Canon R5MKII: An Honest Real World Review

[@KevinDeal]

Did you buy the R5 MKII? Are you going to pass on it? Tell me why.

[@Asyouwere]

Pass, my R5 is still amazing. Never overheats, more than enough DR, amazing picture quality. If I need to go above 30 min (which almost never happens irl, not even when shooting interviews) I use my Ninja. I am even thinking of picking up a 2nd now that the prices dropped.

[@KevinDeal]

@@Asyouwere it's not an upgrade everyone needs and it's definitely a good time to buy the original.

[@TheEclectic]

I have a 5D Mark IV and have been debating whether to switch to Sony or stay with Canon since I'd need to use an adapter for either camera. While it seems this camera has caught up in many regards to Sony, that in and of itself is kind of disappointing since the A1 is 4 years old. My sense is the A1 Mark ii due sometime in the next 12 months is going to potentially blow this out of the water so I'm going to hold off. Also hate that Canon hasn't let 3rd party manufacturers make lenses for full frame RF.

[@KevinDeal]

​@@TheEclectic If you buy Canon or Sony native lenses you don't need to use an adapter. I personally don't like Sony colors, so I don't really pay attention to the features their cameras have. Just a personal preference. Canon has opened up third party for RF-S. Maybe RF will follow. Sigma has an announcement tomorrow. If I'm being perfectly honest. You're using a seven year old camera. Any leap to mirrorless is going to to be. huge deal for you. Even the original R5 is much better than a 5DMKIV in terms of AF. Colors is subjective.

[@danwong8972]

I have a Canon SLR and decided to migrate over to SLR mirrorless. Bought the R5 Mark 2 and it is an amazing camera. Perhaps a lot of the functions are not on my old SLR that amazed me. I am new to the mirrorless SLR and understand that I have a lot to learn and get used to. So far, I love the R-5 Mark 2.

[@btecww]

As usual great review. Thanks for real world examples vs. shooting charts with unrealistic ISO ranges. I’m a tech contrarian. I work to avoid the constant upgrade cycles. I shot weddings with the R6 , R and RP until earlier 2023. With no drop in providing quality deliverables. I , lately, have been using the R6M2 ,R5 and thanks to your channel ,the R8, for weddings and events for most of this year. It’s has been good summer for weddings 🤓. I preordered the R5 Mark II but cancelled and pulled the trigger on a new discounted R3 for about $300 less than the New R5 2. My sole reason for the pivot is file size and Media. I had a wedding that went way over. My R6M2 batteries died. I finish the balance of the Wedding with the R5. 2500 images with video was brutal on storage. 24 MP is perfect for high volume quick turn around workflow. BTW I have Fast MacBook Pros and large SSDD’s. I still need to share with production partners and clients. I still have Major FOMO anyway!!!!

[@KevinDeal]

The R3 is an insane camera. 24 megapixels is plenty. I'm glad my R8 review helped you out! If I shot sports and more weddings I'd heavily consider the R3. It's such a fun camera. And yes, those R5 files can be super large! I shoot in CRAW often at events to lower the size.

[@mvp_kryptonite]

CRAW is the way to go, so glad Canon introduced this!

[@mvp_kryptonite]

What an awesome camera and a good review, thanks for putting it together. I’m waiting for the R7ii hopefully that comes with eye control (v1 would be fine but couldn’t collaborate the R3 one when I hired it), battery grip, e6p battery support and a bsi sensor along with the usual updates that Canon add. Did you try pre shooting in video mode? I think a lot of people are missing that the bit depth in electronic shutter has no reduction compared to mechanical compared to the R5 so I guess the mechanical shutter is just there for vibes now (maybe better anti flicker handling?) Any lockups? My R7 locked up on me yesterday, thought the battery was dead! 1st time ever and I have had it since day 1 and 1st time any Canon has done that. Just hope the dslr reliability can come back into the mix for future Canon EOS R bodies

[@KevinDeal]

Never had my R7 lock up on me. A new version of the R7 with eye AF would be insane. I didn't try pre-shoot video. Need to. Thanks for the kind words!

[@dominiqueschenck430]

One of the most thorough and balanced assessment. Excellent video! I am going to buy both the R5m2 (for the video) and the r1 (for sports - tennis, and lower resolution / better sensitivity). But will order only after the first firmware updates, and when stocks replenish ie 2025). Still on the r3.

[@KevinDeal]

The gear head in me wants to try the R1. But I have no real use for it. lol. Nonetheless, my review of the R5MKII, and all the speed upgrades it has, makes me get the itch to do some wildlife. But man, those prices on the 100-300 2.8 kind of make that a little more difficult. lol

[@martinekwall4671]

I didn’t know that one can use electric shutter in flash. Is it possible to have shorter flash time because of this. Great review focusing on results!!

