Returning User Looking For Feedback

[Mikey_Col]

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I have been here and have had to create a new account - old email no longer available to me.

Things have been quiet on the photography with my old 20D seeing a lot less use as my girls have grown up.

I have first grandchild on the way (end of July) plus approaching retirement so have been thinking about refreshing my Canon equipment. I am thinking of buying an R6Mkii with 24-105F4L. I always had a desire for full-frame, but couldn't justify the spend, but can nowadays.

I have also considered if staying with Canon was the right option, but having some Canon gear that could find re-use is swinging the balance towards Canon. My interests will be mainly family, outdoors walks (coast and hills), aviation and my rc models, maybe some night skys.

I had noticed that an R6Mkiii could be coming, but suspect that I will have to commit before that event, hence the Mkii looking favourite.

I would appreciate thoughts and feedbacks, is my existing equipment still be of value using the R6.

My current equipment is as follows:

Canon 20D plus 17-85 (assuming no use to me with the R6)

EF Canon 70-200 f4isL

EF Canon 135 f2L

EF Canon 85 f1.8

EF Canon 50 F1.8

Canon 1.4L extender

Canon speed lights 420ex and 580ex2

I am in two minds, get the R6 with 24-105L f4, plus EF adaptor and use other lenses and flash as needed, or sell all the Canon gear and have a free choice. I am inclined to the former. Does this make sense, am I missing something?

Thanks in advance

 

[Sittatunga]

Welcome back

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I have been here and have had to create a new account - old email no longer available to me.

Things have been quiet on the photography with my old 20D seeing a lot less use as my girls have grown up.

I have first grandchild on the way (end of July) plus approaching retirement so have been thinking about refreshing my Canon equipment. I am thinking of buying an R6Mkii with 24-105F4L. I always had a desire for full-frame, but couldn't justify the spend, but can nowadays.

I have also considered if staying with Canon was the right option, but having some Canon gear that could find re-use is swinging the balance towards Canon. My interests will be mainly family, outdoors walks (coast and hills), aviation and my rc models, maybe some night skys.

I had noticed that an R6Mkiii could be coming, but suspect that I will have to commit before that event, hence the Mkii looking favourite.

I would appreciate thoughts and feedbacks, is my existing equipment still be of value using the R6.

My current equipment is as follows:

Canon 20D plus 17-85 (assuming no use to me with the R6)

It's usable as a 28-135mm f/6.5-9 equivalent, the length of the RF 24-105mm L but ¼lb lighter, if you can live with just over 9MPx output. It would make your 20D easier to sell or give away.

The rest of your lenses and flashes will be fine, but the lenses will be wider angle than you're used to. The RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 would give you almost the equivalent of your adapted 70-200mm plus extender on your 20D at about half the weight. The first two RF 70-200mm lenses don't take extenders, the latest, video oriented version does.

EF Canon 70-200 f4isL

EF Canon 135 f2L

EF Canon 85 f1.8

EF Canon 50 F1.8

Canon 1.4L extender

Canon speed lights 420ex and 580ex2

I am in two minds, get the R6 with 24-105L f4, plus EF adaptor and use other lenses and flash as needed, or sell all the Canon gear and have a free choice. I am inclined to the former. Does this make sense, am I missing something?

Thanks in advance

 

[dmartin92]

I am thinking of buying an R6Mkii with 24-105F4L. I always had a desire for full-frame, but couldn't justify the spend, but can nowadays.

I have owned the R6 mk2 since January 2023. It's a fine camera, even for video, and you should not hesitate about that camera, if it is within your budget.

You could just start with only an R6 mk2 and an EF adapter.

EF Canon 135 f2L

You definitely want to keep the 135 f/2 L.

EF Canon 85 f1.8

EF Canon 50 F1.8

Canon 1.4L extender

Canon speed lights 420ex and 580ex2

I am in two minds, get the R6 with 24-105L f4, plus EF adaptor and use other lenses and flash as needed, or sell all the Canon gear and have a free choice. I am inclined to the former. Does this make sense, am I missing something?

Makes perfect sense, I would say. You have fine lenses already. They set up the process of switching over to mirrorless to be easy, and it pretty much is.

 

[Andy01]

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I have been here and have had to create a new account - old email no longer available to me.

