Wow, this was a different and very welcome perspective. No hyping or trashing the latest cameras. Simply a well thought out and articulated message. Photography RUclips channels need more content like this. Great job (and some great photos). Please keep content like this coming.
I'm a DSLR hold-out. I've never felt inhibited by not shooting with the latest and greatest mirrorless setup, mostly because I see so many shots that use image quality as a crutch. I don't care how crisp and sharp an image is if the content/composition are boring or meaningless.
You raise a valid point about the importance of content and composition over sheer image quality. I feel that there is a general consensus that what is considered 'good' = 'technically proficient' and that it doesn't really examine itself very much. There has to be more to it than that.
The viewfinder and ergonomics of a DSLR are hard to beat. We only have Mirrorless because manufacturers grabbed opportunity to reduce prices.. It's not about size, because Olympus managed to produce a small camera that was, so-called full frame back in 1976. Most photographers nowadays are "framers"
We reached a point where it wasn’t photographers asking manufacturers to give us features but manufacturers offering features photographers hadn’t imagined. Cameras have been good enough for ages and between the evolutions peppered with the odd revolutions it seems that photography has fallen behind the equipment. There are so many people now who incidentally get a good enough camera that does it’s own post production and gives pleasing results every few years as part of their mobile phone. People wander around with thousands of pictures in their pockets and can make all sorts of audio and video besides. The cameras we buy and use are now a niche product in comparison. The mobile phone photographers have been using AI for ages. However none would be able to create Dovima and The Elephants or anything as Iconic. Photography was a commodity that revealed the world to people who hadn’t the means to see much of the world. The power of photography is now how ubiquitous images are and that there is more than we can consume in a multiple lifetimes. It used to be in the pleasure of looking and imagining what had been captured for ever afterwards. We buy cameras because they wear out and become unreliable.
Finally a competent, intelligent and well thought discussion on the subject of new camera development. Just to add my 2 cents, I think lens development will need to look at making things cheaper but keeping the same level of quality. Opening up higher end lenses to mid level enthusiast photographers will be where the money is for camera companies and I think a company like Sigma is on the right path. As far as camera development if there is to be anything it likely will be in the apsc world again appealing to enthusiast photographers. For Canon I see a stacked sensor R7 update which allows for a battery grip, removes one sd card for a cf express and development of a faster buffer. Essentially a r5 ii mini. Really glad you are back !
Right on the money, Will. Enjoyed your mastery of language as much as the stimulating content. Im over the pixel war and sinking money into new cameras for diminishing returns. Im a Canon user and am totally wrapped with my R3 and R5. Thank you. 🙏🏻
This is one of the most important videos i have seen for a very long time Will. Totally agree with you here. Yes the leap from dslr to mirrorless was amazing, but as you said, if you don't have the right love and feel for the nature and wildlife around you, the camera can't make the photo by itself. I think that it's the lenses that will start make more of a difference in the future. Lenses with new technology that will make them smaller, lighter and brighter. I started in 1979 with a Pentax me super, manual focus, so i have been trough all the stages since that. The leap to mirrorless was mindblowing, but the love and feel for the subject have never changed. That, for me is the most important aspect in wildlife photographing. Wishing you and yours a great week. Cheers, Bjoern.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment Bjorn! I didn't know you started out with Pentax. I'm happy they are still going but would have wished them to be doing much better. You're absolutely right; the love and feel for the subject are paramount. And I agree, as SourPlanet says in another comment, we can now go broke on lenses :) Changing the mount was pretty clever.
Hi Will, Going by the look of your photos, here and on your website, you’re already capturing beautiful images with the equipment you’ve used to date. The latest equipment on offer today is extraordinary and amazingly capable. But we should all remember the best tool we have for our creative endeavours is our mind’s eye. You have a great knack for articulating your thoughts. Thanks for posting another interesting video. Take care and all the best, Duncan
Good video thanks Will. I am a retired Hobby photographer with a foot in each camp, I have Canon R8, R7 and 90d. I love using all three, I use first curtain in mirrorless because I like the tactile pleasure in the ‘clunk clunk’ of the shutter. I also love the feel and the form factor of the 90d , the autofocus on 90d is plenty good enough for me get some great shots of birds in flight but of course the eye detect of the mirrorless is so good it almost feels like ‘cheating’! so I don’t think I need any more advanced technology than what I have now, I don’t think it would make photography any more fun!
Will, beautiful sentiments! With all the hype and reviews on the R5ii, it sure makes me want one. But, I agree that the R5 camera isn’t holding me back. My challenge is always trying to capture and share the beauty and awe I experience in Nature! While other You tubers are all about gear reviews, your channel INSPIRES me to be a better photographer. Mastering the equipment isn’t the challenge. Learning the art of photography is! Thank you!
Will, this is so thoughtful and on-point. i’m a pro architecture and maritime photographer, and find your thoughts to be equally applicable in my fields. i’m still shooting Canon 5D IVs, and while i’m endlessly tempted to upgrade, literally no client will ever notice a qualitative difference in my work. in fact, i think i could use these same cameras for another 20 years. what more do i need? all that said… I’ll upgrade. but it’ll be because i want to, never because i need to.
That is well said will! And I totally agree! Technology isn't going as fast and improvement aren't that big. The best camera is the one you have with you. I think the gear heads underneath us sometimes forget that we used to take amazing images with only 10mp cameras. Was everything we did 10 years ago crap? I don't think so myself. We just got spoiled with numbers that we might not even need. It's the marketing telling us we need it, but do we really? Hope you are doing well. I'm not a canon user but I love the way you talk about photogroahy from a passion and that's what it should be. That's what makes your images better bot the equipment it's the passion! Grt guido
For me it was a no-brainer. I shoot almost exclusively real estate photos, no video, using an 8 year old 5D Mark IV that's now probably done around a million shutter actuations. 45MP - I deliver less than 4. 12/30fps, increased number of focus points, face detection, animal/vehicle tracking, 8K video, articulated screen - don't need them. IBIS, lens IS - it sits on a tripod. Slightly improved DR and picture quality - no-one notices or cares. I recently bought a second-hand 5D Mark IV with 20,600 shutter actuations for about half the original price and I'm happy.
This. Some people don’t need mirrorless gear. Sports, Wildlife, sure the new stuff makes sense for a pro who can justify the cost. But a real estate photographer doesn’t. Landscape photographers don’t. Portraiture, well, eye detect AF is nice, but aside from the bokeh fanatics buying those giant expensive heavy 1.2 or 1.4 lenses who like to focus on people’s irises, does anyone else *need* that? No. The rest of us are shooting at f/5.6 or f/8 so we can actually get someone’s entire face in focus, and just putting a focus box on someone’s entire face is good enough. And the rest of us, those who aren’t wealthy, the people who aren’t professionals (or who aren’t anymore), the amateurs, the artists… we will continue to use DSLRs for the time being, and snap up all the old gear from the uograders, for pennies on the dollar.
Great insights! I live in Peru and am so glad that equipment isn't always readily available, and if it is, no-one can afford it. It forces me to make do with what I have and at the time be creative. And when, after 3 years of wanting a D850, I finally get one, I appreciate it so much more. Guess I'm from a different generation.
It sounds a lot like South Africa. I was very jealous of Nikon shooters able to use the D810 and D850 which is why I jumped on the R5 as soon as I could. The canon 5Dsr had too low a frame rate. But I was very surprised to see that the D850 is still the no3 best sensor on DXOmark. Beating these newer cameras. You have a legendary camera there enjoy it!!
Another excellent video Will and so very true. As an enthusiast I spent years upgrading from my first digital camera the Canon 300D way back in the early 2000's to today, chasing the latest and greatest features and functions. On reflection however, my own improvements were only incremental. With retirement looming I knew that those days of ongoing spending were coming to an end and so invested in an R5 a few years back. Now that I have retired but have more time to spend in the bush I have not surprisingly come to the same conclusion as you as some of my best photos came from the heady days of an 30D with 8 MP and the 100-400L dust pump . What amazed me was the amount of features / capabilities and custom functions that I hardly even knew about before which already exist in the camera, that have assisted me in getting to the level of images and video's that I desire, but that is only a portion of the improvement programme. The real improvement IMHO, is when one is able to invest time to learn from the worlds best, being 'out there' so one can better understand the nuances of nature and really challenging your personal skills, vision and capabilities!
Totally agree, it’s fantastic to be able to really commit time to photography. Problem for me, and many others, is when I was young and had good eyesight none of this was available and it wasn’t even a dream, just an impossibility (or so I thought). Digital changed the world and I am so happy to be able to photograph half the stuff I do now. Was out with cheetahs this morning. I always try to put the camera aside for a while and just enjoy the reality.
Excellent point, excellent video! Another wildlife photographer on RUclips said recently: the future of wildlife photography belongs to artists, not photographers.
@@WillGoodlet For those wildlife shooters out there, one thing the new hybrids like the R5M2 may bring is to improve/increase your "keeper ratio". And if you make a living with your photography, that is indeed an advantage raising you productivity.
I thought it was only me who was reluctant to give up my 7D. Once you learn to work within your & your camera's limits you get amazing shots. Is a super expensive camera going to produce great shots? Just like great ovens don't make great bakers, I think using the equipment we have well might get us better results. Thanks for a brilliant video, real food for thought.
This is one of the most refreshing videos I've seen in quite some time! You and I are exactly on the same page (not immediately getting an R5M2 to replace my R5) telling me there are many others who most likely feel the same way. What you call "fine tuning" in terms of camera improvements I call incremental updates and being mostly a "stills" shooter, I don't get very impressed in the latest hybrid technology. I think the next big thing in camera technology will be in what you mentioned - internal software. For example, imagine if your camera can create an HDR raw image internally rather shooting multiple images and blending them in post. The same with focus stacking.
Thanks for watching Jim, much appreciated. I'm sure we'll get some more improvements in the near future. But at the moment I am very happy with my R5. What I could really use is some improvement to my shooting situations (stuck in vehicle because of dangerous wildlife, getting lower, no front windscreen, lighter faster reacting lenses that are bright and long...internal zooms..maybe Canon has something in the works re 400-600 f4.5)
Morning Will,such a well reasoned response to the pixel wars/technology and real photographic skill and what it all means by placing the result in the hands of the photographer and not the machine. Cheers
I do practically similar photos since decades. No matter if they were done analog or digital. I am now with Fuji since nearly 2 decades. Started with the S5Pro, now with a XT20. And well what can I say, it is enough. My skills are not growing anymore. I like the photos I can do. No need for a new camera.
Outstanding video essay! One that all serious photographers should watch and contemplate. I can only imagine how many hours you spent thinking about what you wanted to say and putting the video together. Much appreciated.
Thank you so much for your kind wordsAngus! I'm glad that the video resonated with you. It's a topic I'm passionate about, and I appreciate you taking the time to watch and reflect on it.
Saludos amigo Will, un análisis sencillamente genial de la realidad de la fotografia actual que como bien dices va pasando por un tiempo de estancamiento tecnológico. Comencé en la fotografia profesional en el año 1988, con una Zenit 12 de fabricación rusa, luego una Nikon FM2, ambas de enfoque manual y asi sucesivamente hasta hoy. He visto varios saltos ya en la tecnologia fotografica a lo largo de los años y creo como bien dices que posiblemente la IA sea el próximo gran salto tecnológico que defina el desarrollo de las cámaras fotográficas. Como tú soy usuario de Canon y ahí seguiré por la gran calidad y dureza de sus cámaras. Buen Video. Un abrazo desde Baracoa, ciudad mas oriental de Cuba.
That is a beautiful discurse of where the emphasis of photography should be put on.. Creativity... and not only for wildlife but any other type of photography. We are the artists. We are the creators and is our ability to express or capture in a photo what we see with our own eyes. Beautiful reflection. Thank you.
Well spoken! I am currently using an R7. And although I really like it, it has some recurrent issues with autofocus/bad low light performance, so I am looking to upgrade. And I know that an R5 would suffice for me at this point in time, I am still very much tempted to spend the extra money and go for the R5II. That said, there is no making up for light and proximity to the subject, whatever you use.
You are absolutely correct about light and proximity. Don’t forget your lens choice when considering your next step. If you are upgrading and you have the funds it seems sensible to go for the best upgrade. You will probably keep it for a long time. which is the main point
I aggree so much with your view. This constant improvements in models every year is tedious and unfavourable. We need a period that we all can catch up with lenses ext.
Thank Will. I relate to your views and struggles in the real world of photography. My wish is for you to go from strength to strength and reap all the benefits you richly deserve.
Great video again Will, and a valuable point of view from yourself helps with the inner discussions I have with my urge to buy new kit. I've successfully fought the FOMO demon and now all my purchasing decisions are based on balanced arguments, and I too decided the mkII R5 was not required, at least not yet. I'm a big fan of second hand equipment, so I can see an R5 mkII might make it into my collection eventually. Talking of second hand cameras, the vintage photography scene is huge in the UK at the moment, all the old 35mm SLR's and rangefinders are being snapped up by enthusiasts and beginners alike. My old M42 lenses are worth a fortune if I was to sell them, but I won't :-). This would match up with the chart you showed of the number of new camera sales dropping off a cliff, and this seems to be reflected by the prices drops of the Leica SL-2 & S recently, there are some bargains out there making the new units cheaper than the second hand market. I would like to think people are looking to learn the 'craft' by returning to old 'analog' equipment rather than relying on the inbuilt AI to take photos. Historically Associated Press have never allowed manipulated images to be uploaded, so no Photoshopped images in their library. I wonder if they will draw the line with in camera AI processing?
