Well, I've finally done it, and ordered a new Canon R5.
Some of you may have seen my comments about looking into new cameras and gear in another post, A couple of days by the River Deben in Suffolk, and my apologies to Dave for the unintended hijack so I've set up a new thread to keep folks updated.
To continue from my comments, as many of you will be aware, I've been grounded by my falling apart body, but i've nothing but praise for the nurses, consultants, doctors and anyone else involved it working hard to resolve the situation.
We've all heard the old saying, the devil makes work for idle hands, well, include computer and mouse into that, and I've been researching into mirrorless cameras, which is the future, whether we like it or not.
Me, I'm intrigued and like the concept, but not the costs.....
Why the Canon R5?
Well, first and foremost, my son said go for it!
Some of you may be aware his partner walked out on him eighteen months ago, which almost rendered him homeless. While we would happily have taken him back, after a chat with my wife, his mother, I gave him a large chunk of my savings and agreed to be guarantor for his mortgage. I never gave any repayment terms, but he did ask how much, and has transferred some of the money back to me, enough to cover the R5.
I've been using Canon cameras for many decades, and I feel they are on a par with Nikon and the other big brand names, the only problem is, if you change to another brand, then you need to change all your lenses and other associated kit as well.
My research started with the cost of upgrading and also, many camera manufacturers also offer conversion kits, or adapters, so you can use your existing lenses on the new breed of cameras.
Also, my research shown that could I use my existing lenses, the cable and wireless remotes would work, so will the Speedlite flashgun. The only extra items required are the lens mount adaptor, and the memory cards, which are still the existing SD Card, or, the faster and more capable CF Express card, whereas the 5D4 will use a Compact Flash card.
Also, the battery pack for the R5 is the same is the 5D4, which I understand is the same as the 5D3.
This appealed.
However, the cost was still going to be steep.
My local postie, who we had for 20+ years, a very friendly chap, I never realised he did wedding photography, and offered to show me his cameras, which are Nikon, and how he managed to make the change to mirrorless.
We both agreed, Nikon, Canon or any of the other big names, you can't really go wrong.
After a very interesting three hours and numerous cuppas, and some time handling his cameras in the garden, and to play safe, I sat down to use them rather than stand and risk falling or dropping them, I was nicely impressed with what I saw.
There are some trade offs and caveats with electronic view vs live view, but I'm not one to be negative. Obstacles are there to be beaten, not beat you.
The one big downside, if it is a downside, is video. The final quality is good, however, when panning a moving subject, there is a noticeable lag. But then I don't do much video, and to be honest, my current 5D4 has some lag, because that in video mode uses the large TTF screen and not the optical viewer, which is live view.
I said obstacles are to be beaten, not beat you.
The video quality is superb, and a bigger plus, the electronic viewfinder shows the same as the large TTF screen, but the big bonus with the EVF, is you block out all the viewing intrusions that using a TTF screen came impose.
There will be more to this no doubt, as I start a new journey mirrorless, and I will be happy to share.
However, it is costly, and to make things more costly than desired, my nearest emporium haven't stock of the R5, so I've had to order from elsewhere, and not being able to go far, that means no trade in of my 5D4, which if I'm honest, I am reluctant to part with.
The new camera is on order, and should be with me in the next couple of days, all I need is for my leg to sort itself out.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Ed D said:Lovely photos Mike. I just wonder what that lens would be like on the R7 cropped sensor. Hmmmmm....
I don't think you would be disappointed.
What lens are you currently using?
Using the RF 100-500. The best lens I have ever owned.
Ed D said:Using the RF 100-500. The best lens I have ever owned.
That is a very good lens and probably more portable.
If you want to get closer, the 200-800 won't disappoint, however, there will be a focal length gap, 100-200, depending on what other lenses you use. Another alternative would be to use the RF Extender, which does work with the 100-500 lens and R5, but presuming it works with the R7.
There is a caveat with the extender, it's only usable for 300mm+ on that lens due to the design of the lens.
Is anyone using the Canon RF 100mmL macro lens. I have been offered one by my local camera shop on a one day only offer a a very good price. I have read lots of reviews and it seems to perform marginally better than the EF 100mmL, with a few minor criticisms. Most reviewers say it's great, but not worth upgrading. I have more or less decided not to bother as I use the EF100mmL series, which I like very much.
Billysdad said:Is anyone using the Canon RF 100mmL macro lens. I have been offered one by my local camera shop on a one day only offer a a very good price. I have read lots of reviews and it seems to perform marginally better than the EF 100mmL, with a few minor criticisms. Most reviewers say it's great, but not worth upgrading. I have more or less decided not to bother as I use the EF100mmL series, which I like very much.
I don't use macro that much, and don't have a dedicated macro lens, so I'm not able to help.
There will always be pluses and minuses with any product, but if the spec is what you're looking for, give it a try. Photography is unique in that the light can vary enough that we don't see (the coordination between the eye and brain is phenomenal) it but the camera and lens will react to it, which can give cause for a products criticism.
Also, peoples perceptions.
When buying and using lenses from reputable manufacturers along with a reputable retailer/supplier, there is often a cooling off period, so I'd say give it a go and let us know here how you get on.
Thanks for your input Mike. I am posting full details below.
Well I got an email from my local camera shop a couple of days ago, saying that they were having a one day sale. Only available in store and on the day - yesterday. I was slightly interested in the RF100L f/2.8 macro lens, so I did some research. It appeared to be possibly slightly better than the EF100L f2.8 macro which I already own, but not outstandingly so. I thought about it during the day and decided I didn't need it, it might be worse than I already own etc etc. So I went down and ordered one!
This is the deal: Shop price £1,299.00. Less £300.00 off marked price, Less a £300.00 Trade in discount, which I got without. Which comes to £699.00
Not bad .. but I am also eligible for a Canon Lens Reward of £200.00, as I bought my R7 within the required period to receive a lens discount. They don't need to be bought at the same time, just within a time frame.
So bottom line £499.00. I am hoping to get in within a couple of weeks and will give it a go. If I like it, it stays, if I don't, it will be on ebay for a small profit ...
I think I need to come to your camera shop BD. Sounds a fab deal, and not found any poor reviews for the lens!
I have attached a link with my first impressions of the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens, with a few sample photos, which I had posted in another section. When I have had a little time to fully try it out I will report back with my opinion of it ...
Here
Some of you will have heard, I have another RF lens to the collection, and all EF lenses now swapped. The lens, a Canon RF 24-240mm, which fills the gap from the EF 24-105 to the new RF 200-800.
It never is a good thing, financially, to have me cooped up, and even worse when there's an emporium not far from the hospital I am attending.....
The new lens first outing was within the garden, and what better to start with, a very radiant sunrise
The colours were that spectacular, the sunrise cast a nice glow on the garden...
The next few of bees in flight, were using the FV setting on the R5 exposure control. How much better the FV was over the TV setting on the RF lenses I'm not sure, but it does, unsurprisingly, work better with the RF lenses over the EF lenses.
Not quite a BBIF
This is a BBIF
A garden spider
A "hairy stripybuzzy bee" (you know my bee id skills, are below zero) on the lavender
That Tommy Steele song comes to mind,
What? Oh ermWhat a mouth!What a mouth!What a north and southBlimey what a mouth he's got
That looks seriously sharp Mike! Now stop it, or I'll get lens envy... I'm already looking at the 800mm 6.3 and Mrs PB is permanently frowning lol
edit: not sure the honeybee is a honeybee?