Canon EOS R5 Wildlife Photography - Perfect in Real life?

[@robwasnj]

This video is pure gold for someone looking at the R5 for wildlife. Total honest review from a man who KNOWS his stuff through 1000's of hours of experience.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks a lot! Really appreciated. It's a great camera, did you make a decision?

[@robwasnj]

@@WillGoodlet I'm already invested in the Sony ecosystem, I own the A7R3 and have both the 100-400 and 200-600 lenses. Very happy with the results but the R3 isn't exactly a fast focusing camera so things like birds in flight often frustrate me, however, when you do get perfect focus the images are incomparable, actually better than the A9 if you need to recover shadows because of the great dynamic range. I'm waiting to see what's on the horizon for Sony next, supposedly an A9 with 50 megapixels is coming soon. With all this said I'm always curious and open to all brands, if Canon pulled way ahead of Sony I'd consider going back to their system but for now I don't see a huge advantage and they don't have fast affordable zooms yet either. I don't think I could use a 600mm f/11. All I've seen for the R5 are praise so seeing you point out some of it's shortcomings was refreshing. Even today I think the Nikon D850 is still a great wildlife camera, I almost went that route but it's clear everyone is moving towards mirrorless.

[@WillGoodlet]

@@robwasnj Coming from a Pentax and Minolta SLR, 36 shots at ISO 400 and a 300mm manual focus lens - I can't really complain about any of the cameras we have at our fingertips these days! We are truly blessed. Just wish they were cheaper ;)

[@robwasnj]

@@WillGoodlet Yeah, I'm old enough to remember those days. For me it was a Chinon CE3, then a Nikon F3HP. I acdtually had a darkroom and also worked for a cousin that owned a processing lab. I actually miss a lot of those days, all the technical craft you needed to have isn't there so the bar is lower. I still have sunny 16 in the back of my head when shooting outdoors, I often test myself and guess exposure even today. I just never attemped wildlife with those cameras.

[@davepastern]

@@robwasnj good to see someone else uses the sunny f16 rule. I also use hyperfocal distance too, although most modern lenses don't bloody well offer any markings for it anymore :-/ old school here, but didn't get into photography until '89.

[@chrisdebillot5160]

By far the best R5 review I have seen.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thank you Chris!

[@gz-n3gzmail142]

Best review of using a mirrorless camera... period. And i speak as a card carrying Nikon dslr and Fuji user.

[@nasserbrn]

I couldn’t find a better overview and review....

[@ppicans]

This is a real review not a fan/hater review. Great Camera. But not the perfect one (that doesn't exits). Thanks for sharing this

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Pablo, yep no perfect cameras :) Just a lot of fun using them and learning how to get the best out of the one you have!

[@themjian]

6:50 I am late to the party, but here it is: in DSLR, when you leave a len uncovered, if there's a strong light (heat), it reflects up the mirror and get out through the eyepiece. By the time it is past the eye focal point, the light is already scattered and no more intense. (Imagine heating up with a magnifying glass). However, in mirrorless, because there's no mirror, light & heat entering the len is directly hitting the sensor focused. So, while it rest, if it happen to point towards a sun, it'll literally fry your camera's sensor. Hence the warning notification. All you need to do is cover the lens front with a thin black piece of clothe or simply point it away from bright light/heat.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Themi! Yep I think you are spot on with this comment. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@themjian]

@@WillGoodlet My pleasure! And thanks for making this insightful and practical video.

[@gavinbnash]

I believe there's an extra nuance with the R5, which is that (I think be default) the shutter closes when the camera is off. This means that there's the potential for sunlight to melt the shutter, which is rather more delicate than the sensor.

[@alanwood5590]

Thanks Will, a really helpful review. You mention the lag in the EVF start up. I wake it up by half pressing the shutter button as I'm bringing the camera to my eye. That way it's on by the time it gets there and I'm ready to go. After a very short time muscle memory kicks in and it becomes automatic.

[@WillGoodlet]

Good tip! Thanks for that, I'll try it!

[@ivorottleyphotography4024]

A good tip...thanks

[@daviddowling9830]

My Z6 has the same quirk and is overcome by doing exactly as you suggest,it becomes second nature.

[@cdryall]

Agreed this is a great tip as I also found using the original R with my old 300 2.8 that when I left it lying on the car seat next to mine if it got to close to the centre console it would cause the EVF and IS to engage (no option 3) which chewed up batteries LOL. I now use my bean bag upside down to hold the camera clear of this. The only other option was to switch off / on to safeguard which is not ideal but I use when I notice battery levels dropping (the new lug on the R5 on/off switch also helps with this)

[@cornishblue58]

I do the same with my R

[@keithreid4032]

Thanks for your input. Its rare to get someone on KZbin that understands south African conditions. You are a wealth of knowledge and humble.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for watching Keith, greatly appreciate your support.

[@MorganHJackson]

Hey Will - if you keep the lens cap off, and sunlight hits the lens directly, it'll concentrate the light on the closed shutter blades and burn them. You can tell the camera to keep the shutter open when off if you don't want to cover the lens, but be wary of changing lenses as there is no mirror to protect the sensor.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Morgan, yep I think that is the consensus of opinion. I am keeping mine off as I am shooting from the car most of the time. Will just have to be more careful!

[@MorganHJackson]

@@WillGoodlet good luck! I found the other comments explaining this after I'd posted, sorry about the duplicate info haha

[@WillGoodlet]

@@MorganHJackson No worries :)

[@davepastern]

@@WillGoodlet Will, there are custom lens caps for the super telephoto lenses available on eBay. I'm looking at 1 for my 500mm f4 IS L (mark 1 sadly, can't afford a mark II - not a working pro making money, just a hobbyist).

[@robertbennett6410]

Will sir, YOUR THE MAN!! Thank you, Im SOLD on getting this and upgrading from my 90d

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for watching Robert. There’s been some new firmware since this video and the issues with much of the freezing seems to have stopped. Bear in mind that they will announce a mark ii in the first part of 2024 and you might see a price drop then. I love mine

[@robertbennett6410]

@@WillGoodlet That is good to hear. It will take me a bit to save up for it anyways but it seems a HUGE upgrade other than battery life from my 90d

[@WillGoodlet]

@robertbennett6410 yes it will be quite a revelation!

[@djack41]

EVF will spool up in time. First, use only the new high capacity batteries. Second, program the shutter button to focus. Now, when your hand reaches for the camera, immediately press the shutter button half down. By the time the camera is at your eye, the EVF is working. After you do this for a day, it becomes second nature. (You can do the same with back button focus)

[@WillGoodlet]

Yes this is a great Idea, I'll try it out as soon as the cam comes back.

[@borispradel1037]

Here's some quality review! Finally someone who uses the camera for what's intended. Thank you.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Boris, thanks for watching :)

[@timothylinn]

This is a *great* review of the R5. I'm even more impressed by your genuine engagement with viewers in the comments. Subscribed!

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Timothy! And thanks for the sub, hope I'll be seeing you around for many more videos in future :)

[@utkarshbhatnagar39]

One of the best reviews about any product online! And very useful tips. Everything you said is after field use and after facing real-time challenges. Thanks for sharing

[@jean-louisrousselle1794]

Thank you for a great review of the R5. I am a canon shooter, of over 10 years, mostly wildlife, 1D MKlV & 5D MKlV, I am amateur, no pressure to generate a living. I am pleased that Canon has finally come to the table with it’s first REAL quality mirrorless. I am going to hold off for some of the bugs to be worked out and the price to drop or for some important incentive reductions. Keep up the great work, I really appreciate this type of honest review.

[@SteveSSBB]

As per Rudy Winston (Canon USA) the animal AF has been optimized for cats, dogs and birds although It may work for other animals. It will likely be tweaked/expanded in future firmware revisions. The DOF preview button can also be configured to engage an alternate AF scenario.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Steve, thanks for the info. Yep, I am aware that it is not optimised for these species - but we are all going to try aren't we :) Important for my compatriots to be aware of any limitations over here as they are a large component of what they shoot. I'm sure, as you say, that features will be added.

[@yixuz42]

I shot 90D, and it also has compressed raw. I tested it many times and I just couldn’t see any difference between compressed and uncompressed.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks so much for corroborating. I never tried it before but I think it's great now.

[@Larodden1975]

Yes, even the same goes to my 5D IV. Cant see a difference shooting in medium raw...not sure if its the same you are talking about

[@thescouser8629]

I am using compressed raw format and although early days I would agree with you regarding the quality of the image. I am currently shooting exclusively in this format. The other change in my photo technique is getting away from tracking the bird with the autofocus point. Once the eye focus locks on you can of course recompose the image but it is not yet intuitive to me.