You bring up a great point about the rise of vintage photography and the drop in new camera sales. It's interesting to see how the market is shifting and how photographers are finding value in older equipment. Your observation about the potential impact of in-camera AI processing on photojournalism is also thought-provoking. It will be interesting to see how organizations like the Associated Press navigate these evolving technologies. I was also interested to note in my research that there is a limited resurgence in film.
Great video Will, I agree with your viewpoint 100%. Now retired I don't have the spare funds to fork-out the sums of money for pro bodies, but I have used EOS1's, D3's in their day, and now with Sony, my continuing gripe is the inability of cameras to auto-adjust for bright areas. You touched on this with the Pied Kingfisher clip. It should be pretty simple, but manufacturers seem more intent on pixel counts and frame rates. Highlight biased exposure mode is an improvement but should be far more reliable. Yes it's too easy to get up in tech but I believe its all about time in the field, just parked on a quiet road in knp waiting and listening. 👍👍
Thanks for such a well articulated and compelling video Will. My R5 is the most expensive camera body I've ever invested in. It's also my all time favorite camera. It was that nirvana jack of all trades camera I had always wanted. It has and does serve me well and I just can't rationalize trading it in for the R5 II. I do agree with you, the tech industry is at a point in time where gains are marginal and it begs the question "will this new camera/computer greatly improve my user experience or do I just want it because it's new and shiny?". Wake me when the R5 V launches! Cheers my friend! Safe travels out there!
thanks for watching and the thoughtful comment. You are in exactly the same boat as so many of us. We have some really good options now, both new and used. I really wanted the R5ii but I just can't see how it was going to materially affect what I shoot right now. I have to think of this as a business, and it's just not going to earn the money back at this point in time.
Good to see/hear you again Will. My first camera, a 120 roll film fold out bellows unit, at the age of 9 was my first foray into B&W photography. 60 years later, I love my Z8. I feel prehistoric looking back over the changes in photography during that period. As an aerial survey photographer in East Africa in 1980's I would never have imagined that Kodak would go under. Unfathomable. AI does worry me though. I often wonder if photography is in general doomed by this technology. The one thing lightly touched upon in your dissertation is the fact that there are a number of factors that contribute to the amazing images that exist today. One is patience while another is understanding your subjects. Let's not forget that luck also plays a significant role in capturing those magical moments, but you have to be there for it to happen. Yes, the cameras are phenomenal, but these are just the tools of trade. The blood, sweat and tears that goes into the making of a photograph is what truly makes a difference. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this important topic Will. Keep up the great work, and I for one am already looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for watching Bruce. That’s a proper camera for a nine year old!! Mine was just a little kodak with flash bulbs. Could never get any film out of the parents :) always complained I only took pictures of animals backsides. Yes it’s always good to be lucky:)
Man does this ever speak to me. And you were there when it began. Remember my purchase of the Canon R7? And that was just a way-point on my way to deciding I needed a $10,000 Olympus combo (the OM-1 camera with the new M.Zuiko 150-400mm TC1.5X lens). Fortunately a little voice in my head (the one that always tells me the truth) asked, 'are you really getting ready to spend $10 grand on a camera and lens?). Really?! Remember that film "A Bridge Too Far" about the Allies' Operation Market Garden? the phrase has entered the public lexicon. "Ah well, it was a bridge too far". From there I fell back on my current set of cameras and lenses, and realized I really did not have to go all the way to the Moon in this hobby. I was actually at the limit of my technology comfort zone anyway. I had gotten seduced by the raving reviews of the OM-1 with that incredible 150-400 mm telephoto with the built in TC 1.5X lens. Back then there was a waiting list for it. Good thing there was. Anyway just wanted to chime in on this question.
I remember well both the R7 question and the movie :) Yes, I understand the dilemma and it’s easy for us all to be seduced because we don’t have the experience of having tried all of the options. There’s always the fear we may be missing out and the reviews merry-go-round on YT adds to this. The benefits of having a new camera and reviewing it can really explode views and make a channel grow and you see this all the time. But many of these are loaners and it’s very difficult and different if you have to lay out thousands of your own hard earned dollars. I would still love to try that Olympus system, I have another friend who sold all his Canon gear and loves it. The important thing is to enjoy what we have both in our camera bag and in life and be careful of the rash side of our character - but you have to let it run a little sometimes:)!
@@WillGoodlet My pull back occurred concomitantly with the not-so surprising realization that I was 75 years old. The physical, and yes psychological "flow", was heading towards a desire (and need) for simplification. Getting into a whole new 4/3rds system, as well as the financial hit on my savings, really made my choice a no-brainer. I only mentioned it to show how deviously our thinking can get on that merry-go-round. But yes, I'd still like to try that OM system!
Fun discussion. I've been having a great time with the R5 Mark II. I'm definitely capturing shots that I would've missed without pre-capture. I'm also finding it much easier to track birds in flight. And rolling shutter is basically gone. I can definitely understand that these changes won't matter for many folks, though.
I thought long and hard, most of my sightings are surprise encounters behind the wheel of my landy, I’m sitting waiting on a bird maybe 10% of the time. Just couldn’t see myself using it that much. Nice to have though as you say.
Hi Will. The cameras I have fulfil my needs, a D700 and a GX85. After that it is about using them to enjoy taking the kind of pictures I like which is why I describe myself as a happy photographer when asked what kind of photographer I am. Also, when camera manufacturers put the kind of security systems on their expensive cameras that you can get on a cheap mobile phone; finger print recognition, number pad for pin codes, then, customers will take them more seriously as it means their every day concerns are being listened to about protecting their equipment. Enjoy the rest of your day.
I love your philosophy of being a "happy photographer"! It's a beautiful reminder that photography should be about enjoyment and creative expression. And I agree, enhanced security features on cameras would be a welcome addition having had a pile of equipment stolen in our home invasion.
Your photograph at 11:44 in absolutely incredible. Wow. Makes me wish I was still running our photography magazine where we loved to inspire and encourage people in this art form. I admit I enjoyed the technological aspects of the gear more myself, but was always inspired by work like this. Great video.
Thank you for watching it, greatly appreciated. What happened to the magazine, hate to hear of worthwhile things like that shutting down? That pic came out of nothing in terrible midday light, and then he just looked up :)
@WillGoodlet PhotoComment Magazine was an SA publication which started as a little side project initially. We were digital before the iPad and moved to free printed distribution as most other titles were going digital. Some things changed to grow it but then didn't work out as planned and in the end it was time I guess. We bowed out probably just as the market was turning. Been 10 years this year if I recall correctly, since the end of the magazine. I miss the people we got to learn from or help inspire, but it also took its toll a bit. Working with cameras day in and out ended up with me not really doing much photography for myself. Writing on a PC for hours meant not wanting to sit in front of it editing too. Today I don't own a camera anymore beyond my phone. I get an itch to take up wildlife photography (which is where my whole photography journey started as a teen) however cameras cost a bit more now than they did then. Crazy to think what prices were when I launched the Sony A7s during my time with Sony SA in the day and what stuff costs now. Right now there are other priorities as a family and corporate life is also rather busy. So I live some passions vicariously through channels I follow on this platform instead. Keep up the great work.
Really sad that you aren't shooting wildlife anymore. I'm a big fan of second hand gear and there is more great gear around at the moment than at any other time. I priced a 1Dxii and EF 600 L IS at less than the price of a new R5ii. That's a hell of a combo and it doesn't just start there. There's plenty of other used gear. If you want more variety look at B&H used department in New york. Import duty & VAT is roughly 19.5% There's a great variety of gear and i often buy from there - especially harder to get lenses.
For me photography is a hobby (birding) and I upgraded from a Canon 5Dmk2 to a Mk4 the auto focus on the Mk4 was a fantastic improvement. I have started practicing getting closer to the subject rather than relying on a long lens from a hide. The camera can give me great results the trick as you say Will is to "debottleneck" the process by improving our own ability. I was considering upgrading to an R series camera but I think I would be better improving my own skills first. For me photography is such a rewarding hobby - thanks for the insight and reasoning you put forward in your article.
There is no substitute for getting close!!! We buy all this stuff because we can’t or don’t get close. Well done for working on that first, I definitely believe it pays dividends. With shooting from a car most of the time, I was actually thinking of my REAL bottlenecks today. It’s squeaky brakes at the moment, the animals are running a mile when they hear me :)
Another great video. I recently traded in my R6 for an R5mk2 and have been thrilled with the results. Moving to 45 megapixels has made quite a difference when shooting with my 70-200 lens and wanted to crop. I can see why an owner of the R5 might not want to jump to the mark 2 right out of the gate. The R5 sounds like a great camera, indeed. For videographers, which I am not, I imagine the mark 2 would be a worthwhile upgrade.
Yes the jump to 45mp when reach limited is definitely worthwhile, trading in also assists a lot. For video, the mark ii helps if there’s an issue with overheating. Jumping from photos to video for short clips is usually fine (what I do). Like all cameras we work around them. Congratulations on the new body and happy shooting!
A really great and thought provoking video Will.. And I whole heartedly agree with you on so many points you raise. For myself, I really do miss my old Canon A1's & the darkroom. Today I am happy with my good old 80D and much lighter 2000D that I use for macro, To me it is mostly about the glass as far as IQ goes though and wouldn't change my Canon 400mm L series f5.6, my Tamron SP 180 Di macro, nor my Schneider & Rodenstock enlarger lenses, extension tubes, etc. for anything. I would like to try mirrorless, but it is only the 'silent shutter' and vibration free capability that draws me, but am in no rush. Affordability is an issue for myself, as well as so many photographers too. Totally with you on wanting more dynamic range from a camera also. Could say lots more too but, for me at least, most of my enjoyment in this game comes from not having a camera that does everything for you, it's the judgment part of gauging the exposure and I am almost never out of full manual mode. Just like the old days eh?! Great video and thank you for all your inspiration I get from your channel Will. 👏👏☺
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences! It's wonderful to hear that you enjoy using your older equipment and appreciate the hands-on approach to photography. Your perspective on the importance of personal judgment and skill resonates with the core message of the video. And you are right too, that a lot of the enjoyment of photography is NOT having the camera do everything :) Thanks so much for watching
@@WillGoodlet Keep being so inspirational to so many photographers, both to the beginner and to the seasoned old hands. Photography is in the heart, and that shows so well in all your videos. You keep posting them - we will all keep watching them! 😊👏👏
Will, excellent video! I just love my DSLR. Got the 90D with 150-600 Sigma. Using it for creating memories. Just cannot justify the cost (rand) of the new mirrorless.
Hi Will, this is the first video I watch on your channel and I tell you, it will most definitely not be the last! What a fascinating topic! I'd extend it to all photography, not just wildlife. It is super interesting that your conclusion touches on what the great masters of photography have been saying all along, that it is one, the photographer, the key and most important aspect when making a picture. Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Cheers, Ray.
An excellent video. Your point is well made. For me there are no longer any technical barriers in photography to deter newcomers. If someone cannot achieve a technically competent image from any modern camera then quite frankly they must be pretty thick. There only remains the (more difficult) aspect of visualising the image and putting yourself into a position to achieve that image. I believe that this is the reason why camera sales are failing. When all the nerdy gear geeks realised that technology advances meant they could actually take competent photos they were all over it like a rash but they later realised that, despite having top gear, they still couldn't produce images that were actually of any interest or beauty. Chasing gear can only satisfy an itch for so long, especially at the incredible cost of today's equipment. These people then pay other people to set up subjects for them to photograph but eventually even this will fail to satisfy them as it finally dawns on them that the images they get from this are nearly exactly the same as all the other people who pay for the same set ups. I totally agree that the changes from film to digital and then from DSLR to mirrorless were the two biggest changes in photographic tech but now the changes are far less significant.
Thanks for watching, yes you can get incredible shots from some of the hides and set ups but you are right that many are identical. You’d really have to be lucky or spend a lot of time to get something different. I have always tried to put in the hours and photograph in depth wherever is local. Best I can do really, don’t get as spectacular creatures but sometimes you just get something that very few others have.
Great points Robert, but I would like to add one thing. Yes, the technology can really sing in a masters hands, but for many it's a daunting task to harness the complexity of the newer generation of cameras. The number of menu items has increased substantially and knowing what the right settings are takes time and experience. Many aspiring photographers do not have the time or patience to become proficient with their equipment.
@@brucewilliamsstudio4932 you are absolutely right Bruce. As a veteran of the days when a camera had one control for shutter, one for aperture, iso was fixed by the film stock and focusing was completely manual, I struggle to grasp the complexities of modern cameras. However, as you say, when I get everything set up as I want it the results tech wise are incredible. That is also the reason why I prefer to shoot with two identical bodies rather than one high end and a lower level second body. Best wishes.
Absolutely spot on what you said at the end Will and the whole video in general. It's nice to see a photographer on RUclips highlighting it's the skill of the photographer that matters most. Also, well done for resisting the "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" that we all experience quite a few times haha. Definitely happy with my current set up of 15fps and 4K60 with the X-T4 and don't feel I need anymore for years to come. I know tracking autofocus improves very quickly with each generation of cameras, but with wildlife/action/sports photography i use either single point or zone AF all the time along with single point or multi for video. I'm more than happy with the results both as a hobby and for paid work. Looking forward to seeing more adventure videos from you to fuel my encouragement to finally experience the African wilderness.
Sorry Will. I just realised I made a mistake when cutting, copying and pasting my comment at the beginning which the grammar muddled up. I should've looked at it once more before posting. Anyways, I corrected it 👍
I have bad GAS Tim, this video was as much for me as for anyone else :) I really like the look of the Fuji's they are so nice to hold and use. I'd have all of these cameras if I let myself go :) There are some great cameras out there, if only I had the option back in the early days of digital that I could get a beast like the 1Dx mark ii and an EF 600mm f4 for less than the cost of a new R5 mark ii instead of agonising about whether I took the Pentax K100D with shake reduction or the cheaper K10... it's never been so good for us, especially at this point in time, where the lenses have tanked in price, to start with wildlife photography. And there are lot's of people who feel they can't start because we are all talking about 5 and 6k USD cameras as if that's the starting point for their hobby. A few years ago I was chatting with a very well regarded and well known professional wildlife guide and photographer and I asked him why he had just bought the 1DXii when he probably didn't really need it. He said he had to buy it or his clients (who would have newer cameras) wouldn't take him seriously.
