EOS R5 How to zoom in and out

[AM2]

For years used canon sx70 but recently was gifted the eos r5.  Have question about how to zoom in and out.  Does the camera automatically zoom into subjects like the bridge cameras or do I have to manually move the lens every time I try to zoom in? Been googling this online and coming up with nothing. Thanks. 

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

You are a person coming from the iphone and P&S cameras which do have built in zoom capability despite the above post. DSLR and the new R series of interchangeable lens cameras don't have that and rely on you the photographer and/or the interchangeable lenses to zoom. You are not alone in this as I did DSLR 101 classes and lots of people new to DSLR thought the same thing.

The number one reason for going R series is that ability to change the lens to the lens most suitable to your job.

[stevet1 · Accepted solution]

AM2,

There's no need to apologize. We all start out somewhere.

On your new camera, zooming is a function of the lens, not of the camera, so if you want to zoom in or zoom back out to make your subjects look closer, or to make them look far away, yes, you will probably have to rotate the lens itself.

As far as focusing, to make your subject look clear and sharp, or to make them look blurry, there will be a knob or a function on your camera body. Sometimes it's a half-press of the shutter button. Sometimes, you can re-assign that function to another button like the AF-ON button. To learn how to do that, you'll need to look at your manual. If you haven't downloaded a copy of your manual in pdf format, I'd strongly encourage you to do that. It will make your life a whole lot easier.. 

Steve Thomas

[normadel]

The SX70 does NOT automatically zoom. No camera automatically zooms. The camera cannot know what you want to see. You've been zooming with the zoom control lever. Are you talking about FOCUSING?

You are jumping into the deep end of the pool with the R5 and interchangeable lenses. The lenses have zoom RINGS that you turn, IF YOU HAVE A ZOOM LENS and not a "prime" single-focal length lens.

Do you have the Basic User Guide that would have come with the camera when new? Perhaps you can find one on Ebay. You can download the ADVANCED User Manual from Canon here:

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/eos-r5?color=Black&type=New

Please get some help/training with you camera. You will become overwhelmed with all it can do, judging from your initial question.

[AM2]

Yes sorry focusing is a better way to phrase it.  Guessing cameras like the R5 don't have the zoom control lever?  

Already feeling overwhelming with this camera as it's a huge step up from the SX70. I'm outdoor enthusiast who loves to take photos of nature and wildlife so really need the ability to zoom into subjects.  Thanks for much for replying and apologize for the lack of knowledge. 

[Tronhard]

I would strongly suggest reviewing the manual for your camera - it is a highly-sophisticated piece of gear, far more so than the camera you are used to.  Here is a link:  EOS R5 Advanced User Guide PDF   
Also consider watching this video:

[stevet1 · Accepted solution]

AM2,

There's no need to apologize. We all start out somewhere.

On your new camera, zooming is a function of the lens, not of the camera, so if you want to zoom in or zoom back out to make your subjects look closer, or to make them look far away, yes, you will probably have to rotate the lens itself.

As far as focusing, to make your subject look clear and sharp, or to make them look blurry, there will be a knob or a function on your camera body. Sometimes it's a half-press of the shutter button. Sometimes, you can re-assign that function to another button like the AF-ON button. To learn how to do that, you'll need to look at your manual. If you haven't downloaded a copy of your manual in pdf format, I'd strongly encourage you to do that. It will make your life a whole lot easier.. 

Steve Thomas

[normadel]

Like I said, zooming is done with/on the LENS, not on the camera.

Yes, you are overwhelmed. Your "gift" was a lot of camera, maybe way too much for you to be getting your feet wet with.  

Again, do you have a the BASIC USER GUIDE that would have come with the camera new, or is it used? It gets you started, then you grow from there.

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

You are a person coming from the iphone and P&S cameras which do have built in zoom capability despite the above post. DSLR and the new R series of interchangeable lens cameras don't have that and rely on you the photographer and/or the interchangeable lenses to zoom. You are not alone in this as I did DSLR 101 classes and lots of people new to DSLR thought the same thing.

The number one reason for going R series is that ability to change the lens to the lens most suitable to your job.

[AM2]

Thank you for explaining that, it's much appreciated. 

[ebiggs1]

"Your "gift" was a lot of camera, maybe way too much for you to be getting your feet wet with.

Absolutely not!

Again I must correct the R5 is not too much camera for you. You just need some positive information about how it works. Leave it up to Trevor to provide a You Tube link but this time, I suggest you make use of it.

[johnrmoyer · Accepted solution]

If you have a computer, I suggest that you download the Canon Digital Photo Professional program. Then, when you set your camera to save a raw file, you can crop to show only a small part of the image later. The EOS R5 has so many pixels, cropping will accomplish what digital zoom did. If you have a zoom lens, then as others have said, you can turn the ring on the lens to zoom in and out.

The EOS R5 camera has very good auto-focus. I suggest using either Tv or Av mode to start.

The manual for Digital Photo Professional is at: https://cam.start.canon/en/S002/manual/html/index.html

The manual for your camera is at: https://cam.start.canon/ky/C003/manual/html/index.html

I found the information at: https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm helpful.

Also, https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/eng has how-to information.

And, https://www.usa.canon.com/learning

Good luck and have fun