[@judah506]

The keep the lens cap on message when turning off the camera is common to all EOS R_ series of cameras. The new RF Lenses have this feature where upon switching the camera off, the aperture blades in the lens close down automatically but this doesn’t occur with EF Lenses leading to more light going down the lens barrel compared to a similar EF Lens equivalent

[@WillGoodlet]

HI Judah, thanks yeah I believe that is correct - having only shot DSLR I was not aware. I am just going to take care where I point the telephotos when they are not in use.

[@TheLordstrider]

but when you shut down the R5 the curtain is closing the access to the sensor, so i wonder what's the point in all of this.

[@MomentphotographyCoUk]

That was such a great video. A very humble and honest review of the camera with no hype or bs. You have a very nice tone of voice too. Great to see the change of backgrounds and the punctuation of photos and b roll. An excellent overview of the R5 and very interesting to me as I am about to buy this camera. Like you I am also new to mirrorless, the R5 will be my first.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks so much, really kind of you! I think it is a great camera. Many of my issues with spool up time were addressed by experienced mirrorless shooters in the comments. So don't worry about that.. The freezing issue seems hit or miss, Canon Europe took mine for evaluation and gave it back only on Thursday. At which point Canon Japan insisted on replacing it. I don't know why as I'd previously refused a replacement. It's a spectacular camera but they seem to be having some teething trouble!

[@DalsPhotography]

Beautiful vlog , @Will Goodlet ! I really appreciate you make this for us, your viewers! :) In Uruguay, we have to ride a lot as well, it's not the same as your country, but many birds, or wildlife animals are very far, we have quite a bit of smaller lakes (whe we don't have this draught) . But those are in private fields, so yeah, distance is a normal situation! I love you that you so down to earth!!! Thank you again.

[@bruceleonard3096]

I believe that the message to put your lens cap on is because of the danger of damaging your sensor or the curtain in front of it. On our old DSLRs the sunlight hit the mirror and out the viewfinder, now it goes straight to the sensor. I think if you don’t have the sunlight hitting the lens you’ll be fine. If the lens is looking at the inside of the door on you Rover there’s not a problem. Just my thoughts.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Bruce, makes sense about the mirror. Forgot about that! Yes I like the lens up against the door panel just in case. I think if its a sunlight thing then it should be pretty safe there.

[@ForrestWest]

About sunlight getting in the lens. When you turn off the camera the plastic cover comes down over the lens and that can become heated and melt if sunlight comes through a lens without a cap. In cameras that do not close plastic in front of the sensor, the sensors have UV protection that keeps them from melting from sunlight for the most part.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Forest. It's a pain in the butt :) I hand my hat off the end at the moment.

[@moritzmayer9436]

You can configure the r5 to keep the shutter open even when turned off.

[@WillGoodlet]

@moritzmayer9436 yes. It seems a fairly redundant risk with telephotos. Mainly a risk for wide angle lenses facing up.

[@SocalBackyardNature]

One of the best camera reviews I have ever seen. Thank you, Will.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Gene! Wow :)

[@quazisanjeed6395]

Hi Will. I don’t know whether, being a hobbyist, I’m in a position to offer any ideas. However, for myself I have settled to stick to DSLRs, come what may. I’m nowhere near your level as a photographer however, I use Canon 1D Mark IV + Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM + Canon Extender EF 2x III. This combo produces a focal length of 780mm of full-frame equivalent. Despite all these; if I need more reach and cropping; I use my new 90D which really rocks. For flight shots; my old friend 7D + EF 400mm f/5.6L combo is the way to go. All these bodies have plenty of shutter life remaining. So, I don’t really care whether Canon produces any more DSLRs or not. I know this won’t help you anyway but, mentioned it just to reiterate that DSLR is not dead despite massive efforts by manufacturers and promoters to kill it.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Quazi, really appreciate you taking the time to set out your thoughts here. It's so valuable to have all this info and input on the thread. You can't really fault the 1D Mark IV and 300 f2.8 they didn't get any worse just because mirrorless came along! The focus speed, 1.3 crop and powerful battery for the converter are a joy to use. And there is always something special about those APS-H sensors. They look gorgeous. What I still like about optical is that the battery lasts, the image through the viewfinder also is REAL and it's much more immersive from the perspective of someone who enjoys watching wildlife. Sometimes we just want to watch right? I think we are lucky too because cameras have become so good that they will do the job - especially if their users know how to take advantage of them. And there is more to photography than the image - wildlife photography at least. It's about being there. Close by, observing, enjoying and being a part of what's happening. It's about the capture but also the feel of the capture. And the feel in the hand of a 1D is very fine indeed. You know you are holding a beautifully crafted instrument.

[@quazisanjeed6395]

@@WillGoodlet thank you buddy.

[@garytruchelut8368]

I wanted to thank you for producing an honest and practical review of the r5. I mostly do wildlife with landscape coming in second. I was contemplating selling my 1DX and 1D MK4 to pay for the r5 but after your review I think I'll keep one of them, just not sure which one. I have placed an order for the r5 and the adapter for my current lens collection and an extra battery. Thanks again for all the info.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Gary, great to hear the video was useful. Thanks for watching and leaving me a comment here. Good luck with the R5!

[@chasingmanhattan]

Compressed Raw is perfect for most applications. Considering most of my portrait work is for social media and the web these days, and not for print, C-Raw is more than enough. For those specific situations where you know high resolution is necessary, it's nice to have it the ability to scale up by using full Raw mode.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for the confirmation. It's great to have options. From what I've seen so far I'm very happy with C-RAW too.

[@esphilee]

Putting on the lens cap is to avoid user from accidentally damage the shutter when they put the camera on its back, pointing directly into the sun. In DSLR, most of the light will be reflected by the mirror and out through the view finder. In mirroless, if the lens is focusing at infinity, it will focus the sun onto the shutter or sensor, and causing damage.

[@WillGoodlet]

Makes a lot of sense! Thank you.

[@oupavideo]

@@WillGoodlet Could this be a problem when shooing into the Sun ( Sunrise & Sunset ) with the strong Afrrican Sun?

[@WillGoodlet]

It's the same for any digital camera - just no long exposures directly at the sun and you CERTAINLY shouldn't look through the viewfinder at a strong sun. I almost always use live view for a rising or setting sun shot with a big lens.

[@rickeycarter]

Pieter J de Villiers I think the issue is the shutter is down when powered off to keep dust off the sensor when switching lenses. When the camera is on and you are looking through the lens, the shutter is open and the sensor is exposed to the lens. The sensor is far more stable than the shutter to intense light.

[@kathleeneveritt5340]

If you tap the shutter button as you lift the camera to your eye it will wake up the camera and the evf will be active no time lag

[@chasmoonie3403]

Hi Will, you are not alone with the freeze issue, lots of others including me. Same happened to me two mornings in a row, first with 300mmf2.8 mkii and then with the RF70 200mm f2.8, screen/evf freeze 20 seconds, soft clunk like camera power up. I download the latest firmware 1.1.1 yesterday, no bug fix mentioned, but no longer an issue so far ....

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for the confirmation Chas - as I mentioned I will test it out with and without the 1.1.1. update - maybe it's nailed the problem (lets hope!)

[@fsobottka]

@@WillGoodlet I am having the freeze issue as well, but only when using the battery grip. I have seen the E2 error once. I powered the camera down and the card was fine after that. I'm not sure if the issue was the CFExpress card or the SD card. I have continued to use the same cards and have only seen the issue the one time. I would be interested to hear if the freeze issue has gone away. I did install the latest firmware (1.1.1) but haven't shot a lot since the firmware update. But overall, I love the R5. It's a bit buggy, but not enough to make me want to give it up.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Fred, thank you for watching and thanks for the very helpful comment too! Battery Grip! Maybe that's it!? I didn't get the freeze before the battery grip. I will have to test this out thoroughly to see if I can identify the cause. I had the Err2 repeatedly, so much that I had to stop using the card - maybe every 30min or so. It was the SD card in my case as I don't have a CFexpress yet. They are coming to collect the camera for assessment on monday - so I have the weekend to test a few things, thanks for the info! Like you I'm keeping this camera - too good!

[@chasmoonie3403]

@@WillGoodlet unfortunately freeze happened again today, I think it might be when the EVF is set to smooth , will try again tomorrow with the other slower EVF setting

[@WillGoodlet]

I tried to get mine to freeze for a while yesterday and couldn't (v.1.1.1 without battery grip) Tried naked lens, 1.4, 2x and even stacked 1.4 + 2x. insisted on behaving itself. The retailer still hasn't picked it up - I'd rather keep it now knowing that all the cameras are the same.

