Canon R3 In the Field | The PERFECT Camera with just One Flaw

[@robbrennen4728]

Thanks for all your videos. I have both R3 and R5, and struggled to decide on the R3 based on 24 MP. Canon states their sensor has an equivalent of their 5Div (30MP) based on the new sensor technology. I did extensive testing with both cameras in a test environment and real life. Most of my photography is wildlife so with long lens', ISO tends to be higher most of the time and that is when the R3 produces better images than the R5 from my testing. I think the 24 MP spec is very misleading on the basis of the images I've been capturing when comparing to the R5. I'm very happy with the R3 overall. I now use the R5 mostly for landscape and low ISO pictures.

[@gary_michael_flanagan_wildlife]

Great post. I use the R6 with my 600mm f4 II lens and to be honest it’s disappointing at times due to some weird glitches. Im curious does the R3 go into sleep mode and if you raise it to your eyes you have to remember to tap the shutter button to wake up the viewfinder? It’s my first mirrorless but it’s maddingly annoying to remember this sometimes. Maybe there is a feature i am missing to wake up the camera faster or keep it woken up. Also do you think the tracking is better with your R3? Thanks.

[@robbrennen4728]

@@gary_michael_flanagan_wildlife Yes, muscle memory to tap the shutter button (or similar) to have it wake up before it reaches your eye. It does wake up quickly though which helps. I strongly believe the tracking is much more responsive than the R5. Neither camera is bad, just that the R3 is better. Some of the BBF functions are better with the R3 too.

[@gary_michael_flanagan_wildlife]

@@robbrennen4728 thank you. I will take the plunge soon. I think I will make my R6 my landscape and portrait camera and use the R3 for the birds. I am also debating lenses too. What are you using right now with your R3? Thanks

[@fbimagesphoto]

My R5 has been gathering dust since I got my hands on the R3

[@randomdood414]

10:52 has a great point.. happy that it can make seamless vdos too..

[@kelb89]

The R3's images definitely wow me. Much more than my R5 does.

[@tonyesposito9602]

I have both cameras and I prefer the R3 image rather than the R5, yes the R5 has a lot of resolution, but the only person who ever gets to see it is the person who took the photo when editing on a large screen, on social media and websites and average size prints you can't tell the difference. I am not a fan of large crops, and don't print the size of a barn door, my R5 is almost redundant now.

[@bladerealm124]

What about the R3 images do you prefer over the R5?

[@cooloox]

Hi Jan, there is one way to have a single AF point to initially aim at your subject and then start tracking your subject when you start shooting on your R5/R6. You choose the Face+Tracking AF point type (where the camera finds and tracks the subject by itself) but in the menu options you set "Initial Servo AF Point" to Face+Tracking (it's normally set to Auto). You now get a single AF point which isn't normally there, but it's a face/eye detection point that grabs any subject even near to the AF point as soon as you half-press the shutter button or BBF. As you shoot it follows the subject around the frame.

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for the tip!

[@cooloox]

@@jan_wegener Thanks very much for all the advice and tips you share on your channel.

[@roncadillac3987]

Thanks!

[@jan_wegener]

Thank you!

[@Duade]

Great video mate, I really enjoyed the ergonomics of the camera, I am sure the R1 will deliver everything you wanted in the R3. Cheers, Duade

[@laku4412]

Thanks for the great review! I think it's not a bad idea to give the camera an SD-slot as well. Yes, two CFE would make sense, but in a pinch, the chance of someone having a spare SD or being able to buy one in a non-camera shop just about everywhere is so much higher than with CFE-cards. Especially from a photo journalist standpoint, I can totally see why they opted for this slot.

[@sh054321]

Thanks

[@jan_wegener]

Thank you!!

[@ahmedbebars6844]

I'll keep looking at the sky, and hope that one day a Canon R3 will fall in my lap

[@885wc]

For the first time in 2 decades, I can say that I'm lusting after Canon ergos more than Nikon's Z9. What a time to be alive, incredible cameras from all the manufacturers. This is the year mirrorless has become a DSLR replacement for me.

[@mikebronny1356]

The R3 has amazing animal and person eye tracking capability. I lift the camera up to my eye and the tracking is already locked on the bird and now you can focus on picking the ideal time to take the shots.

[@jan_wegener]

Definitely

[@kuau714]

I also purchased the R3 when it first came out and ultimately sold it. For all the reasons you mentioned. I got so accustomed to shooting with the R5 with it’s 45MP sensor and much more flexible when it comes to cropping which I do a lot of. To bad the R3 didn’t use the 45MP sensor and also use 2 CF Express slots. If It did the R3 would have been a home run IMHO. Now with the R1 coming out at some point, i am a little concerned that if Canon goes with a higher megapixel sensor i.e 60mp or higher this will kill the high ISO potential

[@colinfieldgate4719]

Did you notice the difference when printing large? Or just when zooming in to 100% digitally? Depending on the required output, even a heavily cropped 24MP image may be more than enough for many applications. The vast majority of images are consumed online these days.