Things have been quiet on the photography with my old 20D seeing a lot less use as my girls have grown up.

I have first grandchild on the way (end of July) plus approaching retirement so have been thinking about refreshing my Canon equipment. I am thinking of buying an R6Mkii with 24-105F4L. I always had a desire for full-frame, but couldn't justify the spend, but can nowadays.

If budget is a concern, you could consider the smaller R8 - it has the same sensor and AF as R6 ii and it would be light years ahead of your 20D. Potentially put the "extra" cash towards something like RF 100-400 ?

Compared with R6 ii, probably the main things that R8 lacks is IBIS, second card slot, joystick (which is of a lot less use now that it might have been 10 years ago on a 5D iii), smaller (but cheaper) battery, lower spec EVF etc. All of these things are stuff that your 20D never had so you won't miss any of it (except maybe the DSLR battery life).

I have also considered if staying with Canon was the right option, but having some Canon gear that could find re-use is swinging the balance towards Canon. My interests will be mainly family, outdoors walks (coast and hills), aviation and my rc models, maybe some night skys.

I had noticed that an R6Mkiii could be coming, but suspect that I will have to commit before that event, hence the Mkii looking favourite.

I would appreciate thoughts and feedbacks, is my existing equipment still be of value using the R6.

My current equipment is as follows:

Canon 20D plus 17-85 (assuming no use to me with the R6)

No, as mentioned above sell and a combo or give away - it wouldn't be worth a lot I might guess.

EF Canon 70-200 f4isL

EF Canon 135 f2L

EF Canon 85 f1.8

EF Canon 50 F1.8

Canon 1.4L extender

As mentioned above these would all work with the adapter, but the adapter does tend to make them "larger" and less wieldy. I would not recommend adapting a lens that you use frequently, but for EF lenses that are used somewhat occasionally, they will almost certainly work better than they did on your 20D.

Perhaps keep the 135L and 85, and replace the rest with RF 24-105L f4 and RF 100-400.

Canon speed lights 420ex and 580ex2

Not sure but I think they would work, but perhaps not all functions/features. I suspect that you will find that R6 ii or R8 when processed with DxO would allow a SIGNIFICANTLY higher ISO speed than you even had available on your 20D (like ISO 25600 or higher), and the much greater dynamic range of the newer sensors (which allows shadows to be drawn out) which almost does away with the need for flash. You are likely to find that you just don't need flash often at all - unless shooting people indoors a lot perhaps.

You might also want a night sky lens - perhaps UWA f2.8 or faster ?

I am in two minds, get the R6 with 24-105L f4, plus EF adaptor and use other lenses and flash as needed, or sell all the Canon gear and have a free choice. I am inclined to the former. Does this make sense, am I missing something?

No, I don't think you are missing anything. The newer Canon RF gear is revolutionary compared to the older Canon DSLRs (but, of course, in this forum we may be a little biased. Ask the same question in Nikon or Sony forums and you will get different answers), but be prepared for a LARGE learning curve. Obviously the photographic basics are the same, but the way the new cameras do things is quite different to even the recent DSLRs, never mind a 20-odd yo one.

Thanks in advance

I replaced a 6D ii and M5 mirrorless with R8 & R10, and the older cameras are left for dead in comparison, and both of them were 15 years + newer than your 20D, so you are in for a treat :-D

When I sold my relatively modern/newer Canon DSLR and EF-M gear (in Australia), I didn't get great prices, so taking your "latter" option might not net you a lot of cash to put towards the new gear.

 

[KevinRA]

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I have been here and have had to create a new account - old email no longer available to me.

Things have been quiet on the photography with my old 20D seeing a lot less use as my girls have grown up.

I have first grandchild on the way (end of July) plus approaching retirement so have been thinking about refreshing my Canon equipment. I am thinking of buying an R6Mkii with 24-105F4L. I always had a desire for full-frame, but couldn't justify the spend, but can nowadays.

I have also considered if staying with Canon was the right option, but having some Canon gear that could find re-use is swinging the balance towards Canon. My interests will be mainly family, outdoors walks (coast and hills), aviation and my rc models, maybe some night skys.

I had noticed that an R6Mkiii could be coming, but suspect that I will have to commit before that event, hence the Mkii looking favourite.

