Recklesscoding
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Upload & Sell: Off
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 Moving to Canon RF; R5, R5 II, or R6 III in 2026? | |
Two months ago, one of my Nikon Z lenses was stolen. The insurance payout prompted me to rethink my system, so I sold my Z8 and kept my Zf. I used Nikon DSLRs for years, but I’m unhappy with their current mirrorless lineup. I don't shoot wildlife (anymore) or video—Nikon's main focus nowadays—and instead focus on portraits, kids' sports, landscapes/astro, street, and travel.
The Z8 was great for events, but its human Eye-AF often missed the iris, focusing on eyelashes or eyebrows instead. It was also too tall for my liking when traveling. The Zf is a better size (when a bottom plate is added), but 24MP feels too low for 2026, and the lack of a joystick and proper 2 card slots make it feel more like a backup camera than a main body.
Long story short, I decided to give Canon RF a try. The R5/R6 bodies have the perfect size for me. I have never had a Canon before, but I always respected them for reliability, colours, and striking that balance between sharpness and character —unfortunately, for me Z lenses lean a bit more on sharpness than I would like when it comes to portraits/ family shots. I know all about the closed mount and honestly I don’t care about that.
After a stolen lens made me reconsider my gear, I sold my Nikon Z8 (too bulky, inconsistent Eye-AF focusing on eyelashes) and kept my Zf as a secondary body (lacks joystick, 24MP feels low). Nikon focuses heavily on video and wildlife, whereas I shoot portraits, kids' sports, landscapes/astro, and travel.
I'm switching to Canon RF for the body ergonomics and planning a 3-lens kit:
- RF 15-35mm f/2.8L (Landscapes/Astro)
- RF 24-105mm f/4L (Everyday/Travel)
- RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Z + 2x TC (Portraits/Events)
Future additions: RF 45mm f/1.2 (cheap and love its rendering) and probably the RF 85mm f/1.4 VCM (small-ish and fast 85mm).
Which body should I pick?
R6 III (€3,600 w/ 24-105 & 100-400)
- R5 (€2,700 w/ 24-105 f4L): Great resolution/DR, best price, but older AF. It is an even older model than my Z8!
- R5 II (€3,550 w/ 24-105 f4L): Best AF, blackout-free EVF.
- R6 III (€3,600 w/ 24-105 f4L& 100-400): Shop in Andorra with 3 years Spanish/ European warranty. Resellable extra lens, but lower sensor and EVF resolutions feel like a compromise of me chasing local warranty and value for money.
The R5s are from a reputable grey seller. I have used them before and trust that they will honour their 3 years warranty. I will be buying the other lenses for sure from there.
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