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Thursday, November 7, 2024

Canon R5 Mark I vs Canon R6 Mark II

Summary: Everyone's needs are different. Between these two cameras, my choice would be the Canon R6 Mark II.

The Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 Mark II are both impressive mirrorless cameras, yet they cater to slightly different needs. Here's a comparison between the two, breaking down their key differences, strengths, and ideal use cases.

1. Sensor and Resolution

Canon EOS R5:
- 45-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor.
- Provides extremely high-resolution images, allowing for significant cropping and detailed prints.
- Great for landscapes, studio, and wildlife photography where maximum detail is essential.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor.
- Lower resolution compared to the R5 but still ample for most professional needs.
- The reduced resolution means smaller file sizes and often better low-light performance due to larger individual pixels.

Winner: Canon R5 for high resolution and detail. Canon R6 Mark II for low-light versatility and manageable file sizes.

2. ISO Range and Low-Light Performance

Canon EOS R5:
- ISO range: 100–51,200 (expandable to 102,400).
- Excellent low-light performance, though higher resolution can introduce noise at very high ISO levels.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- ISO range: 100–102,400 (expandable to 204,800).
- Improved low-light capability thanks to a lower-resolution sensor, allowing for slightly cleaner results at high ISOs.

Winner: Canon R6 Mark II for better low-light performance and higher native ISO range.

3. Continuous Shooting Speed

Canon EOS R5:
- 20 fps with electronic shutter, 12 fps with mechanical shutter.
- Excellent for fast action, wildlife, and sports.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- Improved to 40 fps with the electronic shutter, 12 fps with mechanical.
- This speed is particularly beneficial for wildlife and sports photographers who need high burst rates.

Winner: Canon R6 Mark II for its incredible 40 fps speed with the electronic shutter.

4. Autofocus System

Canon EOS R5:
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with up to 1,053 AF points.
- Animal, human, and face detection autofocus are highly accurate, with strong tracking performance.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- Improved AI-driven autofocus system with Canon’s latest algorithms.
- Introduces new subject detection modes, such as horse tracking, and better performance in low light.

Winner: Canon R6 Mark II for slightly more advanced autofocus algorithms and subject tracking modes.

5. Video Capabilities

Canon EOS R5:
- 8K RAW video at 30 fps and 4K up to 120 fps.
- Very high-resolution video options, though the R5 has been known to experience overheating during long 8K recording sessions.
- Suitable for high-end video production, where resolution is paramount.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- No 8K video, but records 4K up to 60 fps oversampled from 6K, delivering sharp 4K footage.
- Lower risk of overheating and is more practical for longer recordings.
- Also supports 6K ProRes RAW via external recording.

Winner: Canon R5 for pure resolution and versatility. Canon R6 Mark II for manageable and reliable 4K recording.

6. In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)

Both cameras offer 5-axis in-body image stabilization, capable of up to 8 stops of stabilization when paired with compatible lenses.

Winner: Tie, as both provide similar stabilization performance.

7. Build and Handling

Canon EOS R5:
- Sturdier build with magnesium alloy and weather sealing.
- Larger EVF with a 5.76-million dot resolution, offering a clearer view.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- Also robust and weather-sealed but with a slightly lower-resolution EVF (3.69 million dots).
- Slightly lighter body, which some may find more comfortable for extended handheld shooting.

Winner: Canon R5 for a more premium EVF and slightly sturdier build.

8. Battery Life

Canon EOS R5:
- Slightly lower battery life due to higher resolution sensor and processing demands.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- Offers a better battery life overall, benefitting from lower resolution and a more efficient processing system.

Winner: Canon R6 Mark II for longer battery life.

9. Price

Canon EOS R5:
- Higher price point, reflecting its premium features and high-resolution sensor.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II:
- More affordable, appealing to enthusiasts and professionals not needing extreme resolution.

Winner: Canon R6 Mark II for affordability.

Summary: Which to Choose?