[@pkoster5874]

This didn’t age well….

[@tc6912]

The mpx size/count question is where I am stuck and will be looking forward to your R3/R5 review. My expectations are that the R3 will be better in low light and the R5 will be better when heavily cropped. Just how much better is where I am stuck. There are a couple good comparison videos of the Nikon Z6ii and Z7ii images out there. I am guessing image quality results will be similar. 1. How far can you crop on each before the image starts to fall apart. 2. How high can you go on ISO before the images fall apart. 3. Does something like Gigapixel work well enough on the 24mpx image to make it comparable to the 45mpx image if heavy cropping is needed. 4. Does noise reduction work well enough on the 45mpx image to make it compatible to the 24mpx image. The appropriate additional software may be a more efficient purchase than a second camera.

[@helloianzakharov]

Oh I was waiting for this video!

[@bladerealm124]

Jan which do you find yourself preferring these days between the R3 and R5? Have you used the RF 200-800mm with the R3? Any notable differences vs using with the R5? How much better is the high ISO performance?

[@DavidKabra]

Loving the thumbnail haha, great vid as always!

[@anthonyclements6020]

I have been testing the R3 with the Canon 100-400MM IS II and TC2.0 Version III. I have only used the combo in good light but the results have been surprising. One shot includes a pair of marbled godwits in flight from about 80 feet with well-defined catchlights in each bird's eye. If you have an R3 and a 2.0 TC I think it is a better way to go than the 800 F11 except for weight.

[@Rascallucci]

Great review! I pretty much expected everything you said. It looks great, feels great, is light, the AF/tracking is amazing and the only minus is the resolution. While I understand a comparison with the R5 can be interesting, don't forget about the A1 and Z9 though. I think any camera of this level, you will almost have to compare that with both the Sony and Nikon's flagship models.

[@DennisMoncla]

All of my thoughts exactly. Kept bugging me when it seemed like only the R3 could get 30fps and Sony had it a year earlier at twice the MP. I'm not complaining about Jan. I truly love his channel.

[@policeluber6720]

Not when ur a canon fanboy

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, but the R5 is the logical one to compare it to first. In a way it’s hard to compare it to any high mpix body, it will beat them all, but lose out on resolution

[@Rascallucci]

@@jan_wegener Looks like you just did. I got you. So, you are saying the AF/tracking of the R3 is even better than the A1? Wow, quite a statement.

[@DennisMoncla]

@@jan_wegener You think it beats the A1 that handily???

[@ShivaKumar-xc9tj]

Hi jan, would love to see a video on how u customised the dials and buttons & settings for wildlife photography like the video u posted for R5.

[@jakecook716]

Love my R3, I just took on an African safari. I noticed a similar AF issue when using tracking, it sometimes had trouble in situations where there was a distracting object like a branch infront of the face it would grab the branch because it's the closest thing. I figured because the subject wasn't moving, I could switch to "ONE SHOT" AF with a click of a button and found it to be more precise so that was my solution.

[@JGZphotography]

As a sports photographer, I have come to really experience the advantages of the Canon EOS R3, though I still use my 1DX2s as secondary cameras. My method for AF is a bit different. I noticed you did not mention the use of the back focus button setup for focusing while disabling the shutter button half-press for focusing. I have disabled the shutter button half-press for AF so as not to provide a new focus point when changing the composition. I fix the focus on an object using the back button, let go, then reposition for the shot I want while retaining the original focus point. Without this setting, the focus point always moves when reorienting the camera during a half-press on the shutter button. I also disable the AF Smart Controller, except when doing video. I don't want to be chasing focus points when accidently sliding my finger across the AF Smart Controller button. Now eye-control works like the AF Smart Controller by shifting the focus zone to the target seen. However, the half press shutter button must be set up to freeze on the target seen and then held down to continously track while the eye can look elsewhere without affecting a new focus point until the shutter button is released after shooting. Then the process is repeated again-look, target, half-press, shoot, and release. It's a dance and requires a lot of practice for sucess-I've done it in most sports, but with more difficulty coordinating focus. It's a fast dance! So, I have reverted back without using eye-control, though I have found this feature more useful for bird and wild life. I have to say that the R3 is rich in setup configurations. I love the feature of the voice memo application, where I can listen to my voice recordings when using Photo Mechanic software.

[@jan_wegener]

I am pretty sure I did mention it, unless I cut it out last minute. I always use double back buttons AF on my cameras. Yes, I have the controller de-activated as well and use the joystick

[@michaelkokot6349]

I also use a back button focus setup but on the R6 as R3 is still more $$ then I would like to pay. Plus love the R6 for sports and and don't see enough advantages in the R3 to make that kind of jump. Rolling shutter is a big one for baseball and softball but I don't shoot much of that.