[@thelensmanphotography]

I never use a lens cap and have never had an issue with the R5. I also use the LPE6NH batteries and get roughly 1500+ images from two batteries easily with chimping. (are you shooting in airplane mode shutting off all unnecessary functions?) It just takes some getting used to with the EVF tracking BIF - and use the NH batteries you will have a better experience. (There is a massive difference in IQ between the 7D2 and the R5. Not sure why you would think they are even close!)

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Kurt, no supply of the NH batteries here. Sadly SA is usually well down the list of availability for anything new - especially with the current situation. I'm getting about 3-4 hours out of one LP-E6NH + LP-E6 I am also shooting video during this time. I'm sure I'll get used to the EVF eventually. I'm not going to pretend I am a good IQ reviewer - just felt it was my duty to speak about it! I wasn't seeing a lot of difference - BUT of course these things change in poor light and conditions and my test shot was in very good light at a reasonable ISO and the R5 was cropped. Also - the adobe conversion of the R5 file looks terrible to me? How do you feel about it?

[@thelensmanphotography]

@@WillGoodlet I agree that the Adobe conversion is flat, lacking contrast and color. They will get it straightened out in time. You will see a huge difference in the IQ when you are shooting in low light and pulling shadows. It's light years ahead of the 7D2. I am keeping my 1DXIII alongside the R5 because I am not 100% ready to go full mirrorless...

[@WillGoodlet]

Kurt Scherbaum I will look out for the difference (haven’t touched the 7d since the R5 arrived!) I’m interested in hearing how your 1dx iii compares?

[@danielson_9211]

Thinking of getting the R5 have the 7d II, in crop mode the R5 is 17mp, 7d is 20, but the R5 has way better dynamic range and ibis and better aa filter, I just don't know if its a massive difference. Of course in non crop mode that 45mp would be massive, but not everyone can afford a 400 2.8 let alone a 600mm.

[@WillGoodlet]

@@danielson_9211 Hi Daniel, thanks for watching and the comments. I've just uploaded some test shots comparing R5 to 7Dii into the shared folder pinned in the comments. Take a look if you want - let me know your thoughts!

[@ruek66]

This is the review I’ve been waiting for.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Ruzdi, greatly appreciated! :)

[@e.colemantlpss6406]

The lens cap thing is to protect the sensor if you have light streaming through the lens while sat in a table for example. Just go into the settings and you can set the shutter to drop and protect the sensor when the camera turns off.

[@lekkerpruven887]

I have an EOS R and the same warning pops up even if you use the shutter at power off. Maybe it's too protect the camera in general from overheating? Of specificity the shutter?

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks, yes, that's it. I was new to mirrorless when I made this (although I never got the message on my M50 vlogging cam). Even with the shutter down, you are still at risk though. The problem is the missing mirror and all those elements focusing the light.

[@barrypearson6096]

About the staccato effect when panning: have you got "automatic review" set to (say) 2 seconds? (That was the default on my Canon R. I don't know about the R5). If so, set it to zero seconds. The short freeze should go away.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Barry, I don't have the camera (canon is checking it) but review is turned off completely. I'll try again when it comes back.

[@FredrikLarssonPhoto]

​@@WillGoodlet I had the same issues with the "lag" but I've tweaked settings (dont know which ones as of now) and it is gone! :D feels like my 5dmkIV now. Superhappy about that. So it is most likely a setting or two.

[@WillGoodlet]

Great to hear Fredrik!

[@colinjones6016]

Hi Will. Three years down the line , very informative and very helpful one new subscriber.

[@WillGoodlet]

So glad it was helpful!

[@Ctoretto17]

This review was so clear and concise you got yourself a new subscriber 👍🏼

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Christian, really appreciated! I'm glad you liked it. I mainly do in the field vlogs when we aren't locked down. Hope to see you around :)

[@ollenilssonen]

Such a good review! Nice video Will!

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks a ton!

[@GraemeSomerville]

Hey Will, I rarely watch a youtube video all the way through. But I did with yours. All 26 minutes. Thanks for providing a fantastic review of this camera. Not only did I enjoy the review I learned a lot about wildlife photography (I shoot landscapes primarily). I subscribed and look forward to catching up with some of your earlier videos. PS. I am getting the r6. The r5 was just a little above my budget.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Graeme, great to hear from you and thanks for sitting through 26minutes of wildlife blather. I also love to shoot landscapes, particularly under the stars. I've found that it is quite hard to do in South Africa because the land is all fenced off and the farmers are very jumpy and in national parks, the animals want to eat you. I was hoping to explore some of my favourite spots on the channel when I get the chance.

[@weast5912]

Wow…thanks a million for the in depth review, really well done ….1 have had the same issue with 400 2.8 and converter of lockup…2 no difference in Raw and Craw… 3 battery destroyer as well looking forward to more..appreciate your hard work…

[@rhiwderinraytube]

Hi Will It’s a pity that you have so much investment in Canon gear. I switched from Nikon to Olympus (Em1 mk2) which is a great mirrorless micro 4/3 system. anyway, one great feature for bird photographers is “pro capture” which fills the buffer with 14 shots when you half press the shutter or use back button. Then when you fully press the button it takes the photo as normal. That way if you are a bit slow to press the shutter button you have 14 previous shots in the bag. Burst mode is impressive even using Raw. Olympus Pro lenses are pin sharp and weather sealed. The latest EM1 has Ai to assist with focus. Bonus is the weight and space saving - I now use a messenger bag instead of a rucksack. Also EVF boot up is instant and battery life also good. I have never looked back and sold all my Nikon gear.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Ray, I’ve had the opportunity to use the Olympus OMD em-1 Mark ii, I reviewed it in a blog post some time ago. I only got to play with it a few days but it was a great camera and a lot of fun a and yes I am jealous of pro-capture :) Im happy enough with my canon gear but you are correct, I’d like less of it. I love my 400 f2.8 - would find it hard to part with and don’t get me wrong the R5 is a very good camera, I won’t be giving it back soon!

[@iamleek]

@@WillGoodlet with the 400 f2.8 do you use a x2 TC or x1.4 TC to increase the reach? is the x2 TC sharpness good enough compare to the 1.4? Thank you very much for your sharing hands on experience. They are really helpful.

[@WillGoodlet]

@@iamleek Hi! I use both TC"s a lot. But I do not feel that super telephotos are best employed to photograph extremely distant subjects and our approach to teleconverters is wrong. Atmospheric effects degrade image qaulity far more quickly than the teleconverter. So when we attach a 2x and say- 'oh this is softer than the naked lens' so often the subject is twice as far away when we make that comparison! The dust, heat haze, vapour and our own camera shake have all degraded the image much more than the converter in that situation. If you photograph the same subject at the same distance with the naked lens, 1.4 and 2x you will note that the 2x does an amazing job - especially on small, close subjects. Sorry for the long answer - but I think we wildlife photographers don't always use TC's in the best or most comparable way and then make 'better vs worse" black and white statements that miss so much of the nuances involved. Hope my perspective helps a litte at least!?

[@iamleek]

@@WillGoodlet Thank you very very much! That's really make me think very differently on how TC are used. I really like the thoughts you shared and considering the atmospheric condition of the environment.

[@timothylinn]

@@WillGoodlet This is a really insightful observation and one I had not previously considered.

[@deborahketelsen4776]

You're wildlife video with your 13 tips was superb. Thank you for taking the time to produce it!

[@jameshahyderali7717]

You’re the best teacher for me sir...