[@KevinDeal]

I haven't dove too far into it. But it looks like in electronic first curtain the shutter synch speed is 1/320. Thanks for the kind words!

[@whiterock1865]

Great video Kevin! Lucky y’all getting some rain. I picked up the Mark too as well. Still waiting on my cooling grip to come in, but I love the fact that I can be 100% electronic shutter.

[@KevinDeal]

That's really the biggest change in my photography. I was always a hardcore mechanical shutter guy. But if you expose your images properly, there's no real difference between the ES and MS. But the ES is faster. BTW, I have a couple of Hobolites now, thanks to you!

[@whiterock1865]

@@KevinDeal that’s awesome. I’ve been shooting for a lot of others lately and they always request that I bring my hobolites. You know the R5 Mark twos fast electronic shutter does kind of make me want to try it with the Stella pro if you can take 20 Hz flash sessions… And I know the new ones are even faster.

[@KevinDeal]

@@whiterock1865 You should definitely try out E shutter with the Stellas.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I personally found the R5 II's updated menu rather confusing. Still do, actually. Your video helped me find several settings, like false colors, that baffled me. As for the hot shoe cover, I find myself using two hands to remove it. Those are the two main negatives, well outweighed by a lot of positives. The video upgrades will definitely have me shooting more B-roll with the R5 II. And as a birder as well as a landscape shooter, the increased speed and virtual elimination of rolling shutter are must-use features. If you do find yourself wanting to get into bird photography, I strongly suggest the RF 200-800. The main problem with that lens is just getting hold of one. I was on the wait list for months, but I finally gave up when the R5 II came along. Maybe by next year the lens will be in better supply.

[@KevinDeal]

You read my mind. I am eyeing that lens. However, I’m not in a hurry to get it. I will wait until they finally become available. Glad my video helped locate things. I literally spent a half hour looking for CLOG2. That being said, I shot most of my video in this episode just committing to the colors in camera, and truth be told, they are actually really good. I used to exclusively shoot CLOG3 for the channel on the R5 bit I am questioning that now. I can out out episodes faster if I don’t have to spend as much time color grading.

[@albertma5467]

Nice review! I was curious

[@KevinDeal]

Beast of a camera

[@BW_Maher]

Looking at the side by side with the R5, is the EVF set back a little further from the back of the camera? That would be nice.

[@KevinDeal]

The new EVF is larger. And I just realized that I failed to mention that. Looking at both cameras from above (side by side) they appear to stick out the same.

[@docteja2374]

Is there any improvement in video dynamic range compared to r5 ?

[@KevinDeal]

It obviously depends on the format you shoot but CLOG2 gives you more workable range than CLOG3. The sensor in the original R5 couldn't reproduce CLOG2 and the sensor in the R5MKII can. So that's your answer right there.

[@Ed_Scott]

As always, fantastic overview/early review of the r5 mark ii. I’m sold on this camera….but need to figure out what would be the better B camera. An original R5 or the R6 mark ii for light wedding and event work. Again, I applaud the effort, quality and information you put into this review……well done.

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful. My first thought would be I would want my files to match as closely as possible. Since the original R5 is the same amount of megapixels and the two camera's files look almost identical, I would say get the original R5. Since you said you do wedding and event work, I feel like that would make my post production work easier. The R6MKII is a beast of a camera though.

[@Ed_Scott]

@@KevinDeal thanks!

[@KevinDeal]

@@Ed_Scott You're welcome

[@collinh8911]

Thank you awesome review!

[@KevinDeal]

My pleasure!

[@michaelwinsor1]

how did you connect your iphone to record the video on the R5? Thanks

[@KevinDeal]

Good day! I was able to do so with a product called the Accsoon. Here is a link to my video on the product and how I use it with my cameras and iPhone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6Knnpt7atOBna8

[@dbrooks839]

Loved your video!! Did you have the Canon AD-E1 adapter for your flashes? I'm kind of confused because the manual states you are supposed to, but I tried my flash and it worked fine. I called Canon and they couldn't tell me why I needed the adapter. What are your thoughts?

[@KevinDeal]

I used both Godox and Profoto and did not need the adapter. I don’t need it on my R8 either. But I DO need it on my R50. So it sounds like it’s camera specific. Thank you for the kind words!