[@rickardflodin4200]

Thanks for you videos that all are very nice. I have the R3 (and5) I dont no if you read this old post but if so have you changed your use of the eye focus funtion? About the eye tracing mode, I agree that’s its most of the time not good but if you have it designated to a button and can switch it on and of it can be good to use if you are for an example shooting a group of dears and the autofocus jump to the wrong animal then you can go back to the right animal quickly by just looking at that animal

[@axelhildebrandt]

Thanks for the thorough review and observations, Jan! What surprised me most is the lack of fine detail, I didn't expect that at this price level.

[@colinfieldgate4719]

I’m not quite sure Jan said exactly that, or at least not so bluntly. I think it’s just a reference to the fact that the R3 has 24 MPs whilst Jan is used to 45 MPs on his R5. It stands to reason that the R5 can display more fine detail due to its higher resolution sensor. So as I see it it’s nothing to do with the price level.

[@axelhildebrandt]

@@colinfieldgate4719 If you rewatch at around 18:40, I think Jan said what I stated.

[@colinfieldgate4719]

@@axelhildebrandt Maybe so. But I’ll wait to see Jan’s comparison video to see if he meant that it’s really a matter of the resolution difference or something else. Coming from a 1D series camera I’m pretty happy with the R3 files 😀.

[@axelhildebrandt]

@@colinfieldgate4719 The R3 images looked pretty good to me, too, hence my surprise. Now I'm even more curious about the direct comparison with the R5. Enjoy your R3. :)

[@Demonyaa]

What a fantastic review. Really in depth and useful information as to how the camera actually performs. Thank you for putting this together.

[@jan_wegener]

My pleasure!

[@viveksingh-kn3cp]

Hi Jan , just bought the PROSETS and they are wonderful. I have a R3 with me can't wait to use the PROSETS with the R3 clicks and thanks for the hands on review.

[@jan_wegener]

Awesome! :)

[@mxilplict]

Agree 💯 - the video capabilities on top of competent photo make this the ultimate hybrid camera. I plan to keep both the R3 and R5 until they make an equivalent to the R5 in the pro form factor of the R3 body. I love the ergonomics, battery, record time and thermal management and wish for all of these in one body to pair with a high-resolution sensor someday. For now, the R3 and R5 complement each other perfectly.

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, Canon just give us that body!

[@phamiltonphoto]

I've just traded a mint 2-year-old 1DX III to purchase a second R3 as I shoot Commercially, Sport and News + video, generally in very low light and the sensor in the R3 is voodoo science. I'm often shooting at 8000-10,000 iso and the files are incredible.... the R3 is exactly what I need now and into the future. It makes me money. My clients often remark on the quality of my files, they are seriously that good. I honestly thought the 1DX III was the perfect DSLR, but R3 has taken it to the next level ..... R1 will be awesome when it comes, but for what I shoot, R3 is the PERFECT camera now and into the future, plus the RF lenses are total game-changers. And all this development can be put down to Sony pushing the envelope.

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, in low light it’s the best camera I have ever used by a mile

[@skakdosmer]

My old Canon Eos 50E film SLR had eye-controlled autofocus, and I LOVED it, it worked perfectly for me, and I still miss it! There's no way I could ever afford the R3, so I was hoping to see it in the R7 as well. And if that had been the case, I'm sure I would buy one!

[@TimLaytonDarkroomDiary]

Jan, when you press Video Record while in Camera mode, which Custom Function Settings are used to make the video?

[@jan_wegener]

custom function 3

[@DAVE_WHITE]

I got mine a few days ago 1 issue is the battery life sucks, my R6 gets twice the battery time as the R3, you should do a full autofocus set up as it is a lot different then any other camera on what you can do..

[@kennethlui2268]

Great review. The R3 is great for low light such as rain forest environment. With excellent weather seal, it is absolutely a must. I don’t buy it because of 24 mp. But if money is not a problem, I will get one for low light. In the meantime I am waiting for the R1. Can’t wait to see your comparison between R5 and R3.

[@WesleyDropDead]

The pain of waiting years for the R1 and they used 24mp for it

[@AndiusTeijgeler]

I own an R3 now for nearly 5 months. It proofs to be great with autofocus and I do recognize your approach with the autofocus menu. The automatic jump to tracking caused me some problems initially, but now that I use a dedicated button to activate it, it has improved quite dramatically. Additionally I agree with your eye-focus comment. I thought it were my complex glasses, which made calibration difficult, but your explanation of the eyes going all over the place is probably correct. On the build I have one major issue. The eye-cup isn't robust enough and the rubber has broken down already. A problem, which I never faced before with the 1 DX series. Additional problem is that the spare part cannot be delivered. Last I am also less impressed with the ISO performance at low light. With wildlife photography with LED light at night my 1 DX Mark III, produces better results as the R3.

[@LuigiL75]

Great video as always...the R3 does seem to be a great body BUT it wasn't enough to get me to upgrade from my 1DXMK3...especially with only 4 more megapixels and the 2 different card slots...not for that kind of money!

[@RhettGibson]

Try moving your wimberly swing arm to the left side of the lens. I got the tip on a workshop. It makes it easier to hold it steady.