[@WillGoodlet]

Wow, thanks

[@kevindiaz3459]

Lens Cap - I'm speculating here, but if I had to guess this is because the way the shutter curtain remains down when you power off the camera (to protect it from dust apparently). If you have a lens on, and harsh enough light focuses through it with the shutter down, then it can warp or damage the fins. Again, speculation, but I feel confident that is it. C-RAW - I love C-RAW. I got the 90D at it's launch, and after a lot of research found that people just couldn't find a difference between RAW and C-RAW unless pushing to extremes. Extremes people are not going to do in any practical sense, like 5 stop recovery, and still have any kind of usable image either way. With C-RAW, I was able to nearly tripple the buffer on my 90D with Prograde V90 UHS-II cards, going from about 22 RAW to 60 C-RAW! Not even the mighty 7DmkII can get a burst that long. Now if only they made a 7DmkIII with C-RAW and that monstrous 32mp sensor... EVF vs OVF - I agree with your point on this. I am also new to mirrorless, just got an R6 (R5 is on order). What a great tip BTW on keeping the EVF spooled! Otherwise though, the OVF still seems the fastest way to get right at it. Some argue the whole "exposure preview" thing. I don't have time for that in action shooting. I already need my camera ready to shoot, so preview is kinda useless for action. I already know the shutter speed I want, which dictates the aperture (likely as wide as allowed or just F8), and ISO is whatever it needs to be. Preview is cool for landscapes, or those low key shots where you can take your time, like when an animal is resting. Otherwise, I still mostly like the OVF, but that animal AF is something worth having too... 7DmkIII - Just wanted to throw this in there, that I really wanted a 7DmkIII. Looks like instead we will end up with an R version, which if it hits on on the key specs can be great, but I do have to wonder what a DSLR model would have looked like. I'm thinking the 32mp sensor (which has great DR, and super crisp photos), 14-16 FPS, CFX + UHS-II, a HUGE buffer, C-RAW, an updated AF system (probably the same as the 1DXmkIII, if not a chopped version), lots of custom modes, 4K video (both binned for full sensor with a 6K downsampled crop mode), and a solid built, weather sealed body. That would have been the greatest APS-C DSLR of all time. But we never got it. :( Even at 2800 USD, it would have sold very well. Sigh...

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Kevin, thanks for watching and all the great info here too. I think you are right on the EVF preview thing. It never even crossed my mind! No point in messing around if the action is on. Great to get confirmation on the CRAW too - I won't be going back to RAW. Well, even if the 7Diii is dead - there are some incredible cameras and lenses coming I'm sure. Did you see the rumour of a 500 f2.8??? How much will that weigh.

[@kevindiaz3459]

@@WillGoodlet I did see that rumor. My first thought was "it will be a bazooka" and likely cost 16-18K USD. It will be large, but if you look at what they did with the 400mm F2.8 mkIII, they were able to make that lens a fair amount lighter than the mkII. I think it's possible it could fall in around 10-11lbs. Either way, on an R5, it will probably be the new standard in wildlife shooting. It will be interesting to see it unfold.

[@calum54]

Will, There is a list of all EF lenses that support 12 frames per second on pages 895 and 896 of the PDF user manual you can get from the Canon sites. Nothing about image stabilisation though. Is this what you’re looking for?

[@WillGoodlet]

Cheers Mal, maybe yes! Thank you for that. I keep seeing an asterix in the specs list and the note says 'list of lenses available on the canon website' but never find it.

[@jamesstubbs5651]

@@WillGoodlet Canon UK have a list of lenses which improve IS here: www.canon.co.uk/support/consumer_products/products/cameras/digital_slr/eos-r5.html?type=faq&search=1&searchurl=/support/consumer_products/content/faq/?itemid=tcm:14-1997136. Unfortunately for you, they all seem to be RF mount.

[@kclarkeadventures]

I have had no issues with EVF. It may be the setting. I use two back button focus to assist the camera on where I need to hit. Loving my R5.

[@WillGoodlet]

Me too! I’ve found that I can leave it switched on and it starts up when you touch a button. The replaced camera hasn’t frozen at all (touch wood) so it’s been good - I must do an update video

[@markarmstrong3962]

Will, Thanks for discussion of the EV spool up. That would seriously frustrate me. I need to act quick to capture birds and mammals when I come upon them. For now I will keep my 5D4 and 90D. I am wondering if Canon has an R7 up their sleeve for quick action bird photography?

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Mark, glad it was useful!. A lot of the more experienced mirrorless guys suggested tapping a button on the way up to the eye, I tried it and it did help quite a lot. I think that the APS-C might not make an appearance in RF format. It seems sensible to rationalise the lens line-up, maybe we are going back to the days before digital where we just had 35mm - but now with slightly longer RF glass to compensate? 100-500. 600 F11, 800F11, 250 f2.8 etc...? All I know is it's an exciting time.

[@pierricchauveteau776]

Thank you for your interesting and sincere testimony. I have R5 and 5Dmk IV and so far will keep both. I didn’t have any problem of freezing with the R5 so far. I found the RF 70-200 less user friendly than the EF 70-200 besides the weight. The zoom ring is indeed very stiff and its rotating range very long compared to the EF version. Another annoying thing with RF lenses is that canon changed the order of rings between them so you constantly need to adjust to find which ring does what when you swap lenses. Otherwise yes R5 and RF lenses are just another world on so many aspects that they are really worth the investment.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi, again sorry for the late reply - very interesting to get your feedback on the RF lenses. I'd like to try them but cannot justify the expense currently. I am sure they offer some improvements with regard to Autofocus? Either way, I am happy with the replacement R5, no freezing touch wood! And delighted with the performance of my EF lenses - I was worried I would have to sell most but they work very well.

[@stfn5959]

Hey will, i have the R5 aswell and i can confirm your experience with the Animal EYE AF and i also have set up the Camera with dual backbutton focus! Funny that Wildlife-photographers around the World think in the same way and come to the same solutions to a problem! You didnt mention it, do you have the function active so that the Eye AF starts with the closest Focuspoint in the EVF you have selected? I noticed that it will improve your "hitrate" with the Eye AF because you can choose where to place it with your joystick (like with DSLR's) and if you press the eye AF backbutton it will pick it up right away! I'm shooting with a sigma EF 150-600 Sports and can tell you there is no real diffrence between native canon EF and third party lenses at all (i have 70-200 2.8 -with tc- and 24-70 2.8 as well). There are firmware updates for the R5, did you update your camera? Did it solve your Problem with the 400 mm 2.8? I'm very intrested in that because i am about to buy an EF 400 2.8 II ! Thanks for the helpful review! One of the best reviews out there! Greetings from Germany and all the best!

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi, thanks so much for the helpful info and for watching, it's highly appreciated. Great to compare notes! Yes that's how I am using it too - but I am still exploring. I don't have the camera at the moment so it will have to wait til it comes back. Glad to hear that the 3rd party lenses are working well too. Someone had a problem with freezing on a Tamron though. The firmware came out just after I packed up my camera so I haven't updated to 1.11 yet. Hopefully Canon will tell me what's wrong when they look at the cam.

[@maylonr5274]

The lens cap suggestion is about the lens pointing to the sun. As long as you ensure you don't do that you won't be focusing the sun on the shutter and thus shouldn't be a problem. The other thing you might want to keep in mind. If you are shooting from a vehicle, and are constantly on a tripod maybe you can use a battery pack (has to be PD, I would suggest one that matches the battery grip if you want that to charge up while the camera is asleep) to keep the camera powered at all times. Of course keep in mind that the USB-C port is directly soldered onto the board. So if you do use it to power the camera be sure to have connected with the cable protector. Might not even be an option for you. (I do think you need LP-E6N or LP-E6NH in the camera for this though). Last but not least. If you get in the habit of half pressing the shutter button while bringing the camera up to your eye the EVF would already be on by the time you get it to your eye. It is fairly quick, takes some getting used to, but it is second nature to me now. I also noticed that this is a bigger issue with the back LCD in closed orientation. The EVF goes to sleep rather quickly.

[@WillGoodlet]

Great tips here, thanks! I have so many LP-E6's that the battery life is no problem when shooting from the car, I just recharge them in the vehicle - I mainly mention it for other people who will probably be shooting on foot or hiking. I like the half press idea - a lot of the mirrorless guys say they do this now without thinking - I'm pretty sure if it works for everyone else it will work for me too! Interested to hear what you say about the LCD closed = Sleeping EVF. I have deliberately closed the LCD because some overheating video tests indicate the video will not overheat as quickly with the LCD disabled. I think now with the firmware update overheating is redundant for my use. Cheers and thanks again for watching and for the good tips!

[@talvinderchohan]

Best review so far, thank you. Great to see it in action with the 400 too

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks so much for watching and the support!

[@pedzsan]

EVF spinup: I recall back in 2003 time frame my friend ventured into digital camera first. When the camera went to sleep, it took a very long time to wake up. Probably more than it is taking the EVF to spin up today. Obviously with time, Canon has addressed that problem. I would suggest try to voice your concerns so that Canon hears them and hope for a firmware update. My body is still back ordered but I'm surprised that touching the shutter as soon as possible that the EVF hasn't spun up by the time you get the camera to your eye. Very nice review -- a real person doing real work and describing what is and isn't working.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for watching and your thoughts here. Yes of course you are right, a little perspective can help a lot. It's not so long ago is it! The canon EVF startup is actually very fast for a mirrorless camera. Certainly faster than the Olympus OMD EM-1 Mark ii, which is the last one I tested. Many of the regular mirrorless shooters have suggested tapping a focus button on the way up to the eye, and that has been working very well.

