Travel with EOS M instead of EOS R?

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

Keep using 1 system, Save money for next lightweight RF lens. or
the M6 with kit lens still great and worth to get?

I will go local Canon store to give it a try.

R woth 35mm or 40mm Pancake.

Yana2 wrote:

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

Keep using 1 system, Save money for next lightweight RF lens. or
the M6 with kit lens still great and worth to get?

I will go local Canon store to give it a try.

I couldn't take the poll, because I am in your position exactly.

I always bring everything if traveling by car. I bring a lot if checking baggage.

I can get by fine with the R and the RF 24-105 and the RF 35, as long as it's not a big photography trip. I am able to carry that much on a reasonably short trip without checking baggage. I couldn't take much more and carry it all on or comfortably carry it on me all day.

It's still not convenient in some situations because of size.

If I were going to Japan or anywhere particularly scenic, I would want a full system. To me that means wide, normal, and telephoto zooms, plus something fast for the evenings and something with good close focus, preferably doubling as one of the above.

An M with the 11-22, the 18-150 and one of the fast primes would do the job in a minimalist fashion with a lot of compromises, especially at the long end.

The unlimited funds travel kit would be a Sony RX 10iv and an M with the 11-22 and a couple of the tiny primes. That gives you two cameras, in case of failure, every kind of lens (other than TSE), and still takes up very little space and weight. The biggest compromise there is low light at the long end. Something there can always compliment your big gun when you carry it around town.

I bought into full frame in a very good year. If I were buying in a less prosperous year, the ultimate travel rig would be my ideal main system. I'm glad I have my R and lenses. They allow me to kick my game up a notch or two, but I didn't feel crippled with APSc.

rrc1967 wrote:

Yana2 wrote:

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

While I don't have an R yet - the M is a perfect little travel kit. Pair a M6 with a 11-22, and 18-150 and you simply cannot beat that on an R setup to date in terms of portability (and price).

What you say about price and weight is true and while the EFM kit lenses provide decent IQ they're definitely not in the same class as Canon's L-series lenses. I have an M50 with the 55-200mm telephoto and the best images I got with that combo simply cannot compare to those shot with my EF 70-200mm f/4 L lens.

Yana2 wrote:

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

Keep using 1 system, Save money for next lightweight RF lens. or
the M6 with kit lens still great and worth to get?

I will go local Canon store to give it a try.

Dealt with exactly the same situation when we went to Nagoya recently. R with RF35mm was my choice. Brought the RF24-105mm but it stayed in the hotel 80 percent of the time.

It also meant I left my M6II at home btw.

Caveat is I'm just four hours away from Japan and biz class ticket is only 700 to 800 USD typically. You're even closer, that's good news!

Yana2 wrote:

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

The R plus two lenses (one small) is not a big heavy kit.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

For that you are getting a APS-C body and the worst lens (15-45mm) in the EF-M line-up (OK for holiday snaps I guess), and two batteries with the combined life of 1/2 - 2/3 an R battery.

Not a great idea unless you have a plan to continue using the M6 with some frequency after your trip.

I have a M5, 22mm, 11-22, & 18-150 as my compact kit (but costs a lot more than $400) and backup body to my 6D ii + L lenses. The M5 works well enough with the lenses I have, but the 15-45mm is generally thought of as a pretty poor lens - I would never get one.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

I doubt you could compare a R with 30Mp FF sensor with either of your lenses to a M6 + 15-45mm - especially comparing R at 24mm & f4 to M6 at 15mm (equivalent FoV) & f3.5.

Keep using 1 system, Save money for next lightweight RF lens. or
the M6 with kit lens still great and worth to get?

I will go local Canon store to give it a try.

Spend the $400 on your holiday

Colin

The M system is incredibly small yet powerful in the right hands so I would not let APS-C be something stopping you from an IQ quality perspective. I easily get 85-90% of the IQ if my FF system and sometimes even more with the right lens, especially the lovely EF-M 32mm... Now obviously the 15-45 usually has a bad rep and I personally wouldn't use one. IF that is your only option at this point it may be tougher to recommend the M system.

I love my R but it usually only comes out for work purposes and smaller trips where I won't be travelling too much on foot... because despite what people all say I still find it larger and heavier than my M system due to lens size. Now the RP is smaller for sure but I have no use after owing my R since I find at that point I would rather get an M camera and have something significantly smaller when my R stays home.

