> CFexpress Type B cards and my head is spinning at the prices... do I really need them for high speed bursts or is a fast SD enough? Congrats on the upgrade! I made the same jump from the 5D IV and honestly, I am so satisfied with the R5. For the cards, dont panic too much. You really only need the CFexpress if youre doing crazy 8K video or massive 20fps bursts for long stretches. For a wedding, I have been very happy using a SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB CFexpress Type B in the main slot and a Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB SDXC UHS-II as my backup. It works well and I havent hit a buffer limit yet during ceremonies. Regarding the power, yeah, the R5 loves to eat batteries. Instead of dropping $80 each on the Canon ones, I tried the SmallRig LP-E6NH Camera Battery 2-Pack and they have been great so far. They even have a built-in USB-C port for charging which is a lifesaver when youre traveling or in a car. No complaints at all with the performance compared to the originals. You should definitely have enough in that 800 buck budget to get a couple cards and a few extra batteries with plenty left over for a nice strap. Its a big change from the DSLR world but you are gonna love the autofocus... it basically feels like cheating haha. Let me know if you need more help picking out specific brands or if you have questions about the adapter!

Quick tip from someone who learned the hard way. I once tried skipping the expensive cards and my R5 locked up during a processional... totally terrifying.

• Make sure to get a ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B Gold 128GB or youll hit that buffer wall fast.
• I would suggest only using the Canon LP-E6NH Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery because older models actually limit your max frame rate.

Actually, before you drop the cash, are you planning to shoot 4K HQ or just standard 4K? That makes a massive difference for your storage needs. Montana is gorgeous but if youre out in the heat or cold all day, the R5 gets thirsty for power fast. I had a shoot last month where I tried some cheaper cards and the anxiety of seeing that busy light blink while the couple was kissing... ngl, never again. I am much more satisfied sticking to stuff with high sustained write speeds for the peace of mind. I have been using a specific setup that works well without any complaints. Here is what I would grab to stay safe with that 800 bucks:

• Delkin Devices 150GB BLACK CFexpress Type B because they have a killer replacement warranty and are tough as nails.
• SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC for your second slot. Always write to both cards for a wedding, seriously.
• Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery because the R5 really does need the extra juice to keep the high speed drive modes active. I also carry an Anker 737 Power Bank in my bag to top off the camera via USB-C during the reception dinner. It is a lifesaver when you cant get to a wall outlet... definitely helps with the battery anxiety.

Been thinking about your card situation. Honestly? You are gonna love the R5! I have been using mine since it launched and the data throughput is just incredible. I remember this one shoot in the mountains. I was pinning the shutter for some action. My old cards just couldnt keep up. I literally watched the busy light blink for forever while the perfect shot disappeared... it was so frustrating! For that Montana wedding, just go with Wise for your storage. They make amazing cards that handle the heat way better than the budget stuff you find online. And for power? Seriously, just get any official Canon batteries. I have tried some off-brand stuff and the camera actually throttled my burst speed which is a total nightmare. The peace of mind you get with the genuine ones is worth every penny when you are in the middle of nowhere.

Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.

@Reply #4 - good point! Honestly, in my experience, if you're shooting a big event like a Montana wedding, you don't want to overthink the card situation. Just go with SanDisk for your CFexpress. I've tried many brands over the years and they're consistently the most reliable when the camera starts getting warm. You'll definitely want that speed for the high-res files. As for the power situation... just stick with the official Canon batteries. Ngl, I've tried the cheaper alternatives and they always seem to throttle the performance or die way faster than the originals. It's just not worth the stress when you're on a pro job. Just buy a couple more genuine batteries and you won't have to worry about your frame rate dropping in the middle of the action.

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