I would appreciate thoughts and feedbacks, is my existing equipment still be of value using the R6.

My current equipment is as follows:

Canon 20D plus 17-85 (assuming no use to me with the R6)

I would think these are not worth much.

EF Canon 70-200 f4isL

Very nice lens and will work very well with R

EF Canon 135 f2L

Very nice lens and will work very well with R

EF Canon 85 f1.8

Nice lens and will work OK with R - AF may not be quite as good as modern R's based on what Chris Nicholls said for fast action and purple fringing will show up.

EF Canon 50 F1.8

OK if stopped down to f/2.2

Canon 1.4L extender

Nice with the 70-200

Canon speed lights 420ex and 580ex2

I am in two minds, get the R6 with 24-105L f4, plus EF adaptor and use other lenses and flash as needed, or sell all the Canon gear and have a free choice. I am inclined to the former. Does this make sense, am I missing something?

OK so the R6II is very nice but you could used consider a dealer used copy of the R6 mark 1 (cheaper and still excellent!) - or for greater cropping power the R5 used from a dealer can be a steal now - I have 2 of these. The R8 is good, but smaller and misses out on AF joystick and ~IBIS (which will be handy for your 50, 85 and 135). Buy used and then you can always sell again at likely less loss than a new camera - if Canon releases a compelling new feature.

EF lenses work very well generally and are a bargain sometimes now used.

The RF 24-105 f/4 gets some mixed reviews - generally positive but others say it is not as sharp outside of centre of frame as would expect for an expensive modern lens - again used copies from dealers sometimes at good prices. I am sure it will give fantastic images. The STM 24-105 is OK if you don't need 105mmm f/4 - and is a lot lighter - and serves me quite well along with the 15-30. The 24-240 is super versatile. The RF 28 f/2.8 pancake is a nice lens as is the 16 2.8. RF 100-400 should be good for airshows.

APSC does also now look like an option - the R10 or R7 (used copy from a dealer) is a really good bet too - along with the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 and their new primes including for astro- but this camera's resolution will really show up the limitations in the EF 17-85, 50 and 85 f/1.8s. The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 is very nice - the 16mm f/1.4 OK too - these wide apertures will compensate for the APSC smaller sensor vs the f/2.8-f/4 full frame equivs. The EF 70-200 will be fine also for airshows. These have more rolling shutter but this is only an issue for fast moving subjects (in electronic shutter or video work).

Thanks in advance

 

[R2D2]

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I have been here and have had to create a new account - old email no longer available to me.

I have to add my Welcome (Back) as well! :-D

Things have been quiet on the photography with my old 20D seeing a lot less use as my girls have grown up.

Indeed, having everybody leave the nest really puts a crimp on a lot of photographic opportunities! Even the nieces and nephews are grown now too. I sure miss shooting all the kids.

I have first grandchild on the way (end of July)

Sweet! The next generation of willing subjects!

plus approaching retirement

This should really be classified as its own unique market segment. ;-)

so have been thinking about refreshing my Canon equipment.

Yes!

I am thinking of buying an R6Mkii with 24-105F4L. I always had a desire for full-frame, but couldn't justify the spend, but can nowadays.

Bingo. The R6ii is a tremendously capable camera, exceeded by only the R5ii and the "big boys." I use the R6ii for the majority of my paid shoots (events and sports primarily), and trust it completely to get the job done. The RF 24-105 f/4L pairs very well with it too, although I primarily use the big RF "Trinity" most of the time.

My RF 24-105/4 is excellent however, and I really like it best for outdoor shooting and walk-around (it's better than the EF versions). I have the STM version as well, but the L isn't too heavy, unless you're minimizing everything for travel. There were a couple of reports on the forum of bad copies tho, so check yours right away.

An alternative standard zoom, if you'd like an extra stop, would be the new RF 28-70 f/2.8 STM. It's getting positive reviews, but you do lose range on both ends.

I have also considered if staying with Canon was the right option, but having some Canon gear that could find re-use is swinging the balance towards Canon.

Exactly. There are other viable systems out there of course, but already owning compatible lenses is a big plus. Start out with your R6ii kit, and fill any holes as you go.

My interests will be mainly family, outdoors walks (coast and hills), aviation and my rc models, maybe some night skys.

