Don't tell my R5s that I have been using the A1! CRAZY RESULTS! Sony Alpha 1 vs Canon EOS R5
This was UNEXPECTED! Is the Sony Alpha 1 better than the Canon EOS R5 for bird photography? A lot of you wanted me to try out the Sony in the field, so I did! Let's find out how I went!
Let me know your own thoughts in the comments? Is the A1 the best camera around or does the cheaper R5 even have an edge?
R5 Review
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Thanks a lot Duncan for lending me your gear!
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Doug's Website
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This is the equipment I use:
Canon EOS R5
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Canon EOS R6
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Canon RF 100-500 L IS
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RF Extender 1.4x
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RF Extender 2x
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RF 800 F11
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RF600 F11
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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
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Canon 600 L IS III (I have v. II)
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Canon EF 5.6/400 L
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Canon 1.4x TC III
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Canon 2x TC III
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Canon 600 EX - RT
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Wimberley Head II
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Gitzo 5543LS (new version of my tripod)
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Wimberley Flash Bracket
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Wimberley M-6 Extension Post
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Better Beamer (check for compatibility)
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Flash Battery (Godox & Flashpoint is the same)
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Power Cord
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Y connector
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Novoflex STA-SET
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LensCoat LensHide
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LensCoat Lens Hoodie
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Canon 2.8/70-200 II
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Canon 4/24-70
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Canon 4/16-35 L IS
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JBL Clip3 Speaker
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Sandisk Extreme Pro CFexpress Card type B 512GB
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Sandisk Extreme Pro
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Panasonic Eneloop Pro
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Minox 8x43
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Canon LP-E6N
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Manfrotto Mini Ballhead
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FStop Gear Sukha Backpack
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:23 First Impressions!
2:49 Customization
3:06 Rear Screens
3:56 Price!
4:24 EVFs - Lag & Blackout!
5:52 Sensors
6:11 Rolling Shutter
7:10 Image Stabilisation/IBIS
7:39 Batteries
8:06 Memory Cards!
9:00 Speed & FPS
9:49 Image Quality Loss
10:49 Buffer
11:48 Autofocus
12:42 Sony AF struggles
13:21 Sony AF solution
14:31 Double Back Button Focus
15:01 Animal vs Bird AF
15:42 AF - do we have a winner?
16:18 A1's fatal flaw? - Video AF
18:25 Video & Video Workflow
19:16 IMAGE REVIEW - Action
22:26 Busy backgrounds & BIF
22:46 HIGH ISO REVIEW
25:47 Sony Files darker?
27:02 600mm prime Image Review
27:48 Side by Side IMAGE REVIEW
28:26 Editing Tip
29:15 Which camera do I like better!?
Let's be honest, if a person can afford to change between systems whenever a brand brings out certain features that are better then they are very fortunate indeed. I suspect that for the vast majority of us once we have started buying into a system then we usually have to stick with it. There will never be a manufacturer which will have an absolute all round best camera. Every brand will eventually have what you need. Sometimes we just have to have a bit of patience.
Any change in system for me has been offset by my having the transition for some time as well.
I agree! I have been sticking with one brand for a long time. It usually pays off in the long run, at least financially.
Yes, definitely takes some getting used to!
Ironically most consolidated pros are still rocking whatever works for them. Which might be 2 year old gear.
Another great, often overlooked attribute to staying with one camera system is knowing that particular brand's camera market. I know the Canon camera and lens resale market extremely well and this allows me to read the market and know when is a good time to sell/buy, or what I should be asking when selling or buying used gear. This allows me to make the most of my flips. It would be very hard to know the little ins and outs of multiple camera systems... I just find that important for me.
I told my RP about A1 and R5, she just laughed then told me to check my savings balance.
:D
That's what I heard from my Olympus too.
My rp said the same exact thing
Whats RP?
@@rezasaputra2398 EOS RP aka worst canon mirrorless
Thanks for a wonderful review. The amount of research you must have had to do on these advanced cameras is incredible, this along with your hands on review of AF and IQ with in-depth user stuff like buffer etc is the best on you tube.
Wow, thanks for your kind words! It sure was a bit of a challenge to work my way through the Sony menu. I was a bit afraid I would miss something major that was too well hidden away haha
Thank you Jan for the honest and ‘in field’ review of these cameras. 👍🏻
My pleasure!
Great review, really appreciate your impartial approach that is done in real world. Keep up the great work 👍🏻 Jean-Louis
Much appreciated!
Great review mate, it was a lot of fun using the Sony in the field. Cheers, Duade
Thanks mate, sure was
The two of you make a "great couple". I enjoy watching both your videos and learn a lot from it!
@@andywessels4719 Great to hear Andy, hopefully we can do some videos together soon. Cheers, Duade 👍
Jan, thank you so very much for your practical and thorough comparison. You compared the aspects of both cameras that photographers need. Most informative and wonderful to have your unbiased opinions. I look forward to the lens comparisons.
Glad you enjoyed it! Lens video is out, too :)
I really appreciate your in-depth looks at these cameras! Thank you!
My pleasure!
I’m currently using Sony and I like canon as well. I have thought about getting an a1 but Sony’s lack of firmware updates is pushing me towards canon. I was once told it’s not the camera body that matters, it’s the glass and from what I have heard the RF glass is pretty amazing.
I'm just glad that the A1 didnt blast my recently purchased R5 out of the water (phew)! And I really appreciate the fully articulating screen. Excellent video and very informative as usual, well done Jan :)
Great to hear! Thank you
Great video again Jan👍 I was really curious about the A1 as i have seen some awesome results coming from fellow local photographers ( in the netherlands). Look forward to the next one comparing the 100 to 500 with the 200 to 600. The latter being my preferred option if I had a choice.
Thank you. Working on it as we speak. Always takes some time to do a thorough review :)
Hi Ja', happy new year and thanks for your great videos! BTW... Just got an R5 😍
awesome, happy new year to you, too
Absolutely phenomenal comparison video. If you are a bird photographer weighing these two bodies there is simply no better video. Great attention to detail and kudos for such comprehensive time hacks in the description. Brilliant work Jan!
Thanks a lot :)
Good call
Hey Jan............great work as always. I'm guessing you did this review before the new a1 firmware was released. Holy crap the a1 AF is much improved and sticks to a bird's eye without ever letting go of it. Your review was very fair but I think if you try the a1 again with the new firmware you too will see a big difference.
I did both. 1.0 at the start and then 1.1 the moment it got released. I felt it was better, but the zone still had it's issues. The bird in the tree is with 1.1 for instance. TBH, I found the ye tracking to be quite good even with 1.0. The initial subject recognition seemed to be more the issue. That only really improved for me with spot tracking. The ducks on the water are all firmware 1.1 and the zone still didn't find it well. Spot was very good in the same instance
R5 bird autofocus is just so much better, there are things which a software update can change, A1 autofocus is better now , still not R5 level..
