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

[AM2]

Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate this information. 

[Stephen]

While this series is a little older, the information is still very relevant: Canon.us/EOS-101

And while this video series specifically talks about our EF lenses, the theories still apply for RF lenses: canon.us/EF-101