Judging by my title, you'll be shocked to know that I have always been a Canon loyalist. From learning with the Canon A-1 inherited from my grandmother in 1999, to the latest mirrorless models, I have been a devoted customer and an advocate of the brand for over two decades. That is, until the Canon EOS R5. The Canon R5 is where my bond to the brand was systematically dismantled as the hardware itself did.
Let me walk you through how I'm falling out of love with Canon as its product went from buzz-worthy to broken, held together with rubber bands.Good pics when it works
— Canon Reviewer
Why I Have Loved Canon
If I could sum up my sentiment about the Canon EOS R5 in the most condensed phrase it would be this simplistic but accurate review at the top of the Canon review site. Canon has always been my uncontended choice. I have worked with files from almost every major brand and for me, Canon leads in what is most important to my work: color, sharpness, and dynamic range. For my commercial work, it gives me everything I need to capture color, detail, and texture. It delivers sharp, crisp images. For my sports work it gives me incredible burst rates and great dynamic range. They have top-of-the-line of lenses for every different subject matter. As my peers left Canon for the award-winning Sony mirrorless cameras or the game-changing Nikon Z9, I stayed the course with Canon... until my R5.
What the Short-Term Versus Long-Term Reviews Are Uncovering
If you read many of the glowing reviews online regarding the R5, a large portion of them are from newly acquired bodies — i.e written within the first two years of owning the camera. With these reviews, I would agree.
The viewfinder is terrific. The files are very large, so is the ability to crop dramatically and still get a great image. I've been using it for about 6 months with no problems. Animal, people, and eye tracking for autofocus is really impressive
— Canon Review
I've had the R5 for a little over a month. I'm using it with an RF 70-200mm f2.8 and an EF 17-40mm f4 with a control ring adapter. I continue to be amazed by the versatility of this camera and the stunning image quality.
— Canon Review
I have been using the Canon R5 for a couple of months. I have several EF lenses and it works flawlessly with them. In December I purchased the RF 100-500 L lens. What an incredible combination. I do photography only (no video) and I can honestly say that this camera impresses me every time I shoot with it. Best camera I have ever owned.
— Canon Review
I agree with all of these reports and more: color is what has sustained my love affair with Canon for over two decades now. But what is being echoed by users of over two years?
Good pics when it works. I've had the R5 for over a year now and am glad I read the reviews about it frequently freezing up before buying it. If [you] leave it on for several minutes it may freeze up requiring it to be turned off for several seconds before it resumes normal functioning again. If you leave it on for more than several minutes [while] shooting it can shut down for half a day, however. I've had to adapt by frequently turning it off then on again when I'm shooting so that I don't miss (more) shots.
— Canon Review
Great camera but fragile shutter system. The R5 is all I wanted. A better autofocus than my 5D Mark IV, rotating screen, IBS, etc. and I was very happy with it until an error code No 20 appears on the screen. I sent it to Canon and the shutter system had to be changed. The camera had 40,000 shoots.... less than 10% of the 500,000 promised. Now I am not so confident with the Camera.
— Canon Review
Long-term review: frequent crashes, subpar build quality. I loved the camera at first. After over a year, I'm still mostly happy with it. In terms of features and image quality, it's a winner. The autofocus is amazing. However, it crashes too often for a pro camera. Lately, it's been OK, but it went through a nearly unusable phase in the last version of the firmware and I missed many shots because of camera crashes. It's also not well weather sealed and if I'm out in light rain, I quickly get condensation behind the viewfinder. Honestly, I just don't trust it out in the weather and that prevents me from getting the job done. Similarly, the build quality in general is nowhere near the standard of Canon's older pro cameras. Unfortunately, for me, Canon just doesn't have the right offerings anymore. I'll likely be moving over to another brand. It's such a shame because Canon still has great technology, features, and optics. But build quality, repairs, customer service, have all gone downhill and those things are critical for professionals.
— Canon Review
I could continue this with more reviews from Canon's site, additional ones from B&H, and a whole slew of messages on Facebook groups, discussions on Quora regarding the recurring "Error 20" code, camera malfunctions, and cameras just plain falling apart. Now though, let me now tell you my story.