See how your existing lenses work for you. The sky is really the limit from there.

I had noticed that an R6Mkiii could be coming, but suspect that I will have to commit before that event, hence the Mkii looking favourite.

May be another year before you can hold a Mark iii (the rumors keep pushing the date back). If you do need a smaller body, anything with DIGIC X will be great.

I would appreciate thoughts and feedbacks, is my existing equipment still be of value using the R6.

What you have is a good base to build from. The transition itself is still a tough one, so you can lean on us as needed. :-D

My current equipment is as follows:

Canon 20D plus 17-85 (assuming no use to me with the R6)

EF Canon 70-200 f4isL

EF Canon 135 f2L

EF Canon 85 f1.8

EF Canon 50 F1.8

Canon 1.4L extender

Canon speed lights 420ex and 580ex2

No need to replace unless you need additional features. My 580 EX2 works fine.

I am in two minds, get the R6 with 24-105L f4, plus EF adaptor and use other lenses and flash as needed, or sell all the Canon gear and have a free choice. I am inclined to the former.

+1 Canon has been neck and neck with Sony for the past 5 years. Nikon is finally starting to catch up. And the rest of the field is still a good ways back (my take).

Does this make sense, am I missing something?

Thanks in advance

I think you're good to go! Happy shopping!

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

 

[Mikey_Col]

Thank you all for your responses, they have given me some food for thought.

I had already decided that that the 20D and 17-85 wouldn’t be playing any part in the future options, but had an uncertain feel for which of the others lens might have future merit, more confident about the 135 and 70-200 being suitable. I had previously purchased the 85 and 135 for the gymnastics competitions when my girls were younger, and occasional portraits. Changing to full frame might make them more useful going forwards as they were a bit long on the crop of the 20D. Still need the EF to RF adaptor but see their use as being less frequent and the zooms as being the primary choices.

My take away so far is that the r6ii is still the right body, just less certain about the lenses now, RF24-105 F4 or STM version, RF100-400 or some other combination. I think that the 24-105 range is looking favourite for the majority of use. I can imagine a shorter prime lens for baby portraits, unless the 24-105 works for that. Because this in hobby/family not work, I don’t want to go excessively heavy, but experienced the L quality with the 20D, hence keen to keep high quality.

I am hoping that flash use will be needed much less than with the 20D, due to full frame and better higher iso performance.

 

[Bluesrider]

I am also jumping back in. I had a 60D about 12 years back, and I had an EOS R for a time with the 24-105 F4. I don't know if it was because is was my first full frame, L lens, or both, but I was amazed at the pics I was taking.

I've been without a cam for 3 years now, and I'm ready for an R6 Mk II. I'm about 8 years from retirement, and I think I will do more photography as I do less of other things because of age. I know I won't use all the features on the R6, but I think it will be an enjoyable experience.

The R6 Mk III is supposedly a month away, but that isn't enticing me.

 

[dmartin92]

I can imagine a shorter prime lens for baby portraits, unless the 24-105 works for that. Because this in hobby/family not work, I don’t want to go excessively heavy, but experienced the L quality with the 20D, hence keen to keep high quality.

https://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/lenses/canon_rf_50_1p4_l_vcm

The new RF 50mm f/1.4 VCM. It's quite fine.

 

[gavin]

Welcome back. First you will switch from the APS-C 20D to a full frame. So all your lenses will be :shorter: I would wait for the R6 mk III if you can if not the mk II is good. You will be amazed by the AF and frame rate improvements. Also you need to get an adapter for your EF lens. I have been using one for a while.

 

[Mikey_Col]

Hi Gavin, thanks for your reply. love your photos.
I will get the adapter for my lenses and think I will prefer the shorter aspect.
I have been following the rumours on the R6iii but it has been a month away for a few months. I have my first grandchild due end July and want to be back up to speed, otherwise would be using the 20D, hence the R6ii is now looking like the right choice.

 

[Mikey_Col]

Getting the latest is nice and if I could wait I would, but without the certainty of release date the R6ii is looking like my only option, to have the camera in time.
i also think it will be more camera than I really need so won’t be disappointed in any way.

