Today I sold my trusty pair of Canon 5D mkIII camera bodies. They have served me exceptionally well over the last 11 year of ownership. They are in very great condition and will serve their new owners well.
My trial of the R8 has been very successful and it’s allowed me to finally leave the world of DSLR photography and fully transition over to the Mirrorless format. It seems that the 35mm format invented by Lecia has fully developed as a complete circle. Everything has gone back to a range finder format…albeit with an electronic view finder. I’ve now settled on a set of optimum camera and AF customisations that will really work well for me across multiple photographic disciplines. I shoot an wide variety of genres, I need an AF system that’s quick and accurate for Wildlife, birds, People, events, Landscape and macro work. I love the fact that I can continue using my EF lenses with my RF mount camera.
The R8 is a fantastic camera. I bought one to trial the newer sensor and AF advances and a lot has been improved over the last 11 years of camera development. So has their customisation and complexity! I am thrilled with the R8’s capability but I intended to use this camera as my 2nd camera. I like to run with 2 identical camera bodies and this is the first time in about 15 years where I’ve had two different cameras. My new primary camera, a Canon R6 mkII has arrived and it’s an exceptionally capable camera.
Most of the settings and discoveries from my R8 are transferable to the R6 mkII. They both share the same sensor and AF system. They are both from the same generation of camera development. Which means that the files and file editing will be identical for both cameras. As much as I admire the R5, it’s a little old. I don’t particularly need 45mp and the sensor is a previous generation and will behave differently in Light room. The AF system on the R5 is excellent but doesn’t have the current options and enhancements that the R3 / R6 mkII and R8 have. Maybe when a R5 mkII is launched…then I might be tempted!
So what do I gain with a R6 mkII over the R8? I gain a slightly larger and better handling camera. The AF point joystick and re-center-ing button lifts the handling substantially. As a camera, it’s a fair bit heavier but feels nicer in the hand. It’s more comfortable to use and operate, although i do like the R8’s smaller size in certain situations. I has a larger and higher resolving Electronic Viewfinder. The battery is a lot bigger and lasts twice as long. I get two card slots and the option of adding a battery grip. I also gain IBIS and 12fps vs 6fps 1st curtain shutter.