@@WillGoodlet yeah it is indeed amazing that a 1DX ii and a 600mm F4 are less than the R5 ii. I've definitely noticed there are still a good amount of DSLR users whenever I go to the Red Kite Feeding Station, but they always say how tempted they are to switch to Mirrorless. I think we all have GAS multiple times which is why a video like yours is refreshing to see. Yeah Fuji cameras are so nice! The colours straight out of the camera mean there is very little work to do in editing and the retro aesthetics of the XT-4 just motivate me to go and shoot multiple times per week. Therefore, it makes me improve much quicker. There is a Fuji 500 5.6 prime that's meant to be coming out soon and if I had the money for it, I'd definitely get it because 750mm full frame equivalent would be incredible in a lightweight package. That being said, I probably wouldn't use it much as the 70-300 with or without the 1.4 teleconverter for video, so it would definitely be a want over a need.
Good call Will !!! As I've said in the past I'm not upgrading; with the extra money for the R5II (plus extra battery, charger) I can spend a lot more time in the field (and I have two R5). So if I upgraded one of them, I would have two different bodies need two heads / memory muscle, carry twice the auxiliary staff, ... I'll wait for the mark 3 or mayey a good crop-body (like a proper R7 MII with good button placement and good high ISO performance) to have my long glass paired with in good light conditions. And I agree 100% with you in that already having an R5 and good glass, time in the field is what I'm missing and will make most of the difference.
I currently use a R7 with RF 100 400. Upgraded from 1200D. Your video has made me think about bringing out the 1200D and EF 70 300 from storage. I am a hobbyist.
Thanks for watching and I’m glad you want to pick up the old camera but to be fair to your R7 it’s probably going to be a good deal better! But maybe think about using the old one in situations that suit it, macro and close up? Landscape? Shooting two cameras can be a lot easier. Also, I like older cams for doing the ‘stupid’ stuff like walking across a river or hanging under the car, the kind of things that you wouldn’t want to do with your best gear :)
Spot on Will and thanks for putting your thoughts together in this video. I have an R7 and worried I hadn't gone down the FF path because a) I was daunted by the expense vs my actual skill level; and b) the lack of lenses. However, I get more joy using it to photograph wildlife compared to my old DSLR and literally want to give it a good run for the money 😎
It's great to hear that you're enjoying your R7 and finding it to be a valuable tool for your wildlife photography. It's a great camera. I think the chatter about rolling shutter is not that important considering it shoots 15 mechanical (honestly that's 1 frame less than the 1DX mark iii a camera we all salivated over!) The focus system is radically better than DSLRs and you will get absolutely cracking results with it. APS-C is APS-C, you get a little more diffraction because it's a smaller format, but you probably get better stabilisation because it's a smaller format. Cameras are all trade offs and it's pointless rationalising what's 'best' because there is none. We shoot different things in different ways at different times and environments.
Thanks for this thought-proking video. I am not a wildlife photographer but I am interested in my options away from the ubiquitous phone. My moment came when visiting Monet's garden at Giverney only to be confronted by queues of visitors sporting phones clutched in portrait mode as they slowly progressed around the garden. I came away wishing I had a travel camera that would do a better job than my phone but even the contenders from Fuji, Ricoh and Sony seem to betray their respective companies lack of financial muscle and maybe even know-how to produce something really competitive. I therefore still have a now old Pentax K5 which has a large viewfinder and still serves me well when I can summon the desire to carry it. Other small cameras I own all fail due to lack of a decent viewfinder or a screen that has poor resolution and/or brightness compared to my iPhone. It would be great to have solved this the next time I'm visiting some tourist trap like Giverney!
I’m surprised you haven’t found something that suits! Do you want something smaller than say, OM-5? Fuji X-S20 or Nikon Zfc? or have you already looked at these and discounted them?
Very good reflections! I have bought the R5 MK ll and I think it’s a great camera. However I fully agree with your view on the current state of camera development.
A hobbiest here who is very happy with my Sigma fp. Perhaps the ALT CINE Blackmagic studio G2 would be fun to put together and use 4/3 lenses etc. Laurie. NZ. 😊
I have been a holdout but my 80D is getting old now. I am staring to consider a newer model just because I dont want the 80D to die and leave me hanging.
Then it probably makes sense to move to a newer model and hold onto that for a bit. I can recommend the R5 I think its good value new or second hand at the moment and will give you a similar resolution to your 80D if you can afford the R5ii then thats also going to be good. Otherwise the R7 is probably a more like for like option
Well said. I’m still trying to get good enough to outgrow my A7iii. Once I’m really hitting the limits of what it can do I’ll consider something newer, but for now I’d rather spend that budget on getting places where I can use it!
My E-M1 Mark II has capabilities which your EOS R5 lacks, I use some, but not all of those, I use to make photographs you cannot. Some of the features new in the R5 II are in my E-M1 II and my Lumix G9. All of the cameras I use regularly have focus bracketting, the M43 cameras can shoot at 60 FP and make 80 Mpix images.
They are great cameras, the first good mirrorless I used was an Olympus OM-D mark ii. 60FPS with capture was amazing for birds, although that particular one didn’t focus at 60fps. Sure they are better now. Anyway I will live with what I’ve got for now. Happy shooting!
I'm not in a big rush to get the R5 mkII myself (it feels like a quantum step - as in the smallest measurable difference). The R5 mkI was a game changer for me, though (giant leap uo from 5Dmk IV or even R). I also have some accessories specific for the mkI (e.g. L bracket, UW housing, ...) and I intend to use the R5 mkI for some time to come.
@@WillGoodlet I don't see an urgent need for those features in my use cases. Better (AI-improved) AF, yes, that'd be good, but not at the price tag. I would want to see improved dynamic range, too. And 80 MP would be good so that I could retire that R7 without (cropped) pixel loss.
AArrrrrggggghhhh!! I've just taken delivery of my Canon R5 M ii! First impressions are very favourable. I missed a lot of shots with my Canon R. I'm hoping for more success with the R5 Mii. Great history lesson. I learnt a lot. For me taking the shot is just the start of making an image. As Ansel Adams said "the photographic negative is like a composer's score, and the print is the performance". This is now more true than ever with Lightroom, Photoshop etc. They can release one's creativity or demonstrate one's lack of imagination.
Congratulations on the new camera! I have no doubt that it has much better AF than the R (was always a problem for things coming straight at you on early mirrorless). Enjoy it!
On my point of view, it´s much easier to buy a new camera or lens, than to make a good picture. I changed from fullframe to mft, because the weight of my rucksack killed my passion to go out and make photos. Now the passion is back and my will, to tell stories with my pictures and enjoy time outside in nature. And the impressions from pros like Will, to chase my capability in Photographie a little further (sorry, English isn’t my mothertongue)😊
Great overview Will. It won’t be long before phone cameras will (with Ai) produce top notch results. Maybe not for action and Wildlife but for travel and Landscape etc. Great to see you back . Ian (UK)
Thanks for watching it! Please don’t let me put you off, it’s sure to be a wonderful camera once the gremlins are ironed out. But if you have anything recent it’s also probably really good :)
@@WillGoodlet I should have declared that I have an R5 and a 100-500. And as you eluded to, I currently need more of ME in the mix, not more tech. And focusing on lenses, it seems that a 100-500 lens (at 500mm) + AI up-scaling will now, or at least very soon, be equivalent to having at least a 700mm (1.4x) lens. It’s all evolving very quickly. Must be stressful sitting at the corporate planning table! Cheers.
Shot Canon for many, many years. Sold it all. Now I shoot with 2 FujiXT3 camera bodies. Not the latest & greatest cameras, but sufficient for my needs at a much lower price point than the current Canon ecosystem. My advice is to invest in high quality lenses that will hold their value better over a given time period.The most important thing is that you enjoy using the equipment that you currently have & getting out to practice your craft, as often as possible. This what brings me joy.
Hi , I have two canon R5s and a canon 5D4 . The R5II just does not have the ground breaking updates especially for the price. I just don't really need the added toys. Out of all may cameras i own, i just love using my 7D2 built like a tank great images and just fun to use.
The 7D2 is a lovely camera to hold and has gps which I would like again (maybe battery is the problem though). But most canons are really lovely to hold and shoot with. Not easy to get that across in specs. You can see they put a lot of thought into them even if we can’t always gel with everything they do.
Spot on there Will. Like you, I have the Canon R5 paired with the RF 100-500. I also have an R7 which I bought as a grey import. I can’t see the point, or justify the expense, in going for the R5ii which would only give me a somewhat marginal increase in capability, given the amount of photography I actually do. Whilst I do a fair bit of photography, I’m a birder first, photographer second. Out of interest, have you ever done any pelagic photography for the superb range of albatrosses and petrels etc you have off the coast of SA? Keep up the good work mate, I love your stuff. I know I’ve mentioned this before but it’s a hell (in the good sense😂) of a country you have down there.
Very well reasoned. For a while now it seems that marketing by the camera companies has led product development - very small or very limited upgrades held as being the reason to change camera - which undoubtedly appeal to enthusiasts of the technical but have little imapct on the image making process. The result perhaps of business forces rather than true technical enhancements driving upgrades. Areas that could benefit image improvement are becoming more and more limited and require more and more investment to achieve - a sort of diminishing returns scenario. You are I think right to focus on AI enhancements as being one area that may have some potential, but perhaps the biggest area will come in developing the lenses capable of matching the camera potential?
Hi, Will, Thank you for your thoughts, they are timely! My cameras (5D4, R5) are fully sufficient. I apologize for the long e-mail I sent. Your approaches to photography make me very enthusiastic. Congratulations on the video. Best from Brazil.
@@julioamaral4391 Hi Julio, please don’t apologise for that, it was very welcome, you will find me an awful email correspondent! It’s me who should apologise! I read it with interest and still intend to respond.
My wife Luana and me just watched again to think more deeply about your thoughts. A great vídeo indeed. Don't worry about answering, we're thinking together. Keep using the big spoon! Best.
R5 II is for sports/bird/wildlife photographers. It helps me capture images I didn’t get before. Although pre-capture is not new technology, it is a game changing features for Canon users.
Yes of course it’s a very good looking camera. I’d love to have one but maybe down the road a bit. Congratulations on the new cam and I hope you are really enjoying it (I bet you are :))
Exactly and well put. Anyone can go out and buy the latest and greatest.... but if there is no experience behind it, the photos will be... average. With time, experience and passion, the new tech allows us to capture the treasure more easily. The passion and magic still come from the person and experience behind the camera. 🤗💖
One aspect that I see isn't touched on by camera and lens manufacturers is how images don't need to reflect the image correctly onto the sensor anymore, and they needn't do it for over 10 years. Yet they still make very large lenses, with extra glass elements, when the flipping of the image could be handled by the sensor and/or firmware. Other than that, I'm sticking to my DSLR for the foreseeable future, until there's enough of a lens offering and batteries get to the point where I don't have to carry around 3 extra ones out of fear of running out of juice. Oh! And maybe they'll improve on the companion software, because they all suck so bad.
Life is short.....moments far and inbetween.....time out in the field is truth and life. I need to spend much more time out in the wilderness. Thanks Will
Thanks for this video, Will. I enjoyed it greatly. Years ago, I used to subscribe to magazines about high fi audio. In one article, the author was saying that in electronics, each new technological advancement is smaller than the previous one but cost much more each time. Another writer said that so much is said about specs that we forget the music itself and enjoying it. In photography, I would venture to say that the same principles may apply. Manufacturers compete to be the best at specs but, are these always that important?!?! Nearly 2 years ago, I made a giant hole in my budget when I bought my Sony A7RV. I'm 70 now, have shaky hands and wear glasses. I bought this camera because its autofocus make photography more a pleasure than with my previous cameras. In my case, yes, this technological advancement was important but other specs aren't as important. All the jargon about video capabilities are boring to me. I shoot stills (portrait and landscape) hence the A7RV. Its 61 megapixels are fantastic when I crop some of my images. Thanks Sony. I will probably keep this camera for years to come. I want to concentrate on using good quality glass and learn the right techniques instead of putting too much importance on a camera body. Manufacturers have owners, investors, stockholders who need results and profits. What is in my pockets is more important than putting more in theirs. Because, let's face it, technological advancements make it to the consumer only a little bit at a time. In many industry, releasing to much at the same time is not good business practice. Your thoughts?
What you say makes perfect sense and you are absolutely right about selecting what we need from the spec sheet. I experienced a similar problem with making these videos (i know video is of no interest but bear with me) all the cameras that people raved about had no viewfinder … I couldn’t see what the hell was on the back of the camera, sony, black magic. Etc…. The best image but useless to me. So yes, grab what you need! I love cameras, so it’s very hard to resist what I want and try to think sensibly about it :)
It seems, that manufacturers made a fatal mistake for their future sales when they created practically ideal cameras (A1, R5, Z8). Nothing more to wish for us photographers. So it seems. But we all remember the words of Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
Will, an interesting thought provoking video, thanks. You made the right decision to cancel your order. The last couple of days I have been testing my new Canon R5 Mark II and it has not been a happy process. The dynamic range is not nearly as good as that of the R5 and I have already limited the ISO to 3200, and at that level I am still getting lots of noise, color noise, and pinkish tints throughout. However, the pre-continuous focus does seem promising and the focusing is quite a bit faster. Before watching this video, I had already decided to keep my R5 and only use the Mark II in good light. It is clear to me that Canon is not interested in wildlife photography and is concentrating on sports photography and other "people" photography. After all, what's big in the USA today? Sports, sports, sports, and more sports. It's the same worldwide, right? Canon knows that the only class of persons with the money to buy expensive camera gear are retirees like myself and when our baby boomer demographic bubble has burst, this market will be gone. IMO, Canon will improve the Mark II through firmware, etc. and so I will keep it. Probably my last major camera/lens purchase. Your technological comments and predictions seem to me to be on point. Good luck and keep up the videos. You have an actor's presence.