@@Libinkttm It's mainly the subject recognition, tracking is very good
Thank you for a comprehensive review . Much appreciated. Have the Canon R5 and my experiences were very much in line with yours. I do have concerns about just how noisy the images are in low light.
Great to hear! In what sense and what iso?
Really interesting comparison, Jan - especially the AI autofocus capabilities of each. Loved that Cape Barron sequences
Glad you enjoyed it!
An excellent comprehensive comparison review of these two cameras. Fantastic post! Thank you Jan!
My pleasure!
Great comparison thank you! It seems the R5 has several features that I like above the Sony A1 but since I'm already shooting with Sony lenses and I have the 200-600 and the A7iii it probably would make more sense for me to get the A1. By the time you add the 100-500 to the R5 I would have spent as much money and I can't use my other Sony lenses on the R5. Thanks for explaining a lot of the differences when shooting in the field. Best of luck to you!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, once you are committed to a system, it makes sense to stick with it. That's what I have always done.
A fabulous review Jan, you certainly can’t go wrong with either as you say, best to take up golf if you can’t, will be so good when Canon release their R3 and R1 in the future, cannot wait!
yep! :)
First time I’ve watched one of your reviews. Well done.
Thanks, glad you found them :)
I used to be a Canon user many years ago (I bought the superzoom prosumer cameras), but I couldn't afford their more expensive cameras, and I saw which way the wind was blowing, so I switched to Sony mirrorless and bought an a6000. It was a total gamechanger for me. My photography improved by leaps and bounds as I gradually bought better and better lenses. Don't get me wrong: I'm not rich by any means. In fact, a lot of people, myself included, consider me rather poor. But Sony offers affordable choices in camera bodies, and although their lenses are pricy, third-party lenses can be found that work almost as well. I'm surprised at the lenses I've collected over the last five or six years on my extremely modest income. It probably helps that photography is a hobby I'll never get tired of. I'll probably die with a camera in my hand. ;) The A1 is beyond my financial means. I'll never be able to justify spending that much for a camera body. But I enjoy hearing about it and seeing the photos it produces, so thanks for the video!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed the video
I too was a Canon user...since 1985. Just this year I decided to go mirrorless. I wanted full frame and I wanted Canon. The Canon 5DS specifically and I have always loved canon products. I own a Canon Pro-100 Printer as well. My last camera was the Canon T3i and that is what made me want a FULL FRAME and with mirrorless now on top, I decided. I could not find a Canon 5DS but the more I read and heard about Sony, the more I looked for a change from Canon. I now own the Sony A7R3 and I've never been more satisfied. I have the Sony 24-105 F/4 , the Sony 70-200 F/4, and the Sony 200-600 F/5.6-6.3 and I am content. I may get another Sony, probably the A7R4 in the near future so I can have my wide lens on one and the tele200-600 on the other. I love my Sony! btw...I loved this video and others from Jan as well. He explains things that even an old man can understand. Thank you Jan. 🙂😎 🙂
Unfortunately I could never get use to Sony’s menus. And the back screen suck.
Thanks for the clear comparison! I will likely get an R5 shortly. A couple years ago I was doing a MW shoot at 3a.m. and put my Canon 5Div on the roof. You can guess what happened next as I drove away. The Canon had minor damage to the SD card cover door, but other than that still works perfectly. Long hikes in the mountains, extreme heat and cold, and the 5D bodies have never failed. Based on durability I must stick with Canon.
Oh no! Crazy it still worked. My 5Ds have all died from too much rain at some point but always came back to life quickly the day after
Jan I want to praise you for speaking more slowly than most other commentators. One compatriot of yours speaks very fast - as if he is afraid he's going to run out of recording time. When discussing technical details I prefer that the speaker go slower since it's really a separate language all its own and I am not that "fluent" yet! Now regarding the subject matter itself, splendidly done! These two camera companies are exactly where I am right now in my evaluation process. I shoot Canon dSLRs now and have since I began birding, but I can see looming over the horizon and getting closer every day, shutter failure, it's like death and taxes. So I am beginning the process of deciding what to do. Mirrorless cameras just happened to come out at almost the perfect time. I'm nearing the shutter activation failure-point just as mirrrorless have really come into "their own". And they have more to offer than just no mirror. Their quality and features have leaped ahead of dSLRs. As a Canon user (7D mk 2) with its super-loud shutter sound, I am looking forward to a much quieter shutter that won't scare my near proximity birds! (Not that I want a silent shutter! good Lord that would be disorienting!) All told what it comes down to, for me, is pretty much No-Brainers-ville. This Sony A1 is so close to the Canon R5 (or vice versa if you prefer) all told, the decision can easily come down to price point. It would be a different story if I were a millionaire, but as I ain't - I have to consider what a new camera is going to cost. But, on top of that 'what will I do with my Canon lenses?' (or Canon compatibles). So, on top of the greater cost of the Sony A1 would be the cost of Sony lenses to use on the camera. Right? Whereas if I bought a Canon R5 (or R6 mk II, or one of the others) well, 'Bob's my Uncle'! I can get an adapter for my EF lenses. Not that I wouldn't be looking down the road as getting an RF lens itself. But since I have a Canon EF 100-400mm and Sigma Contemporary 150-600mm to fit a Canon mount, the Canon RF 100-500mm sort of falls right in the middle. So...at this point, thanks to your video, my question is: 'Which Canon mirrorless?'. And there I am confused. I've read some bad things about the R6, but now the R6 mk II has come out, perhaps to address the problems reported? And I have no idea what in the heck the R7 is. Or those other R- numbers. But perhaps I will see programs you've done on these. I've not seen any of your other videos. Again Jann, many thanks.
Best review and comparison of the two cameras for wildlife. Many thanks!
Glad you think so :)
Thank you so much for this great video! Looking forward seeing more about video with these two cameras. I have the A9II and I am considering switching to Canon, because the video footage with the A9II is very shaky. Like you I also take short video clips while photographing, often handheld. I did try the R5 but somehow when shooting video the footage starts very stable and after a few seconds it gets shaky and it takes a while to calm down again. I have no idea what I am doing wrong, did you had this in your videos? Did you also test these cameras also on other animals? If so, were the results the same with animal eye tracking? Lind regards, Linda
Thank you! The Sony seems to be a bit better with Humans and animals than birds overall. Yes, sometimes the Ibis/IS can "shake" lose on the R5. But it also depends on the lens used. If that happens I sometimes give it a little shake or restart and it will work.