How My R5 Systematically Fell Apart
Error 20
I bought my R5 just over two years ago. Similar to the experience of other reviewers, I was over the moon about my new gear. It delivered on advanced auto-focusing, state-of-the-art image stabilization, high-speed continuous shooting, and showcased many of the flagship Canon characteristics such as rich color, sharp images, and high-resolution files. Just past its first-year mark, however, I started getting the error 20 code. This code is described vaguely on the Canon website.
As the message describes this error required me to turn off my camera, remove the battery, and restart the camera. At first, it was once or twice a week, then every day, and soon up to to a dozen times a day. This happened for weeks on end. I did some research and it is a widespread problem. There was everything from Quora discussions about it to YouTube tutorials, Facebook chats, and more.
This problem occurs nowhere near the promised shutter count. After researching the problem, I reached out to Canon directly with the data I had gathered in 2022. I was redirected many times until I reached the Sr. Specialist Public Relations for Canon. She replied to my email positively and requested me to gather information and specific testimonials. After collecting the requested data, I sent the testimonials with the users' full names and additional information to Canon. Here are two of many examples I provided.
Photographer 2: He works in the studio as a fashion photographer and his camera is around 105k actuations. It happens when he is shooting normally (not live view). The mirror gets stuck and frozen and the camera displays error 20 and this cycle repeats itself. He brought it in for repair, it was 600 euros to swap a new shutter and mirror. This cycle has started happening again. The mirror gets stuck. The camera says 'error 20'. He doesn't know why.
Photographer 7: 'I purchased my R5 in February of 2021. It worked well for two months then died completely. I contacted Canon and then sent it back for repair. Turned out that the entire main motherboard failed. They replaced it and two weeks later it was back at home with me.'
Per the request of the Canon PR contact, I kept track of what I was shooting with when receiving the error 20 messages, noting if there were any commonalities. I took notes on:
1) Whether it was a Canon battery or an off-brand battery
2) What type and brand of memory card I was working with
3) If I was using strobes or shooting natural light
4) If I was shooting bursts or single shots
5) If I was using an RF or EF lens
6) If I was shooting tethered
There were no patterns. No matter what lens, battery, card, or lighting I shot with, the error 20 code continued. By the end of my data collecting it was around a dozen times a day. I offered to send my camera in for the engineers to look at it. After meticulously tracking all the requested information and providing it to Canon with the offer to look over the problem on my camera, the PR woman stopped responding. That was in 2022.
It was a $479 repair for a shutter that stopped working after only one year of purchase. This is a shutter that was listed to have a half-a-million count shutter life on it.
Canon never answered me again.
Gray Pocket on Screen
Earlier this year I was shooting in my studio. My camera was on a tripod and I was shooting products on a simple white background. When I set the next product up to be photographed, I came back to my camera and my LCD had a large grey pocket that took up about 1/5th of the screen. Initially, I thought there was a shadow on my scene. There was not. I hooked my computer up for tethering and looked at the shot on my Mac. Nothing was in the image; It was the LCD.
I was told in my repair report that the LCD had been impacted. At the time of this occurrence though there was no impact. I had a very simple "shopping cart" on white set up with the camera on a tripod.
LCD Detaches and Dangles by Wires
I had intended to send it in for repair but I was in the middle of a hectic month of back-to-back contracts so I decided to work my way through them shooting tethered. One day as I was working camera in-hand, the LCD just plopped out of the frame and dangled by a braided set of small colorful wires. Shocked, I pushed it back in and it fell right back out. I was forced to hold it together with a rubber band.
