When I got the R5 I was blown away. Now with the R3 I am blown away again. It’s hard to describe/articulate the minutia of the experience but it’s just more refined and snappier overall. ISO performance is completely a noticeable update too. I always shoot in darker situations so this is HUGE. Also - Eye control is not a gimmick!! it’s game changing. I wear glasses a lot when I casually shoot so I calibrated without glasses for best results. Now the eye control works like a charm when I resume glasses wearing. I can use eye control in conjunction with the custom zones I create, *AND* get eye tracking within the zone! It’s literally beyond! Like you said - people see the 24MP and write this camera off - but it is so much more than that!!!! 🙌🏻 I actually am going to have a hard time picking up my R5 again!
Nice video! I totally understand what you mean by how high quality and magnified image pixels are with R3. I had that experience with 1DXII where even its 20 mp gave me images that would rival and be better than my 5DIV images which was 33 mp body.
Really enjoyed that Ron, as a Wildlife photographer speed is pretty much everything especially for fast action bird photography! I've just taken receipt of my R3 and very much looking forward to getting out in the field. Thanks again, great video. All the best Richard 👍
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I have a couple other R3 videos out as well just in case you are interested. Cheers and great light to you.
@@whistlingwingsphotography My pleasure, coming from a background in Canon 1D bodies lots of the functions are familiar but so many new functions & Menus especially CF's. Watching your other videos on the R3 has allowed me to get ahead of the game and spend more time in the field, using a lot of what you've discussed and adopted to my R 😀
Just got my R3 yesterday. Paired with the 100-500mm I'm loving the weight difference between the 1DX MK3 + 100-400mm II. Getting the hang of the autofocus is going to be a bit of a learning curve, but so far I'm very impressed with this camera & the R5. I think having both gives flexibilty for the situation. Now to get myself educated so I'm worthy of the potential of the gear. Thank you for your very informative & well done videos. New subscriber - glad I found you.
There sure were. There were great images taken with film and still are. That being stated, the tech we now have makes some images possible that were not in the days of film or even early digital. I sure did not get many BIF images when I used a non AF film camera. And many birds were just too far away and the res was not available to allow the making of great images under those scenarios. 45mp really is the sweet res for birds for me.
I got the R3 on Black Friday. I’m absolutely loving it. The autofocus, the eye tracking, the speed, the low light and so much more. I’ve been in the 22MP to 30MP range for several years now with no problem. I appreciate your real world review and adding the 30MP comment. Your video just helps solidify some of my thoughts and initial experiences. My only real complaint is the SD for card 2 rather than two CFexpress cards. But it’s not a deal breaker. I assume you shoot to the CFexpress for your rapid action and not doing dual to the SD? Would like your comment here on that.
Yep, I shoot the CFe card and use the SD card to auto switch to is the CFe Card fills. I really do wish Canon would have gone with two CFe cards. As you say not a deal breaker, but still not the best choice.
Nicer pixels are just my way of trying to describe the overall look of a RAW image coming from a camera. For example, compare the overall look of a RAW image from a Canon 5Dmk IV to the R3. The strong AA filter and higher noise ratios provided "pixels" that were not as nice as those coming from the R3. Of course, this is just to my eyes.
Great video. I have been waiting for a true bird photographer to compare the R5 45 mp with the R3 24 mp. If there wouldn't be a R1 in the future, I would have bought a R3. I do love the R5 45 mp. What you mentioned about the R5 shortcomings is right on. Rolling shutter is an issue where there is vertical elements in the background. Rolling shutter is bad for hummingbirds. The wings go haywire in some shots. But you do get a few great shots out of a sequence. Yes, there is a slight lag on the EVF that I am already used to. With good lighting, I can use cRAW to shoot that won't affect buffer. In bad lighting, I use RAW and it can get to the max of the buffer quickly. Yes, when the R5 focuses on the background it is hard to bump it back to focus on the subject. I have to aim the lens to the ground or something very close to me and refocus the bird. I missed some shots in that situation. Would you please test the eye control AF? I wonder if that is a game changer for bird photographer. Also, when the background is busy, does the R3 focus on the background more than on the subject? The R5 tends to easily focus on the busy background more than on the subject. Thanks.
I have been using the eye controlled AF and I would say it is not a game changer for my bird photography. Why? Because the eye tracking now available with SPOT AF does that job for me. I can now pick the bird I want the AF to focus on and track by putting the spot on the bird and then pressing the back button. The eye controlled AF works. I calibrated it to my eyes with glasses, with contact lenses, and without anything and it was easy and accurate. However, for birds it just does not add much. It adds nothing for me for my bird in flight photography, especially. I am sure some people will find it to be very useful. Just not for me, at least at this point.
Great video. Thank you. I loved how you could flip the camera on so quickly on the R5 on the way up to your eye. With the R3 with the new power button I find myself taking my eye off the subject to power up. I've programmed an off / snooze / zzzz button near the shutter trigger, but still... This isn't a solution. Did you have problems with quickly powering on the R3? Solution? Thank you
Thx Ron...very informative...I'm very happy with the R5 at the moment and maybe I'll skip the R3 for the R1!...also thanks for the heads up on the R5 firmware update...must get it done...
What you said @13:15 is "exactly" why I would not buy an R3. I'm sure their are things (as you mentioned) which are better than the R5. Id expect that, for the extra $. But mp's are super important to me, especially, since I also use my camera for landscapes. Heck, to be honest, Id prefer a lot more than 45mp's for my landscapes, and I'd buy a GFX 100 right now, if I could afford one. Instead, I do most of my landscapes with a 2 x 2 stitch, to get 120mp. Now, an R2 or an R1 that does everything as well as the R3 does, but with 50 or more mp's ? THAT would be bad ass ! ;)
Every few days I catch myself buying an R3 online and have to stop. It looks awesome, but I have an R5 that is probably way more camera than I need. I mollify myself by telling me I'm going to to buy an R1.
Hi Ron. I read In the manual that You shouldnt change focal of lens while tracking the subject In the servo mode cause it can loose focus. This is in the R5 and R3 manual. I have R5 but for 2.5 days I was also testing R3 and noticed that In both cases I didnt had all sharp images while tracking and Im wondering what can be wrong.
I’ve got a big and only choice tomorrow- I can’t wait for an R1 ? I can get my hands on a R5 in the morning but it’s not ideal spec I think for bird pics but a great body Do I though try for now to just buy a eos R in the mean time until the R1 comes out please ... Can’t sleep easy
The R5 is a great camera for birds IMO especially if you shoot a lot of small birds where you need to crop many of your images. i love my R5. I like my R3 better for action, but the R5 is still a great all around bird camera.
Another AMAZING video. Thank you!! I have been using an R5. We are headed to Namibia and South Africa and I wanted to get a 2nd body. Would you recommend an R3 or R6? I do love shooting birds and wildlife. I will be using a 100-500mm lens primarily. Thank you
Thank you for the video. Great camera R3 with great results. I’m a hobbyist wildlife photographer using Canon 1D Mark IV either with EF 400mm 5.6 + 1.4x or EF 300mm f/2.8 IS II + 2x. Certainly my results are not as awesome as yours or any other pro shooting R3. However, for me my combo is ok and gives me immense pleasure whenever I’m out shooting wild birds and mammals. Thanks again.
Very interesting reading your thoughts on R3 and R5. Currently I use a 1DX mkii with a 300mm f2.8 for my birds / wildlife shooting, generally with the 1.4 TC on. For various reasons I had to give up my 500mm f4 lens (mostly weight related alongside a location change that means I do a lot more hand held shooting rather than tripod shooting). I'm considering the jump to the mirrorless for the new AF systems but I'm not thinking of changing lenses. Ignoring the price difference between R5 and R3 ( especially as the R5 would also require the battery grip and extra batteries) if it's a case of 1 camera only - do I go for the 45MP for resolution and cropping or do I got for the R3 for the new sensor and AF system improvements?