@@jan_wegener Thank you for your reply. I used the 100-500, it mostly happened at 500mm, zoomed out to 100mm I didn't notice it
@@LindaSmitWildlifeImpressions Yes, I think the IBIS/IS has a much harder time stabilising more focal length, simply because the field of view is so narrow and you also notice every little bit of shake much more.
I’ve noticed an improvement in the bird af with 1.1 on the a1, worth updating also fixed my blackout
I have been using 1.1
A1 firmware update seems to have worked very well
Like your review. It is great to know both cameras are good. Nice photos.
Thanks for watching!
Very professionally presented video and content. Thank you! One question and apologies if I missed this in your presentation, did you install the latest Sony A1 firmware ?
Yes I did about half way through having the camera. So I used both. Glad you liked the video!
It's clear that whatever camera you use, you create magic. :)
Thanks man
Good call
This is the best real-life side by side comparison of these 2 cameras that I’ve seen. Thankyou ! I think getting two R5s for the price of one A1 is very notable unless you’re a high-end proffesional. It bugs me that Canon didn’t put two of the same memory card slots however.
Thanks! Totally agree about the slots!
Agreed, I think it will be something they sort out going forward. Personally I have only had single card cameras and think I've only had 2 shots 'corrupted' but appreciate Pros value the option of dual cards. I think the Sony option to use 2 different cards is a great idea albeit it only they use the CX Express Type A cards I think.
@@SteveP_2426 They do. In the end it's just more practical to just have one card type
Fantastic review Jan! Really want to get my hands on both these cameras to try out. I am stuck in the Sony system but I think I might have to hire a R5 just to try out bird eye focuses in video. No idea why Sony only puts it in photos. Most annoying thing and I am sure it can be done with a simple update. Will check out your lens battle now.
Hey, glad you liked it. Yes the omission of the video eye tracking was baffling to me. It's so much easier to track and you have to move a lot less.
Fantastic comparison, from somebody who really use the equipment rader than just listing specs!!! Thanks and keep it up
I bought R5 with RF 100-500mm for the price of an A1 and I can honestly say I am satisfied with it. Excellent side by side comparison🙏🙏🙏
Great to hear! Thank you
That pair does seem to be the sweet spot for bird photographers.
i bought same setup! even the 1.4x extender, dont need to change gear in 10 years plus i think. So Happy with it. Great video by the way Jan!
@@Jimmiehammarstrom47 thanks! I love that set up as well.
The A1 still superior. The cannon overheats like crazy just in 4k and it shuts off in a few minutes, in 8k it catches it self on fire within 5 minutes. The sony A1 can record 8k all day with minimal heat issues. I own the A1 and rented the R5. Could not be happier.
Great review on these cameras. I personally went with the R5 and couldn't be happier. Primarily being a portrait photographer I couldn't justify the extra money on the 30fps. Although I think the Sony does win in some areas, you can buy nearly 2 of the R5's for the price of Sony's flagship camera. If you are really wanting that higher frame rate or stacked sensor I would say wait to see what Canon does with the R1.
Or the R3 even. Thanks for the comment :)
You should have went with the a7riv for portraits
@@Yupthereitism no way. The r5 perfect eye af and other features are better than the A7r iv. I had both and sold the Sony
Wow, how wrong you are
I loved this vid , U spent a lot of effort doing it. Thanks a lot
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really interesting video thanks. I have an R5 but am renting an A1 this week , in particular for comparing performance when photographing close up fast small birds in action. This video really helps with set-up of the Sony.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@jan_wegener I hired an a1 today with the 200-600 lens and compared it to my R5 and 100-500. I found the eye af much less stable with the a1, and it struggles at times to lock on...but when it does, and especially when photographing small birds at close range, i found the a1 much faster when tracking. I get far more in focus images from the a1 in that scenario, whilst the R5 just loses contact too quickly....I have to say i am quite surprised how much faster the a1 is in this regard...and its probably a game changer for my own photography style.... The images from the a1 are also incredibly sharp even when using compressed raw (I need the 30 fps).... I don't know whether you found similar results with small fast birds close up.....for me its a night and day difference.
@@plinkyplanky9651 It's kinda what I said in the video as well. The Sony struggles a bit more to get the bird, but when it's on, it tracks very well.
@@jan_wegener Actually on reflection and after a couple more hours with the a1 today its not a straightforward decision.....I much prefer the colours out of the R5 by some significant margin...and can't find a decent looking profile in Camera Raw to enulate it for the Sony. Secondly with difficult backgrounds the a1 is terrible compared to the R5......I think i'll wait for the R3 release and see how that compares. :)
@@plinkyplanky9651 It's a tough one isn't it? I have gone up and down as well. I found Capture One to work best for Sony. The backgrounds with BIF? I found it to work quite well. Might depend on the AF method you are using.
I switched from Canon to Sony three years ago. I am really enjoying the a1 especially after the 1.1 update. The improvement when coupled with the 200-600 is pretty significant in regards to af speed of acquisition and sharpness. What a fun combo. I am impressed with what I see coming from the Canon system as well. Since I am heavily invested in the the Sony system and I prefer the internal zoom of the 200-600 it makes no sense to switch back - both are great systems.
Yes, once you're invested it doesn't make sense to switch when both systems are excellent I use 1.0 and 1.1 FW
Bonnie, I have same camera and lens. What do you mean internal zoom? Clear image zoom or APS-C? Btw, I love the combo.
@@derrickrr5516 there's no moving parts outside of the lens on the 200-600, unlike the 100-500 for instance.
For myself, the R5s are still preferred. The bird / animal vs just bird focusing, the better bird focus at distance, the flip screen, the ease of video / still switching, and the price are reason enough to stay with R5s (given that they have pretty similar performance in most areas). Coming from Canon 5D M3s and prime lenses, the change to R5s for myself may be so extreme it overshadows many of the minor differences between the R5s and A1s. I'm probably dating myself here, but when I first saw your title saying you were using the A1 my thought was you were referring to the Canon A1 and I was thinking just why in the world would you do that and how could one even compare those to an R5... that should be interesting! Oh well, we didn't have a TV in our home until I was in high school either.
hahaha! I agree with your sentiment about the R5s. And If you are already a Canon Shooter, a switch would be very pricy
Great review ...I guess I'll just wait for the Sony A 7 lV...having finally adapted from the A7 ll and A7lll but Canon is certainly on the mark as well...
It's nice to have more brands pushing the limits. :)
Nice balanced look at these two great camera bodies, Jan.
Thank you!
From the title I thought it was going to be one of those annoying paid for "time to switch" type video's! I should have known better of you Jan, great work as always and very informative. Thank you for what was obviously a lot of work in putting together.
haha! The title is always a bit tricky. Has to grab people's attention a bit :) Glad you liked it.
