After using both the R5 and R6 since launch nearly every single day, I echo what a lot of people have already stated.
Probably the most important improvement would be the issue where the camera is freezing up. I have only experienced this on the R5 between 4-6 times...not bad considering that I have used it almost every single day in an extremely wide variety of scenarios. The main preventative measure I’ve discovered for this has been to just turn the camera off manually when I’m not using it. This hasn’t really happened unless I’m walking around with the camera powered on and by my side. I personally believe this has something to do with the IBIS system getting overworked because it’s constantly working and Canon doesn’t allow it to eventually shut down/return to center when idle.
The R6 needs video Tv priority at a very minimum. I and many others have a legitimate use for shutter priority in video that would come in very handy for quick, run/gun video when walking around and just need a quick clip that I’m not trying to win an award with...but I would like smooth motion without thinking much.
This is another personal preference, but I would like to see the option to have aspect ratios available in crop modes when shooting photos. However, I realize I’m probably alone in this need, so I don’t think it will happen.
**1** Electronic Shutter Options
OK...now down to business. Silent shutter mode needs to actually have various frame rates to choose from. The fact it’s either 20fps or 1fps is ridiculous. I don’t need 20fps...and I shoot motorsports for a living! I like the idea of having it available, but I would love to be able to shoot in electronic shutter on the R5 with 10, 12, 15, etc. frames per second. I also agree that the addition of an optional audible shutter would be beneficial for me in some situations as well.
**2** Smaller RAW Format Options on the R5
I’ve been in several discussions with people about this and heard both sides of the spectrum...but I own an R6 because it’s 20mp and the R5 because it’s 45mp. I, and many others, don’t really NEED 45mp all the time. Having the option to shoot in smaller RAW formats would be fantastic for myself and many others in my industry. We are routinely shooting 1,500-3,000 images in a day and while storage costs may be incredibly cheap, processing power certainly isn’t. When I offload 1,000+ 45mp RAW or cRAW images on any of my machines (all Intel mobile i7 on the road or my Ryzen 7 3700X desktop) they chug along. It’s extremely demanding to import and edit 45mp RAW files in Lightroom and that’s all well and good when I’m at home in the office with a powerful desktop and more time...but when I’m on the road with a pretty powerful Dell XPS 15 or XPS 13 laptop it can be a problem to import and offload images in a timely fashion. If we could be given the option to shoot in 20-24mp full frame RAW, it would come in handy - ESPECIALLY at a wedding when I absolutely have no need for a 45mp image of a dance floor. LOL If I could switch the R5 into 20-24mp after the portrait session is complete, it would work out extremely well with the R6.
**3** Video CODEC Options to Support Slower Cards
I love love LOVE that CLog-3 is potentially coming to the R5 soon. But I hope we do see alternative CODECs that are more manageable. Understandably, H.265 was chosen for a good reason - it’s a very efficient way of taking a LOT of information off the camera. But, as it stands right now, I only own ONE CFExpress card that can write sustained 4K120 without reaching the buffer limit. If I’m in a pinch and only have an SD card or inferior 128GB/256GB CFExpress card in the camera, being able to use a smaller CODEC (which will inevitably reduce quality) just so I can actually SHOOT the video is a very valuable for me.
**4** The IBIS System and a High-Res Mode
What’s going on here, Canon? The IBIS system is a tremendously strong performer for stills and extremely weak when it comes to video. Walking movements can be exaggerated wildly and some camera movements look like a drunk slob took them. It also can’t be detached from the lens?!? WHY! Why can’t I just use lens IS or combined or just IBIS? Why does IBIS have to constantly be working when the camera is on? Why doesn’t it eventually disengage from operation after a certain amount of time after you let your finger off metering only when using an IS lens - a feature already available when using a non-IS lens? This would help with battery life quite a bit. Can we please get a high-resolution mode? The camera processing and IBIS system are surely up to the task.
**5** Make the R6 Great and the R5 Even Greater
While the average Joe looks at the R5 and R6 and says “why pay $1400 for 20 more megapixels and 8K video I’ll never use!” There are some serious optimization differences between the cameras that make the R5 a superior camera in every single way. But why can’t the R6 store custom functions for video? Why can’t it shoot in any ALL-I formats? Why can’t it record video in shutter or aperture priority - just full manual or full auto? All of that could be considered for a firmware update and adding some of the aforementioned features to the R5 would help them keep their distance in the market.
This was long as I thought out loud. I doubt anyone will have read it, but if you did, thank you. Haha