It all depends on how much cropping of your images you generally do with your present rig. If you are happy with the results you are getting with your 20mp 1DxII, then you will likely be very happy with the 24mp R3 and the awesome and very flexible AF that it provides. If you are always wishing for more resolution with your current rig then the R5 with 45mp and its very good AF will be better for you. So, I recommend asking yourself the aforementioned questions and choosing accordingly. On the subject of lens weight and doing more hand holding. There is a solution to holding heavy rigs. Check out this video if you have not seen it. It is about my Shoot-shooter Harness system that allows you to use very heavy lens and camera combos, and relatively light ones as well, without any weight on your hands or arms. Cheers, Ron Link to video: ua-cam.com/video/GdI2jzxoNJQ/v-deo.html
Hi Ron. Another excellent video. I'd like you to re visit this topic after you've updated your R5 to vs .150 of the firmware. I've not done any BIF shots as yet with mine since the update but have used it on birds jumping about on rocks on the shore. My impression was that it's ability to pick out the eye of the bird with background clutter was improved.
Interesting. I have updated the firmware, I just have not shot my R5 much since, given I have been learning the R3. I can't wait to see how things have changes. Cheers.
Would love to see you do a video on the firmware 1.5 update on the R5. Some folks on canon rumors have been stating that their auto focus system is worse! It would be great to hear from an expert that uses this in the bird photography field before I go ahead and update. I'm jealous now about the R3 but for now I'm happy with the R5. Mostly because of watching your videos and getting a better understanding of how to operate the camera so that it produces better results. Thanks!
The R5 is an awesome camera especially for its price point. I have been shooting with the R5 after 1.5 firmware update and I have not seen it getting worse, I think it is better, but I am still testing it. After tomorrow I will know more. I will do a video once I have enough "data" to make a good assessment.
Great to get your review of the R3 Ron. I bet you captured some great images of the Kingfisher this past Saturday. When you get a chance, do another video that includes some of the shots comparing them to what you get with the R5 that showing action that is achieved at 30fps.
Thanks, Tom. I will be doing some comparisons of images from the R5 and R3. The R5 has its place given the resolution, but for action the R3 will do better at least for now.
I have both, and if I could only afford one it would be the R5. I haven't had much chance to use my R3 in the field yet (Covid started running through our house the day after I got it) but from what I can see in initial testing, I will be using my R3 when the light is low or the action is fast. The R5 can handle those situations as well, just not as well. With that in mind, the R5 would a more versatile main camera.
The firmware update is awesome. Focus point goes strict to the eye (people and birds) and just sticks like glue. I am a working motorsports photographer using the R6 and the vehicle tracking is amazing. It works exactly as the R3.
That's interesting. I shoot mainly birds, I have only used it once since the firmware update, but found that even manually focussing on the bird, once I pressed autofocus back button, the autofocus was jumping from the bird to a leaf, which it hadn't done previously. I only used it with the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary, so don't know if it was this lens/camera combination that was causing the problem. I am waiting for a reply from Canon support at the moment, but judging by your comment I wonder if it is to do with the lens.
@@paulgibbings9553 hi Paul, it could well be the lens. I only use canon lenses. I visited the bird aviary at our local botanical gardens yeterday to check bird auto focus yesterday and it was vastly improved. I use back button 2 button focus and regardless of where I aimed the focus point it just went directly to the bird's eye...even the smallest of birds. It's a joy to use. If you are able, try a different lens. .borrow a canon and try it.
@@nismo09nz Thanks for the reply, I went back out today briefly with the same lens and did a bit more experimenting. I found for squirrels and pigeons with a clear unobstructed view it was pretty amazing, just locked on immediately, , To me that seems improved. I was also impressed with the vehicle autofocus. The only issue seems to be in leafy/ undergrowth locations. I took my Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 and RF 24-105 with me, but they're not ideal for small bird photography, and I was so cold I ended up not experimenting with them.
The 800 is a bit more snappy, but not much. I noticed a big difference in how my EF 600 f/4 Mk. II performs on the R3 vs the R5, but not near the difference with the 800mm
Hi again Ron, do you think the R3 will work better with tele converters and small apertures than the R5? Especially with medium telephotos like the EF100-400 ii and RF100-500 with 1.4x and 2x T.Cs Thanks Noel
I have been using the R3 with a 1.4x and 2.0x and I find it works great. I also have had no issues using the 1.4x on my R5 with my 100-500 and 600 f/4. I have been pushing AF in very light and it is amazing at how well it does in very low light. Technology continues to push the envelop.
Hello Ron. Did you shoot in the past with 1D x iii? I can't justify & afford 6k$ price. Do you think 1dx iii is still relevant compared to R3? Anyone here did move from 1dx iii to R3? I got 400mm 2.8 first gen and want sturdy body.
Thank you for your video. I always enjoy watching your videos. Can you answer a question for me please? You have a lens coat on your RF 100-500 lens. Can you tell me where to get this from? I'm from Germany and would like to order one for my RF 100-500. Thank you and have a nice day for you.
Yep, what you heard in the video was the ES. You can also control the volume of the fake shutter noise. I love it. I too wish Canon would do a firmware update and give us this option in the R5.
10:55 Thanks for talking about this issue. I have a Canon M50 and the autofocus is so bad that I didn't buy a tele lens because I knew it wouldn't make sense with this camera. I can't understand why so many reviewers don't notice such issues, they often just talk about autofocus speed, but don't talk about single point accuracy. When I tried to take a photo of a common blackbird (only 2 meters away) with a 50mm lens, it always focused on the background despite single point autofocus and 10x loupe. The only solution was to focus on a different object that was in the same focal plane. Same issue with other lenses. I also tried the M6 II and RP in a store and they seemed to have the same issue regarding accuracy, though the M6 I was more accurate.
I need to make a choice between getting the R3 OR the R5 for my bird photography. So many videos I'm seeing are talking about having both for different circumstances. Which would you go for if you could only have one? I'm currently shooting with my old 600D and otherwise have used a 6D mark II at work.
I really love my R3. The AF and IBIS/IS are just one step better than the R5. I have both and I tend to go with my R3 unless I really need the added res of the R5 for very small birds or situations where I just cannot get close my subject. Sincerely, ron
Thanks Ron, I always enjoy your photos and the your hints and techniques for shooting. This is an excellent summation of real world use of the R3, wish I could get one but I’m still improving my ability to use my R5, lol. On a side note, my R5 is at FW version 1.4 but I have experienced it freezing up and rebooting 3 times in my last outing (about 5 hours total). There was no overheating. Have you experienced or heard of this as a problem? Keep up the excellent videos!
Yes, I have heard and seen other R5 freeze up. I have not had this issue with my R5s. I suspect it has something to do with a particular way some folks have their settings and I must not have mine set up the same way, but if I did I would see this issue too. That is the only explanation I can come up with for why some experience it and others don't.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thank you for your response. I will add that I was using my RF100-500 with the Canon 2x extender in both manual and Tv modes. Here’s hoping the fw 1.5 update fixes it.
I hope that the R7 will be announced in late August for delivery in September. I suspect that it will be 32.5 Mpx since that is the resolution of the 90D. But I hope for 20-24 Mpx since that is probably a sweet spot for cameras : enough Mpx and not too much space used. As for the R1, I suspect 80mpx.
A feature that I hoped would be found in the R3 is Zebras for still photography. The Sony A1 has it and it is a "tremendous" advantage for bird photographers nailing the exposure. It is a feature in Canon cameras only for video. Hopefully, Canon could add zebras for stills with a firmware update. Come on Canon.....Sony did it.
Pleased to hear that you have an R-3 in hand and that it will remain in your capable hands :) Really appreciate your initial impressions, looking forward to more feedback in the future.
I went from a 1DX2 and 5DSR to an R5 and R6 then traded the 6 in on a second R5. Megapixels are definitely not everything and I’d be ok with the 24 of the R3. I have grips on my R5’s but they don’t have the same feel as the 1DX2 and probably the R3 that I like, I also liked that big battery. One thing I don’t miss is having to bring different chargers for the two style batteries on trips and that is one reason I’m waiting on the R3. Once the R1 comes out and I see what direction Canon takes with it, I can see them maybe doing a high MP smaller body like the A1 or maybe they will stick with the larger body, I will decide then which way to go. I’m hoping for a larger body R1
The R3 body weighs less than the R5 with a grip. I love the R3 body. It is much smaller than the 1DxII. The R3 has the best grip for my hands of any camera I have ever held. Overall its size, weight , and grip are just perfect for me. I hope Canon used basically the same chassis for the R1 just puts more and better stuff in it. I am with you on hating having to have two charger and battery types, but I am willing to put up with it until the R1 comes out.
There is no way Canon going to a smaller body with the R1. Taking the R3 into your hand: Oh man, it fits - and it is so light for a body with big battery power! Sadly, I only was able to get the fingers on but no real shooting. After having the R3 in hand, 1Dx II and R5 with grip both don't feel any more good.