I switched last year from Nikon to Sony, I am happy with my A1, still learning about it. I do appreciate your fair comparison between these 2 cameras and have learned some good things about how to use my A1 better!
awesome! :)
Nikon has useless models these days. No hope for reliable consistent AF
Jan - fantastic and thorough comparison. Thank you. I am interested in your master class now and like the price. I like your teaching style. Are they downloadable Once purchased or only on line? I like looking at these video often when no internet is available his the question. Thanks.
Awesome! Yes, you can download them or stream them.
Great vlog Jan. Cheers👍
Glad you enjoyed it
How refreshing to see an 'in the field review' of this two excellent cameras. Considering the price difference the R5 looks like a bargain. I can't help thinking Sony missed a trick here in not putting out an A9III to take on the R5. Financially the A1 is a big leap from the A9II. Maybe too big a leap?
they didnt need to. they already have the 7r4
@@cbflazaro The A7R4 really isn't a successor to the A9II.
@@stevemurnan1702 the r5 isn't a competitor to the a9 line.
You are right too much. But lenses are cheaper in Sony system.
@@cbflazaro I agree and that's what Sony need. A competitior to the R5 at its price point. Sony have hung A9II shooters out to dry. At the miniute it's the A1 or switch systems.
I think you hit on the 3 main things most reviews are finding. 1) both are exceptional. 2) Canon has the very slightest of an edge in photo AF and doesn't need modes switch between birds, people and animals. 3) For some reason the A1 lacks animal and bird eye AF during video an d is much less completive there. Maybe the 4th is IBIS is a little better on the R5. Did I mention both are exceptional? :)
Nicely summed up :) I will talk about IBIS & IS in my next video. I found some huge differences there.
When you compare the prices of both , R5 seems so much better camera .
a very young looking presentation, keep on going im looking forward to see wich key things we need to know from photoshop
Great video Jan I prefer the handling of the R5 over the A1 when both have battery grips installed. I use to be all in with Sony with the A9/A9ll yet I always felt the bodies were to small for my larger hands. I am really looking forward to the R3, though I wish it would have had 45mp instead of 30, though I am sure it will be an awesome camera.
I am not even convinced yet it will have even 30, but we shall see! Yes, Overall the R5 lies nicer in my hand, although the joystick is in a horrible spot on the battery grip
I really like that the Sony offers a choice of using one of two sets of different memory card types. I hope Canon adopts this feature in the upcoming R3 and all future Canon cameras. As for which is better, I think you can't go wrong with either as both have pro's and con's.
I agree! Unfortunately, for a very strange reason, the R3 will have CFexpress & SD as well from what I heard
Yes I have found it useful to use the second card for transfer no need to buy two CFexpressA cards
Card slows down to the SD rate if using the cards simultaneously as RAW and JPEG. Better have the same cards cuts down on costs and Sd card not as robust as the CF express
The industry is sort of at the starting phase of a transition. Companies still need to appeal to users that are invested in SD, while transitioning to CFexpress. The fact is CFexpress Type B is simply, much, much more capable, and has a much, much higher ceiling than Type A. Eventually, Sony will have to switch to Type B to keep up as the industry demands faster and faster cards; for this reason I prefer Canon's approach as it allows users to prepare for heavy Type B use now. I bet the gen 2 version of the R5 sports dual Type B slots. Sony has basically chosen to focus on the here and now, but that's going to cost Sony users down the road.
@@pgsanta Let's hope so. Can't wait to get rid of SD cards! Great points. Thanks for all the info! I do find Type B more appealing for sure and it seems to be the mainstream choice, but Sony has track record of trying to use their own memory formats.
Outstanding review. Both cameras are amazing. There are advantages to each. If you're already a Canon or Sony shooter I can't see a reason to change if the choice is the A1 or R5. All things being equal and I was 100% into birding and wildlife maybe the R5. I'm mostly landscapes with some wildlife so it's the A-1 for me. I do Canon credit for the price point.
Agreed. Sticking and committing has usually been a very sounds strategy. In saying that I hope Nikon pulls through with the Z9 haha! Yes, each camera has it's pros and cons.
That comment helped me greatly for my final choice ! Cheers
Jan, I enjoy your vids and your so honest with your gear. I come from old school photography in High school I was the photography editor for our news paper. Plus I had lots of experience in the darkroom. I used tri-x pan 400 asa, Minolta srt-101 and 201, Fujica st-801. Then I became a Canon guy AE-1, then my favorite was the Canon A-1. My Canon 300-D is about to meet its maker, so I'm waiting for some of the new canon cameras they are making. I cant decide on aps-c or full frame. I like wildlife photography a lot, plus pet photography. Keep up the good work that you do.
I think the R5 offers quite a nice option to have 17mpix 1.6 crop and 45mpix full frame. Best of both worlds.
@@jan_wegener Thanks for the information did not know about that feature.
Great work 👏👏 Jan
Thank you! 😊
This makes the R5 even more attractive for value for money. It can keep up with the best of Sony for half the price. Thanks for making this detailed comparison. 👍👍
My pleasure!
From your video why I feel the r5 had better eye AF than a1, the a1 had struggled to hunt the subject.
It definitely picks up the subject better, but once subjects is acquired tracking is very similar or even slightly better on the Sony.
Excellent points. Biggest thing for me to is quick switch with r5. R5 is more versatile. Great review
thank you for this review 😍
My pleasure 😊
I'm not sure why we'd compare an R5/$3900 camera to an A1/$6800(?) camera, but ok. So what if the R5 is made in Japan vs Thailand for the A1. Perhaps products produced by Japan are better quality than those produced by China, Viet Nam or Thailand? Certainly labor and overall overhead is cheaper outside of Japan. Can you imagine how much cheaper the R5 would be if produced in Thailand...perhaps half the cost? However, would the quality and fit be the same? So Sony saved hundreds producing the A1 in Thailand, why wouldn't they at least introduce a better rear display with full touch capability (like the R5)...why install the same old screen from the A7RIII/A9/A9II/A7SIII? And why install a cheap manual lock for the battery door vs an auto lock on the R5. Yet Sony did not skimp on their CFE A card...it's more than twice the price of the CFE B card, but the CFE A card is half the write/read speed. The A1's tech is great, but the body is old with sharp edges (other than a larger grip an exact replica of my A7RIII) vs the smooth touch of the R5 (I own this as well). Just my humble opinion.
I agree with most of what you said. I filmed a snippet about the battery door, but it didn't make the final cut! SOOOO annoying that door!!!
All my body's have an L-bracket installed. On the A7R2 and A7S, I even removed the battery door's, so I could change the batteries very fast. Never had an issue all these years. I have no issues with the manual lock on both the A1 and A9 either. I guess, this is only an issue if you dont own these cameras ;=) There is no data, that supports your claim if production is done outside of Japan. I prefere 2 CFE A to a CFE B/SD mix. Unfortunately SONY is currently the only source. But this will change. I dont care about the displays. They all suck in bright sun light.