[@thelookoflifefilms]

I bought it and love it. I went into Samy's Camera to rent a lens , they had on left and I bought it. The Pre-shoot feature has me hooked on wildlife , and the C-Log 2 is a great addition, , in addition I wea glasses so the larger viewfinder is my favorite feature

[@KevinDeal]

I am definitely enjoying the larger viewfinder. Apparently the next batch is going to be backordered for a bit, so it sounds like you got yours at just the right time.

[@docteja2374]

Great review!

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks!

[@sigurdrille9693]

Thank you, very informative!

[@KevinDeal]

Thank you for watching!

[@JohnScarrott]

Hey Kevin, at 7m 7s on the video, that's a lot of dust on your lens, is that just an 'in between cleaning' shot or does dust not bother you?

[@JohnScarrott]

OK, just got to the bit where you cleaned it off in post! 😁😁

[@JohnScarrott]

Ok, got to the end now! Great review, thanks, covered a lot of bases there. The sensor looks to be on a par with the noise levels of the R3, the benefit of a back illuminated stacked sensor, originally developed in security and astrophotography cameras for low light performance.

[@KevinDeal]

@@JohnScarrott it's a good and fast sensor, for sure.

[@mvp_kryptonite]

In the comment box there is a box and some numbers, if you hit that it time stamps the clip and people press on it like a shortcut it it would jump straight to 7:07. You can even edit it (so I pressed it at 34:48 but edited it to your 7:07mins (or format the time correctly to create the shortcut) and share it (on a PC) and the shortcut works

[@BrianHallmond]

Im having trouble setting up the Autofocus buttons etc tbh.

[@KevinDeal]

Sorry to hear that. I'm starting another video on the R5 MKII tomorrow. It's going to be on how I set the camera up, but it probably won't be out for another week. What issues are you having specifically?

[@Asyouwere]

Nice review. It sounds like you are mainly trying to justify your purchase. I still have the R5 and it is still a beast of a camera. Invest in glass!

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks. My justification for my purchase is that it's my workhorse camera for my business, so that's pretty easy to do. My last R5 paid for itself several times over. As far as glass, I own quite a few lenses. Canon needs to come out with new lenses for me to invest in, as I pretty much have all the lenses I want.

[@Asyouwere]

@@KevinDeal I think most of your viewers don't have a business, but fair enough if that is your motivation. I DO own a business, and my first rule is: cash is king. And my second rule: if you can still make money with what you have, don't spend money, it will not make you MORE money. But I digress, no need for a discussion, if you're happy with spending money on the latest and greatest, who am I to judge? Have a good one!

[@KevinDeal]

@@Asyouwere It wasn't an extra camera for me. I phased another camera out of my arsenal to get it. I have a rule of don't buy more cameras than you actually use. So I actually sold another camera to make an open space for this camera.

[@Eightpspi]

That overheating meter would be super annoying when I’m trying to shoot

[@KevinDeal]

I’m pretty sure you can turn it off.

[@MrKeith57]

It needs professional wrestling in its action priority and then I will sell one of my kidneys and upgrade from my R50.

[@KevinDeal]

I approve this message. The AF needs to know how to get around a steel chair and lock onto the eye. Lol.

[@eschrad]

I’m still rolling with the original EOS R. Came close to grabbing an R6 Mk II, but hesitated because it’s still a step down in megapixels despite a step up in other areas. Then the R5 Mk II was announced and that has been very enticing. I still own an EOS 3 (yes, the film camera) and I loved the eye-controlled AF it had. I always wondered why that innovation has been ignored by Canon for so long. So that feature coming back in the R3 and R5 Mk II is hard to resist. I just don’t know if the R5 Mk II is overkill for me. I shoot events and portraits… sometimes weddings and sometimes sports. I am not a video shooter… unless I have to grab some video and then I am essentially an “auto” shooter. And then of course there are the R6 Mk iii rumors… and yes, I realize there is always something new on the horizon, but I’m just trying to find the right investment for me and it’s hard when so much emphasis is on video now, which I don’t really do.

[@KevinDeal]

I find all cameras have several features I'd never use, so they're all technically overkill. Portraits, events, wedding and sometimes sports is exactly where the stills portion of this camera does well. To the R6MKIII rumor. I doubt they increase the megapixels, so you've already eliminated that from consideration, because less megapixels is a dealbreaker for you. The original R is a fantastic camera, capable of a lot. But once you try the autofocus on any of the other cameras you mentioned, my guess is you'll be less excited about shooting on the R. I used to own the R. Love it, but I don't miss it. Thanks for stopping by!

[@eschrad]

@@KevinDeal thank you for the reply!

