What are the must-have accessories for a new Canon EOS R5?

Question

What are the actual must-have accessories for a new Canon EOS R5 because I just bought one and my wallet is basically empty now. I finally made the jump from my old 5D Mark IV after years of waiting and I'm honestly a little overwhelmed by all the new tech stuff I need to buy just to get it out in the field. I'm based in the PNW so I do a lot of outdoor portraits and I have a huge wedding coming up in three weeks so I need to get this sorted like yesterday.

I've been doing some digging online and the whole memory card situation is stressing me out. I read that you need CFexpress Type B for the best performance but man those things are pricey. I saw some people on YouTube saying the ProGrade cards are the best value but then I found a forum post where people were complaining about them getting too hot and causing the camera to shut down during 4K video recording. Is that actually a common thing or are people just being dramatic? I usually do about 20% video for my clients so I don't want to be stuck in the middle of a ceremony with a bricked camera.

Also what's the deal with the batteries really. I have a stack of the old LP-E6N batteries from my 5D and some sites say they'll work fine but others say you lose the high-speed burst mode unless you use the new LP-E6NH ones. If I'm shooting 12fps or 20fps for the walk down the aisle am I gonna be screwed if I use my old batteries?

My budget for accessories is right around $700 or $800 since the body and the RF 24-70mm f2.8 already set me back a ton. I'm thinking:

At least one fast CFexpress card (maybe 256GB?)

A couple extra batteries if the old ones aren't up to snuff

Maybe a screen protector because I'm clumsy

A card reader since my computer only has SD slots

Should I be looking at a battery grip too? People say the R5 is a bit small compared to the 5D series and I'm worried about my hands cramping up during a 10-hour day but that's another $350 I don't really want to spend right now if I don't have to...

Mia Elizabeth White · Accepted Answer

Just saw this and wanted to chime in on the battery data because I spent way too much time testing this exact setup when the R5 launched. The technical reality is that the camera actually checks the internal resistance and age of the battery pack. If you use your old LP-E6N cells, the R5 wont let you hit that green H+ icon for the 12fps mechanical shutter. It throttles down to about 7fps because the older chemistry cant handle the peak current draw required for the IBIS and high-speed readout. I learned this the hard way during a fast-moving shoot where my drive speed just tanked mid-burst. You definitely want at least two Canon LP-E6NH High Capacity Li-ion Battery units for the wedding day to ensure you actually get the performance you paid for. On the heat and card situation, most of those horror stories come from guys shooting 8K raw in the desert. For 20% video, you'll be fine if you stick to a card with high sustained write speeds. I found the Delkin Devices 128GB Black CFexpress Type B Memory Card to be incredibly stable because it is rated for a minimum 1400MB/s sustained write, which keeps the thermal load lower than cards that fluctuate. Before I suggest more stuff tho, I gotta ask... are you planning to shoot the ceremony primarily on the electronic shutter or the mechanical? The power draw and buffer behavior change quite a bit between the two, especially if you're worried about that wedding workflow.

PhantomBreeze · Answer

Congrats on the jump from the 5D! The R5 is seriously an absolute beast and you're gonna love it for those PNW landscapes and weddings. Honestly, dont let the card situation freak you out. People get dramatic online about heat issues. I've used ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B Gold 256GB for a year and it's been solid, but if you're worried, the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Gold Series 256GB is a fantastic, reliable alternative. About the batteries... yeah, you definitely want at least two Canon LP-E6NH Battery Pack units. The old ones are fine for backups but you'll lose the top burst speeds, and for a wedding ceremony, you need that juice! Tbh, skip the grip for now. It adds so much weight and bulk. Get a Spigen Glas.tR Slim Screen Protector for Canon R5 and a ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II Dual-Slot Card Reader instead. You'll stay way under budget and have everything you need for that big day!