You're kidding yourself if you think Canon would save 50% by moving production out of Japan. For example, Fuji moved production from Japan to China to both lower costs and to scale up production volume. This might have reduced the final cost of the camera body by a couple hundred dollars but certainly not half. (In truth, the first iteration produced in China was *more* expensive than the previous-but also included an improved feature set.) The only savings is labor. The parts are all still sourced the same way from the same vendors. As for build quality, there is no difference. China has very sophisticated manufacturing capabilities. The country does export a lot of cheap crap but it isn't because they are incapable of top end manufacturing. If a company sets a certain QC threshold and has representatives there to insure that QC threshold is respected, there should be no difference in quality. That has certainly been true of the Fuji bodies coming out of China.
The more you do something the better you get at it, the same goes for manufacturing! Also you have to remember that even if Sony assembles cameras or lenses in Thailand, they have Japanese quality assurance Managers. (Yes I might be biased as I live in Thailand, but I can assure you the manufacturing quality here is far better than that of China, Malaysia and Vietnam (but also more expensive). There's a reason why Triumph and Harley Davidson have assembly factories here! Anyways, back to the subject matter, I think the differences between the top 3 camera bodies are very minor.
I can’t see my second comment so I try it third times.:-( Have you experienced softer images from R5 than A1? 2 prestigious sites showed this, specially at higher iso and/or in JPEG. it seems (on the sites) that in JPEGs A1 shows better performance resulting cleaner,sharper, more contrasty image.
You can see the sample images in this video, and my next video with the Sony gear will have a lot more images samples. I think the cameras are very close, so the lenses used will have a big impact as well. The Sony has no AA filter, so a slight edge in sharpness should be expected, but I found it to be quite small. You can see the Ibis High ISO sample in this video. Each camera did reasonably well with a similar result. Overall the Sony file might be slightly sharper.
Thank you for very clear comparison of the R5&A1 especially comparison of the tracking &AF capabilities.I am a wildlife photographer(amateur).Following your video clips help improve my results. Do you organise photo tour in Australia?
Glad you are enjoying my videos. I haven't during Covid, but might start things when it's over.
@@jan_wegener Please let me know when your restart the tour.My email address: kasem@tei.or.th Thank you
Watching videos like this makes me feel good about the fact I bought the R5. I'm no pro, but it can do everything relatively well. Just wish Canon would produce some prime RF lenses with IS, although that may make the prices even higher.
Interesting and useful! It's so nice to have two companies in the race, nipping at each other's heels. Disclosure: I switched from a long stay in the Canon universe to the Sony world about 6 years ago. I agree with Robert Lawrence below that for most of us it's impractical to switch back and forth every year or two. I am also a "stills" shooter in that I do not care much at all about video. However, my "still" photos are of subjects that are anything but still! I am struck by the wide variation in the way different photographers take pictures with one of these cameras. I am an older person who doesn't lift weights in a gym, so I mostly use my camera on a tripod with a gimbal mount. Sometimes I shoot handheld but with a wrist strap. I never carry a camera dangling at my waist from a neck strap. As far as I am concerned, just about anything on the top of the camera is useless, other than buttons that I can find by feel. That goes for those mechanical mode dials on the A1, too. As a non-video shooter, I have no use for a back screen and I certainly don't have time while shooting to use a touch screen. Menus are wonderful for configuring your camera and perhaps setting up a quick menu, but out in the field they're hopelessly fiddly. I notice that a lot of nature and action photographers also play musical instruments. Musicians are accustomed to the idea that to learn a new instrument you have to spend many hours practicing before you develop the muscle memory to play at full tempo. You also have to be able to access the buttons and dials by feel, as your eyes will often be concentrated on a musical score or the actions of a conductor. For a wildlife camera, my primary visual input is the EVF. Yes, when a musician tunes an instrument they will stop playing and look directly at it, but generally not during a performance. I use a slight variation of the A1 or A9 programming setup described by Mark Smith, an excellent bird photographer. He (and as a result, I) use a three-button focus system: zone for when a bird is flying in empty sky, spot for when a bird is in a high-detail environment, and assisted manual focus for when a bird is hiding from predators behind a tangle of twigs. I can also acquire focus in one mode and switch to another in a fraction of a second. Hopefully, all of you experts will converge on methods to effectively use these new mirrorless wonders, Sony or Canon. Once the new user models have been refined, the manufacturers can better serve our needs.
Yes, competition is very beneficial for us! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hi Jan ; Congrats on this review full of details comparing both cameras. To me color science in both cameras seem to be quite different when looking in detail. Is it really posible to match the colors of this two different camera brands in post processing ?
You can get very close. Maybe not 100% exact but quite close with a bit of tweaking. But I found it easier to work with the Canon files. In saying that I am more used to them.
I got same R5 raw files to compare them with the A1. If you calibrate the cameras, monitor and printer, I could not tell the difference on the monitor and the Canon 1000 printer. I am using Capture One.
@@jan_wegener Thank you Jan and Rene
@@renestaempfli1071 Yes I think a lot will have to do with what RAW converter you are using. Capture One did a very good job on the Sony files.
Great review! I feel like it was very practical and non-biased. I am wondering about a few issues with the R5. Most online seem to feel the 8k codec is very hard to work with. Is this better on the a1? Also, last time I checked the R5 only shoots 20fps if the battery is charged above 60%. Is this still true? And lastly, I know it’s better but is there still an overheating issue with the R5? It’s seems to me that the a1 works with less caveats than the R5. Thanks!
I do agree, the A1 is a bit more straight forward. Overall I feel like Sony codecs were a little bit easier to work with, but 8k takes a big toll on any system. The R5 only shoots 20fps in electronic shutter mode, so I am not entirely how that works with the lower charges. In mechanical it slows down for sure. So far I have gotten the overheating warning a few times when filming, but it has not yet shut off on me.
Rumour has it that the R5 expressed its anger by overheating... No matter what camera you have you can still get great photos :)
haha :D True!