Choose the Canon EOS R5 if:
- You need maximum resolution for detailed images and cropping flexibility.
- You require 8K video capabilities for high-end productions.
- You prioritize a high-quality EVF and a sturdy build.
Choose the Canon EOS R6 Mark II if:
- You value speed, with 40 fps electronic shutter for action shots.
- You often shoot in low light and need high ISO performance.
- You want a versatile, reliable camera for general professional use without 8K video.

In short, the R5 is ideal for high-detail photography and top-tier video, while the R6 Mark II excels in speed, low-light performance, and is a solid all-around choice at a more accessible price.

Eyes

I'm captivated by eyes. To me, a photo where the eyes are sharply in focus is always a beautiful one. There’s no part of the human anatomy more striking or expressive than the eyes. So here are mine—they may not be the most stunning, but they’re the only ones I have.

Click for detailed view.

Click for detailed view.

Both pictures were taken using a Panasonic DMC-ZS100, a very capable point and shoot camera, very sharp as you can see.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

R5 price goes down by $1450

With the release of the Canon R5 Mark II it was expected to see the price of the Canon R5 Mark I to go down. But this price drop has happened faster than expected according to this page which is reporting a huge discount found at Walmart ($2408!). Amazon still selling the same camera for $2799. Those who love Amazon may have to wait for the Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals from this site to get it as low as what we see now at Walmart.

The Canon EOS R5 is a powerful mirrorless camera introduced by Canon in 2020. It’s geared toward professional photographers and advanced enthusiasts, particularly those looking for high-quality still images and robust video capabilities. Here’s a more detailed look at what the Canon R5 has to offer:
Key Features

Sensor and Image Quality: The R5 sports a 45-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, allowing it to capture incredibly detailed images. With this high resolution, it’s an excellent choice for wildlife, landscape, and studio photographers who may need to crop their images without sacrificing much detail.

ISO Range: Its native ISO range of 100–51,200 (expandable to 50–102,400) makes it versatile in various lighting conditions. The camera performs well in low-light environments, offering low noise levels even at higher ISO settings.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF II: Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus system on the R5 is remarkably fast and accurate, with up to 1,053 AF points covering almost the entire frame. It supports eye, face, and animal detection autofocus, which is particularly beneficial for wildlife photographers.

In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): The R5 has 5-axis in-body stabilization that works with both RF and EF lenses, allowing for up to 8 stops of stabilization when combined with compatible lenses. This makes handheld shooting easier and provides smoother shots for video work.

Burst Shooting: The R5 can shoot up to 20 frames per second (fps) with the electronic shutter and up to 12 fps with the mechanical shutter. This high-speed shooting makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects, like birds in flight or other wildlife.

Video Capabilities: The Canon R5 was the first in Canon's lineup to offer 8K RAW video recording at 30 fps. It also supports 4K video up to 120 fps, making it a versatile option for videographers who need high resolution and slow-motion capabilities. However, 8K recording tends to generate a significant amount of heat, leading to some concerns about overheating during extended recording sessions. Canon later released firmware updates to improve the camera’s thermal management.

Dual Card Slots: The R5 is equipped with dual card slots: one for a CFexpress card and another for a standard SD card. This is useful for photographers who want to back up their work in real time or need the speed benefits of CFexpress for high-resolution video.

Build and Ergonomics: The camera body is made from magnesium alloy, which provides durability while keeping the weight manageable. It’s also weather-sealed, which is essential for those shooting in challenging outdoor conditions. The R5 features a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 5.76 million dots, providing a clear and lifelike view of the scene, along with a fully articulating touchscreen.

Battery Life: The R5 uses the Canon LP-E6NH battery, which provides a reasonable shooting time, though heavy 8K or continuous shooting may require extra batteries.

Connectivity: The camera offers built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and FTP capabilities, which are useful for remote shooting, transferring images, or even live streaming.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Excellent image quality and resolution.
Highly capable autofocus system with animal tracking.
8K and 4K video capabilities, supporting a range of video formats.
Compact and robust body with weather sealing.