[@dhedc]

Great review from an experienced wildlife photographer. Thank you.

[@WillGoodlet]

Glad you enjoyed it thank you David!

[@calvinwon5113]

You're definitely giving a true, unbiased opinion about the R5 (and mirrorless in general), which I appreciate immensely. I think most people I know, who have made a mirrorless purchase, tend to try to defend their decision to purchase one. So I'm often left with more arguments in favor of mirrorless, but feeling like it's biased because they wanted to justify their purchase. I, personally, am on the fence about it. And I think it has a lot to do with mirrorless technology still being too new for my tastes. DSLRs have had MANY generations worth of tinkering and engineering to arrive at the near perfect DSLRs we have available today. While mirrorless bodies are still in their early stages, relatively speaking. I believe they will only improve as time goes on. If they can do something about the battery life issue and the lag between frames that you mentioned, I might be more onboard. As of right now, I still find myself hoping that Canon doesn't eventually phase out DSLRs. Because I still prefer it over mirrorless.

[@ronaldccastle]

Will, I was one of the first waves to get my R5 back in July and have been a bit disappointed with color, but after seeing your video, it never occurred to me that it could be how poorly Adobe is handling the files! Have you seen any difference with this latest update? I still shoot the MkIV for my every day real estate work and don't get an opportunity to shoot the R5 enough.

[@WillGoodlet]

Ron Castle Hi Ron, I haven’t had my camera since this video. Canon has been looking at it for weeks. I just got a replacement but haven’t taken a shot. So I haven’t noticed any difference in LRC. But, it’s an easy workaround to open the file in Canon DPP then apply the correct colour profile and then export to TIF and import that to LRC or Photoshop(colour correct) and work on it further. You could convert the TIf to DNG after this. If you work purely in adobe the files look dreadful.

[@ronaldccastle]

@@WillGoodlet I normally convert to DNG when I import all my files, but thanks to you, I'm going to change that for the R5 for now! Your review was really great and I can't believe you're so responsive to comments. I'm curious if you know an outfitter there in South Africa, Phillip Bronkhorst? I was planning a photo safari with him for this year before all the COVID stuff happened, but hope to re-book for this coming summer.

[@WillGoodlet]

Ron Castle yes I think that is wise - don’t want to bake in that colour!! I work on writing/videos etc late into the night, so I see the comments come in and try to answer questions first. :) I don’t know Phillip, so sorry you had to postpone/cancel. Hopefully things will start getting back on track earlier rather than later next year. A lot of people in travel will be going bust, hang on to your deposit if you do book (if possible)

[@ronaldccastle]

@@WillGoodlet Thanks! I will.

[@rainermenes5921]

This message to put a lens cap on you already have in the EOS R. The main reason for it is the lens will be focused to infinity, the aperture opens fully when switching the camera off and the shutter closes to protect the sensor from dust. If you now put the lens directly in sun light you may damage your shutter. The shutter is more sensitive to heat as for example the sensor. As long as you don't put your lens into direct sunlight or any other high intensive light sources like lasers etc you should be fine without a lens cap. On my EOS R I never had an issue. Hope this answer makes sense.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Rainer, thanks for watching and taking the time to add this info too. Yes, it does make a lot of sense - something that DSLR shooters need to be aware of when switching to mirrorless!

[@KGsPhotography]

Thanks for the excellent clear review Will. I am certainly considering the R5 after seeing this. Cheers Keith

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for the feedback Keith, appreciated!

[@rvboondocker2559]

The sensor is closed or covered but sunlight can melt the screen cover. You critiques are serious and make me reconsider my order. Animal AF is a major reason I’m considering this camera.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for that. Hey, don't take my word for it. Everyone has a different basis for choosing it. I'd hate to be responsible for that. Can you try it out in a shop maybe first? I may have raised some negative points in the review but it is a very good camera. I am definitely achieving some shots I couldn't get with a DSLR. At the end of the day every camera has issues we work around to get the shots.

[@franbazz3096]

Terrific review and very similar to my findings after using the R5 for three weeks.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks so much for watching and great to have confirmation on these thoughts. Hope you are enjoying the camera. Mine's still with Canon.

[@russellmann8297]

If you will watch Ken Rockwell’s review on the R5 he will explain why the lens cap must be on the camera after shooting. Yes it will damage the camera. Also he will explain about the cards and why you can only use certain ones.

[@ravichander479]

excellent video and a good honest review of R5

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Ravi! Appreciated

[@newdayinspirations5792]

Thanks for being honest about your experience using the camera. I am a bird and wildlife photographer who also takes most of my photos from inside the car. I have the 7D Mark ii and have never used mirrorless so I think I will just keep what I have until something affordable comes along. I may get the Canon R6 and use for landscape images. I can't image not being able to see through the viewfinder instantly.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi, thanks for watching and coming to comment. I wanted to say that a number of mirrorless guys suggested I tap the focus button on the way up to the eye and I can confirm this works pretty well and the problem is basically resolved from my perspective. One person warned that the EVF can stay active if the back of the camera is too close to the centre console in the car - it's mundane, but actually a really good observation. The main points of difference between the R5 and 7Dii are handling, that all frame Autofocus and astonishing frame rate. Noise is also better controlled and dynamic range better. There is no major compelling reason to move from the 7D2 to the R5 unless the items listed above will make a meaningful difference to your photography. So I can certainly understand your decision to stay put. I am certain that canon will develop a whole range of great mirrorless cameras - I wonder though, if the APS-C will stay? It would save on lens confusion if it didn't but also reduce the options for high resolution cameras like a new 'R7'.

[@rogersmith4308]

great thorough field review Will, appreciate it

[@WillGoodlet]

Many thanks Roger!

[@DavidRoachJS]

Hi Will, Love the channel. I saw the answer to one of your issues in another wildlife photographers video. Yes, the R5 will take all old version batteries, but it will not perform the same with the older batteries as with the new ones. This is true for mechanical shutter lag. It is not a problem with the newer batteries while kept charged well. You will also have the bigger lag with the new batteries if allowed to get low in charge (I don't know the exact charge level). So, it looks like battery grip with four of the newest batteries will allow you to use mechanical on your typical day.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks David. Yes you are right, it requires the LP-E6NH at greater than 60% charge to run at 12FPS mechanical, the state is indicated with a green icon on the left side of the screen. Even when running at that state of charge the camera still has a staccato mechanical shutter. It aslo needs to be at greater than 1/1000th second. It's certainly improved in that state but not at all the same as an OVF - it's weird coming from a dslr. I'd prefer if the frame went dark (like a mirror closing) rather than show me the frozen image for a nanosecond - your mind wants to stop and wait with the frozen bird rather than continue tracking... I think it will be possible to get used to it once I use it more. I actually prefer electronic though - no lag, no funny staccato view and will run at fast FPS below 60% charge and doesn't add to the shutter count :) I think I will most use electronic for wildlife and birds - unless there is a situation where rolling shutter is an issue. Cheers! and thanks for watching :)

[@rosed3167]

Do you know if this Is also an issue on the R6?

[@WillGoodlet]

I believe they will be the same in this regard,

[@OldPongGeezer]

I am not only impressed with your video, but these comments are awesome too. What a great community you have! I am struggling with the price tag of the R5. I am not a professional photographer (or that great of a novice photographer for that matter) but I am starting to hit the limitations of my 80D. I was thinking 5D until this beauty was introduced. Now I'm just stuck in the decisions. 🙄 Thanks for the wonderful info. New sub.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment and subscribe! Yeah there are a lot o great comments in the thread - plenty of really helpful people around :) The R5 is spectacular but so is the R6.. it might be important to just ensure you have enough resolution for your subject before going to any of the full frame options though. The 80D is offering a lot of pixels that the other cameras don’t have! What are your subjects?

[@mikejackson9585]

Regarding the compressed RAW files, I think your fine for most scenarios, but turn it off in low light. It creates an odd "mosquito" noise pattern in high ISO shadows. Also, enable the "close shutter on power down" option to protect your sensor from inadvertant focused sunlight. Obviously a lens cover is better, but a little protection is better than none.

[@WillGoodlet]

I'll have to have a look for it, thanks for the tip Mike! I have the shutter closing at the moment (looks very fragile in there) but I think it's best for keeping dust out too. Cheers and thanks for watching and the helpful advice!