Great and fair video. I switched from Sony A9 + A7 III to Canon R5 + R6. I like the overall Performance of the new canon cameras, and their idea of the rf lineup and about what is important for a modern mirrorless system. This really small and lightweight rf 70-200mm f2.8 and f4 lenses for example. I use both of them. Or the coming rf 70-400mm non L lense, that I‘m waiting for. The 100mm macro lense with 1:1.4 magnification. They’re trying to make things different to the DSLR lineup. Not only one to one the same things like before. I like and prefer their IBIS and lense stabilisation that is the best i have ever used in a full frame system. Only my Olympus can do it better. Such a steady viewfinder at 300, 500 or 600mm is great to work with. I can take sharp pictures at 600mm with 1/50 or 1/100 if I want, and that‘s crazy. And like you said, the easy use of animal eye af, without switching between animals and humans. So this are only very small things I like more with the canon or don‘t like so much with the Sony cameras. But all together it was enough to switch and make my workflow better. Can I take pictures I could not take before with my Sony cameras? No, Sony worked very well for me too. And this „my gear is better than yours“ thinking is stupid. Sorry for my english 🙂
Yes, I have been really enjoying the RF lens line up myself. I agree that the IBIS/IS is the best in Canon for sure. Yes, both systems can do very well. In the end it's most important to find what suits you best
Great video. Thanks for your hard work. I have a new R5. I am trying to sort out how to best utilize the two different cards. I have a big fast CDExpress. I am wondering how best to incorporate an SD card in the other slot. It seems that the typical SD card is quite a bit slower than the CDExpress cards and that if I use the SD to make a back up of everything on the CDExpress card it will limit the frame rate? What do you do in this regard on your R5? How fast is your SD card. What do you use the SD card for? I am honestly wondering if it might be best to leave the SD card home.
This is the best comparative discussion of these both cameras, subscribed! I hope that you could also one day throw the Z7 II into the fold and tell with this objectivity how the supposedly inferior AF in the Nikon performs.
I might, just need a good Nikon contact :) I have sat next to Z7 IIs in the blind and they did have a hard time tracking compared to my R5s. But haven't really done a proper side by side
I have the r5 and z7ii with latest Update. The AF from the Nikon is so so much slower and not on Point. I personally Cant believe that you can take Good Wildlife shots with it when you are Not a pro
@@dkastra26 Thanks for the feedback. Yes its the commonly voiced opinion about Nikon's foray into mirrorless. Personally I do not photograph fast action, and birds are rather coincidental fascinating subjects only, so the AF speed would not be an issue to me. However, it is severely impacting the perception and especially young generation looks at Sony instead. These users will later purchase lenses and other accessories, cementing marginalization of Nikon. When I was young I used to use Minolta, before switching to Nikon. Should I get a Sony in my old age, that would be grand circle to the origin of my photographic journey.
@@ThomasHalways ok i have to say it otherwise. The AF from the z7ii was to Slow for Portraits 😂 in my testings. If the Head Turns a Little you have the wrong eye sharp. Again and again and again. I used 1/500 f1.4. But with Canon and Sony it was not a Problem
@@ThomasHalways the r5 is the best Camera and Not only for the Money.
Sony has no DPAF(Dual Pixel) technology, what they have is PDAF. Meanwhile ,AF points on a Sony Camera are fixed.The camera cannot get focused between these AF points. BTW, The AF points are also dead spots to the image, any objects falling on these AF points would be eaten up by camera. Canon definitely has better AF system DPAF. In theroy, camera can focus anywhere.And it can recognize the eyes better since it can focus anywhere and there don't have dead spots caused by fixed AF points.
that might also then explain the better subject recognition
Great video. It's funny and I am in a minority I'm sure, but I prefer the colors of the A1 over the R5.
You might be a minority of 1 :D
@@jan_wegener I def. prepare the a1 colors over the r5. I had the r5 and rented the a1 for a week. I sucked it up and made the switch. Some of the reasons was the color, the view finder, electronic shutter, no rolling shutter, the 30fps, etc. It was a decent a review but you def showed some bias in your review. It was easy to see you are a canon shooter. Everything that a1 had that was better you seemed to downplay it. Probably trying to reassure yourself that staying with canon will be okay. I see this a lot with commenters and reviewers. So no shame in that. Other than that great job
Another great video Jan! Can I ask which lens was used for the video here @18:29, it looks quite wide angle
24-70
Fantastic review. Unbiased and with great field examples. I would probably prefer the R5. The major factor is the price as well. When using multiple bodies and multiple lenses int the field, A1 is way much expensive. Plus, I really like the eye auto focus capability in video for birds and animals in R5. It helps when focus is locked in to enabled smooth video.
Yes, the video AF comes close to being a deal breaker for me
The fact that you can get similar performance from a camera almost half the price says everything you need to know...
Hard to argue about the price point!
Add to that the RF lenses and if you don’t really need a single specific feature only an A1 has, then the choice is clear.
you know who the real winner is ? both products they win our money 😁😁😁
true!
Great review!
Glad you enjoyed it
Hey Jan, if you find you're clipping highlights try turning on Highlight Tone Priority on the Canon.
In the past these things have slowed down the frame rate. Not sure if that's still true on the R5
I think for the price difference I couldn't justify the Sony. The Canon when compared to the Sony seems to give you much better value for money.
Hard to argue with that line of thinking
Canon RF lenses are more expensive though. In some countries, you can get A1+200-600 at the same price as R5+100-500.
@@frankfeng2701 Interesting. Here I can get an R5 & 100-500 for the price on just one A1
@@frankfeng2701 Very true, I wonder if that's where 3rd party lenses (ie Sigma, Tamron etc) come in to balance it out.
Canon R5 deserves all its money.🙌💪🏆
it's pretty good, hey? :)
Best side by side comparison of these beast of a camera, really enjoyed it. Has helped me decide to buy another prime lens lol.
LOL, quite a pricy 30min then! What are you gonna get! Glad you enjoyed it!
@@jan_wegener 600mm f4
@@jamieangeles5990 That sure is a great lens!
Thanks for this honest and awesome test. I work with the EOS R for photo and BMPCC4K RIG for video so im packed with EF lenses. Thought about R5 in the future but there is everytime this „Sony A1 specs“ then I think… wait there will be an R1 in the future… and for video I will upgrade on an BM 6K for money/value reasons. There is this tingle to switch… I think some of you get me. In video I work with RAW 12Bit and can’t get off off it. If you worked with this Uncompressed video Material you fall im Love with this. So at the end I will wait and work with what I have and invest my money to the point for a BM upgrade or harder an R1 (could be) upgrade. Thanks, awesome work Best from Germany
Yes, once you have found the right tool for the right job it's not that easy to change. And why would you I suppose. If you're only looking for a photo camera then the A1 has some advantages, but if you have a lot of Canon glass and no Sony glass, the choice is almost made for you in a way. I am with you on the R1, very curious to see which direction they will go in.