Thank you for watching and the encouragement and also the feedback from a real hands on perspective! Before you lose hope on the R5ii, I remember being equally unimpressed with the images on the original - lots of colour noise. Are you using adobe by any chance? It was awful, then after months improved a bit. The Noise comparisons people do always make me shudder a little because they say one camera is good and one is bad and NEVER factor in the RAW converter. It can make an enormous difference. I discovered this by accident making the R5 camera profiles. I’m not even sure canon DPP has been updated for the Mk2 yet but give it a shot on there before you give up on it.
Very good video Will - even if I have bought an R5 Mk II primarily for the better autofocus. If I was using solely for landscapes it wouldn’t be worthwhile. Very difficult to agree with your views on technology though. And I totally agree that the greatest area for improvement is me!
Congratulations on the new camera, I am sure you will love it and I'm not jealous at all ;). It's sure to be a wonderful camera once teething issues get sorted out. And isn't it wonderful that the big camera companies so often DO sort out the bugs unlike the vast majority of other stuff we buy. I'd love one but cannot justify it right now obviously.
I found this so interesting to watch, not a second wasted and so true. I started with a Canon F1 in 1976 (bought in Singapore) some years later switched to Nikon and the Nikon F4 was my last film camera (bought in Tokyo). Now don't laugh but I bought a brand new D850 4 month ago to replace a D810 instead of going mirror less. The money I saved by doing that I invested in top Nikon glass and a NISI filter set. After a 3 week outback trip here in Australia I must say this camera is absolute tops. Now I want to buy a A2 printer. I must say I am a landscape photographer and do no filming.
Thank you for sharing your journey through different camera systems! It's inspiring to see how you've stayed true to your passion for landscape photography. Your investment in high-quality lenses and filters highlights the importance of prioritizing the tools that best suit your specific needs and interests. And you may not know that the D850 is still the fifth best sensor listed on DXO mark...that's behind two medium formats and the Leica M11 and Panasonic SR1 - and that's despite all the new mirrorless additions. It's a legend.
I was pretty content with what the market offered until the reveal and release of the Sony (sorry Canon person) A7R5. No, I didn't buy it. That technology found its way into the ZV-E1 and my most loved camera, the Sony a6700. All other cameras take a back seat, a way back seat. I do a lot of photography with small objects (bugs) and the new system blows everything away. This will keep me busy for years. Don't need anything new. Me, the a6700 and a 90mm macro lens and I'm good.
in years to come the cameras will be that accurate that the joy of trying to get the shot will be gone .i would rather strugle with not so great af and get the shot that way i have satisfaction ...in the end all the tech will destroy us all
You are the second wildlife photographer I have of recent heard expressing those views. I think there is still room for innovation in cameras, but now it is just baby steps. I think the new Precapture feature is a game changer for bird photographers - not so much for those mainly taking big game.
I’m sure there are still great things to come but the tools are getting very good now! I would love to have pre-capture but I really can’t think of too many times I’d use it. Although It would probably change what I shoot - I’d sit next to birds the whole time :) problem with photographing birds from cars on safari is you are rarely close enough and the shots don’t look as good.
Hey Will, it was wonderful meeting you last month, thanks for helping me decide on where to go for another R5 or r5mii, it's going to be another R5 if I can find one! Excellent video
Excellent sentiments well expressed .My move from an R6 to an R5ii will be delayed as I go out to the wide world with my camera more, rather than a trip to the camera shop
Thanks for watching! Far be it from me to ruin your trip to the camera shop. I’m sure when the day cones you will enjoy it. But nothing beats being out taking pictures with whatever is in your bag. Happy shooting!
Great insights there, Will. BTW I started photography with an old Minolta 35mm film camera and it was great, good lenses too! I think the big advances, as you say, will be in the use of AI to improve, exposure and even composition. Having said that, I hate do it all cameras and wish they made purely photographic cameras. As far as current advancements go, I have a Nikon D600 and an Olympus OM1 and apart from burst mode and pre-capture there isn’t much to distinguish between them. Keep up the good work! Off soon to the Aegean and the subsequent editing for weeks on end! Ray
I use an R5, amongst other bodies, if you have ever tried to photograph small birds taking off, say Blue Tits, you would long for pre capture. I cannot justify the expense. Strangely one of the best BIF photos I took was of a hovering Kestrel with a Canon D30[3mp] and a Sigma 50-500 back in 2003. Technology can make our lives easier, not necessarily any better.
I do understand the need. For myself, these are less common situations. Most of my frustrations relate to deploying the camera quickly enough during a short surprise encounter, something that mirrorless is significantly worse at than DSLR. But all cameras are compromises.
As a primary wildlife photographer I can only agree with you. I have the R5, along with both R6 versions and am happy with all of them. I was not tempted to consider the purchase of the R5II, for two reasons. While it has lots of new features, they do not benefit my photographic needs. The principle features seem to work most for those doing sports or even social events such as weddings with the priority tracking for specific individuals, ability to take fast bursts and pre-capture, and ball tracking - all compelling for those needing those features. If I was getting my first R5 series camera I might be tempted, but as an upgrade - no. Great perspective and advice.
For a first entry if you have the money, yes it’s an easy choice. My dilemma was I need a third camera for video in poor light. I could get the mark ii for photography and the others would move down the pecking order with the R6 becoming the video camera. But its far cheaper to buy a used R6 or sony :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You've just got a new follower. I am considering a camera upgrade (from the original EOS R) and I decided to look at award winning wildlife photographs first to see if new camera features would make a difference. I noticed that most of the winning pictures rely heavily in factors such as light, ambiance, mood, story and artistic interpretation. Very few would depend solely on faster fps or sophisticated AF systems. Like you, I'll upgrade at some point, but I'm just taking my time.
Thanks for watching and also for sharing a really sensible approach. It’s always inspiring and informative to see why/how great images get made. I haven’t tried the R but I would guess that the AF on the newer cameras would be quite a step up . If that’s something that would help it’s worth renting to see (if that’s something you can do where you live - I can’t sadly)
@@WillGoodletI've just moved to another country, it seems that I could rent an R5 here, but maybe not the R5 mk ii. I'm not sure if the R5 would be enough of an upgrade for me (at a reasonable cost) or if the new features of the R5 ii really justify the (seemingly excessive) extra cost. I'll probably wait until next year to decide and enjoy what I have until then. Cheers!
Will: Kudos on excellent photo technology review, interesting conjecture on future role of AI, and sound decision on the R5M2 - what I need before any new cameras is an AI app to take over my culling sessions after learning my preferences, saving me loads of time.
Thank you! There is an app! It’s marketed at wedding photography but maybe it works on other types too. If not, something will come along soon :) I forget the name but have a look out for it. It pops up on Facebook for me now and then
Will you nailed it again. I need an intelligent AI camera with an outstanding metering system. AI used in the R5 II autofocus is brilliant. Now let's use AI in metering and improving drastically dynamic range. Metering is no 1 on my list. No 2 is 60 MPs and 3 big step in dynamic range. Like you I will skip the R5 II because I can't justify to put that much money for a camera offering logical improvements instead of ground breaking tech like the R5 did in 2020. Good job Will !
I suspect metering is probably improved on the R5ii, if you read the manual carefully you will see that it's different to the R5 and, at least as I understand it, will meter differently in evaluative based on the subject priority selected. The R5 didn't do that. But I am unsure if the 'subject priority' they talk about is actually the new ball sports or birds and wildlife too. I guess metering is not a sexy selling point for most YT reviewers so it's mostly going to be about the 'terrible noise' for a while (which I am currently putting down to outdated RAW conversion in Adobe). Why does everyone assume Adobe uniformly converts RAW files the same and tests cameras on that basis I don't know! It can do appalling things to files from different systems.
I agree with you 100% Will. We are undoubtedly at a point where our existing cameras are capable of producing results that were unheard of a few years ago and for most of us are certainly already good enough. However, in a saturated and diminishing market, if we do not continue to buy new models, what future is there for the camera industry? There are certainly areas where improvements can still be made but future developments are likely to be mainly firmware related, especially AI related computational functionality. It may be that hardware upgrades will be required from time to time to provide the increased processing power needed to drive such functionality (as is the case with computers) but otherwise it is the development and marketing of the firmware itself that will likely have to generate the income necessary to enable the camera companies to survive. I doubt we’ll like it but at some point we may well have to accept subscription based firmware upgrades. I too remember the days when cameras were capable of lasting for decades and part of me is sad to think that in our consumer society those days are long gone. The other part of me is excited about just what our cameras are capable of and like most of us want to see more of it. But we can’t have it both ways.
Very good points. Especially about subscriptions - the analogy with our computers running software is good.. When I said 'beyond the novel capabilities of the 35mm format' what I meant was different types of camera and computation. Remotes, flying cameras, light field cameras, larger and smaller formats, disposable cameras that wirelessly send the image, even film. Things that don't rely on the way we shoot now. From a distance with a big lens, but closer and from completely different angles. We are all in a rut in that respect and the images all look the same. There's an ethical issue obviously. But we need to break out.
Totally agree that, thinking outside the box, there are a number of possible technologies that could transform the way we approach our image making, and in turn the camera industry. Video, camera trapping and remote, drone photography and robotics are just a few examples of what is already available. It’ll be interesting to see how it all develops.
Great discussion. The last thing we need is A "Intelligence" attempting to perfect our photos. I've gone from a Sony a6400 to a Pentax DSLR and loving it: the ergonomics, the viewfinder. It's 12mp so a few more megapixels might help but no big deal. I've also returned to film which is the biggest improvement in photography for 15 years! Maybe the strategy for camera manufacturers is to produce inexpensive film cameras; film manufacturers to produce inexpensive film and we have a revitalised industry. I'm kind of joking...but not. If we are not careful we will become "camera roadies": we just lug out the gear and the camera does the work.
When the Z9 first came out I switched from using a D500 and a D850. I now have 2x Z9s. At first I felt like I needed to upgrade when the next Nikon camera in that range came out. But once they fixed he Animal AF and added bird AF I feel like this is the camera for me and that their is hardly anything it can't do that I need a camera to do for me (zoo photography wise). I shot 0% video never have and likely never will. I agree that once we find that camera that does what we need it to do for the type of work we do with our cameras its unlikely we need to upgrade every 1 to 2 years only when the camera dies..... Great video
I was able to play with a z8 and 180- 600 recently. Very impressive. I love all cameras, especially the big old bruisers…love them all. All we need to do is figure out the best way to shoot them. That D850 was also awesome, the sensor is still right up there with the very very best.
Fantastic well explained you just have a way of reaching people with wonderful videos and easily explained opinions and thoughts , you really need try get out there and make more Videos Thank you Will !!
Cheers Wil, you know well that I leave the video cam at hone when I really want some fun :) I’m in a tent listening to crickets at the moment just the R5 and 400f2.8 for company. Have you been to the lynx yet?
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow, this was a different and very welcome perspective. No hyping or trashing the latest cameras. Simply a well thought out and articulated message. Photography RUclips channels need more content like this. Great job (and some great photos). Please keep content like this coming.
Thank you so much for taking time to watch and for the very welcome encouragement Andrew!
I'm a DSLR hold-out. I've never felt inhibited by not shooting with the latest and greatest mirrorless setup, mostly because I see so many shots that use image quality as a crutch. I don't care how crisp and sharp an image is if the content/composition are boring or meaningless.
You raise a valid point about the importance of content and composition over sheer image quality. I feel that there is a general consensus that what is considered 'good' = 'technically proficient' and that it doesn't really examine itself very much. There has to be more to it than that.
The viewfinder and ergonomics of a DSLR are hard to beat. We only have Mirrorless because manufacturers grabbed opportunity to reduce prices.. It's not about size, because Olympus managed to produce a small camera that was, so-called full frame back in 1976. Most photographers nowadays are "framers"
We reached a point where it wasn’t photographers asking manufacturers to give us features but manufacturers offering features photographers hadn’t imagined. Cameras have been good enough for ages and between the evolutions peppered with the odd revolutions it seems that photography has fallen behind the equipment. There are so many people now who incidentally get a good enough camera that does it’s own post production and gives pleasing results every few years as part of their mobile phone. People wander around with thousands of pictures in their pockets and can make all sorts of audio and video besides. The cameras we buy and use are now a niche product in comparison. The mobile phone photographers have been using AI for ages. However none would be able to create Dovima and The Elephants or anything as Iconic. Photography was a commodity that revealed the world to people who hadn’t the means to see much of the world. The power of photography is now how ubiquitous images are and that there is more than we can consume in a multiple lifetimes. It used to be in the pleasure of looking and imagining what had been captured for ever afterwards.
We buy cameras because they wear out and become unreliable.
Finally a competent, intelligent and well thought discussion on the subject of new camera development. Just to add my 2 cents, I think lens development will need to look at making things cheaper but keeping the same level of quality. Opening up higher end lenses to mid level enthusiast photographers will be where the money is for camera companies and I think a company like Sigma is on the right path. As far as camera development if there is to be anything it likely will be in the apsc world again appealing to enthusiast photographers. For Canon I see a stacked sensor R7 update which allows for a battery grip, removes one sd card for a cf express and development of a faster buffer. Essentially a r5 ii mini. Really glad you are back !