[@MikePearcePhoto]

Thanks for this review. I'll stick to my 5D4 - you've saved me GBP4,300!

[@WillGoodlet]

Glad it was helpful. Pretty sure the 5D4 is excellent.

[@jisanahmed9528]

@@WillGoodlet would you say 5D4 is better than R5?

[@WillGoodlet]

Depends what for, but for me and for wildlife, no - the R5 is better

[@wellingtoncrescent2480]

I'm a big fan of my Canon R7/ RF 100-500 for birding, but I recently decided to add an R5 as a second body. I am however struggling a bit with the differences in button & dial placement, wondering whether I would be better off with a second R7, as I prefer its layout, pre-capture, and reach. I also find the R7 has the edge in frame rate and megapixels-on-subject in crop mode, though the R5 has better low light performance, rolling shutter, and EVF resolution. Thanks for a nice review.

[@earlteigrob9211]

Thank you!!! Great Review!!! Some real world issues without of the hype:)))

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Earl! Glad you liked it :)

[@cathyash6653]

Canon recommends keeping a lens cap on when the camera is off to prevent the closed shutter from being damaged from the sun hitting the black shutter. Not sure who would leave their camera facing the sun but there you go.

[@WillGoodlet]

Yep that seems to be the consensus, thanks :) I'm just going to point my tele at the car door or the ground and risk it!

[@evgenyshulin]

English not my native language, but Your speech so amazing and clearly understanding! Thanks for conclusion and perfect review 🙏

[@WillGoodlet]

Evgeny, thank you so much, I really appreciate the feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@antonoat]

Great review Will. I use Nikon z6 and I've trained myself is to the instant I spot a subject I half press the shutter button to bring the camera to life, this means by the time I get the camera to my eye it's ready to go, I've found it makes a real difference. Wish you luck getting your R5 sorted, as a Nikon user I can't offer any advice unfortunately. Re the size of your files, Nikon offers lossless image RAW compression, there is zero difference between the lossless and the full non compressed, but it saves massive memory usage and buffer clearing I imagine it may be very similar with your Canon.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hey thanks for the tip! Yes, I've been trying that too on the advice of the long time mirrorless guys who kindly responded. Sadly I can't edit the video! Thanks for watching though!

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

Thumbs up fist, then start commenting:-) I've been waiting so much to hear your experiences with the R5.

[@lwanfry]

I've had the same concern, on a sony mirrorless body. The camera doesn't warn you but the manual does. In a way it's pretty obvious that as long as the lens is mounted on, the sensor stays exposed to focused light and that can be bad in the long run, especially if the lens is hit by the sun... But I don't think there is any chance of damage for many years and the warning is more to protect themselves from warranty for burnt sensors when people just think they can drop their camera on a table or leave it unattended on a tripod and it just happens the sun align to the lens well enough to create a potential damage. My take on this is "don't leave the camera with lens mounted alone without a lens cap, things could go wrong". So I started to put a cap on the lens when I'm not using the camera at all but in the field, I won't be stupidly pointing the lens to the sun or a bright reflection for long and I think you don't have to care about that. At least I hope!

[@WillGoodlet]

Here's a review with more details: willgoodlet.com/blog/canon-eos-r5-wildlife-photography

[@rafalkonieczny]

Lens cap was always recommended to be put on the camera. To prevent accidental sunlight focusing on the mirror and now sensor. Since you never experienced it is highly unlikely, but now more expensive to fix.

[@WillGoodlet]

Rafał Konieczny thanks a lot for the info, I thought it was something like that. I’ll figure out a better solution than a jacket.

[@GaborRuff]

@@WillGoodlet The sensor won't get damaged, but the shutter can, since the R5 is closing the shutter when the camera is turned off. It's actually very helpful when changing lenses, because the sensor is not exposed. You can turn this function off (meaning the shutter stays open when the camera is turned off), and don't need a lenscap or a jacket, your shutter won't get damaged. I also think if you don't leave your lens focused to infinity you don't have to worry anyway.

[@WillGoodlet]

Gábor Ruff I’ve got the shutter set to close when off - so it’s better the other way around?

[@jamesstubbs5651]

Will Goodlet no expert but my Sony doesn’t shut the shutter and it infuriates me. Dust aside, I’m sure it’s much cheaper to replace a shutter than a sensor!!! (And less likely to be damaged)

[@WillGoodlet]

James Stubbs from the little I read the shutter is easy to damage and the sensor less so? I can keep using a jacket if I have to :(

[@endlessdrive8421]

As someone who uses an M6 Mk.ii, I can attest to the comments regarding delay in the camera standby. I found that unless I'm actively keeping the EVF/camera on, the standby delay is really punishing when photographing small skittish animals. I've basically turned off both EVF/Camera standby and have a button dedicated to putting it in sleep mode when I'm walking, otherwise it's always on and the delay to the EVF is far more acceptable.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for watching and the suggestions, makes a lot of sense. I think because I use it in two main ways and either get surprised or grind out a sighting, it leads to wanting to have the camera on and ready most of the time - which is OK if the batteries are available. Just very different to the experience with the DSLR which uses so little power in comparison and can shoot all day.

[@endlessdrive8421]

@@WillGoodlet Totally understand, having come from a DSLR as well, it's hard to compare with the near instantaneous response time on those systems. Not sure if you also have this issue, but I found that my M6 Mk.ii stays partially on even in standby and because of that my lens constantly keeps trying to focus even when I'm walking unless I turn it off or force it into sleep mode. I'm hoping Canon will address these quirks with their Mirrorless systems.

[@WillGoodlet]

Phantom sounds like you have continuous autofocus switched on in the menu. Just need to turn it off

[@endlessdrive8421]

@@WillGoodlet Wow thank you so much! That solved the issue entirely.

[@WillGoodlet]

@@endlessdrive8421 Awesome :)

[@maemu_matshete]

Hi Will, have you ever tried to use 100-400mm mk ii with 1,4x teleconvertor on your R5? The reason why I'm asking is because I've ordered the R6 and I've never used the teleconvertors before and i have 2 canon telephoto zoom lenses. F2,8 70-200mk ii and 100-400mm mk ii, i want to know how the focusing area and focusing speed are affected.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi yes it works very well. At the end of my teleconverter video all the focus times are given with the R5 + teleconverters and 100-400

[@cameracravings3216]

Will, not sure if others have said it but the point about the lens cap message that comes up I believe relates more to when the option to have the shutter close at camera power down is selected, because my understanding is that direct sunlight or heat could cause damage to the shutter, rather than the sensor, if that makes any sense? I’ve shot Sony mirrorless for 5yrs and never had an issue with the sensor (and I very rarely put a lens cap on).

[@WillGoodlet]

Good to know - I think I am calming down about it now :) Wedging the thing up against the door of the car should do the trick I think.

[@darylcheshire1618]

Has there been any improvement due to 1.6.0? You can charge the LP-E6NH with a USB-C cable, I haven’t yet determined if this happens in a reasonable time. Perhaps the R3 might be more suitable for those quick shots as it has a faster sensor and is designed for sports photographers. It also has the larger body as it has the grip built in. It however only takes 20mp and is far more expensive than the R5, In Australia the R5 is $6300 and the R3 is about $9000. I’m not sure how that compares in your currency. But most imported goods in Australia have a 40% markup compared to the US prices. Freight and exchange rates are not enough to explain the markup.

[@WillGoodlet]

The prices are equivalent to Australia here - the difference to US prices is usually VAT which is not always applied there. Duty is only charged on video cameras in SA (extra 35% hence the importance of the 29min recording limit that everyone writes off as an anachronism) The R3 is a great camera but I don’t need it. I prefer the pixel density on the R5. I don’t bother with USB charging. I use a grip but rely on my ability to recharge in the vehicle as needed. If I were without a charger for a few days the older optical cameras would be my preference. At longer sightings the battery gets heavily depleted and the camera sometimes has problems with heat (not with photos). Just looking through the viewfinder will cause heat issues. But overall one Learns to work around it. I shoot two bodies so it might be more of a problem for those shooting one body. The spool up time is still annoying and does cost a shot or two. But again we learn to work around it. I haven’t yet tried 1.6 I’ve not been using the camera for a few months while working on other projects.