People got some of the best pictures in the world with the 1DX series and that's 20mp, people seem to want to compensate with not getting close enough to a subject with extreme cropping. Getting closer is always better than cropping, sure sometimes you have to but people have been acting like 24mp is absolutely nothing whilst they use a 1080P PC monitor.
True. I just gave a talk where I stated that just because you have 45+ mp to work with, don't change your shooting strategy thinking now you can shoot birds much smaller in the frame. Instead think about how much detail you will get on your bird large in the frame with all those pixels on the bird. Sure, being able to crop more is a nice option to have, but for me it is just an option. An option I use when there just is no way to get closer to my subject.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I'm currently using the R5 with a 500 f4 and I rarely crop, I like my ghillie suit and hides, however, I just can't ignore the low light capabilities on the R3 and much better action capabilities, I mean, even if you crop on the R5, you still lose detail to an extent vs physically being closer, it's never the same.
@@frostybe3r I have yet to really push the R3 in low light. I will be doing that end of this week. I am very impressed with the DR of the RAWs of the R3. Canon has come a long way in this regard. Canon RAWs used to be pretty bad when it came to lifting shadows a bit, etc. Now they are great.
I’ve said it a few times IQ has as much to to with the processor and file compression as it does with the sensor. It’s how all three play together that counts
Glad to hear you are liking your R3 too. They did do a great job. Funny, one of the things I like the most is the form factor. I hated the 1Dx series. They were just so big and heavy and I struggled to hold one given my small hands. The R3 is the most comfortable camera I have ever held. It fits my hand like a glove and the size and weight are just perfect IMO. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks Ron always appreciate your videos and love your work. Wish we could hang out on a shoot one day. Anyway, I think I'll just keep my R6 and try to master it. Too expensive to keep up with all these new cameras, and the selling fees on Ebay are ridiculous. Actually, all I really see with the new cameras are more bells and whistles. Whats next, motion detection? Hmmm. Take Care and Happy New Year to ya!!!
Would love to shoot with you some day. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I hear you about the price of new cameras and the bells and whistles situation. All of these camera's are so good now that you can do your photography with any of them. It is just up to you which one and how much you want to spend on it. Nice to have choices, but unlike in the past you really cant make a bad choice anymore. Cheers. Ron
I thought the R3 was marketed as being a pro sports /photo journalist camera (hence the 24MP and the bigger buffer, I guess). Nice to know it's great for wildlife and bird photography, too. Now if only Canon can release a high MP sensor with all the capabilities of the R3, that would be a match made in heaven!
@@shaungibbs7400 Thanks, Shaun. This again puts the R3 ahead of the Sony a1 and the Nikon Z9. They can only shoot full RAW at 20fps, the same as the R5.
People tends to exaggerate the difference between 20 and 45 Mpx (I'm using the R5 and R6 since I have looked at the numbers). If you plot the sensor resolution as squares and on top of each other, you should realize that the difference is not as big as you thought. It will be around 25% more pixels on each side. More pixels, yes. But not as many as you thought. You would probably need 80 Mpx to have what people think the difference is in cropability. This gives 50% more pixels than 20 Mpx in all directions. The difference between 20 and 30 Mpx is 50% more pixels! Wow!!!! Except when you spread them out on all sides it is not that much more. Most people will not be able to see the difference. When we had the 20Mpx 7D2, we were cropping because we had a lot of megapxels. People say they can use the R5 and crop to aps-C. They are forgetting that the 90D has 32.5 Mpx at aps-C. It is nearly double the number of pixels the R5 has. For reach, it appears that the 90D reaches further than the R5. The R5 pixels are better quality when the light is not good, but the 90D has more of them.
I appreciate the video, however, the price point for this camera is considerably more than the advancements you get from it. I will wait for the R1 to get the megapixels needed for detail and cropping. R3 is great but i still am underwhelmed for what they are asking for it! Z9 is cheaper at 45 megapixels. just too expensive IMO. Cheers!
Just wondering if you have actually shot the R3 or spent enough time shooting it in various scenarios to make a judgment. Comparing to the Z9 seems premature as that camera has not even hit the streets yet. I thought I would be underwhelmed by the R3 until I shot it under very demanding BIF scenarios and then I changed my mind. No doubt the R1 will be even better, but then the cost might be 8k too. Only time will tell how all this shakes out.
@@whistlingwingsphotography yes I have shot it for two days. I think it's a wonderful camera. But I use an R5 and 1DX2 and, at least for me, I can't justify the price. I am not saying that it's not a better camera than the R5, I just think the premium price to buy in isn't worth the upgrade over what I currently shoot with. What I did like most is that it appears to move big primes way snappier than the R5. I'll bypass this and wait for the R1.
I have not done a general review of the R3 yet. Just a video on my initial impressions. A full review is coming where I will discuss the ECAF. As a teaser, it does work and better than I thought it would. Moreover, it is really easy to calibrate.
Thanks Ron, I returned my R5 because it froze twice in the first shoot of 350 photos.I knew R5 had overheating issue for video but not photography. The camera was hot at both sides. I placed the order for R3.
I have not had the freeze up issues with my R5s. But, I have had the R5 get very hot. I have not shot much video with the R3 yet. That is coming. We shall see how it does. Thanks for the comment.
Nope. I have shot the a1 off and on since it came out. I also shot Sony for two years waiting for Canon to catch up in the mirrorless realm. The R5 at 45mp does, for me, so much of what the a1 does and at basically half the price. Now the R3 betters the a1 with its AF capabilities (my assessment). Overall, I like the way Canon is going and I love Canon's ergonomics so much more than Sony's. In the end Canon will have the R1 and that will be my ultimate bird body. So, for me, no need to go the Sony route again.
24 MP is still enough imo. Don't forget, it wasn't that long ago many people were using the 7DII for wildlife photography, and still do. Canon actually states that the R3 out resolves the 5D iv due to the quality of each pixel on the R3. Great vid btw👍
@@whistlingwingsphotography Yes, I agree. We have been spoilt with the 45 MP on the R5. I too was using the 5D iv along side a 7Dii, before investing fully into mirroless. I just took delivery of my R3 yesterday, so haven't used it yet! It feels fantastic in the hand as we have come to expect from Canon. Originally I said I wouldn't bother unless it was a minimum of 30 MP, but fell in love with the look of it. Really looking forward to seeing your future productions with the R3👍
Ron, I have been waiting to hear from a bird photographer about their impression of the R3. I am expecting my R3 within the next week or so and I wasn't sure if I should try it. I updated my firmware on my R5 and briefly tried it with the 100-500 and I didn't find a change. At times I actually found it doing more searching and focusing and sticking on the background. Thank you for sharing your first thoughts on the camera. I look forward to when you share your setup of the R3.
Hey, thanks for the comment. I love everything about the R3, I just wish it was higher res, but the 24mp will serve a purpose given the steps up the R3 provides over the R5 in AF and other areas. Can't wait to see what Canon brings out in the R1.
Maybe if everything is just at a higher quality ( the pixels it self, AF speed/tracking etc etc) the R3 + a tc1.4x versus the R5 without could be a intersting test... Canon has very good TC's... 45Mp , cropped 1,4x = 22Mp?? -> R3 24Mp + TC1.4x could be the same detail at the end... for resolution at a distance
@@whistlingwingsphotography What I mean, if the R3 has some more PRO features, it could be the case, if there is no budet for a R5 besides it , that a TC can "replace the need for this 45Mp camera, or will the R5 be better without a TC used , cropped to the same magnification
@@frostybe3r No, i did not forget this... it is about : if there is NOT a budget for a R5 and a R3 , there is a choise to make , could the R3 have the same details at a distance when a tc is used as the R5 or not? 1 stop slower (AF Tracking)/ higher ISO due to the TC , a advatage for the R5 setup etc.. etc. If so, the R3 has all the benefits as mentioned in this video AND could have the needed pixels on the subject at a distance... when wished/needed Then the R3 is the way to go i think. I hope one day this will be tested... even if I could buy both, I stil like to know it
I get three impressions when watching this video (and reading the comments). How did people ever cope with wildlife photography in the past. Money is not an issue. Do people actually enjoy their photography when it appears the tech side is always an issue for them?
