed to hear Jan Wegener speculate that the official announcement may be in June or even July. I keep having to adjust my patience meter. I ain't holding my breath yet.

At this point in the game, I look to the consistently rumored spec's with a hopeful eye. So far, so good. The rumored spec's that have consistently appeared are checking my main desires:

• Pre-buffer shooting mode. I just want this for lightning and birds.
• Stacked sensor leading to better low-light ISO and AF performance (not that the R5 isn't already good)
• I hope Jan is correct that the mechanical shutter remains. I just don't think the systems are fully ready yet.
• Upgrades to the resolution of the viewfinder and display. Better articulation options are also a plus.
• I would be very nice to have a selectable frame rate... 5 for portraits, 10-20 for sports, higher for birds/wildlife

 

[SO8]

Well, we're getting closer to an announcement, though I was mildly disappointed to hear Jan Wegener speculate that the official announcement may be in June or even July. I keep having to adjust my patience meter. I ain't holding my breath yet.

At this point in the game, I look to the consistently rumored spec's with a hopeful eye. So far, so good. The rumored spec's that have consistently appeared are checking my main desires:

• Pre-buffer shooting mode. I just want this for lightning and birds.
• Stacked sensor leading to better low-light ISO and AF performance (not that the R5 isn't already good)
• I hope Jan is correct that the mechanical shutter remains. I just don't think the systems are fully ready yet.
• Upgrades to the resolution of the viewfinder and display. Better articulation options are also a plus.
• I would be very nice to have a selectable frame rate... 5 for portraits, 10-20 for sports, higher for birds/wildlife

June or July ? I hope not and personally doubt it will be long. There is talk of another announcement on May 21st.

Canon by discounting the R5 are clearly IMO trying to empty their shelves of stock. It is mad that I got just under £2500 for my 3 year old R5 body yet I can get a new R5 body for £2650. That tells me that my selling price was a bit 'lucky' and the new price is a bargain ... if you want an R5.

With only my R8 now, much as I love it and was using it in preference to the R5 ... I still want the R5 ii to appear asap !!

 

[Kamoshika]

If it lives up to the hype, I think this new R5 might have to be a present to myself later this year. That'll give me time to figure out how to get the wife on board with the decision.

 

[Jake Shoots Birds]

Stacked sensor leading to better low-light ISO and AF performance (not that the R5 isn't already good)
I hope Jan is correct that the mechanical shutter remains. I just don't think the systems are fully ready yet.

If the resolution stays at 45MP (as Jan suggests) or increases then the prospect of an electronic-only shutter and a stacked sensor means a HUGE jump in tech, which would signal flagship prices and not an R5. So like you, I'm happy to have the option for when I will need it. I've been on a list for this one for a while, so I'm hoping I get in early, even if that's end of summer on shipments.

 

[MrSparks999]

If it lives up to the hype, I think this new R5 might have to be a present to myself later this year. That'll give me time to figure out how to get the wife on board with the decision.

Remember it is easier to seek forgiveness than permission.

 

[Dave Williams]

I'm definitely up for the new R5ii when it's launched. I reluctantly bought an R7 as a back up camera to my R5 and I have to say I'm not that keen on it tbh. I love the ergonomics of the R5 and would hope they are almost identical for the R5ii with the exception of the video switching being as it is with the R7, the R5 is too time consuming to switch in a hurry. I would like to see the return of the slot in rubber cup around the viewfinder too, as a spectacle wearer I soon wear them out and replacing the one on the R5 looks like it's a return to CPS job which is ridiculous.
Other than that I'd happily accept two CFexpress cards instead of the SD one, would certainly welcome better AF although it's pretty good already but could be better, especially for small subjects like birds in bushes and BIF with messy backgounds. A boost in ISO performance is always welcome but that wouldn't be my top priority. Controlling the number of FPS on electronic shutter is an essential upgrade as it's soul destroying going through your huge number of files deciding which to delete after shooting at 20fps.
Finally sort the R5 overheating problem, that's a must.
What I'm asking for shouldn't result in a ridiculous price increase either.
Those who want the gadgetry of the R3 and R1 can pay the increase but when I read some of the questions asked about how to operate their cameras I do wonder how many folk actually need those high end bodies as they are more than they can handle it seems.

 

[Archibald]

Finally sort the R5 overheating problem, that's a must.

Overheating has never been a problem while I have had the R5. That's because I use it as a stills camera.

Heavy digital processing inherently creates heat. And it is not linear - it hits a wall at higher gigahertz. This limits the practical clock speed of processors. That's why clock speeds of CPUs have leveled out after increasing for many years, and why clock speeds on laptops are less (to conserve the battery). Multi cores help to get around the speed and heat-generating problem to an extent.

