R5 or R6M2? I'm trying to gather advice from experienced photographers to make choice without regret

[wdg0131]

Hello!

I know this topic is quite boring and already has been discussed a lot. I also researched all the videos about those two cameras and various forum posts. Let me introduce myself to give you guys my background. I'm an absolute hobbyist photographer. My current set-up is EOS 80D with ef-s 18-135, Sigma 35mm 1.4, and EF 50mm 1.4. I'm also planning to get EF 24-70 F2.8ii once I get FF mirrorless camera. I like to take a photo of things around me such as people who are close to me, pets, stray animals, and general aviation airports (love sunsets with airplanes, and I also love to take photos of my instructor colleagues, and students). I'm sure I'm not into Wildlife photography(Very cool, but I don't think I can spend a whole day under severe weather conditions to take a beautiful photo). I like to do street and landscape photography but not as frequently as first reasons. I'm sure the things I mentioned later are not the priority purposes. 

1st discussion I got here is: Since R5M2 came out, R5 price has dropped a lot. If you have enough budget to buy a new R6M2, there's a chance to get a used R5 with the same budget.

2nd discussion: I'm trying to get a body that can last a long time. There are a few things that make me think. R5: Way more MP(Lack of low light performance due to smaller pixels), Lower AF performance(people say it's still very good, but R6M2 has definitely better AF performance), Lower ISO performance(But IQ is noticeably better even with noise), 30mins Recording limit and possibly overheat(I don't do videography so those limitations are not a deal breaker to me), 8k and 4k 120fps capability(but R6M2 has better 4k60 IQ, also not a big deal since videography isn't my main goal, but if I happen to take a video, it'll be 4k 60fps most of the time), 12fps mechanical shutter and 20fps electronic shutter(R6m2 can shoot 40fps electronically, I assume 20fps is fast enough but I know faster is better), CFE B type capability(R6m2 only has 2 SD slots, I thought having CFE was way better than two SDs since CFE has way faster read and write speed. I was surprised that many people don't like CFE because of the higher cost. No experience with CFE but even though you have to pay more, aren't 5 times faster cards tempting?)

I understand that R6M2 is half generation-advanced body than R5. Except for MP, almost all essential features are better. However, Do you think the better features make the camera last longer over higher pixels? Don't forget if R6M2 were way cheaper like in the past, I wouldn't hesitate. I'm overthinking because the price gap between the two is very close nowadays.

I'm open to all advice and opinions! 

P.S. I edit photos on Lightroom Classic 99% of time.

[wdg0131]

Thank you for your answer! 

I'm pretty sure 24MP should be more than enough for my needs. My concern was other camera brands like Sony started releasing high MP bodies and I feel like this is just beginning. Technology improvements are very fast these days and I thought what if 24MP becomes obsolete within a few years? It might not be only camera technology. I can see a lot of people started getting 2k or 4k monitors instead of FHD and we'll meet the day 2k monitor becomes standard. Do you think 0.5 Gen better technology will last longer than 20MP higher body? 

[stevet1]

wdg0131,

My father taught me a long time ago, that some people spend their entire lives waiting to be happy. "If such and such thing happens, then I'll be happy."

And then, at the end of their life, they look back and ask, why was I never happy?"

And the answer is, that they spent their life waiting.

The only thing that is constant in life is change. There will always be something that is newer and better and faster that comes along. That's the nature of life.

Five years from now, are you going to look back on your life with regret for the five years you could have been taking pictures and all of the missed opportunities, or are you going to be glad that you held out for that "perfect" camera, knowing that there is no such thing.

There is an old slogan that says, "Do not let the perfect become the enemy of the good."

Steve Thomas

[ctitanic]

Keep in mind that if you buy the R5 you need to budget buying the CFexpress card which is not cheap. If money is not an issue buying the R5 would be the way to go. But if that's an issue, then the R6 Mark I or the R6 Mark II will satisfy you. If you heavily crop your pictures, the R5 will be good,  I shoot with an R6 and the amount of MP have not being in issue. The number of MP is not in any way an indication of the quality of the camera. You have Canon flagship cameras with less MP than the R5, to give you an example.

Right now, after the release of the R5 Mark II you can find good prices in the used market (MPB or KEH). Another point to consider. Why to buy new if you can get better price buying like new in these pages.