Cope, yes. Get the types of images we regularly get now, nope. Back in the days of film and no motor drives, I sure did not get many keeper bird in flight images. Technology advances and there are some folks who embrace it and want to know what the new tech can do. It fuels their creativity. It fuels mine. For me, I have no issue with this.
The question for most people will be, can I afford the R3 while waiting for the R1, because anyone wanting and needing the R3 now will undoubtably not be able to resist trading the R3 for the R1 when it arrives, I’m happy for all R3 users having the joy of such a fantastic camera, I personally will wait for the R1, but until that happens my R5 will keep putting a smile on my face 😁
I don't need 45 megapixels. Have to buy a new computer then. My wish was a 28 megapixel camera, but this will do. Cropping for 50% is not my style of photography, I 'am still hanging on the maybe old idea of having some skills concerning birdphotography. If you have to put more effort into a image, the more you are satisfied when it comes together. Thanks for the review.
I'm still gonna pass. I'm not going to support the idea of compromising at this price level. Also doubt I jump in on the R1 either, because at some point you have to tap out, and I don't see the R1 coming in under $8,000. At $6,500 for a body, you'll still be tempted to change in 3-4 years as this new tech is far from stabilizing and that's gonna be a tough pill to swallow, but $8,000 just seems silly. I'll make do, after all the R5 is still pretty amazing. Now... I'll be disappointed if Canon doesn't offer a superteles like Nikon's Z 400+1.4x. Unfortunately, I think I'm setting myself up for disappointment as they have already released a couple and they don't appear to be pushing envelopes, just offering options.
I may be wrong, but I think the R3 is a one off and will not be replaced with an R3 moving forward. I think the R1 will be less than 8K and will be the replacement for the R3 and 1DxIII. With Nikon's flagship being 45mp and 5500 and Sony's flagship being 50mp and under 7K I don't see how Canon can do anything but give us a 50+ mp R1 at under 7K dollars. That is just me. As I stated, I may be completely off base here. But, I am with you. I would not pay 8K for an R1 when there are other much cheaper options that are nearly as good. The R5 is a stellar performer for the price point
I bet a 5Dmk4 can turn out files that can be printed and look awesome. A D850, same thing. Funny, I see lots of bird shooting youtubers still love their 7Dmk2 prints. My 7Dmk2 and 5Dmk4 both do awesome prints.
@@whistlingwingsphotography would you say a fair number of focus issues is not the camera but the lens. Focus can't work if the different glass elements are not perfectly aligned or lens motor is not right. Gotta put the lens on other cameras to check focus. Therefore if focus is out on other cameras it is lens. Do the same by putting other lens on camera. Still blurry, bad camera. Another way to do focus is to use camera settings to reset focusing. Have a 70-300L couldn't get focus. Changed focus through camera software focus is now spot on. General statement for less experienced photographers.
Ok! i dun deed it. I just ordered the R3 .. dang it.! I have the R5 and R6 Sony A1 ... I'm burned out on huge files sizes....and downloading times... 24m is perfect...good enough to crop for me if i had to... $6,613.90 (including the commie tax)
Without the Nikon Z9 and the Sony A1 the Canon R3 would have a meaning. But with these cameras out…sorry, the R3 is not really attractive. Not from price, not from performance.
It sure is attractive to those photographers that have 10s of thousands of dollars invested in Canon glass. Moreover, unless you have shot the camera, and maybe you have, you cannot pass judgment. Along this line, until the Z9 gets out there among 1000s of photographers the capabilities of it are not established for various types of photography.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Well, it’s not about the Z9, the point is the value for Wildlife photography vs the R3. Using by myself the R5, I don’t see the Point of the R3. I could easily buy an R3 but at least for me this camera does not make sense, if I get a 2nd body then it will be an R5 or the R1 in the future. 24MP is at least for my style of shooting not enough. And if I have 10s thousand of USD invested into Canon glass then the R5 still is the better option for Wildlife. I tried here the R3 for 5 days, not long enough, I agree. But the difference between 24MP and 45MP is obvious.
@@Stefan1968ful Okay, now you have restricted your statements to how they apply to you. In your first comment you made blanket statements as if they applied to everyone out there. Just FYI, the R3 spits out 14 bit RAWs at 30 fps. The R5 does not. That is not trivial to some folks. Neither is the improved buffer performance for my type of work. 45 mp of the R5 is nice when I need it. 30 fps and a better buffer performance of the R3 is also nice when I need it. So, for now, I will shoot an R5 and R3. If and when the R1 comes out we shall see what it provides. I may end up being the one body to rule them all; but, then again, maybe not. Cheers.
We shall see about that. I like to complain. Not really. I am sure the R1 will be an awesome camera. The R3 is just a pleasure to shoot. I like what Canon is doing with its mirrorless cameras, overall.
When I got the R5 I was blown away. Now with the R3 I am blown away again. It’s hard to describe/articulate the minutia of the experience but it’s just more refined and snappier overall. ISO performance is completely a noticeable update too. I always shoot in darker situations so this is HUGE. Also - Eye control is not a gimmick!! it’s game changing. I wear glasses a lot when I casually shoot so I calibrated without glasses for best results. Now the eye control works like a charm when I resume glasses wearing. I can use eye control in conjunction with the custom zones I create, *AND* get eye tracking within the zone! It’s literally beyond! Like you said - people see the 24MP and write this camera off - but it is so much more than that!!!! 🙌🏻 I actually am going to have a hard time picking up my R5 again!
Thanks for adding your experience to the discussion. The R3 is a very refined camera that will work well for a lot of wildlife and bird photographers.
Thanks Rina for your post. It is always nice to hear from someone who has started using the R3. Very helpful.
thx!!
Nice video! I totally understand what you mean by how high quality and magnified image pixels are with R3. I had that experience with 1DXII where even its 20 mp gave me images that would rival and be better than my 5DIV images which was 33 mp body.
Really enjoyed that Ron, as a Wildlife photographer speed is pretty much everything especially for fast action bird photography! I've just taken receipt of my R3 and very much looking forward to getting out in the field. Thanks again, great video. All the best Richard 👍
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I have a couple other R3 videos out as well just in case you are interested. Cheers and great light to you.
@@whistlingwingsphotography My pleasure, coming from a background in Canon 1D bodies lots of the functions are familiar but so many new functions & Menus especially CF's. Watching your other videos on the R3 has allowed me to get ahead of the game and spend more time in the field, using a lot of what you've discussed and adopted to my R 😀
I am so glad you are finding the videos useful. Take care. Ron
:). Purchased justified. Mission accomplished Ron.
Just got my R3 yesterday. Paired with the 100-500mm I'm loving the weight difference between the 1DX MK3 + 100-400mm II. Getting the hang of the autofocus is going to be a bit of a learning curve, but so far I'm very impressed with this camera & the R5. I think having both gives flexibilty for the situation. Now to get myself educated so I'm worthy of the potential of the gear. Thank you for your very informative & well done videos. New subscriber - glad I found you.
I was debating over the a1 and r3 and your video helped me decide.
Your photos are absolutely tremendously beautiful!
Thank you and cheers!
If you remember in the old days there were some great photos taken with only 18mp thanks for sharing!
There sure were. There were great images taken with film and still are. That being stated, the tech we now have makes some images possible that were not in the days of film or even early digital. I sure did not get many BIF images when I used a non AF film camera. And many birds were just too far away and the res was not available to allow the making of great images under those scenarios. 45mp really is the sweet res for birds for me.
I got the R3 on Black Friday. I’m absolutely loving it. The autofocus, the eye tracking, the speed, the low light and so much more. I’ve been in the 22MP to 30MP range for several years now with no problem. I appreciate your real world review and adding the 30MP comment. Your video just helps solidify some of my thoughts and initial experiences.
My only real complaint is the SD for card 2 rather than two CFexpress cards. But it’s not a deal breaker. I assume you shoot to the CFexpress for your rapid action and not doing dual to the SD? Would like your comment here on that.
Yep, I shoot the CFe card and use the SD card to auto switch to is the CFe Card fills. I really do wish Canon would have gone with two CFe cards. As you say not a deal breaker, but still not the best choice.
Sounds like you are really enjoying the honeymoon phase with your R3! What exactly are nicer pixels?
Nicer pixels are just my way of trying to describe the overall look of a RAW image coming from a camera. For example, compare the overall look of a RAW image from a Canon 5Dmk IV to the R3. The strong AA filter and higher noise ratios provided "pixels" that were not as nice as those coming from the R3. Of course, this is just to my eyes.
