This might be my first post. When I saw the discontinuation, it made me reflect on my camera journey
I started in high school with a photography class. We shot only black and white and developed in house in darkroom.
I owned several "point and shoot" cameras after high school all the way back from the film days to the switch to the digital ELPH style cameras. I even had one of those film "disc" cameras that took pics on a round insert. Remember those????
My first venture into owning a "real" camera was the Canon G5 back when it was released. I loved that camera and took it everywhere. I even used it for some portfolio work back in the days. This is LONG before I understood how to shoot and the settings of a camera. Side note: I still own this camera today
Somewhere around 2010, I got a Nikon D5000. This is the camera I learned manual shooting with. Moving that dial from "A" to "M" was a scary thing. That first ride without training wheels is always a challenge, but we get up after we fall...or take a bad shot. It was a big jump in image quality and focusing from the G5. It was also a very unforgiving camera for a beginner. I rarely got a bad shot from it. And that was because of the camera, not me
In November 2016, I purchased a Canon 80D with a 18-135 lens for $1199 from Camera Canada. Where I learned manual shooting with the Nikon, the Canon is where I mastered it. The output and colors were great on the 80D. I did find it less forgiving when the settings were not dialed in precisely. At first I found this frustrating, but it made me a better shooter. It forced me to study my art more. The 80D was also a bit slow in low light focusing, so I had to learn anticipating shoots. Adding this to my arsenal also made me a better shooter. I would study subjects and movement, not just shoot. I still use this camera as "B" cam on shoots.
I witnessed the industry moving towards mirrorless, but loved my DSLR and was not looking to make a switch. The initial Canon R was underwhelming and light years behind what Sony and others were doing. With an investment in Canon lenses;, I certainly was not going to invest in a new body. So I stayed still. I continued with the tool I had, ignoring industry noise about the advancements mirrorless brings
When the R5 dropped, I paid attention. Canon finally seemed interested in innovation and not just releasing a body to be able to say "me too". This was the first mirrorless from Canon I was interested in. Even so, I debated getting the 90D over the R5. One consideration was the price and the other was it took an entirely new lens system..... means buying new lenses!
April 18th 2022, I ordered the R5 with the 24-105 f4 and an EF to R adapter because I have several EF lenses.
Grand total = 5,037.00
OUCH!
My initial response when I unboxed it was that I thought a mirrorless would be smaller. I picked it up, attached the lens and took my first look in the EVF. WHOA. So clear, so sharp, so bright.......also so laggy until I changed the power save setting to off. Once I took my first shots, the difference between by 80D and the R5 was night and day. The eye lock focusing made missed shots almost impossible. And that focusing was fast. No hunting, even in low light. The ability to restore lost details in shadows seemed like magic, but I do only shoot RAW. Where the 80D was fun, but a chore to shoot with at times, the R5 made me fall in love with photography again.
I recently returned from trip to Thailand. I dreaded taking the weight on my R5 and lenses on another international trip. Being this was vacation and not work, I purchased an R50 with a Sigma 18-50mm F2.8. Not the smallest kit, but for picture quality, low light and reach, it works great. I only want one camera and one lens for this trip. The combo took great pics, but also made me realize the superior capabilities of my R5. Don't get me wrong, the R50 photos came out great, but it fell apart in times the R5 wouldn't break a sweat. I had to do SO MUCH cleaning up my low light photos it isn't even funny. Every photo had unbearable noise. The R5 would have handled this without issue. But we are taking an entry APS-C versus a flagship full frame. I better see a difference!!!
I say all of this to say, I see the R5 as a body in my kit for a long time. I am so happy with this highly capable camera. I didn't even look at the Mark II. I am waiting to see if the Mark III will incorporate open gate. If it does, I will get it because I want to record with Anamorphic lenses for music videos. Other than that, I thank Canon for making a true shooters camera!!
Today, I still stand as a student. Not the best photographer. Not the most sort out photographer and barely even known. But what my journey has done for me is create great memories for myself and others. And that is priceless!
Many of my 80D and D5000 photos still live here along side R5 images:
Lab of Noyzes
but personally I think all Fuji cameras are Fugly little boxes with nasty sharp angles and crappy ergonomics whereas Canon bodies are beautifully styled by the undisputed masters of ergonomics which always fit human hands and their curves are really sexy just as humans with curves are more appealing both visually and tactilely.