The Hot Shoe Becomes Unscrewed
So there I was, my two year-old camera broken again, being held together by a rubber band. I contacted CPS about sending it in for repair, planning to do so upon my return from my weekend contract. I head out to my job, strap on my flash, and walk to my starting point. As I'm walking though, the flash feels as though it's wobbling around on the hot shoe. I stopped and had a look. I discovered that the screw which holds the hot shoe down had become loose and had made the connection between my flash — as well as my pocket wizard for the strobes — unusable. I thought perhaps that if I could find a screw driver I could tighten it back up; but in the R5 model they moved the screws to the inside of the camera body. Now, 15 minutes into my two-day shoot, my rubber band-jimmied camera is officially unusual able for flash or strobes. I had to pivot and use my Mark IV all weekend — a big step down from the dynamic range and ISO capabilities of the R5. The images suffered.
The following Monday, I finally sent it in to CPS and a whopping $759 repair got me functional again for the 2nd time.
In total the repairs were priced at $1,238 for the $3,699 camera: I spent 33% of the cost of the camera to keep it working. Within two years the repairs totaled a third of the cost of the camera.
I am not the only one.
Why Isn't the R5 Lasting?
Why are so many Canon users experiencing these problems with the R5? Why the surge in reports about mechanical shutter errors, overheating, and the camera falling apart structurally? It used to be that cameras were built for durability. I remember shooting in the desert and seeing my peer throw his camera into the sand — actually throw it — leaving it there for a good 15-20 minutes while he resolved an issue with a staff member. Then, he just picked it back up and kept shooting. Canons were built for it. My Mark II, III, and IV have been through water, mud, and sand. They have been dropped; they have suffered through hot, cold, wet — yet I never once had to send any of them in for repair. It's one of the many reasons I loved Canon. The cameras were built like vaults. What happened?
I've discussed this question with many peers over the last year that I've been working on the article. I've received a wide array of answers but they have all fallen under an umbrella theme: durability is not at the top of the list of values for Canon anymore. Colleagues hypothesize that it used to be that Canon built cameras for career photographers. Durability was a central value. Now, they suspect, their audience is different.
"They build cameras for vloggers, and hobbyists now who go out to capture lifestyle work. They want their mirrorless camera to be lightweight and have great sensors. They don't care about durability anymore."
Others hypothesize that since photographers clamor to upgrade to the latest model every time it comes out, Canon doesn't feel the need to build a camera that's going to last five or six years anymore.
Is it true? Is durability an extinct value in the generation of city-slicker vloggers who care about the sensor, weight, burst rate and video capability?
Not all brands are skimping on durability and resilience. OM Systems, for example, runs their cameras though rigorous testing such as this impressive splash test.
Closing Thoughts
It used to be that Canon and Nikon were the uncontested kings of the jungle. Any camera they made was the top of the line model available. Some other cameras like Leica held a close third spot especially for a certain look — but if you look at the sales numbers, historically Canon and Nikon were at the top. Over the years though, other brands have impressively stepped up their game. I feel there's rarely a month that goes by that I don't have someone asking "You're still shooting Canon?" as if Sony was now the only brand to flaunt. Nikon came out with their Z 9 and showed they they are maintaining their stance as industry leaders.
...And here is my R5 being held together with a rubber band and no hot shoe.
I had planned to purchase the EOS R3 but since my experience, Canon has lost my trust to invest thousands more towards a new body. Canon: this is my message to you. You have to worry about retaining your photographers. Other brands are stepping up and the reputation Canon once had is being challenged.
I recently walked to the meeting point for a shoot and an obnoxious photographer who always touts his mouth asked, "What are you shooting with today?" I responded, "The R5." He laughed and looked at the other photographer standing with us, sarcastically commenting, "Really?"
He had the Z9 and the other photographer had the Sony a7R V. In retrospect, I am glad the shoot wasn't a few weeks later when my rubber band was holding my camera together.
I invited the PR contact for Canon to comment on this article. She didn't reply. I still love Canon. For me, the colors and the quality of the image is just untouchable. But I'll close with the same quote I opened with from the Canon website reviews, it's the best camera... when it works. Is it time to switch brands? Canon needs to earn my trust again.
I pre-ordered and received my R5 two days after it hit B&H's shelves. I've never had a problem, not once. I've shot in hot blazing direct sun, rain, dust, and below freezing temperatures. It's been a durable and predictable camera. My biggest gripe is battery life. I suppose with any production model, there will be some lemons. Although my anecdotal experience is positive, I can see how your headache can erode your confidence. More troubling is your customer experience. Don't let 'em ghost you, push for response...