Great video. I have been waiting for a true bird photographer to compare the R5 45 mp with the R3 24 mp. If there wouldn't be a R1 in the future, I would have bought a R3. I do love the R5 45 mp. What you mentioned about the R5 shortcomings is right on. Rolling shutter is an issue where there is vertical elements in the background. Rolling shutter is bad for hummingbirds. The wings go haywire in some shots. But you do get a few great shots out of a sequence. Yes, there is a slight lag on the EVF that I am already used to. With good lighting, I can use cRAW to shoot that won't affect buffer. In bad lighting, I use RAW and it can get to the max of the buffer quickly. Yes, when the R5 focuses on the background it is hard to bump it back to focus on the subject. I have to aim the lens to the ground or something very close to me and refocus the bird. I missed some shots in that situation.
Would you please test the eye control AF? I wonder if that is a game changer for bird photographer. Also, when the background is busy, does the R3 focus on the background more than on the subject? The R5 tends to easily focus on the busy background more than on the subject. Thanks.
I have been using the eye controlled AF and I would say it is not a game changer for my bird photography. Why? Because the eye tracking now available with SPOT AF does that job for me. I can now pick the bird I want the AF to focus on and track by putting the spot on the bird and then pressing the back button.
The eye controlled AF works. I calibrated it to my eyes with glasses, with contact lenses, and without anything and it was easy and accurate. However, for birds it just does not add much. It adds nothing for me for my bird in flight photography, especially. I am sure some people will find it to be very useful. Just not for me, at least at this point.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Cool. Thanks.
Great video. Could you maybe do a video how you have set up the R3 menu for birdphotography? Thanks
Hey, thanks. I have such a video and here is the link: ua-cam.com/video/71qUW1MOISQ/v-deo.html
@@whistlingwingsphotography wonderful!! Thank you so much!
Does the R3 keep 60fps on the live view EVF feed when you are shooting 30fps electronic shutter?
Great video. Thank you. I loved how you could flip the camera on so quickly on the R5 on the way up to your eye. With the R3 with the new power button I find myself taking my eye off the subject to power up. I've programmed an off / snooze / zzzz button near the shutter trigger, but still... This isn't a solution. Did you have problems with quickly powering on the R3? Solution? Thank you
Thx Ron...very informative...I'm very happy with the R5 at the moment and maybe I'll skip the R3 for the R1!...also thanks for the heads up on the R5 firmware update...must get it done...
I love my R5 too. But as I stated in the video the R3 fills a need until the R1 arises. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
What you said @13:15 is "exactly" why I would not buy an R3. I'm sure their are things (as you mentioned) which are better than the R5. Id expect that, for the extra $. But mp's are super important to me, especially, since I also use my camera for landscapes. Heck, to be honest, Id prefer a lot more than 45mp's for my landscapes, and I'd buy a GFX 100 right now, if I could afford one. Instead, I do most of my landscapes with a 2 x 2 stitch, to get 120mp. Now, an R2 or an R1 that does everything as well as the R3 does, but with 50 or more mp's ? THAT would be bad ass ! ;)
Every few days I catch myself buying an R3 online and have to stop. It looks awesome, but I have an R5 that is probably way more camera than I need. I mollify myself by telling me I'm going to to buy an R1.
Hi Ron. I read In the manual that You shouldnt change focal of lens while tracking the subject In the servo mode cause it can loose focus. This is in the R5 and R3 manual. I have R5 but for 2.5 days I was also testing R3 and noticed that In both cases I didnt had all sharp images while tracking and Im wondering what can be wrong.
I’ve got a big and only choice tomorrow- I can’t wait for an R1 ?
I can get my hands on a R5 in the morning but it’s not ideal spec I think for bird pics but a great body
Do I though try for now to just buy a eos R in the mean time until the R1 comes out please ...
Can’t sleep easy
The R5 is a great camera for birds IMO especially if you shoot a lot of small birds where you need to crop many of your images. i love my R5. I like my R3 better for action, but the R5 is still a great all around bird camera.
Thank you so much, I’ve now repurchased the R5 because of you, I’ll let u know how I get on cheers buddy
Another AMAZING video. Thank you!! I have been using an R5. We are headed to Namibia and South Africa and I wanted to get a 2nd body. Would you recommend an R3 or R6? I do love shooting birds and wildlife. I will be using a 100-500mm lens primarily. Thank you
If you can, get at R3, you will not be disappointed in the awesome performance of the R3. It is super good in combo with the 100-500 lens.
@@whistlingwingsphotography thank you so much!!
Thank you for the video. Great camera R3 with great results.
I’m a hobbyist wildlife photographer using Canon 1D Mark IV either with EF 400mm 5.6 + 1.4x or EF 300mm f/2.8 IS II + 2x. Certainly my results are not as awesome as yours or any other pro shooting R3. However, for me my combo is ok and gives me immense pleasure whenever I’m out shooting wild birds and mammals.
Thanks again.
All that matters is you are having fun and enjoying photography. The latest and great gear does not necessarily bring happiness.
Very interesting reading your thoughts on R3 and R5. Currently I use a 1DX mkii with a 300mm f2.8 for my birds / wildlife shooting, generally with the 1.4 TC on. For various reasons I had to give up my 500mm f4 lens (mostly weight related alongside a location change that means I do a lot more hand held shooting rather than tripod shooting). I'm considering the jump to the mirrorless for the new AF systems but I'm not thinking of changing lenses. Ignoring the price difference between R5 and R3 ( especially as the R5 would also require the battery grip and extra batteries) if it's a case of 1 camera only - do I go for the 45MP for resolution and cropping or do I got for the R3 for the new sensor and AF system improvements?
It all depends on how much cropping of your images you generally do with your present rig. If you are happy with the results you are getting with your 20mp 1DxII, then you will likely be very happy with the 24mp R3 and the awesome and very flexible AF that it provides. If you are always wishing for more resolution with your current rig then the R5 with 45mp and its very good AF will be better for you. So, I recommend asking yourself the aforementioned questions and choosing accordingly.
On the subject of lens weight and doing more hand holding. There is a solution to holding heavy rigs. Check out this video if you have not seen it. It is about my Shoot-shooter Harness system that allows you to use very heavy lens and camera combos, and relatively light ones as well, without any weight on your hands or arms. Cheers, Ron
Link to video: ua-cam.com/video/GdI2jzxoNJQ/v-deo.html
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thanks very much. Time to ponder :)
Hi Ron,
great to see a bird photographer's thoughts on the R3 , the ergonomics look very good and it has GPS too !
Thanks
Noel
My pleasure! And thanks for taking the time to comment.
Hi Ron. Another excellent video. I'd like you to re visit this topic after you've updated your R5 to vs .150 of the firmware. I've not done any BIF shots as yet with mine since the update but have used it on birds jumping about on rocks on the shore. My impression was that it's ability to pick out the eye of the bird with background clutter was improved.
Interesting. I have updated the firmware, I just have not shot my R5 much since, given I have been learning the R3. I can't wait to see how things have changes. Cheers.
Would love to see you do a video on the firmware 1.5 update on the R5. Some folks on canon rumors have been stating that their auto focus system is worse! It would be great to hear from an expert that uses this in the bird photography field before I go ahead and update. I'm jealous now about the R3 but for now I'm happy with the R5. Mostly because of watching your videos and getting a better understanding of how to operate the camera so that it produces better results. Thanks!
The R5 is an awesome camera especially for its price point. I have been shooting with the R5 after 1.5 firmware update and I have not seen it getting worse, I think it is better, but I am still testing it. After tomorrow I will know more. I will do a video once I have enough "data" to make a good assessment.
@kulmmii I found the update to improve the AF and overall performance of the camera. I have not seen any problems with the update.
You were lucky to get R3 so early, I also made a pre-order a long time ago, but Canon thought that the deliveries would only be in half a year ...
Yep, I was lucky. I have a great store and team of folks at Service Photo up in Baltimore area that treat me very well.
Was tempted by the R3 but I will wait for the R1 I think, even do the R3 look very good and performance... Excellence presentation Ron Thanks.
Thanks so much.
Great to get your review of the R3 Ron. I bet you captured some great images of the Kingfisher this past Saturday. When you get a chance, do another video that includes some of the shots comparing them to what you get with the R5 that showing action that is achieved at 30fps.
Thanks, Tom. I will be doing some comparisons of images from the R5 and R3. The R5 has its place given the resolution, but for action the R3 will do better at least for now.