OK, 7 comments so far and I have to say they have been pretty objective. I have both watched and commented on many other A1 and R5 videos, I have to say if you discount the fanboys, the objective conclusion is the performance of both cameras are fairly similar. Although some A1 users I have encountered like to stress on a number of A1 advantages such as no blackout, 30 fps and no rolling shutter. So, this is when things get complicated. I guess on paper one could say the A1 is a better camera. However, once you start doing a head-to-head comparison, you simply cannot ignore price point. This is also when discussions/debate become heated and go off on separate tangents. The A1 users simply want to claim the A1 is the best camera out there, period. The R5 users want to talk about in-the-field performance difference and more importantly price point. In reality, no one with the right mind would say it is fair to compare a camera that costs almost double the price of another. So, to me, the objective conclusion should be: 1) yes, the A1 is a slightly better camera than the R5 and 2) but, is it worth such a massive premium? The answer is no. Unless you are already heavily invested in the Sony ecosystem, if not you have to ask yourself what would make you pay almost double of that of a R5? Surely, the difference in performance has to be night and day right? And in this case, it simply isn't.
Totally agree. If I pay, double, you should offer me double, or something new without what once I use it I can not live. 10 fps more? two other little things a little better? You keep giving me the same flip-up screen. But do you have to give me double the money? As they comment in one of the comments, with what the A1 costs I have bought the R5 and an RF telecom. I think that little can be said about that. The results speak for themselves, in a blind tasting it would be very difficult to tell which camera captured each photo.
Very well said mate and I agree. The A1 is definitely the more well rounded camera, yet quite close to the R5 in overall performance. we will see how the comments will go :D
well said. The price point would be the main factor for me as well, as I need 2-3 bodies for my work.
It all depends. As long as you don't push the envelop, almost any modern camera will do. But if you push the envelop, then it matters. The A1 does have some important capabilities, no other camera currently has. If you need them, then 2k$ is no big deal.
@@jan_wegener It is all about price point in the end. What I remember is this. When the R5 first came out with the launch price of US$3.9K, people were saying hey that thing ain't cheap you know. But, after the A1 came out when Sony positioned it as the flagship body of the brand and set the price point at US$6.5K, the narrative and sentiments on the streets soon became the A1 made the R5 looked like the bargain of the century. I think many thought Sony would price it like the A9 when the A9 was the flagship. The question is if Sony had priced the A1 somewhere along those lines let's just say for the sake of discussion may be around US$4.5K or even US$5K, may be the general perception could have been quite different. At US$4.5K, I think I might have gone for the A1 instead. But, for me when the R5 dropped to US$3.5K while the A1 still sat at US$6.5K, the difference in price point just became too great to justify myself paying almost double.
Admittedly, Canon knows what it is doing. The criticism when they released the R6 and R5 was brutal. Crazy they called those who opted for the R5, crazy, wasteful, that's not worth that money. And now Sony brings out, a machine that offers nothing to blow my mind, a camera that is on par with the R5 but for double the money. Where are all those Sony users who said these atrocities about Canon? I can't hear them.
The R5 is a Sony KILLER. The folks who were thinking of switching from Canon to Sony due to all the hype of Sony Cameras, got their wish come true and more with the R5. Hands down that Sony A1 isn't beating the R5, the things Jan mentions are so small, even he said "In the field it isn't noticeable". PLUS you can but two R5's for the price of one Sony A1....if you buy a Sony A1 it's because you had to, because of all the lenses you own....TRUTH 👊😎👊
I didn't know there was criticism? Canon is much more established than Sony at least where I am
Yes, but most of the criticism Canon has to blame themselves for and their marketing. Why focus on 8k, when it's the only thing the camera didn't do that well, yet everything else it's kinda amazing at! Very strange strategy.
If you are invested into Sony the A1 is the logical choice. But for someone like me who needs 2-3 bodies on a daily basis, 3 A1 would eat up a lot of budget.
it was mainly the whole overheating thing that didn't actually affect 99.9999% of people :D
Nice review and would agree with everything you said. I have the R5 and are currently testing the A1 to maybe replace my A7S3. Being able to have actually 3-4 different custom shooting modes configured to buttons, is one of the features I really like about the Sony cameras. Also just wanted to confirm that with the A1 (as with the R5) you can start recording video just by pressing the video button while in photo mode. The only problem I noticed is that the picture style/profile used for stills is the one used for video, which is a big issue. Have asked Sony if this can be addressed or customised in the menu. Canon solved this problem very nicely by assigning video recording from photo mode, to Video C3.
Yes I just press video button to record 120fps 4K on the Sony A1!
I should have been more clear. When I press record in manual mode on the A1 it records with my manual mode settings, not dedicated video settings like the R5. So if I switch in between, I have to change my settings manually, which takes a bit of time
@@jan_wegener In this case, it takes me about 500ms, which is ok for me. Of course a firmware change would be fine to.
@@renestaempfli1071 Yes, it doesn't take long, but changing ISO, SS and aperture does take a bit of time and you also have to change it back quickly once finished with video. I am not saying it's bad, but it's just done better on the R5, possibly due to not having a physical dial.
@@jan_wegener Yes, that quite an issue, which I have already shared with Sony. It's a very important feature that they need to fix. And the funny thing is there is a menu setting that in theory allows selecting specific settings that you wanna have different in stills and video mode.
Many thanks for this well-researched and critical review. I have been a Canon user for the last 50 years, and my workhorse 1Dx died last week. Wondering whether it is time to move brands. I am also looking at lenses available for each brand- Canon, Nikon and Sony. The Canon doesn't have an equivalent to the internal zooming Sony's 200-600 or Nikon's 180-600, though its 100-500 comes quite close. I am still inclined more towards the Canon EOS R5 with the RF 100-500 to be my wildlife setup. Just wondering how the Nikon Z8/Z9 will compare, as it was not included in your review.
The autofocus is amazing on the R5 and it is not even the flagship model for Canon. Sony autofocus is good but Canon has totally taken over this game away from Sony at this point
Canon has certainly made the biggest jump that we have seen from any manufacturer for a while.
You need to stop watching them tony and Chelsea video. Sony is still 2 years ahead of Canon in the mirrorless tech since they invested heavily into mirrorless tech. Sony forced both nikon and canon to invest in mirrorless canon with the a7iii. Sony gave canon and nikon the blue prints to build better mirrorless cameras. Sony is still 1 step ahead of them in every way.
Nop.
Well as I expected Jan both awesome cameras ! Your bias towards Canon, myself Sony ! I think for the neutral the Canon is better value for money overall at the moment ! Sony just slightly better if money is not an issue ! The results on the A1 with the 600f4 are to die for, but again not worth selling a kidney for in the real world !! Great comparison I guess your sticking to the R5 ? Awesome !
Yes, both are very good. For video the R5 is far better for me.
Outstanding video. Shooting a Nikon D500 now and looking to upgrade (mainly wildlife/bird photography). This comparison was very helpful.... starting to lean toward the Canon R5. I am not truly invested in the Nikon system ( a few old kit lenses and a Tamron zoom) so switching to Canon or Sony is a possibility with "limited loss" of investment.
