-= Canon EOS R6 Mark II owners unite! Post photos and discuss.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19508493
Ah, these must be the birds that will "steal" the laces from people's shoes! Great characters. And great shots, Trevor.

Thank you for answering my question. I'm still debating: upgrade now to the R6II or wait a bit longer for whatever Canon has planned. Especially since I'm still very happy with the R6.

I had a basic philosophy that developed when I was working in IT. Basically, I would consider an upgrade very second version. If Canon can do a few more tweaks to the MkI version as regards focus firmware, I think that it would be less likely that one would pay for the difference between selling the MkI and buying the MkII. So, when a MkIII comes in a while, that might be the big contender. That might have a BSI sensor, different cards etc. It will be interesting to see what Canon does with an R5MkII.

There is the idea of a top-end APS-C camera, which to me has advantages for wildlife. TBH, I was disappointed in the R7. To me it was not worthy of the name. Coming from a flagship APS-C lineage, I was expecting a BSI sensor, dual SD/CF type A cards, a big buffer - all to allow for fast shooting and throughput to reduce shutter lag and buffering issues. The tracking system seemed glitchy, especially with legacy 3rd party lenses, whereas the FF bodies have performed fine in my experience. I wanted good weather sealing and a battery grip. None of those things happened and to me that was a lost opportunity. Perhaps the R7II will eventually offer at least some of that.

Tronhard wrote in post #19508526
I had a basic philosophy that developed when I was working in IT. Basically, I would consider an upgrade very second version. If Canon can do a few more tweaks to the MkI version as regards focus firmware, I think that it would be less likely that one would pay for the difference between selling the MkI and buying the MkII. So, when a MkIII comes in a while, that might be the big contender. That might have a BSI sensor, different cards etc. It will be interesting to see what Canon does with an R5MkII.

There is the idea of a top-end APS-C camera, which to me has advantages for wildlife. TBH, I was disappointed in the R7. To me it was not worthy of the name. Coming from a flagship APS-C lineage, I was expecting a BSI sensor, dual SD/CF type A cards, a big buffer - all to allow for fast shooting and throughput to reduce shutter lag and buffering issues. The tracking system seemed glitchy, especially with legacy 3rd party lenses, whereas the FF bodies have performed fine in my experience. I wanted good weather sealing and a battery grip. None of those things happened and to me that was a lost opportunity. Perhaps the R7II will eventually offer at least some of that.

Yes. I bought the R7 too, hoping it would be the mirrorless 7DIII and then it wasn't. It did really great in the city with birds nearby but in the open field, outside the city it just didn't perform well. Plus I really disliked the files. Maybe spoiled by the R6. In any case, I returned the camera and am waiting for Canon to do better.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19508545
Yes. I bought the R7 too, hoping it would be the mirrorless 7DIII and then it wasn't. It did really great in the city with birds nearby but in the open field, outside the city it just didn't perform well. Plus I really disliked the files. Maybe spoiled by the R6. In any case, I returned the camera and am waiting for Canon to do better.

My solution was to stay with the R5 @ 45MP, but occasionally put it into 1.6 Crop Mode - not that I got the pixel density, but at least the viewfinder gave me an idea of what I would get in crop mode. While the resultant image is down to about 17.5MP, that's fine for most of what I shall want, but I get the advantage of the excellent FF sensor and better overall features. If one really needs a bigger image, then one could use Topaz Gigapixel AI or similar to bump up the resolution.

Shot a little MX for the first time with the new R6ii. Impressive to say the least.

Tronhard wrote in post #19508570
My solution was to stay with the R5 @ 45MP, but occasionally put it into 1.6 Crop Mode - not that I got the pixel density, but at least the viewfinder gave me an idea of what I would get in crop mode. While the resultant image is down to about 17.5MP, that's fine for most of what I shall want, but I get the advantage of the excellent FF sensor and better overall features. If one really needs a bigger image, then one could use Topaz Gigapixel AI or similar to bump up the resolution.