If you were to recommend just one camera for someone without the budget to get both an R5 and R3, which of them would it be?
I was in the same boat as you and went with the R5 as it is a good all around camera and fast enough for most action. No regrets!
That is really a tough question to answer. But, I would go with the R5 unless you do mostly really fast action type photography a lot.
I have both, and if I could only afford one it would be the R5. I haven't had much chance to use my R3 in the field yet (Covid started running through our house the day after I got it) but from what I can see in initial testing, I will be using my R3 when the light is low or the action is fast. The R5 can handle those situations as well, just not as well. With that in mind, the R5 would a more versatile main camera.
Thanks for the video. If you were a buying now and had to choose between the R5 and R3, which would you buy?
For me, given I do so much fast action type work, I would get the R3. However, that is very specific to me.
Life’s short enjoy your R3, looking forward to seeing what joy it brings you 😎👍🏻
Is sure is. I try to live each day to its fullest. Be happy is my motto.
The firmware update is awesome. Focus point goes strict to the eye (people and birds) and just sticks like glue. I am a working motorsports photographer using the R6 and the vehicle tracking is amazing. It works exactly as the R3.
That's interesting. I shoot mainly birds, I have only used it once since the firmware update, but found that even manually focussing on the bird, once I pressed autofocus back button, the autofocus was jumping from the bird to a leaf, which it hadn't done previously. I only used it with the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary, so don't know if it was this lens/camera combination that was causing the problem. I am waiting for a reply from Canon support at the moment, but judging by your comment I wonder if it is to do with the lens.
@@paulgibbings9553 hi Paul, it could well be the lens. I only use canon lenses. I visited the bird aviary at our local botanical gardens yeterday to check bird auto focus yesterday and it was vastly improved. I use back button 2 button focus and regardless of where I aimed the focus point it just went directly to the bird's eye...even the smallest of birds. It's a joy to use. If you are able, try a different lens. .borrow a canon and try it.
@@nismo09nz Thanks for the reply, I went back out today briefly with the same lens and did a bit more experimenting. I found for squirrels and pigeons with a clear unobstructed view it was pretty amazing, just locked on immediately, , To me that seems improved. I was also impressed with the vehicle autofocus. The only issue seems to be in leafy/ undergrowth locations. I took my Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 and RF 24-105 with me, but they're not ideal for small bird photography, and I was so cold I ended up not experimenting with them.
Great video. One question I have is does the higher voltage of the r3 drive the 800 f11 faster or is that lens capped out since it is an stm lens?
The 800 is a bit more snappy, but not much. I noticed a big difference in how my EF 600 f/4 Mk. II performs on the R3 vs the R5, but not near the difference with the 800mm
Hi again Ron,
do you think the R3 will work better with tele converters and small apertures than the R5?
Especially with medium telephotos like the EF100-400 ii and RF100-500 with 1.4x and 2x T.Cs
Thanks
Noel
I have been using the R3 with a 1.4x and 2.0x and I find it works great. I also have had no issues using the 1.4x on my R5 with my 100-500 and 600 f/4. I have been pushing AF in very light and it is amazing at how well it does in very low light. Technology continues to push the envelop.
Hello Ron. Did you shoot in the past with 1D x iii?
I can't justify & afford 6k$ price. Do you think 1dx iii is still relevant compared to R3? Anyone here did move from 1dx iii to R3? I got 400mm 2.8 first gen and want sturdy body.
Absolutely the 1Dx III is still relevant. Actually, you Mk. I 400 will work better on the 1Dx than on the R3.
Thank you for your video. I always enjoy watching your videos. Can you answer a question for me please? You have a lens coat on your RF 100-500 lens. Can you tell me where to get this from? I'm from Germany and would like to order one for my RF 100-500. Thank you and have a nice day for you.
It is Mossy Oaks Graphics. Here is a video about it. ua-cam.com/video/iM2I-Le_VYU/v-deo.html Cheers, Ron
Great video! Does the r3 make a shutter noise in electronic shutter mode? Sounded like it did. I wish the r5 did.
Yep, what you heard in the video was the ES. You can also control the volume of the fake shutter noise. I love it. I too wish Canon would do a firmware update and give us this option in the R5.
10:55 Thanks for talking about this issue. I have a Canon M50 and the autofocus is so bad that I didn't buy a tele lens because I knew it wouldn't make sense with this camera. I can't understand why so many reviewers don't notice such issues, they often just talk about autofocus speed, but don't talk about single point accuracy. When I tried to take a photo of a common blackbird (only 2 meters away) with a 50mm lens, it always focused on the background despite single point autofocus and 10x loupe. The only solution was to focus on a different object that was in the same focal plane. Same issue with other lenses. I also tried the M6 II and RP in a store and they seemed to have the same issue regarding accuracy, though the M6 I was more accurate.
Thanks so much for the comment.
I need to make a choice between getting the R3 OR the R5 for my bird photography. So many videos I'm seeing are talking about having both for different circumstances. Which would you go for if you could only have one?
I'm currently shooting with my old 600D and otherwise have used a 6D mark II at work.
I really love my R3. The AF and IBIS/IS are just one step better than the R5. I have both and I tend to go with my R3 unless I really need the added res of the R5 for very small birds or situations where I just cannot get close my subject.
Sincerely,
ron
Thanks Ron, I always enjoy your photos and the your hints and techniques for shooting. This is an excellent summation of real world use of the R3, wish I could get one but I’m still improving my ability to use my R5, lol. On a side note, my R5 is at FW version 1.4 but I have experienced it freezing up and rebooting 3 times in my last outing (about 5 hours total). There was no overheating. Have you experienced or heard of this as a problem? Keep up the excellent videos!
Yes, I have heard and seen other R5 freeze up. I have not had this issue with my R5s. I suspect it has something to do with a particular way some folks have their settings and I must not have mine set up the same way, but if I did I would see this issue too. That is the only explanation I can come up with for why some experience it and others don't.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thank you for your response. I will add that I was using my RF100-500 with the Canon 2x extender in both manual and Tv modes. Here’s hoping the fw 1.5 update fixes it.
my R5 freezes a damned lot, no matter what settings. After a long unpleasant discussion with Canon i will upgrade to the R3.....
@@gossedejong9248 since upgrading the firmware to v1.5 I’ve not had anymore freeze ups with or without the 2x converter.
I hope that the R7 will be announced in late August for delivery in September. I suspect that it will be 32.5 Mpx since that is the resolution of the 90D. But I hope for 20-24 Mpx since that is probably a sweet spot for cameras : enough Mpx and not too much space used.
As for the R1, I suspect 80mpx.
A feature that I hoped would be found in the R3 is Zebras for still photography. The Sony A1 has it and it is a "tremendous" advantage for bird photographers nailing the exposure. It is a feature in Canon cameras only for video. Hopefully, Canon could add zebras for stills with a firmware update. Come on Canon.....Sony did it.
Pl make more details vdo on R 3 asap
I have one just about ready that will focus on the AF system. Thanks for watching.
Pleased to hear that you have an R-3 in hand and that it will remain in your capable hands :) Really appreciate your initial impressions, looking forward to more feedback in the future.
My pleasure!
I went from a 1DX2 and 5DSR to an R5 and R6 then traded the 6 in on a second R5. Megapixels are definitely not everything and I’d be ok with the 24 of the R3. I have grips on my R5’s but they don’t have the same feel as the 1DX2 and probably the R3 that I like, I also liked that big battery. One thing I don’t miss is having to bring different chargers for the two style batteries on trips and that is one reason I’m waiting on the R3.
Once the R1 comes out and I see what direction Canon takes with it, I can see them maybe doing a high MP smaller body like the A1 or maybe they will stick with the larger body, I will decide then which way to go. I’m hoping for a larger body R1
The R3 body weighs less than the R5 with a grip. I love the R3 body. It is much smaller than the 1DxII. The R3 has the best grip for my hands of any camera I have ever held. Overall its size, weight , and grip are just perfect for me. I hope Canon used basically the same chassis for the R1 just puts more and better stuff in it. I am with you on hating having to have two charger and battery types, but I am willing to put up with it until the R1 comes out.
There is no way Canon going to a smaller body with the R1.
Taking the R3 into your hand: Oh man, it fits - and it is so light for a body with big battery power!
Sadly, I only was able to get the fingers on but no real shooting.
After having the R3 in hand, 1Dx II and R5 with grip both don't feel any more good.
