Hey everyone! I finally did it—after months of saving and debating, I pulled the trigger and picked up a brand-new Canon EOS R5 today. I’m transitioning over from my trusty 5D Mark IV, and while I’m absolutely stoked to start shooting with this mirrorless beast, I’m realizing that my old kit might not be fully up to the task anymore.
I’ve spent the afternoon unboxing and going through the menus, and it’s becoming clear that this camera has some pretty specific needs to really shine. For one, the storage situation is a bit daunting. I know it has a dual slot, but those CFexpress Type B cards are quite an investment compared to my old SD cards. Is it worth getting a top-tier ProGrade or SanDisk card right away just to handle the high-speed bursts, or can I get by with high-speed SD cards for a while if I'm mostly doing high-res stills?
I’m also a bit concerned about power. I’ve heard the R5 can be a bit of a battery hog, especially when using the EVF at high refresh rates or shooting 4K video. Should I stock up on the official LP-E6NH batteries to ensure I get the maximum frame rate, or has anyone had good luck with third-party brands that don't trigger those annoying 'non-genuine' warnings or limit the camera's performance?
Lastly, I’m still rocking a lot of EF glass. I have the basic EF-to-RF adapter, but I’ve seen versions with the control ring and the drop-in filters—are those actually useful in the field, or just a gimmick? I’m mainly shooting a mix of landscape and some occasional wedding work, so I need a setup that’s reliable and rugged.
I’ve already spent a fortune on the body, so I want to make sure my next few purchases are absolute 'must-haves' rather than 'nice-to-haves.' What were the first three accessories you bought for your R5 that you now couldn’t live without?
I've been there. I actually had the camera lock up during a wedding because my SD card couldnt keep up... ngl it was stressful. Switching to the Lexar Professional 128GB CFexpress Type B Card fixed that lag immediately. Also, the Neewer LP-E6NH Replacement Battery is a decent backup that didnt trigger warnings, but stay cautious for critical pro work. gl!
Ok so I'm realy happy with my R5! Here is what I suggest to save some cash: • Skip CFexpress for now; a SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC ($50) works fine for stills.
• Definately stick to the Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery ($79) because third-party ones are risky and limit ur frame rate.
• Just use the basic EF-RF adapter. Better safe than sorry, right? Basically keeps things reliable. gl!
sooo, welcome to the R5 club! in my experience, it's a total jump from the 5D Mark IV, but you definitely gotta feed the beast to get the most out of it. since you're doing weddings and landscapes, you need reliability and speed more than anything else tbh. Here is what I would recommend for your first few buys to really unlock that performance: * **The Storage:** dont just stick to SD cards for everything. if you shoot a high-speed burst during a wedding ceremony, a standard SD card will choke and lock the camera while it clears the buffer. i've been using the ProGrade Digital 512GB CFexpress Type B Gold Memory Card for over a year now and it's basically flawless. because it uses a PCIe 3.0 interface, it handles the 45MP files way better than even the fastest Sony SF-G Tough Series UHS-II SDXC 128GB card could.
* **The Adapter:** for your landscapes, the Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with Variable ND Filter is highkey a game changer. being able to use one ND filter for all your EF glass—even lenses like the 11-24mm that dont take front filters—is honestly life-changing in the field. no more fumbling with 100mm filter kits in the wind!!
* **Power Delivery:** since you're worried about the battery, instead of just buying more cells, get a beefy PD-capable power bank like the Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K). it supports the Power Delivery protocol needed to actually charge or power the R5 via USB-C, which is a lifesaver during long wedding days or when you're hiking. basically, the R5 is a spaceship of a camera, so don't bottleneck it with old-school storage or basic adapters if you can help it. it's a huge investment but so worth it when you see those files... gl! 👍
For your situation, basically you're dealing with a high-performance machine that can be really picky. Ngl, transitioning from the 5D Mark IV is huge, but the R5 is way more sensitive to power and data bandwidth. To keep things safe and reliable—especially for weddings where you cant afford a fail—here's what I recommend: 1. **Storage**: Don't skimp on the card. If you want reliability, look at the Delkin Devices 128GB BLACK CFexpress Type B Memory Card. These are built like tanks and designed for heavy professional use.
2. **Power**: To avoid that 'non-genuine' headache and ensure you get the full frame rates for bursts, I'd grab the Canon Battery Grip BG-R10. It helps with heat dissipation and gives you the extra juice you need for long wedding days.
3. **Adapter**: The Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R is actually super useful for landscapes. Mapping exposure comp or ISO to the ring makes your old EF glass feel like modern RF lenses. Honestly, just be careful with cheap components... they're the #1 cause of those 'Error 70' lockups. Better to have a few solid items than a bag full of stuff that might flake out during a ceremony!! Good luck with the new beast!
yo, congrats on the R5!! honestly, it's such a beast but i totally feel u on those 'hidden costs.' i've been shooting with Canon for over a decade and the jump from my old DSLRs to the R5 was the first time i realy felt like my accessories were holding me back. at first, i tried to save some cash by just using my old high-speed SD cards. i figured, 'i mostly do stills, it'll be fine,' right? well, unfortunately, i had issues with the camera locking up during a high-speed burst at a shoot. it was sooo stressful. i eventually bit the bullet and got a proper high-end card from one of the big pro brands, and it literally changed the experience. no more waiting for that red light to stop blinking... it's just instant. on the power side, i tried a couple of those cheap off-brand batteries i found online. bad idea. not only did they die way faster, but the camera actually limited my frame rate because it didnt recognize the power draw as 'genuine.' it was realy disappointing to see that green H+ icon disappear. now i just stick to the official ones, even if they're pricey, cuz knowing my camera wont die in the middle of a wedding is worth the peace of mind. also, that control ring adapter?? i thought it was a total gimmick until i actually used it for a weekend. mapping my ISO to that ring while shooting landscapes is a total game changer. basically, if ur gonna spend this much on a body, dont bottleneck it with cheap storage or power. it's a picky machine, but worth it when it's fed right! gl! 👍