[@jan_wegener]

Then I cannot see past the camera. I made a video about this a while ago

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

You've now really intrigued me, not just about the R3 but also the R7. Canon said the R7 is getting the same AF system as the R3. I didn't understand what that meant because, other than eye control AF, I didn't know how different the R3's AF is from the R5 and R6. Now I'm doubly excited to get an R7 in my hands! We'll assume the R1 will have at least 45 MP, which will address your main gripe with the R3. What else would you want an R1 to have that the R3 lacks? Are you prepared to buy the R1 when it arrives? Would you sacrifice the R3 or R5, or keep them all if the R1 is indeed "all that"?

[@nordic5490]

The R7 looks to be very noisy at iso4000, has excessive rolling shutter, and glacial buffer clearing times.

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, the AF system sounds similar to like an R5, but it’s not. So I was shocked to see the R7 get it, or at least most of it. In an ideal world I’d probably have 2x R1. And one third body as the main cameras. To be honest, the R3 with a stacked 45mpix sensor would be pretty wild and I wouldn’t want much more. You can always Improve but the sensor is really what’s missing for me atn

[@majaisakszon1475]

Love to get the R3 but do not have the budget unfortunately. My 6d2 with batterygrip is great but a bit heavy at times. So hopefully I would be able to get the R3.

[@jan_wegener]

R6 Mark II might be best in that situation

[@dsa4931]

Now it only 3999 ....😂😂😂

[@newdayinspirations5792]

I really enjoyed this video on the R3 even though I use the R5. It was nice to learn it was light and that it is able to find a bird in a busy background much quicker. I was struggling today with the R5 not being able to lock onto the eye of a hummingbird in a tree with lots of branches and leaves. I look forward to your upcoming R5 vs R3 video.

[@T_157-40]

I am planning to buy an R1 when it’s available at a dealer. If I get an R3 now, is there a benefit to using both in your kit?

[@amir.tajlili]

Hi Jan, I would like to see a video of you comparing Canon R3 and R5 in terms of color quality. What I noticed in different reviews, the better colors of R5 in almost all categories. If only I could catch if by adjusting on R3, you could get the same color temperature as R5. R3 tends a bit towards yellow and R5 towards red, which I personally like much better. It is most noticeable in Portrait. Thank you and stay well!

[@fredland1002]

Jan, Where can I find a list of your 2023 workshops?

[@jan_wegener]

I have none planned for 2023

[@NikCan66]

another great video and I'm waiting for the R1 or whatever it's called to come to fruition and compare with my Nikon z9

[@djack4125]

Jan, The 24 MP is a bit of a bummer. Have you tried Topaz Gigapixel or On1 Resize on your cropped images? How well does the new AI technology work with bird photos?

[@jan_wegener]

I did that for my next video, interesting results

[@paulgibbings9553]

I would think that for pro sports shooters the R3 would be just about perfect, maybe for wildlife more megapixels would be better as. particularly with small wild birds, the need to crop is greater. As regards the eye tracking, I have the original 5D film camera, and I found that pretty useless, but I am short sighted so always wore glasses or contact lenses. If I could justify the cost I would definitely be looking at buying an R3, but as an amateur the price is pretty prohibitive. What is great that the tech normally finds it's way down to the amateur cameras, so that is something to look forward to.

[@cooloox]

Yes, it's almost there with the R7/R10. It's just a shame the ISO performance is so inferior on those smaller sensors.

[@joegrabenstein9578]

Great review Jan, I completely agree with your assessment and most of the replies. I have an R3 and an R5, and I use them for different applications. Lately I have been photographing my daughters’ swim team and the R3 is exactly what I need to keep up with the action, focus in difficult situations, and keep fast shutter speeds when the light starts to fade. I switched from Nikon mirrorless 2 years ago and like many others I am wondering if I should have switched to the Sony system with the A1, 200-600, and 600/4. I’m too deep into Canon know to switch without a lot of pain, so I’ll wait for the R1. One thing I haven’t seen discussed much is long term durability. It seems that the R3 and Canon L lenses are rock solid and will last a long time. I don’t have the same impression of Sony cameras and lenses, but I’m just guessing. I have been shooting next to Sony shooters they have had loose lens mounts, etc.

[@h2rider953]

Love the R3 it is light and great auto focus 100_500 lens.

[@simonhuang2080]

Thanks for this great review! The 24mp is the only reason that blocks me buying R3! However, the overheat issue of R5 is really a big trouble in summer days...It will overheat soon even only taking pictures! Not sure if this will have some side effect on image quality, focus accuracy, etc.

[@colintraveller]

A friend of mine used the Rf 800 to film a Golden Plover recently . Was impresed with the footage ...

[@j.kimmer1509]

Loving my R3, R5, R6 with 600RF F4 & 100-500RF for wildlife photography ... all in my new larger Vanguard back pack. No complaints at all.

[@bladerealm124]

Which do you prefer between the R3 and R5?

[@j.kimmer1509]

@@bladerealm124on my rf600mmf4 the R3, it drives the dual motors in the lens. R5 good for my rf100-500....done.