Cons:

High price point, geared towards serious users.
Overheating issues with prolonged 8K recording, though firmware updates have mitigated this.
CFexpress cards for 8K video are costly.

Who is it Best For?

The Canon EOS R5 is ideal for photographers and videographers needing high resolution, fast autofocus, and top-tier video capabilities. It’s particularly well-suited for wildlife and sports photographers, portrait shooters, and even videographers looking for 8K recording.

In essence, the Canon R5 is a camera that combines the quality and speed of Canon’s high-end DSLR lineup with the compactness and versatility of mirrorless technology, making it a standout option in Canon’s EOS R series.

An alternative to this camera would be the Canon R6 Mark II currently being sold at Amazon for $1999.This means that for $400 more you can go up one level in the Canon Eco System. Here is a Comparison between these two cameras.

Scams targeting freelance photographers

This video is all about that.

This isn’t an isolated incident. I’m often contacted by people claiming they like my work and want to buy my pictures. But here’s the reality: you can already download my photos, pay for them, and get them printed and shipped through Flickr. I don’t earn anything from that transaction, as it’s entirely between you and Flickr.

Here’s how this scam works: they’ll ask you for a price, then send a fake check for much more than the agreed amount. Afterward, they’ll say it was a mistake and request that you refund the difference. What they won’t tell you is that the check they sent is fake, meaning you won’t get paid what you originally asked for, and you’ll lose the money you refunded to them.

I know that Flickr may profit from my work, but I share my photos because I love what I do — I love photography. If you’d like to support my work, you can use the Donate button on this blog. Your donation would mean a lot to me, and I promise to put it toward new photography equipment to help me capture even more amazing images.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Grizzly Bear 399 died...

One of the most famous grizzly bears from Yellow Stone succumbed to a vehicle collision: Grizzly 399.

This weekend when I was driving to a local park I found around 4 road kills. Different animals but the same tragic end.

The irony on this is the most we do to protect them the bigger the amount of road kills you will see. It's just statistics. The amount of wild animals grows and the territory that we are taken from them also grows and that ends in this tragic result.

It's all in the details

Here's a picture where I didn't notice the hidden details until later—the ants!

Click to see the details!

Monday, November 4, 2024

On this weekend!

This weekend started last Friday taken pictures in a Karate Event.

Using a Canon R6 with a Tamron 28-300.

This event was more private, focusing on a group of athletes being promoted to the next level. Instead of taking the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L lens, I chose the Tamron 28-300mm, F/3.5-6.3, which doesn’t perform as well in low-light conditions as the EF 70-200L. After two rounds of editing, the image quality isn’t at its best, but it’s the best I could achieve given the circumstances. Below I'm showing a picture taken in another event using the Canon lens so you can compare the difference in image quality.

Using the EF70-200 L f2.8.

Saturdays was my grandson sport events, one of them in soccer and the other one in American Flag Football. Here are two pictures taken in these events.

Grandparents supporting team!

Who is faster?

In this case, I brought along the Canon EF100-400mm L Mark II. This lens is exceptionally sharp and ideal for events like this, where zooming in for detailed shots is essential.

After the event, one of the parents asked me to take a photo with his son, which I was happy to do.

A hawk flew around and of course I took a shot of it.

On Sunday I went to shoot wildlife on a local park. I shot some landscape...

I created a vertical panorama...

I shot some wildlife...

And took few shots of a local wildlife photographer that I believe was using a Canon R7 with an extender 1.4x and a RF150-500mm lens, for a total equivalent of 1120mm!

Local Wildlife Photographer.

With that I went home to process all pictures...

During this weekend I was testing the new battery LP-E6P.

Using H+ bursts in Eco Mode I got: 342 photos and final battery level at 76%.
Taking single pictures in Eco Mode I got: 149 photos and final battery level at 70%.

So it seems that it may benefit those using bursts.