HOWEVER my M kit with my 11-22 & Rokinon 12 f/2 if needed, 32 and 55-250STM or 70-200 f/4 is overall much smaller MINUS the 70-200. When I decide to take it my M kit it gets me fantastic resuslts, pro grade results.

End of the day it is all about compromise and physics. The FF sensor will get you overall better IQ, DOF and low light performance at the cost of size and weight. THE M system in the right hands will get you 85-90% of that performance with the right glass MINUS ll the extra bulk and weight of FF.

I often carry even my Rokinon 12 f/2 in my bag and it still ends up being lighter than my R kit, and I have the added bonus of a lowlight ultrwide angle lens that can do great astrophotography if I need it at some point and manual focus is so easy with mirrorless cameras these days.

Either way you can't go wrong but don't be put off by the smaller sensor in the M you would be very surprised at what kind of detail can be pulled out of these sensors.

Take a look at my post, I am from Montreal and shared some photos a few weeks back, all taken with my M5 except for one taken with my 5D IV.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4455221

If you have any other questions we are here!!

Ferazzzz_2011 wrote:

The M system is incredibly small yet powerful in the right hands so I would not let APS-C be something stopping you from an IQ quality perspective. I easily get 85-90% of the IQ if my FF system and sometimes even more with the right lens, especially the lovely EF-M 32mm... Now obviously the 15-45 usually has a bad rep and I personally wouldn't use one. IF that is your only option at this point it may be tougher to recommend the M system.

I love my R but it usually only comes out for work purposes and smaller trips where I won't be travelling too much on foot... because despite what people all say I still find it larger and heavier than my M system due to lens size. Now the RP is smaller for sure but I have no use after owing my R since I find at that point I would rather get an M camera and have something significantly smaller when my R stays home.

HOWEVER my M kit with my 11-22 & Rokinon 12 f/2 if needed, 32 and 55-250STM or 70-200 f/4 is overall much smaller MINUS the 70-200. When I decide to take it my M kit it gets me fantastic resuslts, pro grade results.

End of the day it is all about compromise and physics. The FF sensor will get you overall better IQ, DOF and low light performance at the cost of size and weight. THE M system in the right hands will get you 85-90% of that performance with the right glass MINUS ll the extra bulk and weight of FF.

I often carry even my Rokinon 12 f/2 in my bag and it still ends up being lighter than my R kit, and I have the added bonus of a lowlight ultrwide angle lens that can do great astrophotography if I need it at some point and manual focus is so easy with mirrorless cameras these days.

Either way you can't go wrong but don't be put off by the smaller sensor in the M you would be very surprised at what kind of detail can be pulled out of these sensors.

Take a look at my post, I am from Montreal and shared some photos a few weeks back, all taken with my M5 except for one taken with my 5D IV.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4455221

If you have any other questions we are here!!

I would agree with much of that, except all 4 of my 15-45s are pretty decent, and I find it a very useful lens. 
I shoot on 5D IV/R with L lenses professionally, but for travel, it's generally an M these days. Just come back from a few days in Lithuania, using the M6 II and a range of EF-M lenses - in fact I took 8mm fisheye (Samyang), 11-22, 15-45, 55-200, 22, 28, 32 and 56mm Sigma lenses with me, then carried which I wanted at any time (the 28 stayed on my spare M6 body in the hotel safe the entire time). My wife used her M5 and 18-150. Thing is that even if I carried everything, it wou,d only weigh about the same as the R 24-105 and 35mm, but would give me several extra options. And I could travel really light any time I wanted - R + 35 is still a lot bulkier and heavier.

I just arrived in SE Asia after spending weeks in Japan and Taiwan.

I took EOS R with RF 15-35 on Webill S everywhere. The RF 28-70 was in a lens bag and not getting much use as I captured 4K clips for 99% of the trip.

I took six batteries (a spare with me during each outing), a small Canon flash for fill and two sd cards.

The EOS R on a gimbal is much lighter than my previous setup of 5DIV with 20mm f2.8 on Ronin S.

The APS-C you wish to get will be lighter. However, you may feel yourself restricted in certain situations, such as shooting movie indoor etc.