We were shooting with 8mp cameras not so long ago so 17.5mp should do just fine.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19508874
We were shooting with 8mp cameras not so long ago so 17.5mp should do just fine.

When I was just starting out on digital, I shot for a client with an early DSLR of about 6MP and they put it up on a billboard - it looked fine. I think the big thing is most people look at an image from a comfortable distance in order to see the whole, and depending on the size it could be from a few feet or metre, to a hundred ft or metres away. Only photographers pixel peep!

Tronhard wrote in post #19508977
When I was just starting out on digital, I shot for a client with an early DSLR of about 6MP and they put it up on a billboard - it looked fine. I think the big thing is most people look at an image from a comfortable distance in order to see the whole, and depending on the size it could be from a few feet or metre, to a hundred ft or metres away. Only photographers pixel peep!

"Not enough characters in the Like window", after I typed "True!"

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #19508980
"Not enough characters in the Like window", after I typed "True!"

Ha! Love it!

Giving the spot AF a real workout getting between the sticks. It missed a few but nailed this one. Impressive. Tough shot. In relatively poor light too. didn't even need Topaz.

Photo from edmidlifecrisis's gallery.
Image hosted by forum (1207347)

This may be a dumb question but I never used Eye detect before the R62. When you're shooting sports with lots of people in the frame like volleyball or basketball I'm assuming it's probably better not to use eye detect? Seems more practical to use single point?

I shoot a lot of sports. Mostly I use single point focus but on these new cameras having both available on two back buttons makes it easy to try one and quickly/easily move tot he other. I am firmly in the try both camp.

Tommydigi wrote in post #19511570
This may be a dumb question but I never used Eye detect before the R62. When you're shooting sports with lots of people in the frame like volleyball or basketball I'm assuming it's probably better not to use eye detect? Seems more practical to use single point?

I shoot wildlife, rather than sport, but there are similarities. I use single point with eye detect and tracking. To select one amongst many I simply locate the one I want in the centre of the screen, and press the centre button of the back wheel, which is assigned to set the focus point to centre screen. From then on it tracks the individual I choee.
For me, the benefit is that I can keep the * button assigned to exposure lock on the back button area, I use single point exposure as well to get precise exposure values I want. That may not be necessary for your application, I suspect.

I set my camera up with back button focus for single point and for eye. I followed this video to set up my camera https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=n98hqGtzUw0

I'm still getting to know the camera but when I try to focus on something quickly say for example someone approaches the net, if I use the eye detect I'm almost always getting the wrong person, or a person in the background. I guess I just need some practice or maybe I'll stick with single point until I get a better feel since that's what I used to.

I really haven't had much time to spend with it.

I've been trying many different combinations of button assignments, so much so, that sometimes I feel like an accordionist rather than a photographer. The flavor of the day:

Objective: To choose and track a specific subject's eye.

1) DOF button sets the type of object (people, animals...) - Select None
2) Q Screen select single point for AF
3) Video button selects Eye Focus, select right or left eye
4) Back Button AF: AF start will select any point I choose with the joystick. No tracking. Used for general purpose photography
5) * AE Lock - Locks exposure
6) Right four point button set to 'AF on detected subject' when I point the single point to the face of the subject and press the 4 point button, it will pick and track the eye of the chosen subject all over the frame.

Just for info, I have set the m-FN button to choose frame rate (single, multi etc) and the SET button to 'Start/Stop whole area tracking' Having a Ring Adapter (I use EF lenses) I set the ring to exposure compensation, as aperture and speed are set by the classic wheels and I shoot Auto-ISO

All this, subject to change, when I come by a better idea.

With the R6II the camera when you are following a player the camera will show you which eye it would track if you switched to eye tracking. So, if you start out with single point and see that your subject could be the eye focusing subject you can quickly switch to that. I do that if I feel like that will last for the shot. If the player is in a crowd or there is action in front of the player I am looking for I don't switch but if they are in front of the crowd I do switch. It has been working for me but you do need to analyze the situation yourself.