[@WillGoodlet]

It’s a great camera - good upgrade on optical - I don’t regret it in the least. Please don’t let my few nitpicks put you off. I wouldn’t give it back! :)

[@ayfj4572]

The Sony a9 has been doing the good stuff for years now with almost no downsides and still has a superior electronic shutter. Canon DSLR users are only just discovering a9 type stuff with the R5. The resolution bump over the a9 is welcome though.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. I think its great that Sony, Canon and the others compete and move forward but it's so expensive to switch from one brand to another that it makes no sense. Obviously, when you haven't got too much invested already it's OK and also when you live in a more developed economy and market it's much easier. For me though, when I did the sums before the R5, it was completely out of the question because I could not replace my lenses with Sony equivalents. I did think about Olympus but going from 400 f2.8 to 300 f4 MFT?! So the R5 made a lot of sense for me and solves a lot of the problems. I feel also that the African market suits Canon - and this is nothing to do with which is better - its because you can buy and sell second hand canon lenses more frequently and at a discount to the other brands. Sony and also Nikon, don't trade as much and are also at a premium. Historically too, for wildlife, the lens line up (before Sigma and Tamron produced good quality telephotos) was very clear cut. You could pick up the Canon 400 f5.6 for a song second hand - no other manufacturer made a lens like it. You had to choose between a kit 70-300 or 500 f4 or the less than sharp Sigma 150-500. It was an easy choice to go Canon. So, I don't know, for me it can't really be about which camera is better today, it has to be a longer time frame and yes, I often get frustrated and disappointed (I wanted a D850 for a long time!), but in the end most of them do the job well enough. It's the lenses that really make the most difference to the look and feel of the photo and given their length of time in the market it is so much easier to pick up (and also to rent!!) Canon gear over here.

[@ayfj4572]

@@WillGoodlet Yes your certainly right about completley switching systems every time a manufacturer comes out with a great product, just way too expensive and you really take a bath selling your stuff second hand. I have have a lot of Canon gear collected over the years that I have hung onto, so I am glad they have come to the mirrorless party in a big way with the R5/6. I reckon they will be unmatched when they bring out their next series of mirrorless in a few years. When Canon put their awesome resources and their minds to it they really do excel.

[@WillGoodlet]

I certainly think we are in for quite a technology ride. The rumours are swirling :) 500 f2.8?!! I am really relieved the EF glass works so well on RF mounts. It would have been a financial disaster for me if not! At least I can slowly move across to RF now without a fire sale and take advantage of whatever comes along.

[@JWIV5]

I was shooting an R6 last week and it did that exact same freezing with the RF 100-500 and the 1.4 tele, I couldn't replicate it when I tried but at least once an hour or so it would completely freeze and I'd have to turn it off. I'll be shooting the R5 for birds and the x2 next weekend and I'll try and pay attention and see if I was holding the back focus button when it happens.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Jay, that's very interesting info - RF lens!! I would be grateful for any further updates. Canon hasn't got back to me yet.

[@ronaldccastle]

Will, I'm back again! Good news, I'm booked and scheduled for my trip with Phillip Bronkhorst Sept 20-28. The bulk of my time will be in various parts of Kruger with a couple of days in a private reserve (don't know where). Back to the old question of Adobe handling of RAW files, has it improved for you? I spend my money-making time with the R6 doing Real Estate photography, so I don't get as much experience with the R5. Also, for what it's worth, I decided to give the new R7 cropped sensor version a try on this trip that I can use with my RF 70-200 F2.8 and have a great backup camera (in addition to the R6). I'll also be using a 5DSR that I had converted to Infrared to get some interesting shots.

[@treasuremediazw]

Also using dual back button focus on my R5 and it's great! Agree with what you say in this review.

[@KaiTiura]

I have a Lexar 128GB card and have had zero issues with it on any level. I've also never had a problem with the camera seizing. Nor do I notice ANY EVF lag or "spool-up" issues when starting up, super fast up and running. There is a setting in the menu for VF Performance that allows the viewfinder to act more quickly. Maybe try that. One other thing to consider is that, while the old (and theoretically after-market) batteries (some may work better than others, obviously), the new battery for this camera adds functionality to the camera that is not present when using the older style batteries. CRAW is great! Seen many vids showing it to be comparable to RAW with smaller files. Perhaps if you're still having issues after checking the above settings, you should have your camera checked? Have you done the updates? Good video! Thanks for sharing your insights.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Kai, great to hear that your camera is performing and thanks for the info. Don't forget I'm comparing the EVF spoolup to a DSLR (which is always available to look through!) not to other mirrorless. And I do agree the R5 is very fast to start compared to the Olympus I've tried in the past. The settings are all maxxed and new battery installed, 100% charged, preview off etc... I think the 'stacatto' effect (lag is the wrong word) is a thing we all see/percieve a little differently. I actually noticed that it bothered me much less over time. I'm glad the card isn't giving issues they are expensive! There's a couple of others in the comments who also have the same issue as me with the cards. I'm not getting it with the Sandisk. Yep all the updates are done - The camera is being evaluated at canon for the freeze issue. A LOT of other people are having this problem on all kinds of lenses - RF lenses too. I am really surprised Canon didn't pick this up in testing. For me it's more of an issue than the overheating saga that everyone talks about. I'm really pleased with the camera - it's great, don't get me wrong, just trying to speak from my experience and as someone transitioning from DSLR wildlife.

[@KaiTiura]

@@WillGoodlet hope it all works out for you. Sometimes production runs get faults...

[@peterteodorsson4561]

@@KaiTiura I have had several problems with the Lexar cards. Is your cameara a early batch? My starts with serial nbr: 023021xxxxxx

[@KaiTiura]

Peter, I'm not sure how early a version it is but I bought a half hour into the release event and it was shipped with the very first shipments. I got it in the day they were first supposed to arrive. I'll try to remember to check my serial number when I get home.

[@KaiTiura]

Peter Teodorsson my serial number is 022021xxxxxx, so it’s quit a bit earlier than yours.

[@Methodical2]

@9:59. It will be awkward and take some getting used to, but try shooting with both eyes open that way you can track the bird with the other eye.

[@WillGoodlet]

Methodical2 sadly I’m blind in one eye. Else I’d love to. I know it is of great use for most people thanks.

[@Methodical2]

@@WillGoodlet Gotcha. I'd love to be in that jeep with you getting all those great action shots vs getting the zoo animals, haha!

[@couch_potato_v1826]

@ 4:35 , wouldn't using the LCD screen help?

[@WillGoodlet]

I think the LCD needs to spool up too? I don't have the camera at the moment so I can't check. But either way, from a purely personal perspective, I can no longer see the LCD properly due to failing short vision. Much prefer the EVF (it's one of the main reasons I got the R5). However, a number of long time mirrorless guys suggested tapping a button on the way up to the eye and this is working really well for me, so I would mark this problem as mostly solved. Thanks for watching and I appreciate your helpful suggestion!

[@KoenKooi]

Colin at colorfidelity sells colour profiles for $15 that come very close to DPP4. My R5 hasn't shipped yet, so I haven't tried the R5 profile myself, but the profiles for my other Canon cameras are very good. Adobe has confirmed that exposure is off and is working on a fix, so that's one less thing to fix manually.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks, I saw a mention of colorfidelity, looks good. I wanted to have a try at making my own profiles (something to do). Glad to hear that Adobe is working on it!

[@TheLogicalphycopath]

For the lens cap issue. The camera has a setting to have the shutter close so no debris or dust that traditionally would hit the mirror first. Would fall onto the sensor directly. Not bad for dust and debris issues. I don’t ever have myself in a situation where I need that. So I opted for shutter up upon power off. When the camera freezes up. Eventually getting the command to shut down. It shut down. The clunk you heard was the shutter closing as per the default setting to protect the sensor. You can set this to not. But Africa and sand. Idk man your call. I would hate to get sand in the ibis ouch! Update to 1.1.1. Being real I only had one freeze up with my R5 but I haven’t seen it since the software update to 1.1.0 I have yet to go to 1.1 .1 myself.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for the info and for watching. Yes, bad dust here! I think I'll probably keep that shutter closed for changing lenses. I think my clunk was more like the noise when the IBIS shuts down? I wonder if the IS in the lens and the IBIS are not working well together hence the freezing? I'm seeing issues in the notes on the 1.11 firmware that they had issues with the 100-500 IS and also the 100-400 ii - so I think maybe there's a possibility that this freezing could also be an IS thing? There's probably not many people using the 400 F2.8 with it yet so maybe canon hasn't had many complaints about this lens with the R5.

[@stevea7614]

Will, have been using the R5 for a few months now, and haven't noticed the EVF spool up lag you mention in this excellent video.Seems to me a matter of milliseconds from switch on to EVF available? R5 firmware rev 1.1.1, Canon EF 100-400 L IS II with EF 2x III extender. No camera freeze so far.....