Right on the money, Will. Enjoyed your mastery of language as much as the stimulating content. Im over the pixel war and sinking money into new cameras for diminishing returns. Im a Canon user and am totally wrapped with my R3 and R5. Thank you. 🙏🏻
This is one of the most important videos i have seen for a very long time Will. Totally agree with you here. Yes the leap from dslr to mirrorless was amazing, but as you said, if you don't have the right love and feel for the nature and wildlife around you, the camera can't make the photo by itself. I think that it's the lenses that will start make more of a difference in the future. Lenses with new technology that will make them smaller, lighter and brighter. I started in 1979 with a Pentax me super, manual focus, so i have been trough all the stages since that. The leap to mirrorless was mindblowing, but the love and feel for the subject have never changed. That, for me is the most important aspect in wildlife photographing.
Wishing you and yours a great week.
Cheers, Bjoern.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment Bjorn! I didn't know you started out with Pentax. I'm happy they are still going but would have wished them to be doing much better. You're absolutely right; the love and feel for the subject are paramount. And I agree, as SourPlanet says in another comment, we can now go broke on lenses :) Changing the mount was pretty clever.
Will, this is at the level of superb journalism. You have put in an exceptional amount of work to make your point across. Awesome job.
Thank you!! It’s true I worked hard on this very glad you enjoyed it :)
Hi Will, Going by the look of your photos, here and on your website, you’re already capturing beautiful images with the equipment you’ve used to date. The latest equipment on offer today is extraordinary and amazingly capable. But we should all remember the best tool we have for our creative endeavours is our mind’s eye. You have a great knack for articulating your thoughts. Thanks for posting another interesting video. Take care and all the best, Duncan
Good video thanks Will. I am a retired Hobby photographer with a foot in each camp, I have Canon R8, R7 and 90d. I love using all three, I use first curtain in mirrorless because I like the tactile pleasure in the ‘clunk clunk’ of the shutter. I also love the feel and the form factor of the 90d , the autofocus on 90d is plenty good enough for me get some great shots of birds in flight but of course the eye detect of the mirrorless is so good it almost feels like ‘cheating’! so I don’t think I need any more advanced technology than what I have now, I don’t think it would make photography any more fun!
Will, beautiful sentiments! With all the hype and reviews on the R5ii, it sure makes me want one. But, I agree that the R5 camera isn’t holding me back. My challenge is always trying to capture and share the beauty and awe I experience in Nature! While other You tubers are all about gear reviews, your channel INSPIRES me to be a better photographer. Mastering the equipment isn’t the challenge. Learning the art of photography is! Thank you!
Will, this is so thoughtful and on-point. i’m a pro architecture and maritime photographer, and find your thoughts to be equally applicable in my fields. i’m still shooting Canon 5D IVs, and while i’m endlessly tempted to upgrade, literally no client will ever notice a qualitative difference in my work. in fact, i think i could use these same cameras for another 20 years. what more do i need?
all that said… I’ll upgrade. but it’ll be because i want to, never because i need to.
That is well said will! And I totally agree! Technology isn't going as fast and improvement aren't that big. The best camera is the one you have with you. I think the gear heads underneath us sometimes forget that we used to take amazing images with only 10mp cameras. Was everything we did 10 years ago crap? I don't think so myself. We just got spoiled with numbers that we might not even need. It's the marketing telling us we need it, but do we really? Hope you are doing well. I'm not a canon user but I love the way you talk about photogroahy from a passion and that's what it should be. That's what makes your images better bot the equipment it's the passion! Grt guido
Wow, this was an education! Love the quotes from other photographers - very profound.
Thanks for the history lesson Will. That was awesome!!
Thanks for taking a look, much appreciated!
For me it was a no-brainer. I shoot almost exclusively real estate photos, no video, using an 8 year old 5D Mark IV that's now probably done around a million shutter actuations. 45MP - I deliver less than 4. 12/30fps, increased number of focus points, face detection, animal/vehicle tracking, 8K video, articulated screen - don't need them. IBIS, lens IS - it sits on a tripod. Slightly improved DR and picture quality - no-one notices or cares.
I recently bought a second-hand 5D Mark IV with 20,600 shutter actuations for about half the original price and I'm happy.
This. Some people don’t need mirrorless gear. Sports, Wildlife, sure the new stuff makes sense for a pro who can justify the cost. But a real estate photographer doesn’t. Landscape photographers don’t. Portraiture, well, eye detect AF is nice, but aside from the bokeh fanatics buying those giant expensive heavy 1.2 or 1.4 lenses who like to focus on people’s irises, does anyone else *need* that? No. The rest of us are shooting at f/5.6 or f/8 so we can actually get someone’s entire face in focus, and just putting a focus box on someone’s entire face is good enough.
And the rest of us, those who aren’t wealthy, the people who aren’t professionals (or who aren’t anymore), the amateurs, the artists… we will continue to use DSLRs for the time being, and snap up all the old gear from the uograders, for pennies on the dollar.
Great insights!
I live in Peru and am so glad that equipment isn't always readily available, and if it is, no-one can afford it. It forces me to make do with what I have and at the time be creative. And when, after 3 years of wanting a D850, I finally get one, I appreciate it so much more. Guess I'm from a different generation.
It sounds a lot like South Africa. I was very jealous of Nikon shooters able to use the D810 and D850 which is why I jumped on the R5 as soon as I could. The canon 5Dsr had too low a frame rate.
But I was very surprised to see that the D850 is still the no3 best sensor on DXOmark. Beating these newer cameras. You have a legendary camera there enjoy it!!
Another excellent video Will and so very true.
As an enthusiast I spent years upgrading from my first digital camera the Canon 300D way back in the early 2000's to today, chasing the latest and greatest features and functions. On reflection however, my own improvements were only incremental. With retirement looming I knew that those days of ongoing spending were coming to an end and so invested in an R5 a few years back. Now that I have retired but have more time to spend in the bush I have not surprisingly come to the same conclusion as you as some of my best photos came from the heady days of an 30D with 8 MP and the 100-400L dust pump .
What amazed me was the amount of features / capabilities and custom functions that I hardly even knew about before which already exist in the camera, that have assisted me in getting to the level of images and video's that I desire, but that is only a portion of the improvement programme. The real improvement IMHO, is when one is able to invest time to learn from the worlds best, being 'out there' so one can better understand the nuances of nature and really challenging your personal skills, vision and capabilities!
Totally agree, it’s fantastic to be able to really commit time to photography. Problem for me, and many others, is when I was young and had good eyesight none of this was available and it wasn’t even a dream, just an impossibility (or so I thought). Digital changed the world and I am so happy to be able to photograph half the stuff I do now. Was out with cheetahs this morning. I always try to put the camera aside for a while and just enjoy the reality.
Excellent point, excellent video! Another wildlife photographer on RUclips said recently: the future of wildlife photography belongs to artists, not photographers.
Ah yes. It’s very nice to have the tools though :)
@@WillGoodlet For those wildlife shooters out there, one thing the new hybrids like the R5M2 may bring is to improve/increase your "keeper ratio". And if you make a living with your photography, that is indeed an advantage raising you productivity.
I thought it was only me who was reluctant to give up my 7D. Once you learn to work within your & your camera's limits you get amazing shots. Is a super expensive camera going to produce great shots? Just like great ovens don't make great bakers, I think using the equipment we have well might get us better results. Thanks for a brilliant video, real food for thought.
Don’t worry you are not alone and it still is a great camera, one of the legends :) Thanks for watching!
This is one of the most refreshing videos I've seen in quite some time! You and I are exactly on the same page (not immediately getting an R5M2 to replace my R5) telling me there are many others who most likely feel the same way. What you call "fine tuning" in terms of camera improvements I call incremental updates and being mostly a "stills" shooter, I don't get very impressed in the latest hybrid technology. I think the next big thing in camera technology will be in what you mentioned - internal software. For example, imagine if your camera can create an HDR raw image internally rather shooting multiple images and blending them in post. The same with focus stacking.
Thanks for watching Jim, much appreciated. I'm sure we'll get some more improvements in the near future. But at the moment I am very happy with my R5. What I could really use is some improvement to my shooting situations (stuck in vehicle because of dangerous wildlife, getting lower, no front windscreen, lighter faster reacting lenses that are bright and long...internal zooms..maybe Canon has something in the works re 400-600 f4.5)
Morning Will,such a well reasoned response to the pixel wars/technology and real photographic skill and what it all means by placing the result in the hands of the photographer and not the machine.
Cheers
Thanks for taking a look as always! Very kind. Hope you are having a great day :)
Thanks for watching and yeah I’ll wait for things to settle down. Happy enough with my gear for now!
BRILLIANT !!! your experience and wisdom is very much appreciated. THANK YOU ! zen billings in canada
Cheers, much appreciated!
I do practically similar photos since decades. No matter if they were done analog or digital. I am now with Fuji since nearly 2 decades. Started with the S5Pro, now with a XT20. And well what can I say, it is enough. My skills are not growing anymore. I like the photos I can do. No need for a new camera.
Outstanding video essay! One that all serious photographers should watch and contemplate. I can only imagine how many hours you spent thinking about what you wanted to say and putting the video together. Much appreciated.
Thank you so much for your kind wordsAngus! I'm glad that the video resonated with you. It's a topic I'm passionate about, and I appreciate you taking the time to watch and reflect on it.
Saludos amigo Will, un análisis sencillamente genial de la realidad de la fotografia actual que como bien dices va pasando por un tiempo de estancamiento tecnológico. Comencé en la fotografia profesional en el año 1988, con una Zenit 12 de fabricación rusa, luego una Nikon FM2, ambas de enfoque manual y asi sucesivamente hasta hoy.
He visto varios saltos ya en la tecnologia fotografica a lo largo de los años y creo como bien dices que posiblemente la IA sea el próximo gran salto tecnológico que defina el desarrollo de las cámaras fotográficas.
Como tú soy usuario de Canon y ahí seguiré por la gran calidad y dureza de sus cámaras. Buen Video. Un abrazo desde Baracoa, ciudad mas oriental de Cuba.
That is a beautiful discurse of where the emphasis of photography should be put on.. Creativity... and not only for wildlife but any other type of photography. We are the artists. We are the creators and is our ability to express or capture in a photo what we see with our own eyes. Beautiful reflection. Thank you.
Well spoken!
I am currently using an R7. And although I really like it, it has some recurrent issues with autofocus/bad low light performance, so I am looking to upgrade. And I know that an R5 would suffice for me at this point in time, I am still very much tempted to spend the extra money and go for the R5II. That said, there is no making up for light and proximity to the subject, whatever you use.
You are absolutely correct about light and proximity. Don’t forget your lens choice when considering your next step. If you are upgrading and you have the funds it seems sensible to go for the best upgrade. You will probably keep it for a long time. which is the main point
I aggree so much with your view. This constant improvements in models every year is tedious and unfavourable. We need a period that we all can catch up with lenses ext.
Thanks for watching Andre :)
Thank Will. I relate to your views and struggles in the real world of photography. My wish is for you to go from strength to strength and reap all the benefits you richly deserve.
Thank you very much Edward!
Great video again Will, and a valuable point of view from yourself helps with the inner discussions I have with my urge to buy new kit. I've successfully fought the FOMO demon and now all my purchasing decisions are based on balanced arguments, and I too decided the mkII R5 was not required, at least not yet. I'm a big fan of second hand equipment, so I can see an R5 mkII might make it into my collection eventually. Talking of second hand cameras, the vintage photography scene is huge in the UK at the moment, all the old 35mm SLR's and rangefinders are being snapped up by enthusiasts and beginners alike. My old M42 lenses are worth a fortune if I was to sell them, but I won't :-). This would match up with the chart you showed of the number of new camera sales dropping off a cliff, and this seems to be reflected by the prices drops of the Leica SL-2 & S recently, there are some bargains out there making the new units cheaper than the second hand market. I would like to think people are looking to learn the 'craft' by returning to old 'analog' equipment rather than relying on the inbuilt AI to take photos. Historically Associated Press have never allowed manipulated images to be uploaded, so no Photoshopped images in their library. I wonder if they will draw the line with in camera AI processing?
You bring up a great point about the rise of vintage photography and the drop in new camera sales. It's interesting to see how the market is shifting and how photographers are finding value in older equipment. Your observation about the potential impact of in-camera AI processing on photojournalism is also thought-provoking. It will be interesting to see how organizations like the Associated Press navigate these evolving technologies. I was also interested to note in my research that there is a limited resurgence in film.
Great video Will, I agree with your viewpoint 100%. Now retired I don't have the spare funds to fork-out the sums of money for pro bodies, but I have used EOS1's, D3's in their day, and now with Sony, my continuing gripe is the inability of cameras to auto-adjust for bright areas. You touched on this with the Pied Kingfisher clip. It should be pretty simple, but manufacturers seem more intent on pixel counts and frame rates. Highlight biased exposure mode is an improvement but should be far more reliable. Yes it's too easy to get up in tech but I believe its all about time in the field, just parked on a quiet road in knp waiting and listening. 👍👍
Thanks for such a well articulated and compelling video Will. My R5 is the most expensive camera body I've ever invested in. It's also my all time favorite camera. It was that nirvana jack of all trades camera I had always wanted. It has and does serve me well and I just can't rationalize trading it in for the R5 II. I do agree with you, the tech industry is at a point in time where gains are marginal and it begs the question "will this new camera/computer greatly improve my user experience or do I just want it because it's new and shiny?". Wake me when the R5 V launches! Cheers my friend! Safe travels out there!
thanks for watching and the thoughtful comment. You are in exactly the same boat as so many of us. We have some really good options now, both new and used. I really wanted the R5ii but I just can't see how it was going to materially affect what I shoot right now. I have to think of this as a business, and it's just not going to earn the money back at this point in time.
