Month: October 2024

Transitioning to Mirrorless with Canon R5 Mark II

After a lot of back and forth, I finally decided to pull the trigger on upgrading to a mirrorless system! This was a hefty $8K investment, so I’m committed to getting back out there and creating more. Since I already had Canon gear, I went with the Canon R5 Mark II—a beast of a camera with 20 fps shooting capability.

Here’s what I picked up to complete the setup:

 • Canon R5 Mark II Full Frame Camera
 • Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM – a fantastic all-around lens
 • Canon Mount Adaptor EF-EOS R – so I can still use my EF lenses
 • Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery – for some extra power
 • SanDisk 512GB Extreme Pro CFExpress Card Type B – to keep up with the R5’s speed

With this setup, I’ll be able to shoot high-speed frames without worrying about storage lag. I’m especially looking forward to testing out the RF lens at f/2.8 for versatile shots and, of course, slowly building up my RF lens collection over time.

I’ll be posting updates as I get out there and start putting this new gear to work. Stay tuned!

Weekend Trip to Texas Wine Country

A friend and his wife are in Texas for the weekend, and while we were catching up earlier this week, the question came up—what are we doing this weekend? Naturally, Fredericksburg came up since it’s right in the heart of Texas Wine Country. So, we made hotel reservations, and we’re heading down this evening. They’ll be joining us tomorrow, and it’s shaping up to be a great weekend of wine tasting and exploring the area.

Getting Back Into Photography

One thing I haven’t talked much about is my love for photography. When I lived in North Carolina, I was really active in it. Living on the coast meant I could capture beautiful seascapes whenever I wanted. However, since moving to Texas, I’ve struggled to find areas nearby that are quite as photogenic.

That said, I’ve set a goal for 2025 to get back into photography—a lot more of it! I’ve been using a traditional DSLR for years, but with most manufacturers now going mirrorless, it’s time for an upgrade. Unfortunately, my current lenses aren’t fully compatible with the new systems without using adapters, which can reduce image quality.

I’m currently looking into upgrading to the Canon R5 Mk II along with three lenses: the 15-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm. This is a big investment, though, so I’m weighing my options. In the meantime, I’m planning a few more trips this year to get back into the swing of things with my current gear before making any major purchases.

I’ll be sure to update the blog with any progress on this front!