[@bladerealm124]

@@j.kimmer1509 can you elaborate on what you mean by "it drives the dual motor in the lens"? Does the R5 not drive the dual motors?

[@j.kimmer1509]

@@bladerealm124R3 has extra contacts to power the motor in the 600mm it is faster focusing with the R3 than my R5.

[@ivorgottschalk6432]

Thanks Jan. The weight and ergonomics of the R3 sounds ideal. Looking forward to your R3 and R5 comparison especially for high ISO performance and the viewfinder at high frame rates.

[@RolandAyala]

I've been shooting R3 and Z9 side-by-side for a couple months now to evaluate which I go with, and prefer the R3 in many ways (lighter, ergo, AF system, viewfinder, video codecs, and just overall experience of shooting), but am going to probably sell it and keep the Z9 until the R1 comes out. Ignoring the 24MP stills resolution, which is a hard pill to swallow for a $6K US camera in this day and age, and which limits the camera's flexibility, there are a few things I'd like to see Canon address in the R1 which are key factors that have the Z9 winning me over right now. 1) Enable setting WB in video by selecting a target (instead of needing to switch over to photo mode, take a photo with reference color big enough that it fills the "middle" area, then come back and select the photo to set WB), 2) add a waveform monitor, 3) give us full-size HDMI, 4) shun the flip screen in favor of a tilt screen so don't need to swig out -- and rotate depending on how last used -- every time just need a little view angle assist (leave the blogger/tuber features for the non-flagship bodies), and 5) address/reduce the IBIS wobble effect when shoot WA, ideally altogether or at least by giving us the option to decouple lens OIS from IBIS. In general, IBIS is not well suited to video (it's a stills feature repurposed), but the wobble effect is much more pronounced on R3 (and R5, etc.) that on other systems. The OIS lenses on R5C do a very nice job of reducing jitter w/o resulting in footage that looks like it was shot from a mirrorless camera, so Canon need only give their customers what they've been asking for (i.e., to allow OIS only as a third option).

[@billmckim532]

I will use it whale watching this weekend and post a review, I have the R5 currently

[@bhanudevgan5]

Hi, thanks for the review. I currently have a 1Dx mark III, and most of the time I find myself using my 100-400 with it. So the query being, can I use this setup in open rain… appreciate if you advise…

[@jeffwisener1378]

With the lower mp, it is almost like a full frame version of the R7. For me, makes more sense to get a R5, shoot video and Stills at full frame or go crop sensor, have almost as much mp as an R3 but 1.5 crop which is a big advantage in my surfing photography, increases my lens from 400mm to around 600mm. What am l missing?

[@ME2K23]

Would be nice to also test R5 + 1.4x TC on 500mm f4 or 600mm f4 vs the R7 (Without, and with 1.4x TC, on the same lens).

[@Vollpflock]

which 500mm f4 or 600mm f4?

[@ME2K23]

@@VollpflockSimply which ever he decides to do the test with, the comparison will still show 1.6 crop (R7) sensor direct on the lens vs a full frame (R5) + 1.4x TC on that same lens.

[@petere6036]

Agree totaly with your opinion!

[@bjrn-einarnilsen687]

Very interesting video Jan, and looking forward to the next to see how they compare with each other the r3 and the r5. And of course as usual...... Amazing photos. Cheers Bjoern

[@TimSiggs]

Great review Jan. How did you find the dynamic range especially with whites on dark backgrounds?

[@rogermullins7877]

Great Video Jan. Particularly interesting comparisons of the R3 v R5 towards the end of the vid. Surely the answer to the R5 overheating issue is to fit an Atomos Ninja or similar ?

[@jan_wegener]

It is, but not very practical outside or in a blind, since it turns the EVF off

[@naturealbums]

Actually 24MP are enough for me I just wish they were on a APSH crop (1.3x) like we used to have in the days of the 1dmk3/4. It is the perfect compromise. But that looks like a sweet camera! I'm just waiting on the R7 delivery lots of small pixels a bit too far they go from one extreme to the other about the same as M4/3 pixel density. Lovely photos by the way.

[@glynnpowell7864]

25 mp is not enough at this price point

[@naturealbums]

@@glynnpowell7864 Agreed I much more prefer what Nikon has done with the Z9. My R7 purchase is only short term because I have EF lenses. RF lenses are too expensive and Canon are too slow to develop sensors like Sony. I pretty sure Nikon will do a small body Z9 call it Z8.

[@Twobarpsi]

So hard to make a decision! Was going to buy an R5, but now you have me thinking of an R3!

[@jan_wegener]

I think for most R5 is the best value for money

[@Twobarpsi]

@@jan_wegener I'll wait until the R52 comes out 🤗

[@ThatGuyInVegas]

At 13:42 WOW! 25600 ISO, amazing!

[@tibtechtalks]

Thanks for your nice video. I would love to see more bird photographies from your RF 600mm f4.

[@jan_wegener]

Me too but the lens is with canon atm

[@jimtipton8888]

The R3 is a very intriguing camera. I'd describe it as a niche camera that is great for sports and wildlife, but maybe not the best for other genres. Looking forward to that R3 vs R5 showdown!