I'm thrilled to hear that! Yes. I was also surprised that after the work to provide the data and testing she requested she ghosted me. In retrospect, I wonder if she was trying to put me off by burying me in data collection. Wouldn't that be Canon's job anyways? Perhaps when I completed it and turned it in, she was surprised but had no intention to do anything with it. I'm glad that you've had continued success with your Canon cameras.
Anything that overheats to extremes once will most likely show signs of rupture or distortion thereafter even if it's not perceptible at first. Consider unwanted friction, fractures, melting... Premature wear. R5 overheated on day one.
Geez I thought it was just me. A few months in my Canon R5 would just randomly freeze and I no matter how long I waited nothing but a battery pull revived it. I lost so many images I didn’t trust the camera. Had to send it in and they said they had to replace the main PCB or something like that under warranty. It’s since been working fine, but other issues like overheating and such still remain. I’ve owned many 5D/1D series and all were pretty solid, this one not as much. My R6 has been rock solid though.
YES! Exactly. I'm sorry you lost so many images. In addition to losing images, if you're working with clients, let's say on set with an art director, it's a BAD LOOK for your camera to fail every 30 minutes and to have to restart it. It's the kind of scenario that your client can really have a negative impression on you. And as you said, when you're shooting something time sensitive such as sports, you miss images which can also have a negative impact on your reputation.
My take-away from this is that OM Systems is not only surviving but thriving.
Hahahah I have no experience with OM cameras, but I saw a post from a colleague of mine shooting landscape in FULL RAIN with no anxiety- just continuing on as if it were a sunny day and that surely got my attention!
Just off of handling and feel, it is a world of difference from the 5D3 to the R62. The 5D3 is still a tank, it FEELS stronger. R62, yeah feeling sturdy is not the same thing as feeling solid.
Well look at their standard lenses... They even look cheap. Also don't like the trend for the L lenses that are big and solid but the exterior plastics just don't feel as good. Over time the plastics on Canon has gotten worse and worse and while the R62 feels fine when I first handle them in the store I mean it just feels cheap. I don't know if it's that brushed style that they use but I hate it. But this trend has been going on for a long time. On the other hand the Nikon z6 and 7 feel great, superbly rigid for its size imho.
Do you think it's possible that durability has dropped significantly on the value list of Canon? I agree that my older cameras felt like tanks. I we should send the engineers on field trips with sports photographers, and landscape photographers for R&D on their next model.
Michelle, you are being too kind. I think it's obvious that it has now. It's okay to say that. Brand defenders will always find a way to disagree or attempt to argue- ignore them and listen to your senses- they are much more accurate.
considering a full change of Camera system. I had my eye on the R5 and was waiting for a price drop after the new camera is out. After this post and the ridiculous treatment you've had from Canon, all i can say is Hellooooo Sony.
While this was certainly not the intention of the article, I myself have been having adulteress thoughts. I have had several colleagues who left Canon for Sony. I went back and checked with two of them while writing this article. One said he was completely thrilled with the switchover. The other said he was also happy with the switch except that he preferred the colors of Canon. Maybe a future article I write would be to get some cameras on load from B&H (one Nikon, one Sony, one Leica and one OM) and take them on a field trip. Shoot the same thing exactly with each and share the results. This would be an interesting study.
i'm not a fan of Sony menus, but that's a minor problem compared to what you've described in this article from Canon. Plus i have no simpathy towards companies that don't prioritize customer service.
Also more reasons to not consider Canon - lens options, lens prices to name a few.
No doubt Canon has awesome colors, but nowadays, you can pretty much get to a result you like in post. no reason not to.
Well, I've had no problems with my R5. Does that change your mind back to Canon? ;-)
glad you have had no problems!
some people here have mentioned the same! ideally, that would happen to everybody. It is expectable that no problems occur when you buy a 3 or 4k camera.