[@WillGoodlet]

Steve A yep it’s not long and the R5 is fast compared to other mirrorless I’ve tried, but significant enough to be a notable difference to DSLR and cost 1-3 shots at the beginning of a sequence . I have been working around it. I leave the camera on and tap a button on the way up to the eye which makes it much less of a problem. The main issue now is for very long sightings - battery drain vs optical. I now use binoculars more than before. But luckily I shoot mostly from vehicles in warm climates so batteries are not a big problem. I have a stack ready to go. But if you are on foot, maybe hiking or out all day (or more than one day) in the cold, I think I would maybe hang onto an optical camera for that use case.

[@saveriogatto3815]

Hi, I am shooting with a 600mm f4 even with 1.4x or 2x extenders and I didn't experinced the camera freezing when holding autofocus buttons.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Saverio - that's good to hear. You are lucky! Lot's of people have reported the problem. So far the my replacement has not frozen either.

[@tomdivittis2688]

I just picked up the RF800 lens yesterday. Wow! I think you’ll love it. Pretty good review of the R5, I would say. Far from perfect, but upgrading from a 6D2, there is nothing I would rather shoot using the 6D2.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks Tom, great to hear you have the 800 congratulations and happy shooting!

[@bobyktm]

Your thought on dpp is a true review best to go with dpp. Also craw is best. Thanks for those practical tips.

[@helgardtpretorius3888]

Awesome work! Do you perhaps have any experience with the R5 and 100-400 mkii pairing. Also please share the list of lenses

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi there, yes the previous video deals with the 100-400 mk2 and R5. There is a list of lenses supported in the downloadable manual on the canon website

[@helgardtpretorius3888]

@@WillGoodlet thank you for that will have a look.

[@Guillaume9]

shutter is closed when power is off so the light can melt the the shutter, the way arround that is to desactivate that in camera (the shutter will stay open)

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks for the tip ! Yes that seems to be the consensus here. Also, that the RF lenses close the aperture (while EF do not) and that the mirror is no longer protecting the shutter from focused light.

[@Guillaume9]

@@WillGoodlet exactly! So on my r6 I let the shutter open, and close it just when I'm about to change my lens

[@WillGoodlet]

@@Guillaume9 I'm doing the same now :) Hope the R6 is going well? It looks fantastic and the big pixels must look so beautiful.

[@Guillaume9]

nd there are some weird handling problems like only canon makes appen ^^'

[@xkirtwoodx]

I had some similar issues with my 1dxii with my 2xiii teleconverter. It turned out the contacts needed to be replaced on my 2xiii. I had them replaced and works mint again!

[@WillGoodlet]

The freezing you mean? Glad to hear it was solved. On the R5, a lot of people are having issues with brand new Rf lenses, and some with more than one lens. Canon actually insisted on replacing my camera recently, even though I didn't ask for a replacement. I'm hoping they will fix it in firmware, although the fact that they replaced mine without me asking makes me wonder if it is more serious - or maybe a batch issue?

[@xkirtwoodx]

@@WillGoodlet Aww man that's a huge bummer. I am currently trying to save up for the R5. Hope they have it sorted out by the time I can afford it!

[@WillGoodlet]

I only took the new one out the box a few days ago and have only used it when making the latest video - but so far, no freezing. Fingers crossed. I've also sent my 400 f2.8 ii in for a service. So I'll try it out properly when it gets back.

[@janduplooy8474]

Hi Will, thanks for being an ambassador for SA both on wildlife and bird photography.

[@janduplooy8474]

Sorry I forgot to add that I have been to some of the same sites. I am sure we were seated next to each other at lake panic without knowing you were publishing. Planning a trip to BOT for birding in April if you want to participate.

[@NatureWatcher2022]

Hi! Thanks so much for the video - it's by far the best I've seen on using the R5. I wonder, can you help me solve a problem? For bird photography on my R5, on AF Tab 1 I have set: AF Operation to Servo; AF Method to Face + Tracking; Subject to Animals; Eye Detection to Enable. However, I just cannot figure out the difference between the settings on AF Tab 5 - Initial Servo Point. I have tried all three but just cannot see any difference. What is this all about and does it matter?

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi David, thanks for watching! AF5 initial AF point is just the selection of the starting point for Servo focus. You can select different AF points on the camera. If you set it not to be auto it will use the AF point you have previously selected as a starting point to try to achieve focus. If this point is in the centre you are unlikely to notice a difference but if in the corner, you will note that face tracking and eye af start to look for subjects in that corner as a preference. Hope this makes sense?

[@NatureWatcher2022]

@@WillGoodlet Many thanks. That helps a lot. I rarely move the focus point because I shoot mainly hand-held and prefer the old-school half-press and recompose. That will be why I have failed to notice a difference between the settings. Thanks agin.

[@GSD181]

You invited us to ask about other things to test. The only reason I would buy a new camera right now is for full frame with auto iso and focus bracketing. I think the R5 is Canon's only camera that has those features. Can you test auto iso and focus bracketing? Thanks.

[@WillGoodlet]

Ok thanks for the suggestion, certainly not familiar area for me! I will have a go at that when I get the camera back from canon.

[@wildlifephotography64]

Hi Will, its your video that convinced me it was time to leave my old 1DX mk1 / 7D2 behind. It was like id jumped from an old hatchback car to a ferrari! Its just amazing. Yep, takes an old DSLR shooter a while to get used to. The ISO performance is at least as good as my 1DX which given the pixels is amazing. Ive set the camera up where i can jump from animal eye to spot and also crop mode and it works a treat. Agree with the autofocus. It can be amazing but also isn't perfect in certain situations. So far mine hasn't frozen but there's lots of internet chatter that some have had the same problem. My only gripe wasn't the camera but I've had a few faulty LPE6NH batteries. Brand new but wont charge. So yes, your review is bang on and your pics amazing.

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Mick, thanks for watching and congratulations on the new camera! I've got the same setup with eye & spot AF on back buttons next to each other. Canon replaced my camera as a result of freezing, and my new one has only just started to freeze again. It does it when I hold the autofocus button in for more than 30 seconds or so. I have just learned not to do that. Not good to hear about the LPE6NH batteries - I only have two of them and they are OK. I'm lucky in that I can recharge the older LPE6N's in my car and just rotate them. I think, like any camera, you get used to its foibles. The R5 & 6 are definitely a giant leap forward, and my 7DMark ii is now sitting on a shelf most of the time.

[@robertbarta4912]

Thank you so much for this review. I take a 2+ week safari or galapagos or Antarctica trip almost every year so this review gives me exactly the information I need. I still have a 1DX and 5DIII which are now about 8 years old (but still

[@WillGoodlet]

Hi Robert, so sorry that's it's taken me 5 days to get back to you! Wow, you must have got some fantastic shots and material on those adventures. I'm sorry it's been put back this year... The R5 feels very familiar in hand to the 5D iii. I think you will find the switch pretty easy. It's a great camera and I think you will enjoy it a lot. Obviously in cold conditions you will want to be careful with your batteries. I'm sure that Canon has a lot more to come before your trip - so if you don't need the camera now, it's probably a good idea to see what they produce next and have all the options available when the time comes? Cheers!

[@johnpeterka9762]

Thank you for your video. I thought the shutter protected the sensor on the R series cameras. If that is the case, the lens cap warning would be to protect the shutter from being damaged rather than UV or sunlight sensor protection. Relative to the lens used, did you check for any firmware updates to optimize the lens to the R5? Have you tried Capture One Pro for any post editing? We use Capture One, Luminar, and Photoshop.

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks John, It seems like the consensus is that focused sunlight could damage the shutter or sensor - without the mirror in the way that makes sense to me. I will just take care not to point the thing at bright areas when it's off. Yes, I checked the firmware, my lens version has the latest update - but with all the notes on the R5 firmware I see a lot relates to IS issues with lenses - suspect this case may be similar to mine but maybe Canon haven't got much date on the 400 f2.8 ii yet - as it will be mainly 1DX guys using it. Hopeful they will fix the issue in firmware. Just tried capture one briefly - looked a lot better to me! I'll give adobe some time to fix things, but may try to make a few profiles myself for fun. Cheers!

[@johnpeterka9762]

Will Goodlet - Good luck! I really did enjoy your real world assessment of the R5! I hope someone at Canon saw it as well.

[@jamesstubbs5651]

Fab video Will. Really happy that you’re able to get out again and you can enjoy your new camera. Sounds like it’s really working for you!

[@WillGoodlet]

Thanks James! Fantastic to be out again :)