Dedicated movie cameras need to process a ton of data and generate a lot of heat. They require special cooling to be able to do that without overheating.

I'm really hoping that the R5 II doesn't come with a cooling fan or other cooling provision because it would increase the weight and bulk, and the price too.

 

[Dave Williams]

Overheating has never been a problem while I have had the R5. That's because I use it as a stills camera.

Heavy digital processing inherently creates heat. And it is not linear - it hits a wall at higher gigahertz. This limits the practical clock speed of processors. That's why clock speeds of CPUs have leveled out after increasing for many years, and why clock speeds on laptops are less (to conserve the battery). Multi cores help to get around the speed and heat-generating problem to an extent.

Dedicated movie cameras need to process a ton of data and generate a lot of heat. They require special cooling to be able to do that without overheating.

I'm really hoping that the R5 II doesn't come with a cooling fan or other cooling provision because it would increase the weight and bulk, and the price too.

I have had the R5 overheat when shooting stills many times. I guess if you are at an action hot spot and in high temperatures shooting 20 fps is nearly as bad as video. Video , especially 4k 120fps, will certainly overheat the camera in next to no time. We are now told however that it's safe to continue shooting stills even if the warning light comes on. I do wonder why my first CFexpress card started to crumble bits of plastic and can only guess it became brittle from the heat.
Incidentally, I know many have a resistance to shooting video but I love to dabble occasionally, adds an extra dimension that a still can't capture. Having come from the 1D series to the R5 I'm happy with a larger body too tbh.

 

[Archibald]

I have had the R5 overheat when shooting stills many times. I guess if you are at an action hot spot and in high temperatures shooting 20 fps is nearly as bad as video. Video , especially 4k 120fps, will certainly overheat the camera in next to no time. We are now told however that it's safe to continue shooting stills even if the warning light comes on. I do wonder why my first CFexpress card started to crumble bits of plastic and can only guess it became brittle from the heat.
Incidentally, I know many have a resistance to shooting video but I love to dabble occasionally, adds an extra dimension that a still can't capture. Having come from the 1D series to the R5 I'm happy with a larger body too tbh.

OK, different use case. My R5 is for landscapes, general use, and studio shooting with flash. I rarely shoot bursts with it. That's what my R7 is for. But even then, I shoot at 7 fps and never more than a few shots at a time (basically long bursts with interruptions). Neither camera has ever overheated.

If you need to go at 20 fps for a long time, yes, that is going to heat the camera up. What's the solution? Do you want an R5 II with heat sinks and a fan?

 

[Dave Williams]

OK, different use case. My R5 is for landscapes, general use, and studio shooting with flash. I rarely shoot bursts with it. That's what my R7 is for. But even then, I shoot at 7 fps and never more than a few shots at a time (basically long bursts with interruptions). Neither camera has ever overheated.

If you need to go at 20 fps for a long time, yes, that is going to heat the camera up. What's the solution? Do you want an R5 II with heat sinks and a fan?

IMO Two options, 1) enable a choice of reduced fps rate in electronic 2) sort out the overheating with whatever is needed.

 

[Archibald]

IMO Two options, 1) enable a choice of reduced fps rate in electronic 2) sort out the overheating with whatever is needed.

They might be able to optimize a bit but the heat issue is a tough one that all digital processing is up against.

You could maybe apply ice cubes to the back of the camera. (OK, just kidding.) But here's a guy who combatted R5 heating with cooling devices.

Fixed! Canon EOS R5 Overheating Solved with DIY Internal Heatsink | Cộng đồng làm phim 24 hình/s

Matt from DIY Perks’ YouTube channel managed to significantly improve the overheating problem of the Canon EOS R5. With an improved internal copper...

24hinh.vn

 

[w507]

OK, different use case. My R5 is for landscapes, general use, and studio shooting with flash. I rarely shoot bursts with it. That's what my R7 is for. But even then, I shoot at 7 fps and never more than a few shots at a time (basically long bursts with interruptions). Neither camera has ever overheated.

If you need to go at 20 fps for a long time, yes, that is going to heat the camera up. What's the solution? Do you want an R5 II with heat sinks and a fan?

The camera will also overheat with continued use of the viewfinder, say you are on a leopard for example and need to keep watching it in case you get a chance at a shot. It’s problematic for battery too. It’s sometimes tempting to keep an optical body around for these specific situations.

 

[RedCobra]

The camera will also overheat with continued use of the viewfinder, say you are on a leopard for example and need to keep watching it in case you get a chance at a shot. It’s problematic for battery too. It’s sometimes tempting to keep an optical body around for these specific situations.

I have not experienced this.