I've had mine for a few days now and have shot a couple of hundred "test" shots. So far I think the camera is a winner. Currently shooting the R5 and an R5C. Funny that you mention the viewfinder, that is one of the first things I discovered, no matter how I tweak the diopter adjustment it just is not sharp, but the images are perfect. I really like how sticky the AF is, and not experiencing any black out. My plan is to shoot with the II for a few weeks and then sell my R5 and replace it with a second II.
The Super Moon shot was handheld with an RF600/4/1.4, it's sharper than any moon image I've ever captured before so I think the sensor is a tad more crisp than it's predecessors.
RobAmy wrote:
I bit early yet to give a decent review. So far it seems better than the R5 and more like the R3 for the little use I have used it.
I think that is a very accurate assessment, it's a keeper. I have a C400 on order and am looking forward to shooting with the new sensor and AF system in that camera.
docusync wrote:
Stan, you may need a different card. I just checked my storage - I have 9888 images saved and a few hundred discarded, so over 10k total shots - zero lock ups. The card is old Delkin Power 1TB with updated firmware.
May be. I have used three different cards from different manufacturers and it's independent of the card. Given that three of the lockups happened pretty much in the same moment / shooting condition / sequence of events, I think it's the software and not the card. Those cards work just fine in the R5 and R3 for hundreds of thousands of shots, I think it's on Canon to make it work rather on me to figure out which card to try and cross my fingers.
stanj wrote:
May be. I have used three different cards from different manufacturers and it's independent of the card. Given that three of the lockups happened pretty much in the same moment / shooting condition / sequence of events, I think it's the software and not the card. Those cards work just fine in the R5 and R3 for hundreds of thousands of shots, I think it's on Canon to make it work rather on me to figure out which card to try and cross my fingers.
Have you looked into any available FW updates for your cards? Last I knew only Prograde and Angelbird offered this feature but perhaps this is becoming more mainstream with others?
lighthound wrote:
Have you looked into any available FW updates for your cards? Last I knew only Prograde and Angelbird offered this feature but perhaps this is becoming more mainstream with others?
Good thought. I downloaded the Angelbird thing but after a number of shenanigans with the install, it doesn't recognize the card, presumably because it requires an Angelbird card reader that I don't have and won't buy just to do a firmware update. The Lexar support site shows only CFast card support software, and even that only in Windows format so not particularly helpful. But yeah it was worth a try
docusync wrote:
Stan, you may need a different card. I just checked my storage - I have 9888 images saved and a few hundred discarded, so over 10k total shots - zero lock ups. The card is old Delkin Power 1TB with updated firmware.
Regarding the R5II vs R3 tracking - I suspect it's the power hungry Ring USM motor in your RF400...
The new 8.4v battery is better than the old 7.2v one but of course it won't provide as much torque as a 10.8v battery.
About 10 days with R5M2 - no lockups whatsoever, also the old Delkin 512TB card/. I did not even knwo you could update firmware on cards. I also have older Sony Tough CF B card but I have not tried it yet.
downhillonwater wrote:
I was a little concerned the 6 ms readout speed would not be fast enough. No rolling shutter artifacts even with wings on downward motion. Excellent.
Got mine today.
I was not that concerned because Canon R5M2 readout speed of 6.3ms is simlar to that of Sony original A9 (that came out over 7 years ago) which was 6.6mps and with A9 the rolling shutter artifacts were all but eliminated.
Now A1 is 3.9ms and Nikons Z9/8 are even faster. Not sure why Canon could not do better than 6.3ms in 2024, since R3 was 4.8ms and R3 is few years old.....
absolutic wrote:
I was not that concerned because Canon R5M2 readout speed of 6.3ms is simlar to that of Sony original A9 (that came out over 7 years ago) which was 6.6mps and with A9 the rolling shutter artifacts were all but eliminated.
Now A1 is 3.9ms and Nikons Z9/8 are even faster. Not sure why Canon could not do better than 6.3ms in 2024, since R3 was 4.8ms and R3 is few years old.....
The R3 has twice less pixels to read
The R1 features the same read out speed per Mpx as the R5II.
absolutic wrote:
About 10 days with R5M2 - no lockups whatsoever, also the old Delkin 512TB card/. I did not even knwo you could update firmware on cards. I also have older Sony Tough CF B card but I have not tried it yet.
You can't unfortunately.. It's not user-serviceable. You send them your card and they will send you a new one.
Sorry more of Kenzie. Due to medical issues with my dad I do not have much time for wildlife right now. I used the 1.4x extender on the 100-300. I am feeling like this feels very close to using the R3 in term of AF. I am actually impressed coming from the R3. Very nice upgrade over the R5 for me anyway.
RobAmy wrote:
Sorry more of Kenzie. Due to medical issues with my dad I do not have much time for wildlife right now. I used the 1.4x extender on the 100-300. I am feeling like this feels very close to using the R3 in term of AF. I am actually impressed coming from the R3. Very nice upgrade over the R5 for me anyway.
What's your impression of the lens drive speed with the R5II compared to your R3?
Can the R5II keep up with Kenzie coming full tilt towards the camera?
lighthound wrote:
What's your impression of the lens drive speed with the R5II compared to your R3?
Can the R5II keep up with Kenzie coming full tilt towards the camera?
So far it seems to keep up just as well as the R3 with the little I have done. I am very impressed so far.
I’ve only had a chance to take the camera out a couple times and nothing particularly taxing on the AF, and I would agree whole-heartedly. I think there could potentially be some variance in initial AF settings (cases/accel/decel tracking) in how my R3 and R5ii have been set up. I’ve shot swallows a bit, but none were coming more than 20 yards from me or so which isn’t a large challenge. If anything I think the R5ii had a higher hit rate.
I felt the R3 did a better job of focusing through the entire range and *might* be just a tad faster in initial focus acquisition if fairly out of focus, but it also doesn’t recognize subjects (birds) as well as the R5ii. I think practically the R5ii nests the R3 in nearly all aspects for birds at least.
RobAmy wrote:
So far it seems to keep up just as well as the R3 with the little I have done. I am very impressed so far.