I also had gopro hero 7 and osmo pocket but didn't use them while in Japan.

My suggestion is save the money for Japan and bring your EOS R.

As you can see from my gear list I have both the M6 Mark2 and the R. Since the M was released I've had an M (original, then 3 then 6) and the 6D, changing to the R in November 2018.

My husband is an impatient photography widower - my holiday is his holiday too and if we are doing a lot of walking and sightseeing without a car, it will be the M series. Even if there is considerable night time photography given the M6, M6 Mark2 and the 22 and 32mm. I only took the M6 when we spent 3 weeks in Vietnam, Bangkok and Singapore in March 2018, you can read my thoughts here about the advantages, relevant paragraph half way down and my photos (although not high res) are here . Most are with the 18-55, 11-22 or 22. I only ever took 2 lenses, the 18-55 or the 11-22 or 22. The M6 took good enough video for me, there are some links on this page and a night time video here

In October last year we went to Vegas for five days as a family, so that included three children in their 20s. It was supposed to be a family break, and I took the M6 Mark2. We were in and out of buildings, lots of night photography, Grand Canyon and Valley of fire. But my children inherit their attitude to photography from their father, so the M was perfect, unobtrusive and took great photos. Again I only took 2 lenses, as above although I had the 32mm as a choice this time

In March 2015 we went to Arctic Finland. Different holiday and conditions and I took the 6D with a huge tripod. Admittedly at the time I only had the original M and the quality of that for night time photography was light years from the quality of the M6 or M6 Mark2, but if I was doing that trip again now, I'd take the R.

In six weeks we go to South Africa for 3 weeks, including safari, just me and Mr Impatient. We have a car and its a relatively "slow pace" holiday. I'm taking the R with the RF24-105, EF16-35 and EF100-400, although the latter will only be used for the safari. I'll make a decision which lens to put on depending on what we are doing that day. He's comfortable with that because he expects "loads of big cameras" on safari. From a photography perspective the M 55-200 is not the strongest lens, and personally I don't like the balance of the big 100-400 on the little body.

Finally this is shot of how I travel with all of my M gear - its a Tenba tools box 8, and I've deliberately left the keyboard in for perspective. Its a camera body, 5 lenses and an external viewfinder (which I never use), and a couple of spare batteries. This slots into a small camera bag with insert removed for travelling, but when I'm out for the day its two lenses max in whatever bag I'm using that day.

In my opinion you don't need to worry about the quality of either the M6 or the M6 Mark2, your decision should be based purely on who you are with and what you are doing. For holiday travel, unless I have what I feel to be a good reason, my preference would be to take the M6/M6 Mark2

I was in Japan for 10 days last November. Rained for 4 days. I took my R and RF 24-105. I purchased an inexpensive but fairly large umbrella and put the handle inside my jacket so it was hands free. I thought I might look into a hands free umbrella or device to make it hands free for my next trip. Just an example.

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/420101471469699314/

I use this strap so carrying all day was easy. If you get to make sure to get version 4 anchors. I use this strap to carry my 100-400 II as well.

https://www.peakdesign.com/collections/straps/products/slide

I've traveled with M system and R system, and far prefer the EOS R with the 24-105. I just prefer the FF sensor performance and in my opinion the RF 24-105 outperformed most M lenses, save perhaps the 22 prime.

I've come to realize that travel either includes dedicated photography time or it doesn't, and since my wife isn't a get up before dawn to track down wildlife kind of traveler, then nearly anything I shoot will be casual. In some circumstances, I even just go down to the phone. The big addition to the kit if I think there will be some time for sunsets or general landscape is a travel tripod and a couple of filters.

I would use the R.

I own the M50 and sometimes when I use my bigger camera for travel/whatever I also add the M50 + EF-M 11-22mm because it's a small and lightweight combo which fits easily in my bag.

joenj wrote:

I had the same idea i.e. I bought an m100 after the R to use the m for travel. I did this exactly one time. Why? Because while I got great shots I was not happy with the noise in the photos and regretted I had not taken my R.
Conclusion for me: Take the best camera you have with you because the opportunity for that great shot might not return so you better have the best gear with you.

When space is limited, you have to choose between the best possible shots with a limited number of lenses and slightly worse but with a complete selection of lenses.