Good to see/hear you again Will. My first camera, a 120 roll film fold out bellows unit, at the age of 9 was my first foray into B&W photography. 60 years later, I love my Z8. I feel prehistoric looking back over the changes in photography during that period. As an aerial survey photographer in East Africa in 1980's I would never have imagined that Kodak would go under. Unfathomable. AI does worry me though. I often wonder if photography is in general doomed by this technology.
The one thing lightly touched upon in your dissertation is the fact that there are a number of factors that contribute to the amazing images that exist today. One is patience while another is understanding your subjects. Let's not forget that luck also plays a significant role in capturing those magical moments, but you have to be there for it to happen. Yes, the cameras are phenomenal, but these are just the tools of trade. The blood, sweat and tears that goes into the making of a photograph is what truly makes a difference.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this important topic Will. Keep up the great work, and I for one am already looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for watching Bruce. That’s a proper camera for a nine year old!! Mine was just a little kodak with flash bulbs. Could never get any film out of the parents :) always complained I only took pictures of animals backsides.
Yes it’s always good to be lucky:)
Finally someone speaks sense. I gain no advantage with mirrorless for my style of shooting.
Thanks for watching and the kind comment.
Superb, Will! Superb! This kind of essay is really a forte for you, and it's one of the biggest reasons I enjoy your work so much.
Wow, thank you, Michael appreciated :)
Man does this ever speak to me. And you were there when it began. Remember my purchase of the Canon R7? And that was just a way-point on my way to deciding I needed a $10,000 Olympus combo (the OM-1 camera with the new M.Zuiko 150-400mm TC1.5X lens).
Fortunately a little voice in my head (the one that always tells me the truth) asked, 'are you really getting ready to spend $10 grand on a camera and lens?). Really?! Remember that film "A Bridge Too Far" about the Allies' Operation Market Garden? the phrase has entered the public lexicon. "Ah well, it was a bridge too far".
From there I fell back on my current set of cameras and lenses, and realized I really did not have to go all the way to the Moon in this hobby. I was actually at the limit of my technology comfort zone anyway. I had gotten seduced by the raving reviews of the OM-1 with that incredible 150-400 mm telephoto with the built in TC 1.5X lens. Back then there was a waiting list for it. Good thing there was.
Anyway just wanted to chime in on this question.
I remember well both the R7 question and the movie :) Yes, I understand the dilemma and it’s easy for us all to be seduced because we don’t have the experience of having tried all of the options. There’s always the fear we may be missing out and the reviews merry-go-round on YT adds to this. The benefits of having a new camera and reviewing it can really explode views and make a channel grow and you see this all the time. But many of these are loaners and it’s very difficult and different if you have to lay out thousands of your own hard earned dollars.
I would still love to try that Olympus system, I have another friend who sold all his Canon gear and loves it.
The important thing is to enjoy what we have both in our camera bag and in life and be careful of the rash side of our character - but you have to let it run a little sometimes:)!
@@WillGoodlet My pull back occurred concomitantly with the not-so surprising realization that I was 75 years old. The physical, and yes psychological "flow", was heading towards a desire (and need) for simplification. Getting into a whole new 4/3rds system, as well as the financial hit on my savings, really made my choice a no-brainer. I only mentioned it to show how deviously our thinking can get on that merry-go-round. But yes, I'd still like to try that OM system!
Fun discussion. I've been having a great time with the R5 Mark II. I'm definitely capturing shots that I would've missed without pre-capture. I'm also finding it much easier to track birds in flight. And rolling shutter is basically gone. I can definitely understand that these changes won't matter for many folks, though.
I thought long and hard, most of my sightings are surprise encounters behind the wheel of my landy, I’m sitting waiting on a bird maybe 10% of the time. Just couldn’t see myself using it that much. Nice to have though as you say.
Hi Will.
The cameras I have fulfil my needs, a D700 and a GX85. After that it is about using them to enjoy taking the kind of pictures I like which is why I describe myself as a happy photographer when asked what kind of photographer I am. Also, when camera manufacturers put the kind of security systems on their expensive cameras that you can get on a cheap mobile phone; finger print recognition, number pad for pin codes, then, customers will take them more seriously as it means their every day concerns are being listened to about protecting their equipment.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
I love your philosophy of being a "happy photographer"! It's a beautiful reminder that photography should be about enjoyment and creative expression. And I agree, enhanced security features on cameras would be a welcome addition having had a pile of equipment stolen in our home invasion.
Your photograph at 11:44 in absolutely incredible. Wow. Makes me wish I was still running our photography magazine where we loved to inspire and encourage people in this art form. I admit I enjoyed the technological aspects of the gear more myself, but was always inspired by work like this. Great video.
Thank you for watching it, greatly appreciated. What happened to the magazine, hate to hear of worthwhile things like that shutting down?
That pic came out of nothing in terrible midday light, and then he just looked up :)
@WillGoodlet PhotoComment Magazine was an SA publication which started as a little side project initially. We were digital before the iPad and moved to free printed distribution as most other titles were going digital. Some things changed to grow it but then didn't work out as planned and in the end it was time I guess. We bowed out probably just as the market was turning. Been 10 years this year if I recall correctly, since the end of the magazine. I miss the people we got to learn from or help inspire, but it also took its toll a bit. Working with cameras day in and out ended up with me not really doing much photography for myself. Writing on a PC for hours meant not wanting to sit in front of it editing too. Today I don't own a camera anymore beyond my phone. I get an itch to take up wildlife photography (which is where my whole photography journey started as a teen) however cameras cost a bit more now than they did then. Crazy to think what prices were when I launched the Sony A7s during my time with Sony SA in the day and what stuff costs now. Right now there are other priorities as a family and corporate life is also rather busy. So I live some passions vicariously through channels I follow on this platform instead. Keep up the great work.
Really sad that you aren't shooting wildlife anymore. I'm a big fan of second hand gear and there is more great gear around at the moment than at any other time. I priced a 1Dxii and EF 600 L IS at less than the price of a new R5ii. That's a hell of a combo and it doesn't just start there. There's plenty of other used gear. If you want more variety look at B&H used department in New york. Import duty & VAT is roughly 19.5% There's a great variety of gear and i often buy from there - especially harder to get lenses.
For me photography is a hobby (birding) and I upgraded from a Canon 5Dmk2 to a Mk4 the auto focus on the Mk4 was a fantastic improvement. I have started practicing getting closer to the subject rather than relying on a long lens from a hide. The camera can give me great results the trick as you say Will is to "debottleneck" the process by improving our own ability. I was considering upgrading to an R series camera but I think I would be better improving my own skills first. For me photography is such a rewarding hobby - thanks for the insight and reasoning you put forward in your article.
There is no substitute for getting close!!! We buy all this stuff because we can’t or don’t get close. Well done for working on that first, I definitely believe it pays dividends. With shooting from a car most of the time, I was actually thinking of my REAL bottlenecks today. It’s squeaky brakes at the moment, the animals are running a mile when they hear me :)
Another great video. I recently traded in my R6 for an R5mk2 and have been thrilled with the results. Moving to 45 megapixels has made quite a difference when shooting with my 70-200 lens and wanted to crop. I can see why an owner of the R5 might not want to jump to the mark 2 right out of the gate. The R5 sounds like a great camera, indeed. For videographers, which I am not, I imagine the mark 2 would be a worthwhile upgrade.
Yes the jump to 45mp when reach limited is definitely worthwhile, trading in also assists a lot. For video, the mark ii helps if there’s an issue with overheating. Jumping from photos to video for short clips is usually fine (what I do). Like all cameras we work around them. Congratulations on the new body and happy shooting!
A really great and thought provoking video Will.. And I whole heartedly agree with you on so many points you raise. For myself, I really do miss my old Canon A1's & the darkroom. Today I am happy with my good old 80D and much lighter 2000D that I use for macro, To me it is mostly about the glass as far as IQ goes though and wouldn't change my Canon 400mm L series f5.6, my Tamron SP 180 Di macro, nor my Schneider & Rodenstock enlarger lenses, extension tubes, etc. for anything. I would like to try mirrorless, but it is only the 'silent shutter' and vibration free capability that draws me, but am in no rush. Affordability is an issue for myself, as well as so many photographers too. Totally with you on wanting more dynamic range from a camera also. Could say lots more too but, for me at least, most of my enjoyment in this game comes from not having a camera that does everything for you, it's the judgment part of gauging the exposure and I am almost never out of full manual mode. Just like the old days eh?! Great video and thank you for all your inspiration I get from your channel Will. 👏👏☺
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences! It's wonderful to hear that you enjoy using your older equipment and appreciate the hands-on approach to photography. Your perspective on the importance of personal judgment and skill resonates with the core message of the video. And you are right too, that a lot of the enjoyment of photography is NOT having the camera do everything :) Thanks so much for watching
@@WillGoodlet Keep being so inspirational to so many photographers, both to the beginner and to the seasoned old hands. Photography is in the heart, and that shows so well in all your videos. You keep posting them - we will all keep watching them! 😊👏👏
Will, excellent video! I just love my DSLR. Got the 90D with 150-600 Sigma. Using it for creating memories. Just cannot justify the cost (rand) of the new mirrorless.
@@IvoryDustBug Thank you! No reason to change that combination. Even does great video.
Excellent mindset especially for these coming days
Thanks for that insightful video i couldn't agree more! Im still a 7DmkII user and i love it
@@tomharris4379 great camera! Thanks Tom :)
Hi Will, this is the first video I watch on your channel and I tell you, it will most definitely not be the last! What a fascinating topic! I'd extend it to all photography, not just wildlife. It is super interesting that your conclusion touches on what the great masters of photography have been saying all along, that it is one, the photographer, the key and most important aspect when making a picture. Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Cheers, Ray.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you :)
An excellent video. Your point is well made.
For me there are no longer any technical barriers in photography to deter newcomers. If someone cannot achieve a technically competent image from any modern camera then quite frankly they must be pretty thick. There only remains the (more difficult) aspect of visualising the image and putting yourself into a position to achieve that image.
I believe that this is the reason why camera sales are failing. When all the nerdy gear geeks realised that technology advances meant they could actually take competent photos they were all over it like a rash but they later realised that, despite having top gear, they still couldn't produce images that were actually of any interest or beauty.
Chasing gear can only satisfy an itch for so long, especially at the incredible cost of today's equipment. These people then pay other people to set up subjects for them to photograph but eventually even this will fail to satisfy them as it finally dawns on them that the images they get from this are nearly exactly the same as all the other people who pay for the same set ups.
I totally agree that the changes from film to digital and then from DSLR to mirrorless were the two biggest changes in photographic tech but now the changes are far less significant.
Thanks for watching, yes you can get incredible shots from some of the hides and set ups but you are right that many are identical. You’d really have to be lucky or spend a lot of time to get something different.
I have always tried to put in the hours and photograph in depth wherever is local. Best I can do really, don’t get as spectacular creatures but sometimes you just get something that very few others have.
Great points Robert, but I would like to add one thing. Yes, the technology can really sing in a masters hands, but for many it's a daunting task to harness the complexity of the newer generation of cameras. The number of menu items has increased substantially and knowing what the right settings are takes time and experience. Many aspiring photographers do not have the time or patience to become proficient with their equipment.
@@brucewilliamsstudio4932 you are absolutely right Bruce. As a veteran of the days when a camera had one control for shutter, one for aperture, iso was fixed by the film stock and focusing was completely manual, I struggle to grasp the complexities of modern cameras. However, as you say, when I get everything set up as I want it the results tech wise are incredible. That is also the reason why I prefer to shoot with two identical bodies rather than one high end and a lower level second body.
Best wishes.
Absolutely spot on what you said at the end Will and the whole video in general. It's nice to see a photographer on RUclips highlighting it's the skill of the photographer that matters most. Also, well done for resisting the "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" that we all experience quite a few times haha.
Definitely happy with my current set up of 15fps and 4K60 with the X-T4 and don't feel I need anymore for years to come.
I know tracking autofocus improves very quickly with each generation of cameras, but with wildlife/action/sports photography i use either single point or zone AF all the time along with single point or multi for video. I'm more than happy with the results both as a hobby and for paid work.
Looking forward to seeing more adventure videos from you to fuel my encouragement to finally experience the African wilderness.
Sorry Will. I just realised I made a mistake when cutting, copying and pasting my comment at the beginning which the grammar muddled up. I should've looked at it once more before posting. Anyways, I corrected it 👍
I have bad GAS Tim, this video was as much for me as for anyone else :) I really like the look of the Fuji's they are so nice to hold and use. I'd have all of these cameras if I let myself go :)
There are some great cameras out there, if only I had the option back in the early days of digital that I could get a beast like the 1Dx mark ii and an EF 600mm f4 for less than the cost of a new R5 mark ii instead of agonising about whether I took the Pentax K100D with shake reduction or the cheaper K10... it's never been so good for us, especially at this point in time, where the lenses have tanked in price, to start with wildlife photography. And there are lot's of people who feel they can't start because we are all talking about 5 and 6k USD cameras as if that's the starting point for their hobby.
A few years ago I was chatting with a very well regarded and well known professional wildlife guide and photographer and I asked him why he had just bought the 1DXii when he probably didn't really need it. He said he had to buy it or his clients (who would have newer cameras) wouldn't take him seriously.
@@WillGoodlet yeah it is indeed amazing that a 1DX ii and a 600mm F4 are less than the R5 ii. I've definitely noticed there are still a good amount of DSLR users whenever I go to the Red Kite Feeding Station, but they always say how tempted they are to switch to Mirrorless. I think we all have GAS multiple times which is why a video like yours is refreshing to see.
