Canon R5 II Buy the R5 II or not?

[NickAndersonPhoto]

Having just reached my three score and ten I've reached the end of my professional career photographing gundogs. I just can't move like I used to and I'm contemplating what to do with my cameras as I move onto shooting just for pleasure. My 7D II died on my last shoot and now it intermittently won't display viewfinder data, LCD data or turn on the rear screen. It's done well so not crying although I absolutely loved the autofocus... so snappy and sharp!
That leaves my 5D Mk IV and my R5. I guess if I sold them privately I could get £1,000 and £2,000 for them respectively although less on a trade in.

My question is, should I swap them for the R5 Mk II? I'll obviously need to top up the cost but are the improvements worth it? I am intrigued by the eye tracking which I used to have in my old wet film EOS 55 which I bought in Japan, many years ago. I would love to use this feature to aim the focus point around, it sounds perfect!

Are there many who have upgraded here and what do people think... particularly with a view to sport photography?

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

From my last shoot yesterday.

 

[StevenAunan]

As a new R5m2 owner, I have two observations: 1) I should have bought the R6m2 instead; and 2) if I’d purchased the R6m2, I would still have wanted the R5m2.

As a retiree with enough money to buy what I want, I’m glad I have the R5m2. I like the better specs, even if I haven’t used all the features yet. The autofocus is excellent. I prefer the higher pixel density. On the downside, it is noticeably heavier than my previous R6, especially on an all-day walkabout.

 

[Bucolic Old Sir Henry]

As a new R5m2 owner, I have two observations: 1) I should have bought the R6m2 instead; and 2) if I’d purchased the R6m2, I would still have wanted the R5m2.

As a retiree with enough money to buy what I want, I’m glad I have the R5m2. I like the better specs, even if I haven’t used all the features yet. The autofocus is excellent. I prefer the higher pixel density. On the downside, it is noticeably heavier than my previous R6, especially on an all-day walkabout.

Almost exactly this, except that I wouldn't have gone from R6 to R6m2 because I really wanted the pixels I lost going from the R to R6. Very happy with my purchase. Still learning how to get the best out of it - I'm at the delicate stage where my ignorance collides with my incompetence.

All I want now is an R-series equivalent to the M5 in size terms, as a walk around and holiday camera.

 

[Kamoshika]

As someone who upgraded to the R5m2 from the R6m2...and then downgraded back to my R6m2 (sold the R5m2 about three weeks later), I would say that good noise-reduction software is a must. I upgraded for the MPs, and during my limited use, this did produce some wonderful images here and there that the R6m2 will at times struggle to produce, but the DR and noise tradeoff relative to the price of the camera was not something I was prepared to live with as a hobbyist with about five or six years of experience.

 

[NickAndersonPhoto]

As a new R5m2 owner, I have two observations: 1) I should have bought the R6m2 instead; and 2) if I’d purchased the R6m2, I would still have wanted the R5m2.

As a retiree with enough money to buy what I want, I’m glad I have the R5m2. I like the better specs, even if I haven’t used all the features yet. The autofocus is excellent. I prefer the higher pixel density. On the downside, it is noticeably heavier than my previous R6, especially on an all-day walkabout.

Thanks,
Weight isn't too much of an issue as with long EOS lenses I have to be prepared to carry a few kilos and usually worked with two cameras on a Moneymaker harness. Glad you like the autofocus, that's my main motivation.

 

[NickAndersonPhoto]

As someone who upgraded to the R5m2 from the R6m2...and then downgraded back to my R6m2 (sold the R5m2 about three weeks later), I would say that good noise-reduction software is a must. I upgraded for the MPs, and during my limited use, this did produce some wonderful images here and there that the R6m2 will at times struggle to produce, but the DR and noise tradeoff relative to the price of the camera was not something I was prepared to live with as a hobbyist with about five or six years of experience.

Thanks,
I'm disappointed that you found noise such a problem, what was the highest ISO you could shoot at before it became an issue for you?

 

[Kamoshika]

I guess 12,800, depending on the situation. It's interesting that the first outing with the camera was promising. I had two pics of birds at high ISOs that came out well, and so I thought that some of the complaints about the noise in some reviews were not so accurate. But the more I used the camera, I was noticing noise at lower ISOs, like 1250. This was easily cleaned up with DxO, but still, it was a change from my R6m2. For reference, I was shooting almost exclusively electronic shutter. Maybe my particular copy had a problem, hard to tell. Here are some samples, 100% crops (except one at 50%, sample 4), no noise reduction:

 

[esheato]

Wow, I’m sorry, that noise is especially bad. I’d have been very disappointed in that.

 

[BradS]

For me, the much improved auto focus and precapture of the R5ii are both more than offsetting to the slightly worse noise performance, which is easily cleaned up.

 

[BradS]

I might add that I shoot birds and landscapes, lately more of the former than the latter. If I were only shooting landscapes, I would seriously consider the R6ii or maybe even wait a bit for a possible R6iii.