I have recently made the same choice this you made.  But I always miss ultra wide when I see great architecture, and I always miss a long lens when I am at a festival or a wildlife area.   Close focus is covered by the RF 35, so I don’t give that up when I just carry the R and the 24-105 and 35.   But that’s about all I can take, if I don’t want to check baggage.

gnath11 wrote:

Yana2 wrote:

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

Keep using 1 system, Save money for next lightweight RF lens. or
the M6 with kit lens still great and worth to get?

I will go local Canon store to give it a try.

What have you tried so far at the local Canon store?

I will go few hours later today to try M6/M6II with several lens.

last time I've tried R with 85 1.2 / 1.2 DS, RF 70-200, RF 24-240 mainly the lens i don't have.

Please elaborate when you say - tired, rain and poor performance.

Holding an umbrella and shooting with a DSLR (6D+24-105) is not comfortable.

When holding umbrella, shot with the iPhone often.

Poor performance: AF speed, M lens IQ.

I travelled with PS, APS-C and FF cameras with primes and zooms.

I find from my perspective that 'tired' means several things. For example, (1) Tired of lugging a lot of heavy gears when taking flights (2) No problem in (1) but then get tired walking for hours with heavy gear (3) OK with (2), but need a bit rest during the evening - carry small camera but low light performance should be good.

For drizzle or light rain, I use good rain cover on the camera while I wear a rain jacket. For heavy rain, I stay inside. I need to purchase a good PS 100ft or so waterproof camera but most that are available currently have tiny sensor rendering poor low light performance. Sony has a tiny RX0 II that I am considering but I prefer Canon products.

In general with equal and near sensor pixel count and lens, A FF will give better picture than a APS-C from the same brand.

I have stopped travelling with 7DII with18-135mm STM and M50 with 22mm, f/2

I have started to travel with EOS R with RF 24-105 and now in the process of finding the smaller APS-C mirrorless combo. Now EOS R + adapter + a EF prime lens is light weight to me but big to carry in a small bag. During evening, with some exceptions, I leave my daytime backpack in the hotel and carry a much smaller backpack or sling bag.

I did carry other lenses but I have found that those were rarely used - mostly stayed in the bag or hotel room. All these - for travel outside the scope of my own territory where I can do day travel in my own car. I am a senior citizen, so weight is important. So is picture quality - I may not visit the same exotic places twice - so I better use the best equipment I have or can purchase within my budget. Rain protection is important too - it is easier to use rain covers than umbrella.

I have not done any safari or birding kind of travel - those will require heavier lenses.

So please keep in mind that there are layers of travel with the travel. There are layers of being tired, within the realm of tiredness. And there are grades of IQ performance within the realm of travel photography. And did you say you have wife with you? That adds a variable. My wife gladly carries some gear for me but gets impatient when I spend more time than she thinks necessary in taking pictures. When I travel alone, nobody to help carry extra load, but then I can spend time freely.

Yes, when she knew I was tired, she would pick up my backpack or 6D.

Yana2 wrote:

I'm current a EOS R User, I will go Japan Osaka next month with my family.

Last year I went Japan with my wife, with 6D, 50 1.2, 24-105, but 60% time leave them at hotel, because everyday were rainy day, I'm tired with the umbrella and bulky DSLR .

Now I'm planning bring the RF 24-105 & RF35 to Osaka, and outgoing with 1 lens. I think the R with RF35 is light enough for everyday carry.

Or should I give APS-C Camera a try ? Now the M6 MKI kit just USD350, but need add 40-50 for extra battery, 1 tiny battery for travel not feeling enough.

Also I'm afraid EOM-M6 with Kit lens were poor performance compare with R with RF35.

Keep using 1 system, Save money for next lightweight RF lens. or
the M6 with kit lens still great and worth to get?

I will go local Canon store to give it a try.

Hi Yana,

I am often have the same problem.

Here is my choice;

- If I want to have many shoot of my family, I will just take R + 24-105 + one small flash (Godox TT350) and light/small tripod if possible. Flash is for fill light when I am shooting my family (shooting people) and the tripod for shooting landscape or cityscape.

- If my stuff already too much, then I will exchange 24-105 with the RF 35mm.

Have a nice holiday.

Best regards,
Peter