Time to move to mirrorless?

[MEhampshire]

I upgraded my camera from 550D to a used 5D MKIII in 2023 which has been great but now that I'm more focus on wildlife I find myself shooting in dark-ish woodland and being in the UK (classic gloomy UK) to shoot songbirds where I had to push my ISO to 4000 to get a decent shutter speed.

I've been reluctant to look at mirrorless due to it's price but now that old versions are reasonably priced, maybe it's time to move to mirrorless for cleaner image at higher ISO?

I'm a bit stuck between R6 MKII and R5 MKI will be using it with Canon 500mm F4 MKI, I like the high megapixel for cropping but looks like the R6 MKII has a better focusing system? How are these cameras perform in lowlight in terms of their auto-focus, tracking and noise performance?

 

[David Berry]

ME…

Canon's best wildlife camera, especially for flighty small birds, is surely the R5m2. (Yes, it will cost you around £1000 more than the cameras you have mentioned.)

How could any bird photographer go past its variable 10—30 frames/second combined with raw pre-capture?

… David

 

[Russ4750]

As a photographer of small birds, I value the higher pixel count of the R5 (compared to the R6) and I've been very happy with my R5 for several years. About 4 months ago, I added a R5m2 (keeping the R5 as a backup) and I have to agree with David that raw pre-capture is wonderful, as is the higher frame rate. So, I would suggest picking whichever R5 model fits your budget, as I'm sure you'll be happy with either. Both R5 models have focused satisfactorily in low light in my experience and I have not found noise to be a problem.

 

[bleirer]

I think I'd go for a refurbished R5. Canon's refurbished carries the full 1 year warranty and we are told that they are just dealer overstock rather than used. You can add the 3 year service plan for a little more money. The price is right now that the r5ii is here. For wildlife I think you want the megapixels. Still you wouldn't go wrong with an R6ii. Faster frame rate mainly. They say the R6iii might be coming in 2025 but who knows.

I have the R5 and I can say that it is not what is preventing me from winning that Pulizter prize. But neither is your 5diii.

You will need the adapter for the ef lens and also budget for a 2nd battery and a cf express type B card for slot 1. I assume your SD cards will work in slot 2.

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/refurbished-eos-r5-body?srsltid=AfmBOoqzIkM5tE3VfKXw14XpIZC3z7fN53yZ2QqBpV3959w8YXxqYHyj

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review

Is the Canon EOS R6 Mark II right for you? Learn all you need to know in The-Digital-Picture.com's review!

www.the-digital-picture.com

Canon EOS R5 Compared to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II

Compare the detailed specifications of the Canon EOS R5 to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II

www.the-digital-picture.com

 

[MEhampshire]

As a photographer of small birds, I value the higher pixel count of the R5 (compared to the R6) and I've been very happy with my R5 for several years. About 4 months ago, I added a R5m2 (keeping the R5 as a backup) and I have to agree with David that raw pre-capture is wonderful, as is the higher frame rate. So, I would suggest picking whichever R5 model fits your budget, as I'm sure you'll be happy with either. Both R5 models have focused satisfactorily in low light in my experience and I have not found noise to be a problem.

Yeah I did check the MK2 but it's way out of the budget, I don't earn from my photography otherwise I'd go for the MK2. Is 20FPS not enough for BiF shoots? I thought that's plenty but I've never really taken any BiF of smaller birds so I wouldn't really know.

I think I'd go for a refurbished R5. Canon's refurbished carries the full 1 year warranty and we are told that they are just dealer overstock rather than used. You can add the 3 year service plan for a little more money. The price is right now that the r5ii is here. For wildlife I think you want the megapixels. Still you wouldn't go wrong with an R6ii. Faster frame rate mainly. They say the R6iii might be coming in 2025 but who knows.

I have the R5 and I can say that it is not what is preventing me from winning that Pulizter prize. But neither is your 5diii.

You will need the adapter for the ef lens and also budget for a 2nd battery and a cf express type B card for slot 1. I assume your SD cards will work in slot 2.

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/refurbished-eos-r5-body?srsltid=AfmBOoqzIkM5tE3VfKXw14XpIZC3z7fN53yZ2QqBpV3959w8YXxqYHyj

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review

Is the Canon EOS R6 Mark II right for you? Learn all you need to know in The-Digital-Picture.com's review!

www.the-digital-picture.com

Canon EOS R5 Compared to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II

Compare the detailed specifications of the Canon EOS R5 to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II

www.the-digital-picture.com

yeah not trying to win any competition as I've never entered to any anyway, my current camera isn't bad but just wish I can push the ISO a bit more when I need to but 4000 the max value I'm happy with on 5D MKIII.

I agree with additional bits and bobs (extra battery, adapter and cf express) as I only have EF lenses. I'll check the UK website and see if they have refurb otherwise used ones.

 

[Calson]

The greatest single advantage is more accurate autofocus with the removal of the mirror. No need to adust for the difference in distance with and without a mirror to the sensor. Add in subject detection and ones efforts are going to be rewarded with more keepers.

With Nikon the introduction of new lenses has been 100% for mirrorless. The only way to get a better lens for a DSLR has been to buy something from Tamron or Sigma. No impractical to add a mirrorless camera and buy one or two telephoto lenses for wildlife photography and retain your current lenses and cameras for macro and astro and landscape photography.

 

[Russ4750]

Yeah I did check the MK2 but it's way out of the budget, I don't earn from my photography otherwise I'd go for the MK2. Is 20FPS not enough for BiF shoots? I thought that's plenty but I've never really taken any BiF of smaller birds so I wouldn't really know.

Yes, I consider 20 FPS to be fine for BIF. The 30 FPS of the R5m2 just adds some cushion to compensate for my errors in tracking the bird, etc. The R5 is a very capable camera and it has no problem getting the shot if I do my part.

 

[Woodyg3]

I am not a Canon user, but so far nobody has addressed your desire for less noise. I do know that in many cases the new mirrorless bodies are no better or only slightly better for noise than the best DSLRs. Hoping a Canon person will chime in about that.

 

[bleirer]

I am not a Canon user, but so far nobody has addressed your desire for less noise. I do know that in many cases the new mirrorless bodies are no better or only slightly better for noise than the best DSLRs. Hoping a Canon person will chime in about that.

The photos to photos analysis puts the low light iso rating of the R5 and R6ii about 3/4 of a stop better than the 5Diii, so you are right, not much differences. But at base iso there is a big difference, more than 2.5 stops of dynamic range mostly attributed to better noise performance.