Animal AF on the Canon EOS R5 is so good that skill is no longer required for wildlife photos – just point and shoot!
(Image credit: James Artaius / Digital Camera World)
The Canon EOS R5 is about to put professional wildlife photographers out of business. That's our verdict, after extensively testing the Animal AF function on the new camera, which is nothing short of witchcraft.
Much has already been said about the Canon EOS R5, and we'll be saying plenty more in our full review (which we're currently putting the finishing touches on). However, something that simply can't be said enough is just how awesome the new animal autofocus is.
We were expecting to be impressed, but we weren't prepared to be gobsmacked. The Animal AF is so good, and so accurate, that it is actually unfair. Wildlife photographers have spent years wrestling with twitchy autofocus, learning how to perfect their timing, sucking their teeth at all the shots that were focused on the feet or the tail or the wing instead of the eyes.
With the Canon EOS R5, you don't need any of that. It is literally a cheat code for wildlife photography.
We're not exaggerating. Just select 'Subject: Animals' in the AF menu and set continuous autofocus, then just point your camera at an animal and the R5 will find it. No need to move your focus points or even touch the joystick – just aim in the direction of the creature and the camera does the rest for you.
Gorillas? No problem (Canon EOS R5 w/ RF 70-200mm, 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO160) (Image credit: James Artaius / Digital Camera World)
Birds in flight? Pfft, piece of cake (Canon EOS R5 w/ RF 70-200mm, 1/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO1000) (Image credit: James Artaius / Digital Camera World)
It automatically finds the face and eyes, and it does so fast. Faster than you could possibly do it yourself. And it reacts quicker, too, when animals make their herky-jerky movements that you didn't anticipate and couldn't put your focus points in the right place for – the R5 does it without hesitation.
Canon only certifies its Animal AF for dogs, cats and birds (including birds in flight – and yes, it does work and yes, it's equally amazing), but we found that it works with just about any species. Gorillas? Check. Gibbons? Check. Lions? Check. Turtles, iguanas, fish, lemurs, seals? Check, check, check, check and check.
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The whole 4K and 8K overheating thing is a very public sore point for the Canon EOS R5, and we'll give you our verdict on that in our full review. However, if you were expecting a similar kind of sting in the tail for the Animal AF… there isn't one. It simply works, and it's simply awesome.
And, just like that, Sony is no longer the king of autofocus – Canon now sits proudly on the AF throne, thanks to the R5.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