[@iabdulhaseeb]

​@@KevinDealI'm confused basically I have plan of getting R6 mark 2 just 4 months used with RF 24-105 4L and RF 100 2.8 + 256 GB card 300MB/s In 3465 USD. On the other hand R5mark2 is 4265 USD. I also don't have any lens. There are 2 options first is buy the 2 lens with R62 or 2nd option is R52 with Rf50 1.8... later on I'll upgrade my lens 24-105.. is it worth to sacrifice more money. I want 4,5 years future safe. If you're in my place what you'll do?? Is it good offer or suggest me any other option!! I don't have any gear now .. I used to have 5dmark3 in 2016... But I changed my field as currently working in the restaurant business industry. I want to target small restaurants and small businesses for social media and products photography, as I have planned to give free 30 sec, 1 min reels for Snapchat, tiktok and Instagram. Just to build my portfolio on Instagram and other platforms. Plus I'll do street photography as I'm living an expat in Saudi Arabia. I belong to Pakistan.

[@KevinDeal]

@@iabdulhaseeb honestly, lenses are worth way more to me than cameras. I would do the 24-105 f/4, RF100 2.8 and R6MKII for content creation in restaurants. You can use the 24-105 to do the majority of the work and use the 100mm for beautiful macro shots of the food. You can also use the 100mm if you need to do headshots of chefs or any headshots in general. No question that's going to be a more powerful tool for you than an R5MKII with a 50mm 1.8. You do not need the extra megapixels offered by the R5MKII for content creation on social media. Those files sizes are small. With the extra $800 you save by not getting he R5MKII, you could use that toward something like a 15-35 f/2.8 for wider shots. Maybe shoot a couple of jobs, add that money to the $800 and now you have three powerful lenses to help you grow your business. An R6MKII is perfectly capable of handling restaurant work. Camera bodies depreciate faster than lenses.

[@iabdulhaseeb]

@@KevinDeal R6mark3 is coming after some months .. this camera can go 4,5 years easily? Because this is my 13 months savings. That's y I'm confused!!

[@whiterock1865]

Yeah I know it amazes someone would plunk down $4300 for a state of the art camera and then go cheap on batteries and cards

[@KevinDeal]

Yeah. I don't get it either.

[@michaels3003]

As of today (end of August), there are no batteries and accessories available from Canon and from reputable retailers. It is impossible to tell when they are going to be in stock. Very unprofessional...

[@KevinDeal]

@@michaels3003 I ordered my battery from B&H on the release date and mine arrived a day after my camera arrived. I walked into the Camera Exchange in Austin, TX last Saturday. They had four R5MKII's behind the counter and batteries available to sell. Sorry you're having issues getting batteries. Hopefully Canon will get some to you soon.

[@michaels3003]

@@KevinDeal , I envy you living in Austin (I hope, I will be able to visit one day). Here we only have the Best Buy. I mostly use B&H, but I had to order the camera from a camera store in Los Angeles. At that time, I was not aware that the new batteries were sold out. Another problem is the 200 - 800 lens; no estimate when it may be in stock. For me it is just an inconvenience, but for other people it may be a real problem. There are a lot of comments about the new batteries on YT.

[@KevinDeal]

@@michaels3003 yeah. Best Buy probably isn't going to come through in the clutch. lol. I saw the backorder on the 200-800. That sucks

[@1782877]

whats this music track?

[@KevinDeal]

Which track? There are 4-5 songs used throughout the 30 minute review.

[@Spartanshaq777]

ISO 2000 is not high at all. Show us what the images look like at 20,000 and 40,000 ISO

[@KevinDeal]

The R7 doesn’t go to 40,000. I showed the higher ISOs in my three part review. This was a farewell video. Not an in depth review. Thanks for stopping by. For the record. Anything past about 12,800 is pretty unusable.

[@suatsekil]

canon R5 looking more sharper than R5 M2 at 13:12 at low light shooting, I think there is a noise reduction at R5 M2 BUT you are not telling

[@KevinDeal]

I don't use noise reduction on any of my photography because noise doesn't really bother me. Perhaps the reason there's less noise is because that the R5MKII uses a stacked sensor and one of the benefits of a stacked sensor is they handle low light situations better. If you like the R5 better then congrats, sounds like you'll save some money and not have to worry about the MKII. Thanks for stopping by.

[@suatsekil]

@@KevinDeal I HAVE bought MK II

[@KevinDeal]

@@suatsekil ok. Then I really don't know what to tell you because you have the ability to conduct these tests yourself. My results are my results. I don't like noise reduction software. It's not a part of my work flow and it will likely never be. There's a lot of proof out there of BSI stacked sensors performing better in low light.