Canon has recently announced their new flagship cameras, the R5 and R6. There will be no 5D mark V, and the Canon shooters looking to upgrade will need to eventually sell off their old glass for almost nothing.
I am a 5D Mark III shooter, so I never upgraded to the Mark IV. I was satisfied with what I have, but now that the R5 and the R6 have been introduced, I am certainly looking at the market and what options I have regarding these new breeds mirrorless cameras.
But, what has also happened, is that I started checking across the fence to see what Sony’s top of the range cameras are able to achieve, and I am certainly liking what I see. In fact, last year when I shot the Levi’s videos with the Sony a7R II I was very impressed with the auto-focussing and the IBIS that got me the shots I needed. I must however confess that these technological breakthroughs do not exist in the 5D Mark III, and I couldn’t compare it to the Mark IV because I didn’t have one or a job needing one.
So now I am left with a choice, and it’s a choice I will make that will stand for the next decade, or until the next lens design makes the manufacturers produce a different lens range, which tends to happen every decade or so.
My thinking is to weigh the two cameras I am considering up against one another, and to see what the benefits are of each. These are based on what I will need. I do product photography, and for fun I do street photography. I shoot fashion video and am looking to expand this in future, so video is becoming more and more important for me.
- 8K footage. That means it’ll give you a boost when your clients ask for 4K. You’ve got double that, and might be a selling point for them, although not necessarily for you or your skills and work you do. You’re also future-proof, and can crop in should you need to.
- The Canon color that photographers and photo-loving people — this means almost everyone — have grown to love so much.
- It’s a camera for stills and video. It’s going to deliver on both sides of the coin for a photography and video business.
- Overheating is an issue. There are rumors that Canon is holding these cameras back in the market to check demand. Apparently they’ve done this in the past too, but now with the current situation it’s even more aggressively implemented. For your work it can also mean having to carry two bodies or a back up.
- The cost of new lenses if you really want the benefit of this new camera body and technology is quite an investment. They’re in the same ball park with regards to cost compared to Sony, and it’s a completely new kit you’re going to have to budget for.
- There is a hard focus on image stabilization. IBIS, lens stabilization and electronic, gyroscopic stabilization which should give you the same type of video GoPro has achieved with their action cameras but now you’ve got the lenses, color science and file formats that gives you the options a professional needs.
- Sony’s pro-level color science used in their film cameras are now similar, if not the same, in this camera. Don’t make the mistake thinking Sony is behind in color science. Their film cameras have shot some large productions, and with this camera, they’re making it more accessible in a smaller body.
- It’s a new camera that I will need time to dissect, learn from, and digest. And if the comments regarding it’s menu system is anything to go by, it’s quite a transition from the simplicity Canon offers. The menu has been updated though, and with the touch screen interface it seems like it will be simpler than the previous generations.
- Change can also be a positive. Getting out of my comfort zone could be a great thing for not only my work, but the way I do my work and what I shoot too.
- It’s only going to give you down sampled 4K. But, looking at how people editing on laptops are struggling to edit footage from a Canon R5, I am comfortable with this stabilized 4K footage and I believe it will be a smoother editing experience in Premiere Pro.
Sony have never released a DSLR camera. They started their journey with mirrorless cameras. Canon has been around for decades, and when the digital revolution came, it was exciting to have video included with the 5D Mark II. But, with them deciding to not launch a Canon 5D Mark V, it confirms that it is the end of the DSLR as we know it. This indirectly proves Sony has been ahead with regards to technology, research, and giving the photographers what they want and need since their entry into the market.
On a technical note, for photography, you won’t get the same quality of an image. It’s only 12 mega pixels. I do however believe the Sony A7IV will do better than that with regards to still image quality, but not have the video capabilities of the A7SIII. We’ll have to wait and see.
I’ve been a Canon shooter since the start of my career. It’s been great getting to know it’s abilities and I am still impressed with what the Mark III has to offer. But, just like changing from a DSLR to mirrorless, I do think changing brands could be a good thing. With this knowledge and with my budget allowing, I will be converting to Sony. I am usually an early adopter and the first to get my hands on new gear, but in this case I will first check what the Sony a7 IV has to offer and then choose between the two.
As a Canon shooter, are you planning on sticking with the brand, or are you also considering switching? Let us know in the comments.