Yeah Fuji cameras are so nice! The colours straight out of the camera mean there is very little work to do in editing and the retro aesthetics of the XT-4 just motivate me to go and shoot multiple times per week. Therefore, it makes me improve much quicker.
There is a Fuji 500 5.6 prime that's meant to be coming out soon and if I had the money for it, I'd definitely get it because 750mm full frame equivalent would be incredible in a lightweight package. That being said, I probably wouldn't use it much as the 70-300 with or without the 1.4 teleconverter for video, so it would definitely be a want over a need.
Good call Will !!! As I've said in the past I'm not upgrading; with the extra money for the R5II (plus extra battery, charger) I can spend a lot more time in the field (and I have two R5). So if I upgraded one of them, I would have two different bodies need two heads / memory muscle, carry twice the auxiliary staff, ... I'll wait for the mark 3 or mayey a good crop-body (like a proper R7 MII with good button placement and good high ISO performance) to have my long glass paired with in good light conditions. And I agree 100% with you in that already having an R5 and good glass, time in the field is what I'm missing and will make most of the difference.
Just get out there!! I have just seen three black rhino as I reply :) very distant but wow…nothing beats being in the field :)
@@WillGoodlet Cheers my friend !!! Hip hop hooray for the 3 black rhinos :-)
I currently use a R7 with RF 100 400. Upgraded from 1200D. Your video has made me think about bringing out the 1200D and EF 70 300 from storage.
I am a hobbyist.
Thanks for watching and I’m glad you want to pick up the old camera but to be fair to your R7 it’s probably going to be a good deal better! But maybe think about using the old one in situations that suit it, macro and close up? Landscape? Shooting two cameras can be a lot easier. Also, I like older cams for doing the ‘stupid’ stuff like walking across a river or hanging under the car, the kind of things that you wouldn’t want to do with your best gear :)
Spot on Will and thanks for putting your thoughts together in this video. I have an R7 and worried I hadn't gone down the FF path because a) I was daunted by the expense vs my actual skill level; and b) the lack of lenses. However, I get more joy using it to photograph wildlife compared to my old DSLR and literally want to give it a good run for the money 😎
It's great to hear that you're enjoying your R7 and finding it to be a valuable tool for your wildlife photography. It's a great camera. I think the chatter about rolling shutter is not that important considering it shoots 15 mechanical (honestly that's 1 frame less than the 1DX mark iii a camera we all salivated over!) The focus system is radically better than DSLRs and you will get absolutely cracking results with it. APS-C is APS-C, you get a little more diffraction because it's a smaller format, but you probably get better stabilisation because it's a smaller format. Cameras are all trade offs and it's pointless rationalising what's 'best' because there is none. We shoot different things in different ways at different times and environments.
@@WillGoodlet Very much so. I frequently bushwalk and bird count at the same time so a lightweight kit is important to me too 😎
Thanks for this thought-proking video. I am not a wildlife photographer but I am interested in my options away from the ubiquitous phone. My moment came when visiting Monet's garden at Giverney only to be confronted by queues of visitors sporting phones clutched in portrait mode as they slowly progressed around the garden.
I came away wishing I had a travel camera that would do a better job than my phone but even the contenders from Fuji, Ricoh and Sony seem to betray their respective companies lack of financial muscle and maybe even know-how to produce something really competitive.
I therefore still have a now old Pentax K5 which has a large viewfinder and still serves me well when I can summon the desire to carry it. Other small cameras I own all fail due to lack of a decent viewfinder or a screen that has poor resolution and/or brightness compared to my iPhone. It would be great to have solved this the next time I'm visiting some tourist trap like Giverney!
I’m surprised you haven’t found something that suits! Do you want something smaller than say, OM-5? Fuji X-S20 or Nikon Zfc? or have you already looked at these and discounted them?
@@WillGoodlet Thanks for these suggestions. The OM-5 in particular looks appealing so I will investigate further.
Very good reflections! I have bought the R5 MK ll and I think it’s a great camera. However I fully agree with your view on the current state of camera development.
Congratulations on the new camera, yes it really ticks the remaining boxes in most cases for wildlife
A hobbiest here who is very happy with my Sigma fp. Perhaps the ALT CINE Blackmagic studio G2 would be fun to put together and use 4/3 lenses etc. Laurie. NZ. 😊
By all accounts a brilliant small full frame video/camera
I have been a holdout but my 80D is getting old now. I am staring to consider a newer model just because I dont want the 80D to die and leave me hanging.
Then it probably makes sense to move to a newer model and hold onto that for a bit. I can recommend the R5 I think its good value new or second hand at the moment and will give you a similar resolution to your 80D if you can afford the R5ii then thats also going to be good. Otherwise the R7 is probably a more like for like option
Thanks Will for another great video!
Well said. I’m still trying to get good enough to outgrow my A7iii. Once I’m really hitting the limits of what it can do I’ll consider something newer, but for now I’d rather spend that budget on getting places where I can use it!
Good plan :)
My E-M1 Mark II has capabilities which your EOS R5 lacks, I use some, but not all of those, I use to make photographs you cannot. Some of the features new in the R5 II are in my E-M1 II and my Lumix G9. All of the cameras I use regularly have focus bracketting, the M43 cameras can shoot at 60 FP and make 80 Mpix images.
They are great cameras, the first good mirrorless I used was an Olympus OM-D mark ii. 60FPS with capture was amazing for birds, although that particular one didn’t focus at 60fps. Sure they are better now. Anyway I will live with what I’ve got for now. Happy shooting!
Outstanding perspective. So honest and in depth. Almost makes me sorry I bought the Mark ll (not really). But you do make me think! Thank you.
@@RVNmedic glad you enjoyed it and congratulations on the new camera!
Marketing: the art of turning wants into needs.
I'm not in a big rush to get the R5 mkII myself (it feels like a quantum step - as in the smallest measurable difference). The R5 mkI was a game changer for me, though (giant leap uo from 5Dmk IV or even R). I also have some accessories specific for the mkI (e.g. L bracket, UW housing, ...) and I intend to use the R5 mkI for some time to come.
Seems eminently sensible to me unless you desperately need 30fps without rolling shutter and precapture
@@WillGoodlet I don't see an urgent need for those features in my use cases. Better (AI-improved) AF, yes, that'd be good, but not at the price tag. I would want to see improved dynamic range, too. And 80 MP would be good so that I could retire that R7 without (cropped) pixel loss.
Just love your attitude!
Thanks Gary!
AArrrrrggggghhhh!! I've just taken delivery of my Canon R5 M ii! First impressions are very favourable. I missed a lot of shots with my Canon R. I'm hoping for more success with the R5 Mii.
Great history lesson. I learnt a lot.
For me taking the shot is just the start of making an image. As Ansel Adams said "the photographic negative is like a composer's score, and the print is the performance". This is now more true than ever with Lightroom, Photoshop etc. They can release one's creativity or demonstrate one's lack of imagination.
Congratulations on the new camera! I have no doubt that it has much better AF than the R (was always a problem for things coming straight at you on early mirrorless). Enjoy it!
On my point of view, it´s much easier to buy a new camera or lens, than to make a good picture. I changed from fullframe to mft, because the weight of my rucksack killed my passion to go out and make photos. Now the passion is back and my will, to tell stories with my pictures and enjoy time outside in nature. And the impressions from pros like Will, to chase my capability in Photographie a little further (sorry, English isn’t my mothertongue)😊
Great overview Will. It won’t be long before phone cameras will (with Ai) produce top notch results. Maybe not for action and Wildlife but for travel and Landscape etc. Great to see you back . Ian (UK)
Yes I bet!! Thanks for watching:)
Well yes phone cameras will get nice images but with AI tampering is still gonna be o photograph?
Thank you, Will. I needed this to stop ‘needing’ the R5ll. You’re very good at what you do!
Thanks for watching it! Please don’t let me put you off, it’s sure to be a wonderful camera once the gremlins are ironed out. But if you have anything recent it’s also probably really good :)
@@WillGoodlet I should have declared that I have an R5 and a 100-500. And as you eluded to, I currently need more of ME in the mix, not more tech.
And focusing on lenses, it seems that a 100-500 lens (at 500mm) + AI up-scaling will now, or at least very soon, be equivalent to having at least a 700mm (1.4x) lens.
It’s all evolving very quickly. Must be stressful sitting at the corporate planning table!
Cheers.
Shot Canon for many, many years. Sold it all. Now I shoot with 2 FujiXT3 camera bodies. Not the latest & greatest cameras, but sufficient for my needs at a much lower price point than the current Canon ecosystem. My advice is to invest in high quality lenses that will hold their value better over a given time period.The most important thing is that you enjoy using the equipment that you currently have & getting out to practice your craft, as often as possible. This what brings me joy.
Hi , I have two canon R5s and a canon 5D4 . The R5II just does not have the ground breaking updates especially for the price. I just don't really need the added toys.
Out of all may cameras i own, i just love using my 7D2 built like a tank great images and just fun to use.
The 7D2 is a lovely camera to hold and has gps which I would like again (maybe battery is the problem though). But most canons are really lovely to hold and shoot with. Not easy to get that across in specs. You can see they put a lot of thought into them even if we can’t always gel with everything they do.
Spot on there Will. Like you, I have the Canon R5 paired with the RF 100-500. I also have an R7 which I bought as a grey import. I can’t see the point, or justify the expense, in going for the R5ii which would only give me a somewhat marginal increase in capability, given the amount of photography I actually do. Whilst I do a fair bit of photography, I’m a birder first, photographer second.
Out of interest, have you ever done any pelagic photography for the superb range of albatrosses and petrels etc you have off the coast of SA?
Keep up the good work mate, I love your stuff. I know I’ve mentioned this before but it’s a hell (in the good sense😂) of a country you have down there.
Spot on. I am happy with R5. May get a second one. It worked well shooting black bears this morning.
Fantastic:) mine nailed some black wildebeest this afternoon! Would like to photograph bears though must be amazing.
@@WillGoodlet Almost as much fun as sitting at a wild dog den at Mala Mala.
So true...Im still on my Csnon 90D DSLR 32mp wanting to switch to mirrorless. Was planning on the R5markii, but now rather considering the R5.Thanks
If you can swing the R5ii it will be an amazing camera. But so is the R5 at a good discount now.
Very well reasoned. For a while now it seems that marketing by the camera companies has led product development - very small or very limited upgrades held as being the reason to change camera - which undoubtedly appeal to enthusiasts of the technical but have little imapct on the image making process. The result perhaps of business forces rather than true technical enhancements driving upgrades. Areas that could benefit image improvement are becoming more and more limited and require more and more investment to achieve - a sort of diminishing returns scenario. You are I think right to focus on AI enhancements as being one area that may have some potential, but perhaps the biggest area will come in developing the lenses capable of matching the camera potential?
Hi, Will,
Thank you for your thoughts, they are timely! My cameras (5D4, R5) are fully sufficient. I apologize for the long e-mail I sent. Your approaches to photography make me very enthusiastic. Congratulations on the video.
Best from Brazil.
@@julioamaral4391 Hi Julio, please don’t apologise for that, it was very welcome, you will find me an awful email correspondent! It’s me who should apologise!
I read it with interest and still intend to respond.
My wife Luana and me just watched again to think more deeply about your thoughts. A great vídeo indeed. Don't worry about answering, we're thinking together. Keep using the big spoon!
Best.
R5 II is for sports/bird/wildlife photographers. It helps me capture images I didn’t get before. Although pre-capture is not new technology, it is a game changing features for Canon users.
Yes of course it’s a very good looking camera. I’d love to have one but maybe down the road a bit. Congratulations on the new cam and I hope you are really enjoying it (I bet you are :))
The only game changing of the R5 II is the disgusting noise 6400 ISO+
@@Hakku1403 you meant ISO 6400 and above are better?
@@kennethlui2268 6400 and higher, even 3200 is slightly worse than the R5 I
@@Hakku1403 well, I compared ISO all the way to 25600 between R5 and R5II. I didn’t see much difference. Do you have a R5II on hand to compare?
Exactly and well put. Anyone can go out and buy the latest and greatest.... but if there is no experience behind it, the photos will be... average. With time, experience and passion, the new tech allows us to capture the treasure more easily. The passion and magic still come from the person and experience behind the camera. 🤗💖
Hope all is well Will!!! Haven’t heard from you for a while!
@@anamicha sorry, I had a pretty busy October and November, and spent December recovering. Hope to get back into it soon.
One aspect that I see isn't touched on by camera and lens manufacturers is how images don't need to reflect the image correctly onto the sensor anymore, and they needn't do it for over 10 years. Yet they still make very large lenses, with extra glass elements, when the flipping of the image could be handled by the sensor and/or firmware.
Other than that, I'm sticking to my DSLR for the foreseeable future, until there's enough of a lens offering and batteries get to the point where I don't have to carry around 3 extra ones out of fear of running out of juice. Oh! And maybe they'll improve on the companion software, because they all suck so bad.
Life is short.....moments far and inbetween.....time out in the field is truth and life. I need to spend much more time out in the wilderness. Thanks Will
So right time in the bush is what counts.
Thanks for this video, Will. I enjoyed it greatly.
Years ago, I used to subscribe to magazines about high fi audio. In one article, the author was saying that in electronics, each new technological advancement is smaller than the previous one but cost much more each time. Another writer said that so much is said about specs that we forget the music itself and enjoying it.
In photography, I would venture to say that the same principles may apply. Manufacturers compete to be the best at specs but, are these always that important?!?! Nearly 2 years ago, I made a giant hole in my budget when I bought my Sony A7RV. I'm 70 now, have shaky hands and wear glasses. I bought this camera because its autofocus make photography more a pleasure than with my previous cameras. In my case, yes, this technological advancement was important but other specs aren't as important. All the jargon about video capabilities are boring to me. I shoot stills (portrait and landscape) hence the A7RV. Its 61 megapixels are fantastic when I crop some of my images. Thanks Sony.