People got some of the best pictures in the world with the 1DX series and that's 20mp, people seem to want to compensate with not getting close enough to a subject with extreme cropping.
Getting closer is always better than cropping, sure sometimes you have to but people have been acting like 24mp is absolutely nothing whilst they use a 1080P PC monitor.
True. I just gave a talk where I stated that just because you have 45+ mp to work with, don't change your shooting strategy thinking now you can shoot birds much smaller in the frame. Instead think about how much detail you will get on your bird large in the frame with all those pixels on the bird. Sure, being able to crop more is a nice option to have, but for me it is just an option. An option I use when there just is no way to get closer to my subject.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I'm currently using the R5 with a 500 f4 and I rarely crop, I like my ghillie suit and hides, however, I just can't ignore the low light capabilities on the R3 and much better action capabilities, I mean, even if you crop on the R5, you still lose detail to an extent vs physically being closer, it's never the same.
@@frostybe3r I have yet to really push the R3 in low light. I will be doing that end of this week. I am very impressed with the DR of the RAWs of the R3. Canon has come a long way in this regard. Canon RAWs used to be pretty bad when it came to lifting shadows a bit, etc. Now they are great.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Yeah, I'm glad that the R3 can do 30 fps 14 bit raws, even if it is 24mp, both Sony and Nikon can't.
I’ve said it a few times IQ has as much to to with the processor and file compression as it does with the sensor. It’s how all three play together that counts
Yep.
Thanks for the video, I am still waiting for my R3. Looking forward to more R3 videos in the future.
Thanks, Pat. Happy Holidays.
Wow Ron, what do you really think about the R3? You were more enthusiastic than I have ever seen you. Unfortunately $6K is not in my budget. Thanks
Hey, I get it. 6K is a lot of funds to spend on a camera.
Nice Ron, my personal findings with my R3 also is inline with yours. Canon did a really nice job with this.
Glad to hear you are liking your R3 too. They did do a great job. Funny, one of the things I like the most is the form factor. I hated the 1Dx series. They were just so big and heavy and I struggled to hold one given my small hands. The R3 is the most comfortable camera I have ever held. It fits my hand like a glove and the size and weight are just perfect IMO. Thanks for the comment.
Hey. Is the higher voltage another advantage over the r5?
it is. It drives the focusing motors quicker
Thanks Ron always appreciate your videos and love your work. Wish we could hang out on a shoot one day. Anyway, I think I'll just keep my R6 and try to master it. Too expensive to keep up with all these new cameras, and the selling fees on Ebay are ridiculous. Actually, all I really see with the new cameras are more bells and whistles. Whats next, motion detection? Hmmm. Take Care and Happy New Year to ya!!!
Would love to shoot with you some day. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I hear you about the price of new cameras and the bells and whistles situation. All of these camera's are so good now that you can do your photography with any of them. It is just up to you which one and how much you want to spend on it. Nice to have choices, but unlike in the past you really cant make a bad choice anymore. Cheers. Ron
Great video. This may be random but where did you get those little test birds out lol
A good friend of mine carved them for me. He is very talented to say the least.
Awesome video Ron, loved your BABP presentation too.
Thank you kindly.
I thought the R3 was marketed as being a pro sports /photo journalist camera (hence the 24MP and the bigger buffer, I guess). Nice to know it's great for wildlife and bird photography, too. Now if only Canon can release a high MP sensor with all the capabilities of the R3, that would be a match made in heaven!
This is gonna be good *grabs popcorn*
Hey, thanks.
Can you confirm the R3 is capable of 30FPS shooting RAW images, not CRAW or JPG?
It does.
@@shaungibbs7400 Thanks, Shaun. This again puts the R3 ahead of the Sony a1 and the Nikon Z9. They can only shoot full RAW at 20fps, the same as the R5.
@@deanhohn777 30fps in RAW sounds good, but you compare apples with pears, Z9 and A1 have 45 and 50 MP, Canon R 3 only 24 MP.
Yes, it sure does. And it does not seem to have any real limitations to attaining 30 fps. I also shoots 14 bit RAWs at 30 fps.
True, but the R3 also produces 14 bit RAWs. The Sony and Nikon do not. This can be a big deal depending. Sometimes more important than res.
People tends to exaggerate the difference between 20 and 45 Mpx (I'm using the R5 and R6 since I have looked at the numbers). If you plot the sensor resolution as squares and on top of each other, you should realize that the difference is not as big as you thought. It will be around 25% more pixels on each side. More pixels, yes. But not as many as you thought.
You would probably need 80 Mpx to have what people think the difference is in cropability. This gives 50% more pixels than 20 Mpx in all directions.
The difference between 20 and 30 Mpx is 50% more pixels! Wow!!!! Except when you spread them out on all sides it is not that much more. Most people will not be able to see the difference.
When we had the 20Mpx 7D2, we were cropping because we had a lot of megapxels.
People say they can use the R5 and crop to aps-C. They are forgetting that the 90D has 32.5 Mpx at aps-C. It is nearly double the number of pixels the R5 has. For reach, it appears that the 90D reaches further than the R5. The R5 pixels are better quality when the light is not good, but the 90D has more of them.
Thanks for this bird photography specific comparison of the 2 cameras
My pleasure!
Very interesting video. We're lucky to be living in such a competitive age for camera manufacturers.
Yes we are. I hope the Nikon Z9 turns out to be a great camera. The more the merrier.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Yes, competition boosts the performance - an breaks down the price point.
este vídeo é muito interessante , eu quero compartilhar com meus amigos~
I appreciate the video, however, the price point for this camera is considerably more than the advancements you get from it. I will wait for the R1 to get the megapixels needed for detail and cropping. R3 is great but i still am underwhelmed for what they are asking for it! Z9 is cheaper at 45 megapixels. just too expensive IMO. Cheers!
Just wondering if you have actually shot the R3 or spent enough time shooting it in various scenarios to make a judgment. Comparing to the Z9 seems premature as that camera has not even hit the streets yet. I thought I would be underwhelmed by the R3 until I shot it under very demanding BIF scenarios and then I changed my mind. No doubt the R1 will be even better, but then the cost might be 8k too. Only time will tell how all this shakes out.
@@whistlingwingsphotography yes I have shot it for two days. I think it's a wonderful camera. But I use an R5 and 1DX2 and, at least for me, I can't justify the price. I am not saying that it's not a better camera than the R5, I just think the premium price to buy in isn't worth the upgrade over what I currently shoot with. What I did like most is that it appears to move big primes way snappier than the R5. I'll bypass this and wait for the R1.
The main feature of this camera is the coming back of ECAF. I've I missed your views on this?
I have not done a general review of the R3 yet. Just a video on my initial impressions. A full review is coming where I will discuss the ECAF. As a teaser, it does work and better than I thought it would. Moreover, it is really easy to calibrate.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thank you. Looking forward to it.
Great video as usual, thank you !
My pleasure!
Thanks Ron, I returned my R5 because it froze twice in the first shoot of 350 photos.I knew R5 had overheating issue for video but not photography. The camera was hot at both sides. I placed the order for R3.
I have not had the freeze up issues with my R5s. But, I have had the R5 get very hot. I have not shot much video with the R3 yet. That is coming. We shall see how it does. Thanks for the comment.
my R5 freezed countless times.
Very fed up with it, i ordered the R3...
freezing occurred with all possible settings
Sounds like you need an A1?
Nope. I have shot the a1 off and on since it came out. I also shot Sony for two years waiting for Canon to catch up in the mirrorless realm. The R5 at 45mp does, for me, so much of what the a1 does and at basically half the price. Now the R3 betters the a1 with its AF capabilities (my assessment). Overall, I like the way Canon is going and I love Canon's ergonomics so much more than Sony's. In the end Canon will have the R1 and that will be my ultimate bird body. So, for me, no need to go the Sony route again.
A1's body is so bad ergonomics wise...
24 MP is still enough imo. Don't forget, it wasn't that long ago many people were using the 7DII for wildlife photography, and still do. Canon actually states that the R3 out resolves the 5D iv due to the quality of each pixel on the R3. Great vid btw👍
Yep, I agree. I still like the 45mp from the R5, but it all depends on the use case. I will shoot both and switch as the scenario calls for it.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Yes, I agree. We have been spoilt with the 45 MP on the R5. I too was using the 5D iv along side a 7Dii, before investing fully into mirroless. I just took delivery of my R3 yesterday, so haven't used it yet! It feels fantastic in the hand as we have come to expect from Canon. Originally I said I wouldn't bother unless it was a minimum of 30 MP, but fell in love with the look of it. Really looking forward to seeing your future productions with the R3👍
Congrats Ron ,
Thanks.
