When is the right time to upgrade your camera?

I have been a loyal canon user for some time. It is not my first camera purchase but it has been brand I have stuck with through out the years. You cannot go wrong with any of the top major camera brands such as Sony, Nikon or Fujifilm. I would say in general most people seem to stick with the brand they first began with. Usually you are invested in the brand, you have their lenses and accessories which all work with their set up and it can be difficult to come away from a brand once you have become a loyal committed buying customer. My first camera was a Sony DSLR-A290. I loved it and it produced some beautiful images of the surroundings of my then home in Devizes. A lot has changed since my first camera purchase and I decided to invest in Canon which I do not regret. The technological world is evolving rapidly and it’s hard to keep up.

Wiltshire, United Kingdom

Sony A290

So, to the point. What is this Blog post about? It’s about a transition which is happening as we speak. One which I am sure many of you have gone through or are currently contemplating, and that’s the old age question. To upgrade or not to upgrade?

Beyond Repair

It was time to upgrade my camera, fate decided this for me and my old work horse Canon 5D Mark ii was broken beyond repair. It turns out major companies such as Wex Photographic no longer service or repair the 5D range as Canon have stopped making the parts. Funny that, it’s almost like they want you to upgrade and spend more money on their gear! This is one thing I have been resistant to. Almost the rebellion in me that says, ‘No! I will not be a consumer. It’s the photographer, not the gear.’ Oh what a hypercrit I am now. I still believe this to be very true though and I do think the camera market has gone a bit mad in recent years.

I have been taking all my landscape photographs using the Canon Mark ii and have been getting on just fine. It produced great images and the quality was pretty good. Why upgrade? I didn’t understand it and I shut myself off into a cave with my Mark ii. I didn’t pay any attention to the new mirrorless range coming in or read any reviews, I wasn’t interested. However, I now have an issue. I need to replace my camera and I have had to pack in 2-3 years worth of research to help me make a decision as to what to upgrade to.

The biggest question was, ‘Do I go mirrorless?’

I looked at the Canon 5D Mark VI and the Canon Mirrorless R range. What a mind blowing field! A vast amount of new cameras have been released in a short space of time offering different features. It was rather confusing having been a hermit for so long. So let’s jump into what Canon camera is best for the modern day landscape photographer and why?

So where to start, DSLR or Mirrorless?

The Canon 5D Mark VI is the latest and last in its range. It boasts from 30.1 megapixels (a big jump from my mark ii) and has a lot of great features to offer. The one problem is that this camera is heavy and part of a line which is now going out of development and at risk of also no longer being serviceable. So I decided to jump ship from this range and look elsewhere for a new camera body.

I started to look at the Canon R range. I found their range offered more features and they are lighter to carry. A big factor for me who is rather small in size, I need kit which is easy to carry up mountains or take in my camping backpack. In addition the film ability and quality is top of the market. As a Landscape Photographer and YouTuber I realised more and more that the Mirrorless R range was for me and would improve my video content on Youtube and help me ‘see’ photos when taking Landscape shots. An electronic view finder (mirrorless camera) allows you to see if your photo is under or over exposed in real time. With a DSLR you find out after taking your image via the histogram or when you check the image in post production and by then it could be too late! Mirrorless cameras are offering more FPS, eye tracking and silent shooting which is great for those of you that dabble in wildlife photography. Some of the top Canon mirrorless cameras have a feature built into the camera called IBIS (In-body Image Stabilisation), this is perfect for those filming or again those shooting handheld or wildlife.

Will it make me a better photographer?

It certainly won’t make me a better photographer but it will help with producing better quality images more easily and save time. I noticed the huge difference in camera performance and ability when I went to Canada. I was shooting side by side with photographers who had the latest mirrorless system. Their shots were easier, the image preview and dynamic range was a huge level up. You could actually see your images, where as I had to crank up the ISO just to be able to preview an image on the back of the screen and then reduce it down again when I was ready to take the shot. Oh and not to mention the bracketing, the amount of bracketing I had to do was vast. It meant more time, more images and more editing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop figuring out what image was what and stitching them all together. But, playing devils advocate I was still able to capture some pretty amazing photographs using my Canon 5D mark ii, here are a few;

The Rockies, Canada

Canon 5D Mark ii

The Canon R Range, what’s on offer and which one is best for you?

Right, to the meaty stuff and why you're probably here. Which mirrorless camera should you go for and where do you go to get the best value for money. To start off, figure out your budget and how much you are willing to spend. Do you want to start out as a beginner or do you see yourself as slightly more experienced.

Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera

This is the most expensive of the range and is the pro of the range. It’s great for those looking to do action and sports photography as a career and is fully weather proofed. It has great tracking features and great frame rate capture for those capturing motion. It has a 24 mega pixel sensor and pretty much does everything. It is heavier but can take more photos with the battery life compared to any of the other cameras, again great for event photographers who are constantly shooting through the day and don’t want to be interrupted by a battery change. Its is very quiet to shoot with 24 MP and can shoot at 30 FPS, without rolling shutter being an issue. Its is very big and difficult to travel with more suitable for day events and weddings.

Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera

The R5 has the most mega pixels (45MP) which if your a Landscape or Portrait photographer then this is a great benefit. The quality is noticeable when you zoom into the image and compare the image quality against the other R cameras. You will be able to capture and print images large for many years to come. It’s the second most expensive but is a good option for those who also enjoy filming It has 4k and 8k ability as well as great subject tracking. It very much mirrors the R3 only it is lighter and battery life is half that of the R3. This seems to be the best professional level camera without breaking the bank. Features range from 8K at 30 FPS, auto focus tracking and great dynamic range. You will need to purchase a bigger SD card when shooting video.

Canon EOS R6 II Mirrorless Camera

So you're not looking top of the range but want to get a decent full frame camera. The R6 Mark ii offers a lot of great features, you don’t have the 8k video but if your just shooting still this camera is great if you are on a budget and want to save a bit of money and don’t need the additional features the other cameras offer. It has 24 MP and the highest electronic FPS rate which makes it great for fast moving objects. This is good for advanced ammeture photographers and has weather protection for those of you who like to shoot in varied conditions. Although I wouldn’t recommend standing in the rain too long with any camera.

Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

The R7 offers a mid-point for those looking for more mega pixels. The only downside I see with this compared to the others is that it has considerable less focus points compared to other cameras and is a crop sensor. This means you will have less play in your exposure as the dynamic range won’t be as good. It is very light compared to the others and is one of the cheaper models to buy if you're on a budget. It can shoot at 15 frames per second and it also has 32 mega pixels. It has a built in stabiliser and for video you have 4K 60 fps, this also has a dual card slot feature. The R Lens range for this camera is limited.

Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Camera

The R8 is interestingly pretty similar to the R6 Mark II (essentially they have the same specs). Main differences being the focus points, the battery life and continuous shooting mode. It has 24 MP and it is one of the lighter options too, weighing less than all the others so great if you want something you can take travelling or backpacking. With the lighter body you get less durability. This camera is not weather sealed and has a shortest battery life so be prepared to take spares. This is a very affordable camera at around 1500 GBP and you get a lot of the good features some of the other models have. This is perfect for beginner photographers and those looking to save money. Sadly no weather sealing on this camera so be careful when shooting in wet conditions.

Canon EOS R & RP Mirrorless Camera

These two cameras are very similar to each other, the R is cleaner in image quality compared to the RP as it has 30 MP. It also has slightly more features such as screen on the top and 8FPS shooting ability. There is a small price difference between the two cameras and I would say the image quality in the R trumps the RP which has 26MP and doesn’t have a top screen. The RP is an entry level camera and is great quality for the price. Prefect for those looking for good camera on a budget or those looking for a casual camera for family trips or travel photography. Be aware, there are not weather sealed.

So which did I go for…?

I decided to go for the Canon R5, off all the mirrorless cameras I looked at this one came top each time. But why? This is subjective. The main reasons for me were as follows;

45 MP

This is almost double what I have been shooting on my Canon 5D Mark II. It’s a big step up in image quality because I released that I am shooting for my future. I am capturing images which I hope one day to have printed in a shop or a cafe. We all have retirement plans to be full time Landscape Photographers right? I see myself owning a little shop somewhere and selling my lifes work (and cake)!I want to print and I want to print big with no compromise on quality. A lot of people say the mega pixels don’t make a huge difference, but I feel if you are intending to print large then they do.

IBIS & Dynamic Range

The inbuilt stabilisation coupled with the dynamic range offered, it’s a no brainer to use this camera for on the shots, wildlife and videoing. If you are faced with a fleeting moment in light and you know getting your tripod out will only be a delay then then camera will help you in nailing the shot before you miss it. I feel this is also an opportunity which will open up more compositions at new angles. For example, I will be able to shoot handheld more easily and I can angle my camera in places my tripod cannot. This may open up more composition opportunities or help develop my eye for photography as it will encourage me to frame up compositions more due to the ease. It also has 15 stops of dynamic range where it measures 14.6 EV at around 50/100 ISO.

Weight

The R5 weighs 738g (compared to my Canon 5D mark ii which weighed 904g). Which is a huge cut down. I am 34 weeks pregnant and I plan to take my little bean along with me during my photography adventures when he arrives. Carrying him and a camera means I will have less space for gear. On occasions I may have to sacrifice camera accessories for bottles and nappies! (said no one in a photography blog ever). The R5 is also much lighter than the Canon DSLR’s so this will also help make a difference in backpack weight. I am usually wild camping, hiking up tall mountains or travelling long distances with my kit and saving weight makes all the difference.

Check out my video below which shows me putting the Canon R5 to the test in a beautiful Welsh Woodland.

Upgrading Your Kit - Canon R5 Mirrorless Camera