genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Assuming good L lenses, which would you choose for an all-around full-frame for landscapes, wildlife, travel and family shots?

Haydon

Right now I see the EOS R still in it's infant stage. The 5DIV is certainly a better value for features. In a couple of generations, you might see the ML hit the mark.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

5d iv. But "full-frame" for "family shots"!? Someone is made of money. FF for hi IQ artistic photography, yes!

BebuLamar

If you are going to use EF L lenses then the 5D IV is better. The R is less expensive. But I think the bottom line is do you like the reflex viewfinder or the EVF.

BebuLamar

Why not? Although I don't like to take pictures of people but my pictures aren't more important than family shots. I always use a full frame. Save me from the crop factor.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Canon's 5 series is their bread and butter camera for all purpose photography. The Mark IV is the most versatile of their bodies because of the features they combine, 4 K video, and motion tracking are the features I prefer. Keep in mind the 5 series is NOT the same as the 1 series, and it's prices reflect that. But, the 5 series has been around a long time and reflects Canon's better efforts. The R is the new kid on the block, new lenses also. It will need time to evolve. Mirrorless has a long road to travel before going head-to-head with what is tried and tested. If you want to experiment go with the "R" series and have fun, new lenses and all. Expect changes along the way. For plain ol meat and potato shooting stick with what you know. "Family shots"? Interesting concept!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Tough question actually. The Canon R is the new kid on the block with very little history to go by. Plus, there are supposed to be improved versions in the pipeline. The 5DIV is an excellent camera. I have it and a 7DII. The 5DIV is my preferred camera to the point that I have considered selling the 7DII. I have been looking at the R but have decided to wait and see what Canon does with it in 2019. If your present camera is still serving your needs then I suggest you do the same. The R is a work in progress. No point buying something and then finding out that what you really want just hit the market.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

I don’t understand why “family shots” are denigrated. They are, IMO, more important and long-lasting than any landscape, animal, bird, or church. Could I take them with an iPhone? Sure. But if I choose to take them with a high quality camera and lens because it is my hobby, so what?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

As you may have noticed by now some members believe their abilities and preferences are so superior that they feel obliged to denigrate anyone who does things differently. I want any photo I take to be of the highest quality that I can achieve and family photos are no exception. Their value and importance to later generations will only increase as time goes by. Wish I could say the same about my more "artistic" shots.

Vietnam Vet

I shoot with the Canon 1D series cameras, and was debating between the Canon R and a Canon 1dx II. The cameras I have fit my hand well, the mirrorless does not. With one battery I can shoot all day long, with the mirrorless I will probably need two spare batteries. The 1D can handle all sorts of weather and take a beating, I doubt the mirrorless can do that. I know my 1d's can be dropped and still work just fine. There is nothing I feel limited in right now. So for me there is no reason to add a mirrorless camera to what I have, and if I did I would probably not really enjoy using it. Maybe if they put it in a 1D body that is fully functional with my lenses I would jump on it, but not right now.

Vietnam Vet

I don't understand your reasoning here. I have full frame and crop cameras and use them interchangeably for all types of photography. The one advantage I see is that I can use a wide angle lens on the full frame to get the widest shot, and a longer lens on the crop camera to get the longest reach, great set up for sports by the way.

Brian Hartnell Loc: Marinette WI

What is your price point? Do you need lens interchangeability from existing lenses you may currently own? Also how much weight is too much with a camera body for you? What media are you invested in and will the new body accept your current media? I have owned the EOS 1ds, 5d MK II, 40d, 7d and ran a studio very successfully for years and they are great tools. Never had a problem jumping back and forth from crop sensor to full frame. Just used the body that would offer me the most bang for the type of image I was doing at the time. Possibly consider the one model down to save money as the EOS 5d bodies in any of their permutations are winners and you'll save money not paying the premium of the newest model. I don't need a 50 million pixel sensor when I can create multiple image panoramas that easily exceed that size many times over. I think people buy into the manufacturers marketing hype way too much rather than refining their photo skills and doing a better job with the equipment they already own. Good luck on your pursuit!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I'm merely commenting on Photography as an ART Form that strangers will appreciate for Centuries versus for recording personal memories. Even now, I have no idea what to do with my deceased parents' photo albums when I die. I'm an only child and have no kids. As far as I know, my cousins have the same family pictures and probably have copies for their kids. I probably have the reproduced versions of more copy generations since both my parents were the youngest in their families. Worse yet are their pictures of their friends that I never knew. Who are these people? Friends and others will not be hanging pix of my family that they don't know but at least one friend does have an outdoor IR image of mine hanging on his wall! I would hope others appreciate my serious photography efforts. Personal pix are just that, personal.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You do not seem to be heavy on action shots, so I might lean toward the R. The R auto focuses on the same sensor that takes the shot, making non-action focus more accurate. Also the EVF is said to be pretty awesome and being able to enjoy the WYSIWYG nature of EVF would be great.

And EF lenses are said to be operating flawlessly and sometimes even better on the R with the adapter.

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

I decided to go with the EOS R over the 5D MK IV and have no regrets at all. I use a 7D MK II for all my sports and wildlife shooting (Airshows / BIF) and absolutely love that camera. I was facing the same dilemma when choosing a FF camera. I'm not a professional photographer so the issues that everyone complained about such as Dual card slots and inferior video didn't matter so much to me. I can say that the EOS R is a fantastic camera. All my lens are "L" type and they adapt to the camera flawlessly. I love the fact that WYSIWYG. The evf and flip screen are extremely crisp and clear. The battery life is definitely better than canon advertises. I have shot 850+ images on one battery. I can go on and on about this camera but you have to decide if it will fit into what and how you intend to use it. I can so that if i had went with the 5D MK IV the learning curve would have been much easier as the 7D MK II & the 5D MK IV are almost identical as far as layout and functionality. It didn't take me very long to get comfortable shooting with the EOS R. I cant wait until the new lens are available. I understand they are outstanding as well. You cant go wrong either way. Good luck with you decision!