[@stubones]

There is nothing wrong with the R3 for other genres. It’s a fantastic landscape camera. 24mp is more than enough for 90% of people. Weddings? Photojournalism? It’s perfect. It’s not niche at all. In fact it’s the best all round camera that I can think of.

[@mikebronny1356]

I was able to talk to B&H sales department and place a back order for Canon battery and battery arrives this week. I really like the RF 100mm-500mm with the R3 and I use the 1x6 crop and now it is a 800mm. Great for birds on perch that are far away.

[@colinfieldgate4719]

Surely it’s better to crop to taste in post? Of course, both methods throw away pixels.

[@martinpettinger]

Hi Jan.... Im glad to hear your enthusiasm for this great camera... It is a great work horse, but for capturing action it is amazing. If you are taking stills at 'sensible' distances the 24mp is more than enough due to the brilliant sensor. I will not be replacing mine :-)) Thank you for all the effort to put into you videos it is very much appreciated.

[@jan_wegener]

Thanks for sharing

[@hawgbreath]

This is a very informative and helpful video Jan. I have an R5 and would love an R3 but it is beyond my reach price wise. I’ve encountered many of the R5 shortcomings, particularly the difficulty of it losing its focus on the subject due to other obstructions like branches or background objects. For me, I’d rather have less issues with finding focus than having twice as many pixels. I’ve missed many shots due to focusing issues. Thanks for posting this and I’m looking forward to your upcoming video!

[@jakecook716]

You can encounter that problem too on an R3, well I have on mine. I don't own an R5 so I don't know if it happens any less. If it happens for panning on moving subjects I don't know what you can do about it. But for the still subjects I have a back button dedicated to switching between ONE SHOT/AI SERVO. Only takes one push next to my thumb and ONE SHOT is precise, it will focus exactly on focus point you want and won't move.

[@jgates]

9:30 Since you turned off that AF feature on the R3, does the AF feature you use work better or about the same as the similar AF setting on the R5? That is the feature in which the camera determines the subject like you said at 8:55, I believe.

[@jan_wegener]

quite similar. but better in low light

[@jgates]

@@jan_wegener That’s good news! I have noticed the R5 struggling with focus in some low light scenes.

[@MrWDCash]

Hi Jan, In your intro there is a very brief shot of you behind 2 cameras. Do you have the 2 cameras connected togeather so that they both aim at the same subject?

[@jan_wegener]

No, just move them both

[@deanmiller3473]

Thanks for the great review Jan very useful for me as I'm coming from the Canon 90D to the R3 and am waiting for it to come in, I considered the R5 and felt I was not going to lose a great deal, I will be using it with the RF100-500mm as the majority of my photography was with the Sigma 150-600mm and found I did not switch lenses much, even though I had the lenses available. Great review thank you for putting it out there.

[@Soul_Visuals_Photography]

The R5 drops to 12 bit in electronic shutter?

[@jan_wegener]

yes

[@Soul_Visuals_Photography]

@@jan_wegener good to know

[@mbismbismb]

Yeah just like sony a1 😌

[@EgorKlimenko-]

I use canon r6 for my KZbin videos. It is fantastic camera. I love it))))

[@JaredEagles]

great video. I am still shooting with my 80D, but recently picked up an old 5d Mark ii to try full frame. I won't be able to afford those new models for quite a while I imagine, but I do enjoy learning what updates they've made. I had a Canon EOS Elan ii E 35mm camera for a while before it broke, it had an early version of eye tracking autofocus, but only needed to shift between 3 horizontal focus points. It was not great for wildlife, but for very casual shooting of scenery and people it was great and accurate. I always wondered if that feature would come back in some way. I enjoyed having the option.

[@framingthewild]

Very enjoyable review with lots of great footage and photos to showcase, Jan. I personally own two R3s, both for taking photos and filmmaking (nature & wildlife) and I am extremely happy with the performance and experience. I switched to Canon from Fujifilm and I have never owned high megapixel camera before so I can't actually say that I miss those megapixels, however I have never felt that I need to massively crop my images either. I will either carefully reposition myself in the field or recompose the image to environmental shot instead of a close up to keep myself creatively engaged. What might work for me however might not work for others, so I understand that. I am quite new to the filmmaking world and am enjoying R3's capabilities quite a bit, still need to test that 6K RAW option (although 6K 10bit H.265 non RAW file type would be great to have as well, maybe in firmware update). In regards to photography I am very happy with the camera's performance, image quality and customisability. My AF-ON button is set to One Shot autofocus mode without any tracking for when I need precision between foliage or pick a specific subject in complex scene and don't want to risk the camera jumping off to something else, then the * button is set to Servo AF with animal and subject tracking on for press and hold action when required. This dual back button focus implementation is fantastic and super quick in the field for the way I work, much better experience than on Fujifilm. Like you said the ergonomics are top notch and I absolutely love how this camera body handles, it adds to the positive experience. If the R1 will have the same body, just higher MP (plus all the R3 tech and features) then maybe I will consider swapping from R3, but at this stage I have no reason to, the R5 and R6 have too many deal breakers for me to consider them. Keep up the good work, Jan. I am a big fan.