I will probably keep this camera for years to come. I want to concentrate on using good quality glass and learn the right techniques instead of putting too much importance on a camera body.
Manufacturers have owners, investors, stockholders who need results and profits. What is in my pockets is more important than putting more in theirs. Because, let's face it, technological advancements make it to the consumer only a little bit at a time. In many industry, releasing to much at the same time is not good business practice.
Your thoughts?
What you say makes perfect sense and you are absolutely right about selecting what we need from the spec sheet. I experienced a similar problem with making these videos (i know video is of no interest but bear with me) all the cameras that people raved about had no viewfinder … I couldn’t see what the hell was on the back of the camera, sony, black magic. Etc…. The best image but useless to me. So yes, grab what you need! I love cameras, so it’s very hard to resist what I want and try to think sensibly about it :)
It seems, that manufacturers made a fatal mistake for their future sales when they created practically ideal cameras (A1, R5, Z8). Nothing more to wish for us photographers. So it seems. But we all remember the words of Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
I love that quote, brilliant. I wan't a faster horse :) We will still buy cameras never fear!
Will, an interesting thought provoking video, thanks. You made the right decision to cancel your order. The last couple of days I have been testing my new Canon R5 Mark II and it has not been a happy process. The dynamic range is not nearly as good as that of the R5 and I have already limited the ISO to 3200, and at that level I am still getting lots of noise, color noise, and pinkish tints throughout. However, the pre-continuous focus does seem promising and the focusing is quite a bit faster. Before watching this video, I had already decided to keep my R5 and only use the Mark II in good light. It is clear to me that Canon is not interested in wildlife photography and is concentrating on sports photography and other "people" photography. After all, what's big in the USA today? Sports, sports, sports, and more sports. It's the same worldwide, right? Canon knows that the only class of persons with the money to buy expensive camera gear are retirees like myself and when our baby boomer demographic bubble has burst, this market will be gone. IMO, Canon will improve the Mark II through firmware, etc. and so I will keep it. Probably my last major camera/lens purchase. Your technological comments and predictions seem to me to be on point. Good luck and keep up the videos. You have an actor's presence.
Thank you for watching and the encouragement and also the feedback from a real hands on perspective!
Before you lose hope on the R5ii, I remember being equally unimpressed with the images on the original - lots of colour noise. Are you using adobe by any chance? It was awful, then after months improved a bit. The Noise comparisons people do always make me shudder a little because they say one camera is good and one is bad and NEVER factor in the RAW converter. It can make an enormous difference. I discovered this by accident making the R5 camera profiles.
I’m not even sure canon DPP has been updated for the Mk2 yet but give it a shot on there before you give up on it.
Very good video Will - even if I have bought an R5 Mk II primarily for the better autofocus. If I was using solely for landscapes it wouldn’t be worthwhile.
Very difficult to agree with your views on technology though.
And I totally agree that the greatest area for improvement is me!
Congratulations on the new camera, I am sure you will love it and I'm not jealous at all ;). It's sure to be a wonderful camera once teething issues get sorted out. And isn't it wonderful that the big camera companies so often DO sort out the bugs unlike the vast majority of other stuff we buy. I'd love one but cannot justify it right now obviously.
I found this so interesting to watch, not a second wasted and so true. I started with a Canon F1 in 1976 (bought in Singapore) some years later switched
to Nikon and the Nikon F4 was my last film camera (bought in Tokyo). Now don't laugh but I bought a brand new D850 4 month ago to replace a D810
instead of going mirror less. The money I saved by doing that I invested in top Nikon glass and a NISI filter set. After a 3 week outback trip here in Australia
I must say this camera is absolute tops. Now I want to buy a A2 printer. I must say I am a landscape photographer and do no filming.
Thank you for sharing your journey through different camera systems! It's inspiring to see how you've stayed true to your passion for landscape photography. Your investment in high-quality lenses and filters highlights the importance of prioritizing the tools that best suit your specific needs and interests. And you may not know that the D850 is still the fifth best sensor listed on DXO mark...that's behind two medium formats and the Leica M11 and Panasonic SR1 - and that's despite all the new mirrorless additions. It's a legend.
I was pretty content with what the market offered until the reveal and release of the Sony (sorry Canon person) A7R5. No, I didn't buy it. That technology found its way into the ZV-E1 and my most loved camera, the Sony a6700. All other cameras take a back seat, a way back seat. I do a lot of photography with small objects (bugs) and the new system blows everything away. This will keep me busy for years. Don't need anything new. Me, the a6700 and a 90mm macro lens and I'm good.
in years to come the cameras will be that accurate that the joy of trying to get the shot will be gone .i would rather strugle with not so great af and get the shot that way i have satisfaction ...in the end all the tech will destroy us all
Awesome vid - welcome back again -
Thanks very much!
You are the second wildlife photographer I have of recent heard expressing those views. I think there is still room for innovation in cameras, but now it is just baby steps. I think the new Precapture feature is a game changer for bird photographers - not so much for those mainly taking big game.
I’m sure there are still great things to come but the tools are getting very good now!
I would love to have pre-capture but I really can’t think of too many times I’d use it. Although It would probably change what I shoot - I’d sit next to birds the whole time :) problem with photographing birds from cars on safari is you are rarely close enough and the shots don’t look as good.
Hey Will, it was wonderful meeting you last month, thanks for helping me decide on where to go for another R5 or r5mii, it's going to be another R5 if I can find one! Excellent video
You too Kyle! I’m back in my tent In mountain zebra right now! Hope you got your insurance sorted out and everything is going smoothly for Portugal.
Excellent sentiments well expressed .My move from an R6 to an R5ii will be delayed as I go out to the wide world with my camera more, rather than a trip to the camera shop
Thanks for watching! Far be it from me to ruin your trip to the camera shop. I’m sure when the day cones you will enjoy it. But nothing beats being out taking pictures with whatever is in your bag. Happy shooting!
Great insights there, Will. BTW I started photography with an old Minolta 35mm film camera and it was great, good lenses too! I think the big advances, as you say, will be in the use of AI to improve, exposure and even composition. Having said that, I hate do it all cameras and wish they made purely photographic cameras. As far as current advancements go, I have a Nikon D600 and an Olympus OM1 and apart from burst mode and pre-capture there isn’t much to distinguish between them. Keep up the good work! Off soon to the Aegean and the subsequent editing for weeks on end! Ray
Happy travels!! Editing pics is the price you have to pay :) I’ve never been there but love the books by both Durrell’s
I use an R5, amongst other bodies, if you have ever tried to photograph small birds taking off, say Blue Tits, you would long for pre capture. I cannot justify the expense. Strangely one of the best BIF photos I took was of a hovering Kestrel with a Canon D30[3mp] and a Sigma 50-500 back in 2003. Technology can make our lives easier, not necessarily any better.
I do understand the need. For myself, these are less common situations. Most of my frustrations relate to deploying the camera quickly enough during a short surprise encounter, something that mirrorless is significantly worse at than DSLR. But all cameras are compromises.
As a primary wildlife photographer I can only agree with you. I have the R5, along with both R6 versions and am happy with all of them. I was not tempted to consider the purchase of the R5II, for two reasons. While it has lots of new features, they do not benefit my photographic needs. The principle features seem to work most for those doing sports or even social events such as weddings with the priority tracking for specific individuals, ability to take fast bursts and pre-capture, and ball tracking - all compelling for those needing those features. If I was getting my first R5 series camera I might be tempted, but as an upgrade - no.
Great perspective and advice.
For a first entry if you have the money, yes it’s an easy choice. My dilemma was I need a third camera for video in poor light. I could get the mark ii for photography and the others would move down the pecking order with the R6 becoming the video camera. But its far cheaper to buy a used R6 or sony :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You've just got a new follower. I am considering a camera upgrade (from the original EOS R) and I decided to look at award winning wildlife photographs first to see if new camera features would make a difference. I noticed that most of the winning pictures rely heavily in factors such as light, ambiance, mood, story and artistic interpretation. Very few would depend solely on faster fps or sophisticated AF systems. Like you, I'll upgrade at some point, but I'm just taking my time.
Thanks for watching and also for sharing a really sensible approach. It’s always inspiring and informative to see why/how great images get made. I haven’t tried the R but I would guess that the AF on the newer cameras would be quite a step up . If that’s something that would help it’s worth renting to see (if that’s something you can do where you live - I can’t sadly)
@@WillGoodletI've just moved to another country, it seems that I could rent an R5 here, but maybe not the R5 mk ii. I'm not sure if the R5 would be enough of an upgrade for me (at a reasonable cost) or if the new features of the R5 ii really justify the (seemingly excessive) extra cost. I'll probably wait until next year to decide and enjoy what I have until then. Cheers!
I'm waiting too. Happy with my R5
Will: Kudos on excellent photo technology review, interesting conjecture on future role of AI, and sound decision on the R5M2 - what I need before any new cameras is an AI app to take over my culling sessions after learning my preferences, saving me loads of time.
Thank you! There is an app! It’s marketed at wedding photography but maybe it works on other types too. If not, something will come along soon :) I forget the name but have a look out for it. It pops up on Facebook for me now and then
@@WillGoodlet Thanks - I saw that but suspect wildlife photography is a "different animal" than wedding photography.
Will you nailed it again. I need an intelligent AI camera with an outstanding metering system. AI used in the R5 II autofocus is brilliant. Now let's use AI in metering and improving drastically dynamic range. Metering is no 1 on my list. No 2 is 60 MPs and 3 big step in dynamic range. Like you I will skip the R5 II because I can't justify to put that much money for a camera offering logical improvements instead of ground breaking tech like the R5 did in 2020. Good job Will !
I suspect metering is probably improved on the R5ii, if you read the manual carefully you will see that it's different to the R5 and, at least as I understand it, will meter differently in evaluative based on the subject priority selected. The R5 didn't do that. But I am unsure if the 'subject priority' they talk about is actually the new ball sports or birds and wildlife too. I guess metering is not a sexy selling point for most YT reviewers so it's mostly going to be about the 'terrible noise' for a while (which I am currently putting down to outdated RAW conversion in Adobe). Why does everyone assume Adobe uniformly converts RAW files the same and tests cameras on that basis I don't know! It can do appalling things to files from different systems.
I agree with you 100% Will. We are undoubtedly at a point where our existing cameras are capable of producing results that were unheard of a few years ago and for most of us are certainly already good enough. However, in a saturated and diminishing market, if we do not continue to buy new models, what future is there for the camera industry? There are certainly areas where improvements can still be made but future developments are likely to be mainly firmware related, especially AI related computational functionality. It may be that hardware upgrades will be required from time to time to provide the increased processing power needed to drive such functionality (as is the case with computers) but otherwise it is the development and marketing of the firmware itself that will likely have to generate the income necessary to enable the camera companies to survive. I doubt we’ll like it but at some point we may well have to accept subscription based firmware upgrades. I too remember the days when cameras were capable of lasting for decades and part of me is sad to think that in our consumer society those days are long gone. The other part of me is excited about just what our cameras are capable of and like most of us want to see more of it. But we can’t have it both ways.
Very good points. Especially about subscriptions - the analogy with our computers running software is good.. When I said 'beyond the novel capabilities of the 35mm format' what I meant was different types of camera and computation. Remotes, flying cameras, light field cameras, larger and smaller formats, disposable cameras that wirelessly send the image, even film. Things that don't rely on the way we shoot now. From a distance with a big lens, but closer and from completely different angles. We are all in a rut in that respect and the images all look the same. There's an ethical issue obviously. But we need to break out.
Totally agree that, thinking outside the box, there are a number of possible technologies that could transform the way we approach our image making, and in turn the camera industry. Video, camera trapping and remote, drone photography and robotics are just a few examples of what is already available. It’ll be interesting to see how it all develops.
Great discussion. The last thing we need is A "Intelligence" attempting to perfect our photos. I've gone from a Sony a6400 to a Pentax DSLR and loving it: the ergonomics, the viewfinder. It's 12mp so a few more megapixels might help but no big deal. I've also returned to film which is the biggest improvement in photography for 15 years!
Maybe the strategy for camera manufacturers is to produce inexpensive film cameras; film manufacturers to produce inexpensive film and we have a revitalised industry. I'm kind of joking...but not.
If we are not careful we will become "camera roadies": we just lug out the gear and the camera does the work.
Amazing, thank you so much.
Thanks for watching
When the Z9 first came out I switched from using a D500 and a D850. I now have 2x Z9s. At first I felt like I needed to upgrade when the next Nikon camera in that range came out. But once they fixed he Animal AF and added bird AF I feel like this is the camera for me and that their is hardly anything it can't do that I need a camera to do for me (zoo photography wise). I shot 0% video never have and likely never will. I agree that once we find that camera that does what we need it to do for the type of work we do with our cameras its unlikely we need to upgrade every 1 to 2 years only when the camera dies..... Great video
I was able to play with a z8 and 180- 600 recently. Very impressive. I love all cameras, especially the big old bruisers…love them all. All we need to do is figure out the best way to shoot them. That D850 was also awesome, the sensor is still right up there with the very very best.
Fantastic well explained you just have a way of reaching people with wonderful videos and easily explained opinions and thoughts , you really need try get out there and make more Videos Thank you Will !!
Cheers Wil, you know well that I leave the video cam at hone when I really want some fun :) I’m in a tent listening to crickets at the moment just the R5 and 400f2.8 for company. Have you been to the lynx yet?
Pentax might actually release a next full frame DSLR soon
That's an interesting piece of news! It's always exciting to see new camera releases, especially for those who prefer DSLRs.