R review: Moved from 5D4 w/ EF lenses to R w/ RF lenses

I’ve been shooting with Canon digital cameras since 2002 and using Canon gear professionally (paid work) since 2008. My professional use is very limited at this point to stills (products), but included years of architecture photography, along with portraits, studio, wedding, etc. My first professional use camera was the original 5D, which I still consider a near perfect camera in its simplicity and purity of purpose. The 5D2 was my next camera. It was purchased the day of release and was my last DSLR purchase to bring major new features that heightened my capabilities and made for a more efficient photography process. For my use the 5D3 brought no value and the 5D2 was still going strong so it was not considered. I added the M system to help balance out my EF kit for selected professional work plus all of my personal photography. When the 5D2 began to reach the end of its service life I decided to get the 6D as it did most everything I needed better than the 5D3, plus it was a spiritual successor to the original 5D, and as such, a beloved camera. I was excited about the prospect of the 6D2, but its handicapped sensor was a clear indication I would eventually need to move away from Canon DSLRs. I bought a 5D4 as it had the near perfect full frame sensor for my needs, and would allow me to wait for Canon’s full frame mirrorless offering while providing me with a dependable full frame camera system for my professional work.

As of this week I finally sold off my entire full frame DSLR kit and purchased a R body. While the R is considered to be technically inferior to a 5D4, the 5D4 lacked what I needed and was overflowing in expensive features that I would never use, so I find that the R works better for my needs and is very close to being my perfect camera. I understand that the R has not received a lot of love compared to some of the competition or other Canon bodies, and that other cameras might be superior, however, I design and manufacturer products so approach new product releases with appreciation for all of the work that goes into making the offering and then what the particular offering brings to the table. When the R was announced it was clear that I would be a wonderful camera for me, despite its issues. The same could be said for the R5, clearly a fantastic offering that while many were upset with various issues, I knew it could be a phenomenal camera to meet my photographic needs. However, at this point, the R5 is simply way beyond my needs, so instead of fighting limited supplies to get an R5 from someone that actually needs its more advanced features, I was happy to pickup the R.

Well, the R has been anything but a compromise, as it has proven to be a dream-come-true camera for me. If the touch bar is deemed too awkward to use, then it is easily avoided as the RF system still offers more controls than EF DSLRs with the extra lens control ring. Touch screen positioning for single point AF is a stunningly useful feature, and the manual focus is a breeze compared to DSLRs. For me the biggest benefit comes from the mirrorless format’s superior single point control and accuracy. It has been years since buying a new camera body that didn’t require spending hours painfully setting up AF micro-adjustment, which even when perfectly setup was still far from accurate.

And then there are the lenses…I could have kept my EF lenses as they will continue to have compatibility with all systems (EF, EF-S, EF-M and RF), however, Canon is clearly dedicating all of their considerable design, engineering and manufacturing resources into building out the RF lens line in ways that exceed anything they’ve made before. Like everything in this world, resources are limited, so if Canon is making such a clear show of force with the RF line, then I’ve decided to fully commit to the RF line. The new RF line also includes lenses that I had spent over a decade hoping would be released in the EF mount. Now my large collection of EF lenses has been replaced and improved with just two compact, affordable and capable 35/1.8 IS and 85/2 IS RF lenses. I might add one of the 50mm RF lenses in the future, or a 135 IS lens when available, but for the time being, the RF system has presented me with the photography kit of my dreams.

While the R body might not be the latest and greatest offering, gear isn’t about that for me and is instead about helping me achieve work goals, as well as helping me discover more of the world and myself through the art of photography, which on both fronts the R does better than any previous camera. In addition, I also value products that are well made and have substance in their feel and presence, which is how I would describe the R’s build and design. All and all, the R is one of the best camera purchases I’ve made over last twenty years. I recommend the R for someone that might not need the latest and greatest features of the R5 or R6, but that would like to use a mirrorless body within the larger Canon system.