Upgrading from an R5 Mk 1 to .....

[docsmith]

With this poll, I am curious what other people are doing or thinking? Would you stick with the R5 M1? Are you upgrading to the R1 or R5 II? Or are other cameras in Canon's lineup getting good enough that when you need to upgrade, you will pivot to another direction? I've set this up for 2 answers. Even if you are not a current R5 owner, I am curious what you would do if you were.

I have a pre-order in with B&H. I will decide what I am going to do this weekend.

At this time, I am surprising myself, but I am strongly leaning toward canceling the pre-order.

 

[AlanF]

Could you add: Will test and decide. I have an early preorder but want to test the AF for myself. It might be true that the R5ii has much better AF but I find it hard to believe. The other features, apart from an actually effective pre-burst mode, don’t mean much to me.

 

[SvO2]

I’m personally going from an r6ii to an r5ii. If I had an R5 (which in hindsight is what I should have bought in the first place instead of the r6ii back then), I probably wouldn’t bother with this generation.

 

[docsmith]

Could you add: Will test and decide. I have an early preorder but want to test the AF for myself. It might be true that the R5ii has much better AF but I find it hard to believe. The other features, apart from an actually effective pre-burst mode, don’t mean much to me.

Done.

A solid approach.

 

[koenkooi]

I sold my R5 6 months ago in anticipation of the R5II, so I will likely keep it. I sold my R7 last week, so now it’s the R5II for macro and wildlife and the R8 for family and travel things.

 

[AlanF]

I sold my R5 6 months ago in anticipation of the R5II, so I will likely keep it. I sold my R7 last week, so now it’s the R5 for macro and wildlife and the R8 for family and travel things.

Do you mean keep the ordered R5ii and also mean the R5ii for macro?

 

[rbwillnj]

I sold my R5 and preordered the MKII as soon as the preorder was available. Looking forward to better autofocus. Also the controls are better and more consistent with the R8 that I still have. I never liked the method of changing from picture to video on the R5. I am disappointed in the worse dynamic range of the MKII, but it probably won't affect me much.

 

[koenkooi]

Do you mean keep the ordered R5ii and also mean the R5ii for macro?

Yes and yes, I’ve edited the original post.

 

[Kerry McFarlane]

I’m personally going from an r6ii to an r5ii. If I had an R5 (which in hindsight is what I should have bought in the first place instead of the r6ii back then), I probably wouldn’t bother with this generation.

Snap!

 

[docsmith]

I just cancelled my R5 II preorder.

Right now, we are looking at 60% of people upgrading to the R5 II. I totally get that and fully reserve the right to upgrade at any point down the road if I see fit . Better AF, more FPS, pre-capture, video features, better cooling, the list goes on. The R5 Mk I is a great camera and the R5 II is better.

As for me, I just wasn't excited after the initial euphoria. So, my simple rationale being, as a hobbyist, if something isn't exciting you, why do it? But a few more detailed thoughts kept nagging at me:

• I like to "shoot to need" then buy what you need. I have very very few needs with my current set up (R5 Mk I). And while I see the R5 II as helping some of those (better AF and pre-capture), it did not feel like enough.
• I was not interested in all the little stuff that goes with a primary camera body change: new L-bracket, new batteries, reading the manual, redeveloping the muscle memory (granted, they seem pretty similar), etc.
• Speaking of shooting to need, of the minor "needs" I am aware of I can't stop thinking that it isn't a subtle increase in performance that I really want. Rather, I was something substantially better.
• I am about to start traveling for work/vacation and the next 6 weekends booked. So, I do not have time to do a proper review if my preorder arrived later this week.

So, there you go. I just got off the "5 series" upgrade cycle (5DIII to IV, to R5). For now.

For all of you that are upgrading, enjoy and please let me know what you think!