Ron, I have been waiting to hear from a bird photographer about their impression of the R3. I am expecting my R3 within the next week or so and I wasn't sure if I should try it. I updated my firmware on my R5 and briefly tried it with the 100-500 and I didn't find a change. At times I actually found it doing more searching and focusing and sticking on the background. Thank you for sharing your first thoughts on the camera. I look forward to when you share your setup of the R3.
Hey, thanks for the comment. I love everything about the R3, I just wish it was higher res, but the 24mp will serve a purpose given the steps up the R3 provides over the R5 in AF and other areas. Can't wait to see what Canon brings out in the R1.
Maybe if everything is just at a higher quality ( the pixels it self, AF speed/tracking etc etc) the R3 + a tc1.4x versus the R5 without could be a intersting test... Canon has very good TC's...
45Mp , cropped 1,4x = 22Mp?? -> R3 24Mp + TC1.4x could be the same detail at the end... for resolution at a distance
Yep. You just need a bit more reach with the R3 if you can't get closer to your subject. Overall, the R5 and R3 are both awesome cameras.
@@whistlingwingsphotography What I mean, if the R3 has some more PRO features, it could be the case, if there is no budet for a R5 besides it , that a TC can "replace the need for this 45Mp camera, or will the R5 be better without a TC used , cropped to the same magnification
@@kaak4737 You seem to be forgetting you can use a 1.4X on the R5 too...
@@frostybe3r
No, i did not forget this... it is about : if there is NOT a budget for a R5 and a R3 , there is a choise to make ,
could the R3 have the same details at a distance when a tc is used as the R5 or not? 1 stop slower (AF Tracking)/ higher ISO due to the TC , a advatage for the R5 setup etc.. etc.
If so, the R3 has all the benefits as mentioned in this video AND could have the needed pixels on the subject at a distance... when wished/needed
Then the R3 is the way to go i think.
I hope one day this will be tested... even if I could buy both, I stil like to know it
@@kaak4737 R3 is a much faster camera, I find the electronic shutter on the R5 unusable for alot of situations.
Please try the R5 again with the 1.5 firmware, you'll see a lot of improvements
I will be for sure. I have heard both ways since the update.
I get three impressions when watching this video (and reading the comments).
How did people ever cope with wildlife photography in the past. Money is not an issue. Do people actually enjoy their photography when it appears the tech side is always an issue for them?
Cope, yes. Get the types of images we regularly get now, nope. Back in the days of film and no motor drives, I sure did not get many keeper bird in flight images. Technology advances and there are some folks who embrace it and want to know what the new tech can do. It fuels their creativity. It fuels mine. For me, I have no issue with this.
The question for most people will be, can I afford the R3 while waiting for the R1, because anyone wanting and needing the R3 now will undoubtably not be able to resist trading the R3 for the R1 when it arrives, I’m happy for all R3 users having the joy of such a fantastic camera, I personally will wait for the R1, but until that happens my R5 will keep putting a smile on my face 😁
The R1 may well end up with less pixels that the R3...
I never thought I'd feel incomplete with a nearly $4000 camera lol (R5). But these R3 videos are depressing the heck outta me.
Ha! I know what you mean. Take solace in the fact that the R5 is really excellent. The latest firmware has made the AF even better IMO.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Lol thanks, I do agree on the AF improvements!
Wow someone’s got the big guns 💪 out! R3 is ok 👌, but I need a Z9! Hi big or go home 🏠
I am interested in seeing what the Z9 can do. I am sure it will be great.
wait till the r1!!
If the R1 is 45+ mp then it will be a monster. And, I think it will be.
I don't need 45 megapixels. Have to buy a new computer then. My wish was a 28 megapixel camera, but this will do. Cropping for 50% is not my style of photography, I 'am still hanging on the maybe old idea of having some skills concerning birdphotography. If you have to put more effort into a image, the more you are satisfied when it comes together. Thanks for the review.
I could not agree more Jan....I need to 'feel' my input in getting the shot :-)
I'm still gonna pass. I'm not going to support the idea of compromising at this price level. Also doubt I jump in on the R1 either, because at some point you have to tap out, and I don't see the R1 coming in under $8,000. At $6,500 for a body, you'll still be tempted to change in 3-4 years as this new tech is far from stabilizing and that's gonna be a tough pill to swallow, but $8,000 just seems silly. I'll make do, after all the R5 is still pretty amazing. Now... I'll be disappointed if Canon doesn't offer a superteles like Nikon's Z 400+1.4x. Unfortunately, I think I'm setting myself up for disappointment as they have already released a couple and they don't appear to be pushing envelopes, just offering options.
I may be wrong, but I think the R3 is a one off and will not be replaced with an R3 moving forward. I think the R1 will be less than 8K and will be the replacement for the R3 and 1DxIII. With Nikon's flagship being 45mp and 5500 and Sony's flagship being 50mp and under 7K I don't see how Canon can do anything but give us a 50+ mp R1 at under 7K dollars. That is just me. As I stated, I may be completely off base here. But, I am with you. I would not pay 8K for an R1 when there are other much cheaper options that are nearly as good. The R5 is a stellar performer for the price point
I bet a 5Dmk4 can turn out files that can be printed and look awesome. A D850, same thing.
Funny, I see lots of bird shooting youtubers still love their 7Dmk2 prints. My 7Dmk2 and 5Dmk4 both do awesome prints.
I loved my 5Dmk4 and my 7DII. The R5 and R3 are basically the mirrorless version of that pairing with quite a bit more capability with regards to AF.
@@whistlingwingsphotography would you say a fair number of focus issues is not the camera but the lens. Focus can't work if the different glass elements are not perfectly aligned or lens motor is not right. Gotta put the lens on other cameras to check focus. Therefore if focus is out on other cameras it is lens. Do the same by putting other lens on camera. Still blurry, bad camera. Another way to do focus is to use camera settings to reset focusing. Have a 70-300L couldn't get focus. Changed focus through camera software focus is now spot on. General statement for less experienced photographers.
Ok! i dun deed it. I just ordered the R3 .. dang it.! I have the R5 and R6 Sony A1 ... I'm burned out on huge files sizes....and downloading times... 24m is perfect...good enough to crop for me if i had to... $6,613.90 (including the commie tax)
I am sure you will like it. Report back hear and let me know.
thank you!!!!
You're welcome!
Without the Nikon Z9 and the Sony A1 the Canon R3 would have a meaning. But with these cameras out…sorry, the R3 is not really attractive. Not from price, not from performance.
It sure is attractive to those photographers that have 10s of thousands of dollars invested in Canon glass. Moreover, unless you have shot the camera, and maybe you have, you cannot pass judgment. Along this line, until the Z9 gets out there among 1000s of photographers the capabilities of it are not established for various types of photography.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Well, it’s not about the Z9, the point is the value for Wildlife photography vs the R3. Using by myself the R5, I don’t see the Point of the R3. I could easily buy an R3 but at least for me this camera does not make sense, if I get a 2nd body then it will be an R5 or the R1 in the future. 24MP is at least for my style of shooting not enough. And if I have 10s thousand of USD invested into Canon glass then the R5 still is the better option for Wildlife. I tried here the R3 for 5 days, not long enough, I agree. But the difference between 24MP and 45MP is obvious.
@@Stefan1968ful Okay, now you have restricted your statements to how they apply to you. In your first comment you made blanket statements as if they applied to everyone out there. Just FYI, the R3 spits out 14 bit RAWs at 30 fps. The R5 does not. That is not trivial to some folks. Neither is the improved buffer performance for my type of work. 45 mp of the R5 is nice when I need it. 30 fps and a better buffer performance of the R3 is also nice when I need it. So, for now, I will shoot an R5 and R3. If and when the R1 comes out we shall see what it provides. I may end up being the one body to rule them all; but, then again, maybe not. Cheers.
And when that 70 MPx monster comes out, we definitely won't hear you complaining about buffer size & speed. 🤣
We shall see about that. I like to complain. Not really. I am sure the R1 will be an awesome camera. The R3 is just a pleasure to shoot. I like what Canon is doing with its mirrorless cameras, overall.