That's a nice position to be in when both systems don't require much old gear to be sold. I guess besides the camera the lens selections play a role as well. Glad my video could help :)
Great Video Jan
Glad you enjoyed it
Really nice video, thx for this work :-) at 26:45... can you tell us which "noise cleaner" you use? Especially for this picture with ISO12800 ... THX
DXO Pure Raw
Really great comparison. I get the point on the video autofocus tracking at the end of a long lens and it does seem odd that Sony don't have the animal/bird eye autofocus - they could fix this with firmware updates perhaps. I think as much as it pains me to say as well these two cameras should really not be compared to each other. The A1 will be matched and perhaps surpassed by the R3 and R1 so the R5 is truly unmatched at the moment...
I think that's kinda my conclusion as well. The R5 shouldn't be this capable and close to an A1. Canon really went all out. I am sure the eye tracking could be added. Hopefully they will!
Excellent video as always Jan. Both cameras appear fantastic but the main differences are in price and the accompanying lenses. The 200-600 is usefully 100mm longer at the long end and still manages a faster max aperture than the Canon100-500. I wish Canon had made the equivalent lens. On price the A1 camera is much more expensive but the 200-600 is much cheaper here in the UK than the Canon 100-500 (£1599 vs £2979) . The 200-600 is quite a bit heavier than the Canon though. Being a stills shooter I am erring towards the Canon. I look forward to your next video.
I will talk a bout that in my next video, there a few quite interesting things I found when using the 200-600. Thanks John! :)
Can you give any hints on your findings with the 200-600? Was going to go A1 because of the 200-600 vs the RF 100-500
I am really enjoying the R5. Thank you for your videos. Can you give me a suggestion of what parameters you set in your viewfinder when shooting Birds or BIF? I know it’s personal preference but I’m trying to unclutter viewfinder and not sure what to keep and what to remove. thanks so much
I usually toggle through different things with the info button when using the camera throughout the day. I like to have a good chunk of info in there, so i don't lose tracks of something important. I skip the histogram when doing BIF cause it covers a large area
Recently saw your comparisin of the Canon R5 and the A1 (07/11/2021) where you mentioned that the Sony exposures appear darker when comparing ISOs. The reason is that the ISO ratings among the various camera manufactures are not equivalent. It will be nice if all camera manufacturers will use a single standard so all ISOs will be the same; this may also apply to aperture openings and shutter speeds.
Yes, and then there's things like t-stops of the lenses as well
We’ll that is a more balanced evaluation of both cameras . Thanks !😅
Thank you :)
A fabulous review
Thank you!
Nice video Jan really amazing cameras and very similar but the price difference is ridiculous . Here in New Zealand the R5 is $6600 and the A1 is $10800 so you can buy a really nice lens as well as the R5 for the same money or a new computer to cope with the big files. The ergonomics and overall design seems so much better on the Canon and it'll be interesting to see how the upcoming Canon R3 compares with these two cameras.
Agreed. I think the mega pixel count of the R3 will be much lower, so it will be difficult to directly compare
Nice, balanced and entertaining review. Always so impressed with what you do. I thought for one moment that the 600EF behind you was going to go limp, but you weaved elegantly between them and shared the love around. Assume that you've now started a bidding war between Canon and Sony and parcels will start arriving soon. Considerations that kept me with Canon... 1) Life long Canon addiction & EF adaptor; 2) Price; 3) Menu system/structure logic; 4) # focus points [~5k differential]; 5) Colour science; 6) Flippy screen; 7) Handle form factor... bigger hands. If Canon sorted their sh*t out with Adobe it might near be perfect. But they're both seriously amazing cameras. You and Duade prove over & over again that it's not the camera but how you use it. You even make the Bin Chickens look great. Thanks again!
No parcels for me :( Good old bin chickens, hey!? :D Glad you enjoyed it. Agree with your points about the things that work well on the Canons
This is the best comparison video I have ever seen. Amazing 30 mins
Glad to hear that!
Excellent review of two game changing cameras. I think the simpler animal-detect setting on the Canon would be the thing that would steer me towards the R5. Plus, I find Canon cameras a little more comfortable to hold than the Sony bodies.
Thank you! I agree about both points
Jan, on the SOny don't use zone, use centre. It's a lot smaller, not much bigger than the flexible spot large, and will lock onto your target immediately. Zone is terrible when there's contrast in fg or bg. Birds flying low over water give it total grief. I only have A9 so I always use the spot modes ot centre mode and only use zone or wide for birds against sky, where it works really well. Looks to me as though the Sony meters little darker than the Canon, shots look 1/6 stop or so darker.
It was all manual mode, so must be the actual exposure coming out darker with the same settings. Yes, I just tested all modes and the larger zones really didn't do very well.
Great video. Although this is hardly the only one on photography KZhead, I have found this specific head-to-head comparison to be perplexing, however. I get that these are the cameras that are out right now, but these two bodies are not intended to compete with one another. The R3 will likely be in a few photographers' hands at the Olympics and seems set for general release in September. It's a better fit for the head-to-head matchup with the A1. Moreover, it should feature a price that approximates that of the A1, instead of being nearly half the price of the Sony like the R5. That's where I'd say that a best-on-best comparison between the two manufacturers is appropriate. As it is, this is Sony's top-line camera body held up against Canon's high-end prosumer camera. Canon is still halfway through the rollout of its mirrorless lineup. I have the R5 and it's a great camera for the money, but it's not pro grade. It was never intended to be professional grade (even if plenty of professionals will balk at spending higher prices and will use it successfully as a pro). It's designed to occupy the same space as the venerable 5D family of cameras, dragged into the mirrorless age. Comparing the cameras that are currently available is certainly understandable, but these videos tend to ignore the looming shadow of the R3 that ought to be part of the conversation, especially so close to its first appearance in the wild. As to the real-world experiences and takeaways you discuss here, this video is really informative and well laid out, as always. I have a great appreciation for how good Sony is in this marketplace. It's encouraging to see Canon and Nikon starting to narrow that gap. After being so slow to enter the mirrorless space, they are now proceeding with gusto. The competition it creates should be great news for all photographers, up and down the stack.
I don't disagree at all. But we can only compare what we got and the two cameras are a bit closer than one would think. Especially when comparing the 5D series to pro bodies. Canon really went all in. The R3 will be much lower mpix, so then one can make an argument again that it is very difficult to compare. Cause it will have better AF, better Noise etc, hwoever then the argument is, but Sony can do the same at 50mpix. So we just have to settle for incomplete comparisons, which is fine since we don't need cameras to be identical. Once the R3 will be readily available some time late this year maybe, we will make some more videos with it :)