But when you have quite a few references to similar problems and examples of poor Customer service, that pretty much makes me nervous enough to not consider going for a Canon at the moment.
I've dealt with Canon's service department three times, all dealing with lenses and the transaction was smooth as silk. Of course, this was before covid and it was when everyone that worked in an office actually came in to the office.
HaHAHA. That's it! Cancel the article. It's a conclusive end to the discussion. Thanks, David Pavlich for the giggle with my morning coffee.
You're welcome.
Been using my R5 since it was released and I have had no issues whatsoever. Guess I've been fortunate.
So glad to hear that!
Fascinating article, thanks for posting it. I gave up a 1DX MII for the R5 and am likewise beginning to regret the choice. I can deal with the video overheating issue but lately, I've been noticing a overheating warning when just shooting Raw stills. Been shooting Canon since my first F1, an unbelievably tough camera and why I loved them, I stuck through them with the FD mount change, to the EF and now the R. But I'm having some doubts. Quality in an image is important and Canon doesn't disappoint in that regard but durability matters too, obviously, you prepare with a backup, but sending cameras or lenses back to Canon is not a lot of fun.
Thank you for your feedback. I agree, 10 years, 15 years ago cameras were built like tanks. I see this comment coming up repeatedly. Maybe, since Canon has clearly NAILED color, sharpness, image quality, etc. coming back to the basics: durability is what they need to do on their next model. I'm really hesitant to buy the R3. I think I'll struggle through with this R5 and see what they put out next. Of course- as this article shows we really don't know a camera until the 2+ year reviews come out.
Can you share what is causing disappointment to creep up in regard to your R5 choice?
Look at Apple. There laptops have had problems with keyboard, screen and so on since like 2025. I bought a Probook and had it repair three times New keyboard and new screen. When it getting so old it was out of warranty I sold it. If not for warranty it would have been really expensive. People still by them. Me to. The last one, a 16 inch intel has not given problems. But I will sell it before it’s out of warranty.
I don’t know how many R5 Canon have sold. Most of them probably will work flawlessly until they’re old tech. I don’t think a handful people is a meaningful ground to make any conclusions. Most likely they are not as solid as the DSLR line for pros, but that Canons cameras are falling apart?
Where I live we have 5 years warranty but I believe both Sony and Apple offers service agreements/insurance. If Canon don’t they should, sound like.
Of cause with Sony you have less expensive options for lenses and the A7 m3 and m4 are not that expensive either. And it’s mature. Canon and Nikon maybe need a more time.
If you purchased an expensive camera that freezes all the time and Canon will not take responsibility and you can not sell it I probably would look for a new system.
I bought a Sigma lens once for my Sony. It froze on the face/eye detect function and I could not focus. I disabled face detect and could finish my shoot. Straight after I gave it back to shop and replaced it with a Sony lens.
I will never put a Sigma lens on my camera again. Tamron however I use. However there are many who use Sigma without any problems. Just not me:)
Quote: “Look at Apple. There laptops have had problems with keyboard, screen and so on since like 2025. I bought a Probook and had it repair three times New keyboard and new screen.”
Lmao, are you from the future? And you bought a “Probook“? There is no such thing. You clearly do not seem to own any Apple products (yet), so maybe leave Apple out of a conversation about Canon.
It's quite usual in Scandinavian languages, and others, to put words into a different order. I know others from Scandinavian countries who call them Probooks too. Perhaps before dissing what someone has written, making incorrect assumptions, and then trying and failing to score points, you should check whether they are a native English speaker.
Is there a point competition I’m not aware of or are you trying and failing to diss what someone has written? Ah, goes both ways, doesn’t it?
And no, I don’t need to check a commenter’s English ability or care where they’re from, it’s always been and always will be a MacBook Pro. Just because you decide to make up a name in your head doesn’t actually make it so. Do you call the iPhone perhaps Phone-i? I hope you realize the absurdity of this. I can 110% guarantee you that it doesn’t say “ProBook” on the machine that this person supposedly looks at every day. No matter what country the machine is bought in and what language is spoken there, it will always say: MacBook Pro. Hence, it begs the question that this person owns such a machine.