[@johnnlausten8841]

I look forward to seeing the comparison. And am amazed at the many colors the birds have, here in Denmark the birds are not so colorful, unfortunately....

[@frankanderson5012]

When I look at your or other peoples images, I don’t look at the detail in the picture. It’s the impact of the image. People are becoming too obsessed with megapixels through looking at 100% on their screens at the image. That’s not what makes an image great and it’s certainly not what wildlife photography should be about otherwise, with every new camera people are always going to be wanting more and never content. Your images are great and the wildlife you have access to would make most of us green with envy. I personally would be happy if I had that.

[@policeluber6720]

I always use a r3 for action since getting the R5 not long ago lol

[@zadnitsa]

incredible birds! I like your videos! I have a slightly off topic question, but I really don't know where to ask it. you shoot 8k video, but I still don't understand why? I mean where is it used? or 8k like photos in 40-50mpix are flexible for cropping and editing? I will be very grateful for the answer, because I really do not understand

[@jan_wegener]

I don't usually shoot 8k video. I shoot 4k the majority of the time and 6k on the R3. It gives you nice cropping ability

[@zadnitsa]

@@jan_wegenerWell then I got it all right. I just saw how they constantly discuss 8k, but it seems to me that in terms of processing flexibility 2-4-6k will be much better. and since in one of the bird photography show series you discussed the power of a computer to process 8k, I thought that you do this quite often. thanks for the answer!!!

[@akinipeters]

Great video. Thanks for info Jan. You mentioned that your EF 600 II was slower on R3 in comparison to the RF 600. How about the EF 600 Mark 3? The RF 600 is basically that lens with an rf adapter bolted on. I happen to own that lens along with R5. I am thinking of getting the R3. I expect the bigger battery will drive focus faster in my EF 600/4 iii. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thx.

[@ruley74]

Nice summary mate, bit more time with it seems to have worked in well.

[@justinholding02]

Nice review, you are so lucky having access to so much stunning wildlife. About having better iso performance on the R3 Vs R5, we often read this, but how true is it? I think if you try and downsample an R5 file down to the same resolution as the R3, you'll find very similar results.

[@nordic5490]

My R5 is a bit noisier at iso 12800 than my 5d4.

[@justinholding02]

@@nordic5490 but you are comparing 30 Vs 45 megapixels. Downsample to the same resolution : no difference in visible noise.

[@peterebel7899]

Jan Thanks for the very valid review! I had the R3 once for some minutes in my hands: It fitted better than any other camera in these hands :-) It happened me still being strong not purchasing. Canon does help as bit by application of the MPX count at this price point. But your Nightjar experience might make me weak ....., so is the Galah experience.

[@Vollpflock]

Lots of talk about how fast the R3 is in combination with the RF 600mm f4. Is it faster than the Sony A1 combined with the 600mm f4?

[@Vollpflock]

With the canon remote app, can't you be more than 7 meters away? Or do you know or a remote control for the R5/R3 that allows reach up to 30 meters?

[@jan_wegener]

I was a lot further than 7m. I think as long as there’s good line of sight it works much further away. It’s much worse in the R5. On the R3 it’s very stable and easy to connect

[@alansach8437]

If you need more resolution, you need it. Most do not. Up until a decade or so ago, professional digital SLRs came with 8, 10, 12, 16 megapixels. Photographers somehow managed to make beautiful images, tens of thousands of which are hanging in galleries around the world. Megapixels have become almost like a drug that you just can't get enough of. Even some cell phones are bragging of cameras with ridiculous number of megapixels crammed on tiny sensors just to say they could, even though the vast majority of photos taken on cell phones will never even be printed. 24mpx. is more than enough for photojournalists, sports, wildlife. Unless you regularly make prints larger than 20x30 or 30x40, or regularly crop very small areas from a large frame and blow them up, you don't NEED 45, 60, 80, 100 megapixels, despite what you may "want". Another advantage of cameras in the 20-30 megapixel range is reasonable file size. Easy to work on, easy to store. I remember reading an article in one of the photo magazines 12 or 15 years ago about how "now that the megapixel wars were over (cameras had around 12 megapixels on average at the time!) we could "move on" and camera makers could concentrate on "other things"! How little they knew. Today, we hear talk of 80 and 100 megapixel cameras coming! I'll be able to make a print the size of my garage!! Not that I ever will......but I might!

[@glynnpowell7864]

More megapixels allows more crop. If you’re a professional, you need it.

[@nordic5490]

Not quite. The ante has been upped since those images were taken. People expect dramatic bif shots now, and allowing the bif space in the frame is mosly necessary to ensure you do not crop a wing. This technique relys on cropping in post.

