p.2 #1 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
arbitrage wrote:
I've shot the R5II borrowed from my generous friend. First day was pretty dreary weather, today was good conditions but couldn't find all the subjects I had hoped for to give it a full workout.
For what I shoot, the R5II does two things better than the A1. The first is pre-capture...works great...limited on how you can configure it (it always gives you 15 frames covering 0.5s regardless of what you set your FPS to). But it works and 0.5s at 30FPS is a reasonable setting if you are going to force a single one on us. (I preferred 0.3s on the A9III).
The second is subject detection....you probably already know this but even the R5 is better at detecting birds/eyes when they are not flying than the A1. The R5II is better still. I don't think this really translates to BIF photography but for non-BIF the R5II is a clear winner.
There are other things the R5II is better at but they just don't matter to me. Things like better image stabilization, BEAF in video, top LCD etc.
Other than that I prefer every other thing about the A1 over the R5II. Just a few of many off the top of my head:
1) Zebras in stills
2) Better buttons and ways to customize them
3) Better acquisition and retention of BIF at distance and/or against more complicated background.
4) Better ways to have AF modes interact with Tracking and no Tracking, BEAF or no BEAF
I'm waiting for the A1II. It will get me everything the R5II does better except maybe not the subject detect and do a lot more on top. Yes it will cost a lot more but I'm okay with that. My guess is A1II will be Spring 2025...4 years exactly after the A1.
But you have your own experience with both so I think you should be able to figure it out for your own needs. View the R5II as your R5 with stacked sensor and pre-capture and even better subject detect. If that is enough to make it make sense to go all Canon than do it and don't look back....Show more →
Please keep doing what you do Geoff regards posting comparisons , a lot of us appreciate especially for the BIF . A friend of mine who shoots the R5 and R7 will find this very useful too.
p.2 #2 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
arbitrage wrote:
There are other things the R5II is better at but they just don't matter to me. Things like better image stabilization, BEAF in video, top LCD etc.
BEAF in video isn't always all it's cracked up to be...
p.2 #3 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
tsdevine wrote:
One might say you're crazy for basing your decision on what others, many of which would be strangers, thoughts are. I thought I had a lot of equipment, but looking at your profile, you have me beat. We may already have crossed that line.
So it really comes down to whether you think it's crazy. Ultimately you are the one who lives with the decision.
I disagree. I always find the thoughts of others to be valuable. They can easily bring up a perspective that I hadn't thought of or considered. It all helps with decision making.
p.2 #4 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
I'm not a video shooter. But I'd put money on the fact a A1MkII will run rings around the Canon R5MkII. Canon is making such a big thing about it's focus system being "next level". My A6700 is already on that level. No question a A1MkII will have the superb LCD of the A7RV and a refined version of it's already class leading EVF without any lag during shooting. Shooting speeds will be more then competitive to be sure and rolling shutter won't even be an issue. I doubt we'll even hear of it even so much as an announcement till next summer.
p.2 #5 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
Camerawise, between those two, there are arguments to be made for either. I would have no issue shooting with either, anyway.
Lenswise, to me, it's a different story; Sony and their third-party makers make it a no-contest situation. I do envy the RF 100/2.8L, because every macro and portrait lens should allow you to dial in the amount of SA correction, but I find the grass very much greener and the glass sweeter in E, so Canon can make as many awesome cameras as they like. I'm not switching.
p.2 #6 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
Man, I though I had a lot of gear but you have me beat by a country mile. I shoot Sony and Canon as well, three systems in total if you count my video cameras that mostly use separate lenses. I am a software engineer and get as excited about new gear almost as much as I do taking stills and video. Has to be gear that improves quality or quality of life if you will. I recently sold my A1 for the R5ii and don't regret it. I still have my A7rV and Sony lenses. Even when the next generation A1 comes out, I don't expect to be much more and than an incremental/evolutionary update to the R5ii, but I expect it to still be priced much higher. For me, the R5ii is the best video/photo hybrid camera, but Sony has the best lenses and pure stills camera (A7rV). With that said, you shouldn't need to sell both the A1 and R5 to cover the R5ii.
p.2 #7 · Sony Alpha 1 for a Canon EOS R5 Mark II - Pros and Cons
Howie4life wrote:
Man, I though I had a lot of gear but you have me beat by a country mile. I shoot Sony and Canon as well, three systems in total if you count my video cameras that mostly use separate lenses. I am a software engineer and get as excited about new gear almost as much as I do taking stills and video. Has to be gear that improves quality or quality of life if you will. I recently sold my A1 for the R5ii and don't regret it. I still have my A7rV and Sony lenses. Even when the next generation A1 comes out, I don't expect to be much more and than an incremental/evolutionary update to the R5ii, but I expect it to still be priced much higher. For me, the R5ii is the best video/photo hybrid camera, but Sony has the best lenses and pure stills camera (A7rV). With that said, you shouldn't need to sell both the A1 and R5 to cover the R5ii....Show more →
Well, just using KEH as a benchmark they will give ~ $4700 for the two bodies with out battery grips which I do have. The Canon alone is $4300 so if you add a three extra batteries and the battery grip it works out about equal. Of course I would also need a new L bracket. I say three extra batteries since that gives you two to but in the grip and two to replace them with.
Well it really looks like getting an R5 Mark II at this point will be difficult and may take up to six month so I will just stay put right now since this really only a want and not a need and the fact that I really only shoot stills so while I know video capabilities effect resale value it’s really nothing I will take advantage off while I own it.