My main issue with the post was the fact that this article is about Canon and the photography industry, what does Apple have to do with anything? That together with the time travel and naming nonsense has the hallmarks of troll-like behavior, so I called it out.
My first little Mac ran os v1 :) The reason I talk about Apple is that since 2015 there laptops have had issues. A lot. But it does not stop people from using it. Me neither. I just make a point to not have a Mac that’s out of warranty.
That’s a subtle suggestion that probably to ditch Canon due to some issues by a limited number of people might be a over the top, but purchasing extended warranty would be clever.
Pardon me for writing pro book. It’s MacBook Pro. The reason for that is not my Scandinavian language but the state of my memory and because I do not care, as long as it’s understandable. Definitely not that I never had a Mac, I bought my first Mac SE about 34 years ago. That time I bought because it could make nice invoices and had something called Double Helix, where I could make a database for invoicing. :)
I wish Canon users who love there systems, as Mac users also tend to do, to not have the pain of changing. Personally I prefer my Sony camera but it’s good Canon have done such a good job catching up. A camera that freezes are most likely a firmware error and should be fixable. Like my camera froze with a Sigma lens. Since Canon is Canon lenses only they should fix it and also maybe improve some parts, and all will be good :)
No worries, I do see now that you have quite a long history with the brand. And you’re right, despite issues, as well with Canon here, I do not think the experiences of some users reflect the overall state of a brand. I’m sure Canon will be able to rectify the issues over time. However, their PR at the moment does look bad.
I'll agree with that PR comment. I sent the link for the article to the contact on Monday. I had a double shoot day yesterday, so I haven't been able to get to my emails but I'm curious to see if there will be a reply. Especially considering I told her that I was a Senior Staff writer and my preferred outcome was to work with Canon over putting everything in an article for the community to read.
Since you are unaware, I was using the phrase "point scoring" to indicate that you are pulling people up by making unnecessarily petty criticisms just to try to make them look bad and yourself look good. That was precisely what you are doing in that comment.
Your historical replies here are regularly aggressively inflammatory, and you hide behind a false persona. Then you are accusing Bjaene of troll-like behavior for making a perfectly reasonable comment. From the outside, that seems a little hypocritical. If you disagree with a comment, set out a reasoned argument as opposed to just firing off mean-spirited, barbed comments. You are then more likely to be taken seriously.
It's perfectly reasonable to mention other major brands where they have known issues and, reading it, it had useful information and added to the conversation. Thank you, Bjarne.
Thanks for the support :) I might have offended an Apple fan, not my attention but the latter years it’s been so so with Apples laptops. That’s a fact.
I FINALLY caved in and bought my first Apple laptop. I Got the M2 Pro- 16".... and then I accidentally bumped into it while I was shooting tethered and the whole thing shattered. UGH. No article on that- clearly user fault there!
I am sorry to hear that. I suppose Extended warranty Apple Care and all that stuff really are the way to go.
I quoted the part of the comment I had an issue with, as well as reasoned why. We don’t need Apple/PC, Android/iPhone flame wars when that’s not the topic of the article. It’s just unnecessary. There are plenty of on-topic camera brands to compare with.
In any case, you might want to take your own advice to heart. And fyi, using your real name all over the internet may not be in your best interest…
Bjarne Solvik It's funny that you say that about the Apple laptops. Someone commented that on my Instagram post. That's amazing a 5-year warranty! Even I think a two-year warranty would feel satisfying. I've never tried Sigma but I agree that the Tamron ones I have used have impressed me. I am having adulteress thoughts... I'm not going to lie. One thing is certain- I don't feel confident to buy the R3 as I had planned.
I don’t know about Sigma, but since Sony owns part of Tamron that’s kind of nice. I think it will be ok with Canon.
https://www.upsie.com/camera-warranty/best-warranty-canon-camera-gear
Michelle VanTine, did your research show any patterns in serial numbers? It could be that only certain batches are affected. Maybe Canon had to pull in a new supplier and/or assembler to meet demand and the new contractor was just shoddy. This happens often to all kinds of brands but is usually limited in scope of products affected. If that was the case, it would be Canon’s responsibility to determine where things went wrong and issue a recall & replacement program for the products affected.