[@alansach8437]

As I said in the very first sentence, "If you need it, you need it!" Most do not. If you regularly make massive crops, you need it. Period. End of discussion. But I shoot with several highly published pros who take a great deal of pride in the fact that they rarely crop, regardless what they are shooting. They use blinds, long lenses, camera traps, remotes and work the subject. For them, cropping is a last resort and usually minimal. But, again, if you need it, you need it.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Your really doing a great job but I really want to know if you think 24 Mpixels is enough for BIF. I've had the experience with my Sony A9/A9II but with the A1 its now a mute point..Also own the EOS R5 but have been experimenting with the Z9 which is nice but heavy. I'd like to switch the Z9 for the R3 if 24 Mpixels is enough but I'm just not convinced. Let's see that video soon.

[@nordic5490]

The Z9 doesnt af well on bif kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH3dk2ydgNp0fKc

[@MrCat-rk9ir]

If the Rf600mm focuses better with the R3 is due to the bigger battery so what happens if you use a battery grip on the R5?

[@jan_wegener]

Nothing 😆

[@dglatz01]

Good stuff as always Jan. I have an R3 mostly for video “B” cam where I also want to do some photos. Wondering whether R3 AF performance with 600 f/4 iii would be more similar to the RF lens - my understanding was that these were identical except the RF lens had the mount adapter built in. I have the EF version so I can use it for video (need variable ND on the mount adapter). Maybe I messed that up. Anyway, always learn something watching your videos, so thanks for sharing your insight.

[@markrigg6623]

The lenses are optically identical only. The focusing motors and algorithms on the RF lens are optimised for the newer lense mounts characteristics.

[@dglatz01]

@@markrigg6623 Interesting - thanks. I am going to stick with my EF lens because I need ND when shooting with R3 or R5 C. But I appreciate the information.

[@Ultrarmx]

Wish the R3 be available for sale. It’s been on back order since it came out.

[@jan_wegener]

lots around here for a while

[@onnonugteren2935]

Good review thoughts again. :-) Also: yes is it the best camera? Of course not. No one is, but for me the R5 and C70 are realistic the more specialized camera's. Look forward for your comparison with the R5 and R3. Greetings, Onno.

[@Gremlack13]

It’s weird to see people complain about how low resolution it is with 24 mp, but just 2 years ago people were raving about the 1dxiii, with it’s only 20 mp. Until the r5 came out, having mp in the 20’s seemed to be just fine. Now people act like it’s offensive to expect people to use anything less than 45 mp.

[@jan_wegener]

It was the main reason I never used the 1Dx series personally

[@isotechimages.9130]

An underrated camera due to the megapixels.

[@deanvm9158]

I wish Canon makes a photo-only mirrorless camera. I don't do video anyway.

[@BEC7OR]

Personally for me, I shoot alot of sports, and i would rather have a really clean low noise picture than be able to crop with horrible noise. You can still crop a fair bit with 24MP and with very low noise. I like very nice 👍

[@tarjei99]

I have a few issues with the R3. 1: I can't use the 1D4 charger with the battery. My charger has a 12V lead which means that I can charge the batteries in the car. 2: It is hard to find a car charger for the R3 battery or even charge the battery in the R3. If you have Apple gear it might be easy to find a good enough charger.

[@colinfieldgate4719]

Have you tried an inverter 12v/240v?

[@tarjei99]

@@colinfieldgate4719 I hate them. I've had one for many years. For 7D2 batteries I prefer my Hähnel dual USB charger.

[@EverythingCameFromNothing]

Hi Jan, is it possible to download/buy the zebra finch photo? If i don’t hear from you I’ll try to email you 😊

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, DM or email me

[@EternallyWild]

Thanks Jan for a great review. But I will wait for your next video of R3 vs R5 before I make a decision to switch from R5. Another thing comes to my mind; with the kind of price tag that R3 has, it would have helped immensely in shooting videos if they had added built in ND filters like the ones in Canon EOS C70. Cheers!

[@policeluber6720]

Why hasn’t canon made a BSI stacked mirrorless in a less then 6 grand price point ?

[@davepastern]

to be fair to the R3, it's 20mp vs 45mp Jan...you're always going to get more detail from the R5. When the R1 comes out, I expect it'll be FF, ~52mp, 120fps to match the Z9, and dual digic XI chips, if not quadruple - this will depend upon the buffer.

[@WernerBirdNature]

Hi Jan, I commented this video less than an hour after upload .. but when I refreshed my comment had vanished :-( Maybe because I mentioned Canon dot de using a more logical spelling ? Anyway, you had again some awesome assistants with wings to perfectly illustrate your points, and it's clear the R3 beats my R6 in every thinkable way .. except for the price, heheh. I understand your point on the eye-control AF, but I feel is it more aimed at sports photographers who want to jump from one competitor onto another. We birders have to look around to be able to predict in which direction the bird will fly on .. Over here the R3 isn't yet for sale on the official Canon sites or in the reliable stores who avoid grey imports. But I found several places with the R3 battery in stock, so maybe you family can send you a spare battery ;-)

[@jan_wegener]

Yes, a spare battery would be very welcomed!