Hi,
I'm on the fence with this one. EOS R vs 5D mk IV.
I have been a happy 6D user for the last 7 years. I am now considering an upgrade to the 5D mk IV or an EOS R. (Cant justify the cost of the R6 or R5)
I don't upgrade often and I expect another 7 years out of my purchase.
In Australia 5D4 costs $3239au ($2320USD)
EOS R with EF adaptor is nearly $600au cheaper.
(prices are grey market, with 5 year warranty)
I really love my 6D as far as ergonomics and control layout, I find usability a very important aspect of cameras.
The R would be a no-brainer however my main concern is the sideways step Canon took with the control layout.
I focus with the AF-on back button and I see many negative comments about button placement on the R. Also no rear dial for exp comp.
I'd appreciate comments on the control layout of the EOS R? Is it that bad?
Oops...Perhaps I should have posted in the R forum.
Hi Andy,
I’ve just traded my R in (for an R5), still have a 5D IV (and used to have a 6D).
The R and the 5D IV are both fantastic cameras and a joy to use (as was the 6D). If you can, visit a store to try them and - as you say - consider posting this on the R Talk Forum too.
However, here are some comments regarding the concerns you raise in your post -
In terms of BBF, I found the the AF-ON button on the R to be in an odd position - I had to twist my thumb to use it and with prolonged use this became quite uncomfortable, so I ended up changing back to conventional AF via the shutter button and used the AF-On button to enable exposure compensation (adjusted using the main dial). Meanwhile, my 5D IV offers 2 well positioned BBF buttons (if I also choose to use the * button option).
(I found the AF on my 5D IV more nimble than the R - quite simply, it's
better at action shots).
So, if BBF/ action shooting are critical things for you, then I would recommend the 5D IV.
As I’ve mentioned, exposure compensation
can be made readily adjustable on the R via one of the custom buttons/ main dial, or the lens control ring/ controller ring adapter (this can also be set so the ring only adjusts the setting when the shutter is half pressed).
I tried to like the M-Fn bar, settling on using it to change focus method, but to be honest it really wasn’t that great (and I’m not missing it on my R5). Some R users really like it though.
The R would benefit from a 3rd dial (now added on the R5), but with an RF lens - or the control ring adapter, similar functionality can be available and I found there were enough buttons on the R for all my customisations and needs (I was very happy with my set-up).
I never really got on with using the screen to move the AF point (though some R users love this feature) and ended up using the rather clunky 4-way buttons to move the point/ [Bin] to re-centre. I much prefer using the joystick of the 5D IV (and R5), but everyone differs.
The battery endurance of the 5D IV seems eternal compared to the R, but I rarely had to change batteries on my R even with all-day use. Both are robust (the 5D IV a little more so I believe) and I’ve used both day-long in adverse weather (with plenty of due care of course).
I found the extended AF point coverage, eye-AF and silent shutter all very useful features with the R. It’s also a little smaller and lighter (but loses some of this advantage if using an EF lens and the EF-R adapter). I really liked the R’s EVF and enjoyed the benefits of using it - and I missed this feature the most when I returned to the 5D IV. A heads-up histogram, exposure simulation and being able to review images in the EVF are major advantages (for me). (However, some R users find the slight - but still noticeable - jitter effect if panning/ shooting fast moving targets e.g. birds-in-flight can be irksome and would prefer an OVF). The R also has a flip screen, which I find very useful for multi-angle viewing (e.g. saving me from grovelling in the mud/ looking over crowds) and allowing me to close it for protection.
EF (and EF-S) lenses work just as well (some say even better) with the R than with a DSLR.
You may be surprised to hear that - despite all its foibles - I used my R in preference to my 5D IV most of the time, but when I got my R5 recently, the R or the 5D IV had to go - and I kept what I consider 'a design classic’ - the 5D IV. (Though I’m actually using my R5 :-D ).
Hopefully this helps - good luck with your choice…
Phil
good luck.