Another theory could be since the R5 was Canon’s first serious entry into the professional mirrorless market, it may not have gotten the usual R&D but instead, was rushed in order to compete with Sony, and looming Nikon. Canon may have had to cut corners for competition’s sake. It happens but of course, they would never admit that.
Either way, the lack of response from support and PR is not acceptable. Also, with as many issues as your camera has had, you would expect the manufacturer to eventually replace the whole camera with a new or refurbished one. That would be decent customer support. It’s a shame that they left you hanging there.
I would agree. Serial numbers is the first thing you need to ask for when doing research like this to see if it is a batch or two of cameras. It could be as simple as a bad batch of one particular part.
Stu G. you share two theories that were echoed in other comments which I had not even considered. Low-performing batches and cutting corners in the mirrorless race. I agree with you about the response falling way short. What camera do you have? Do you feel like durability is still a top priority with cameras in these mirrorless days?
I used to own Nikon DSLRs before giving Fuji APSC a try as I got tired of waiting for Nikon to make the jump to mirrorless. Once Nikon finally did, I bought the Z6 as a second body with a few lenses. Kept shooting both for about a year but eventually sold off the Nikon gear again. I just liked the Fuji dial handling way better. Shooting the PASM-way now felt odd.
I did have issues with a Nikon camera in the past (not the Z6) and it was a pain to deal with but it was a known problem that affected only certain batches of serial numbers. I eventually got it resolved though.
I don’t know Canon well enough to judge whether they have or seem to have an increasing quality issue. I would hope not. I see this more as the potential reasons I mentioned earlier. It’s probably limited in scope and they will get it right in the next iteration of the R5. Although, they also should make it right by the owners of the current R5’s that are affected.
The thing is, all of these camera brands absolutely suck when it comes to handling PR of issues that come up. It takes a critical mass of complaints before they take action and really try to fix things.
Overall though, I still think quality and durability matters for all of these brands, at least in the professional sector. There will always be issues, potentially with every camera model that is released by any of the brands. That’s unavoidable, given the complex manufacturing processes involved. Sometimes, you just get unlucky and buy a lemon. Then it’s mostly a matter of how well the brand treats you to get the issue resolved. People do switch brands for good customer support.
I really think this is an interesting thought. I did not collect that data but maybe their engineers could
Nikon has been extremely responsive to their Z8 issues, which were fixed quickly…I own it. I also own the R5 and experienced frequent freezing issues and Canon never commented on the issue. Then suddenly with a firmware update the freezing issue stopped and I haven’t had it since. The comment about the Nikon Z9 and Z8 being crap is ridiculous, both cameras are well built and have beautiful output…and no mechanical shutter to deal with.
Actually, I praised Nikon for the Z9 in the article. Everyone I know is over the moon about it. I have worked with it some when I'm relieving the guys on my team and taking over their cameras and I liked it very much. I don't know much about the other Nikon cameras. Glad you found something that's really working for you.
Are you dealing CPS or the Canon USA PR Dept?
CPS and I must say THEY HAVE BEEN AMAZING. Excellent service.
Mike Ditz CPS for repairs and Canon put me through loops passing me from one person to the other and the end of the line was the Senior PR Rep for Canon as I was talking to her about these problems. I was reaching out for a comment over a year ago and that's when that relationship began. So both. Canon PR for the journalism and CPS for repair.
I own 2 R5's, one since day 1 and the other a couple months later. Neither have ever been in for repair. Have they worked perfectly? No, but no major problems either.
That's great to hear!
My R5 started randomly freezing after about 6 months. It was a real pain, popped the battery in and out to fix. Super intermittent, finally traced it to a faulty battery which was out of warranty, but Cannon replaced it at no charge. Been perfect ever since. We have 5 years warranty on most Canon cameras and lenses here in Australia.