 

[Mikey_Col]

Thanks for the comments. Sounds like I am on the right track.
Happened to pass a camera shop today and they had a demo R6ii but no R8. I have to say that I thought that the R6 was still a reasonable size, smaller and lighter than the 20D, so a positive all told.

A question for you though, I have seen a few mentions of the learning curve, not sure exactly what that aspect that refers to? Is it the feature set and complexity or requirement for new techniques? Just curious.

 

[Sittatunga]

Thanks for the comments. Sounds like I am on the right track.
Happened to pass a camera shop today and they had a demo R6ii but no R8. I have to say that I thought that the R6 was still a reasonable size, smaller and lighter than the 20D, so a positive all told.

A question for you though, I have seen a few mentions of the learning curve, not sure exactly what that aspect that refers to? Is it the feature set and complexity or requirement for new techniques? Just curious.

Quick answer, yes.

Focussing almost anywhere on the screen is quicker and more accurate than focus and recompose. Exp sim. pretty well does away with the need to chimp. Silent shutter really is silent. Automatic subject recognition with servo focus and tracking is really quite scary to start with until you find yourself relying on it and wondering how you did without it.

There are a lot more pages of menu items and a lot more permutations of focussing options. Once you start to find your way around the menu system it gets easier to learn it, and things are laid out quite logically on the whole. Just be prepared to learn different techniques and don't try to use mirrorless cameras exactly the same way you would use DSLRs. They are different for a lot of very good reasons.

 

[Alastair Norcross]

The R6II is as good as it gets in that price segment (maybe matched, but certainly not exceeded, by the latest Nikon). Your existing full frame lenses will work very well with it, but the RF versions are even better (I have the RF 135 F1.8, which is about as optically perfect a lens as I have ever used), and there are quite a few RF lenses that have no EF equivalent. I think your plan of starting out with the R6II and RF 24-105 F4 and an adapter, and using your existing EF lenses, makes very good sense. You can decide gradually whether you want to add more RF lenses, and maybe replace some of your existing EF lenses with RF versions. That's what I did. I now have 20 RF lenses (!!) and no EF lenses, which is pure indulgence, but the RF lenses are so good that you start to get addicted to them. I have all three versions of the 50, and don't want to sell any of them. My only justification for this is that it's a hobby I have enjoyed all my life, since teaching myself photography on manual-everything cameras (not even a built-in light meter on my first 35mm camera) in the 70's, and I have never been tempted by expensive cars

 

[R2D2]

Thanks for the comments. Sounds like I am on the right track.
Happened to pass a camera shop today and they had a demo R6ii but no R8. I have to say that I thought that the R6 was still a reasonable size, smaller and lighter than the 20D, so a positive all told.

A question for you though, I have seen a few mentions of the learning curve, not sure exactly what that aspect that refers to? Is it the feature set and complexity or requirement for new techniques? Just curious.

+1 to what Sittatunga and Alastair have written. There are some huge benefits when shooting mirrorless, but they behave quite differently from DSLRs.

And getting a setting wrong can totally mess you up. Fortunately there are some excellent guides out there (and us in here) for support. :-D

R2

 

[gavin]

Also the tariff will increase price. I like my R5 II. You cannot compare the DSLR AF to the mirrorless AF.

 

[Mikey_Col]

Decision made. R6ii, 24-104 f4 and ef to rf adapter ordered and being delivered this week. Looking forwards to getting going and learning the new functionality.

 

[Andy01]

Decision made. R6ii, 24-104 f4 and ef to rf adapter ordered and being delivered this week. Looking forwards to getting going and learning the new functionality.

Sounds great, I am sure you will enjoy that

 

[KariP]

Decision made. R6ii, 24-104 f4 and ef to rf adapter ordered and being delivered this week. Looking forwards to getting going and learning the new functionality.

I bought R6 (not MkII) some years ago and also RF 24-105 L - later RF 14- 35

Also an adapter - and using older EF lenses like EF 100-400 L MkII has been enjoyable - the adapter works fine.

I started with 40D ...

Anyway , 24-105 has been my favorite lens and I really like the results.

The manual is not a very good companion when you start using the new mirrorless system. Canon menu and other systems are quite easy to understand. Some eBook like "Understanding EOS R6 MkII... " can make it easy.

Enjoy your R6 II !