 

[Dave Williams]

Definitely depends on your subject matter. I went from 5dMk4 and 1DX2 to just having an R5. The transformation was hugely beneficial as I'm sure you agree. My R5 died when I was on the last day of a birding trip , easily repaired but would have been a disaster if it had happened earlier in the trip . I swore I'd get a back up before the next important one and hung in there for the R52 but as it didn't materialise I settled for an R7.
I have just sold the R7. I just don't like it but there again I didn't like the 7D2 either. The R7 takes a good photo but the ISO performance is a let down and I dislike the ergonomics. I'm contemplating the R62, or even an R3 now the price has tumbled, as a back up to my recently acquired R52 which as yet hasn't really been tested but the one thing I noticed was it hasn't overheated and the AF performance is better than the R5 which I have sold.
R52 vs R62. I guess it comes down to price and pixels to a large extent and what lenses you have too. I'm 73 incidentally and weight is a concern although I consider an R5 plus 100-500 as lightweight, with the 200-800 easily managed and with the EF500mm f4 one to think about where I might want to use it as I need a tripod or resting place for long shoots.

In summary I would definitely keep a back up camera if you plan many trips away from home. In some ways I regret selling both my DSLR's , I should have kept one as a back up and I recommend you do too.
Sell the R5 and get the Mk2 would be the way I'd go.

 

[Jake Shoots Birds]

Having just reached my three score and ten I've reached the end of my professional career photographing gundogs ... should I swap them for the R5 Mk II?

Are there many who have upgraded here and what do people think... particularly with a view to sport photography?

You obviously shoot a lot, enjoy it, and will likely continue to photograph subjects similar to those you've photographed most of your life. While most of my subjects are above the ground, our needs are likely similar. I've been shooting the R5 since May 2021 after switching from Nikon. The capabilities of this mirrorless were a revelation, and while I added an R6 and R7 to my bag the only thing I ever found on those cameras that I wish I could have on the R5 was the R7's focus system. With the R5ii that wish was granted, and more. The focus system has not only been added but improved upon - it's faster, stickier, and more flexible.

Addressing the ISO concern posted in response, you will not see improvements in noise, and some situations will be worse. But you also have a sensor that allows you to shoot sport in electronic shutter mode with almost zero rolling shutter. I shot my R5 in First Curtain mode 98% of the time because of it. I haven't come out of Electronic Shutter mode since testing the differences my first couple days with the R5ii. As for noise, now that software is catching up with the camera's release I am very satisfied with how it deals with noise. As far as the images shown, the noise is bad in some, but my critique in 3 of them would be camera settings first and not the noise, which could have been reduced greatly if not avoided in at least 2 of them - something I suspect you won't have issue with after that many years of shooting.

As a recent retiree I understand the concern of spending that kind of money on a camera, sale/trade in ability of current gear aside. With your current R5 you don't need it, but if you are going to continue to enjoy shooting through the rest of your days then I suspect you will enjoy it more with the Mk II. It's an amazing camera - and my last significant spend before leaving corporate life.

 

[MPeeps]

Having just reached my three score and ten I've reached the end of my professional career photographing gundogs. I just can't move like I used to and I'm contemplating what to do with my cameras as I move onto shooting just for pleasure. My 7D II died on my last shoot and now it intermittently won't display viewfinder data, LCD data or turn on the rear screen. It's done well so not crying although I absolutely loved the autofocus... so snappy and sharp!
That leaves my 5D Mk IV and my R5. I guess if I sold them privately I could get £1,000 and £2,000 for them respectively although less on a trade in.

My question is, should I swap them for the R5 Mk II? I'll obviously need to top up the cost but are the improvements worth it? I am intrigued by the eye tracking which I used to have in my old wet film EOS 55 which I bought in Japan, many years ago. I would love to use this feature to aim the focus point around, it sounds perfect!

Are there many who have upgraded here and what do people think... particularly with a view to sport photography?

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

From my last shoot yesterday.

View attachment 32432

Hello. I recently purchased the R5II and own the R5. IMHO, save your money and go with original R5. I've found the eye controlled focus wonky at best and yes, the AF is fast and accurate as heck. I don't see a HUGE difference between the two cameras. If I had to do it over, I would have kept my R6II and not purchased the R5II. Best regards.

 

[esheato]

Hello. I recently purchased the R5II and own the R5. IMHO, save your money and go with original R5. I've found the eye controlled focus wonky at best and yes, the AF is fast and accurate as heck. I don't see a HUGE difference between the two cameras. If I had to do it over, I would have kept my R6II and not purchased the R5II. Best regards.

Interesting and frankly, haven't seen a lot of people say this.

 

[MPeeps]

Interesting and frankly, haven't seen a lot of people say this.

Yeah, I need to spend more time with it. I do really appreciate the Pre-Continuous Shooting for birds, but 30 fps sure produces a LOT of the same images. I've always liked more resolution for cropping too, so probably the biggest reason I upgraded from the R6II.

 

[SO8]

I've decided to wait on the R5ii and get an R6ii for now.
I can get a great price atm on an R6ii so will go with that and the R8 will get sold. Once the prices of the R5ii come down then I will get one. I was tempted to go back to an R5 for the resolution which I loved but the focus on the R6ii is so much better and tbh I have been blown away by the IQ and low light performance of my R8.