What are the must-have accessories for a new Canon EOS R5?

Question

I finally pulled the trigger on the R5 after years of rocking my 5D Mark IV and honestly im kinda freaking out. I thought I knew what I was doing but this thing is a whole different beast and the more I read online the more I feel like I missed half the stuff I actually need to make it work right. I got a big wedding shoot coming up in Sedona next month so its gonna be hot and I am terrified of that overheating warning everyone keeps talking about or the battery just dying mid ceremony because the EVF eats power way faster than my old dslr.

The cost of these CFexpress Type B cards is absolutely insane like I spent so much on the body that now I'm looking at my bank account and wincing at the price of a single 512gb card but I guess I need it for the 8k or even just the high speed bursts? I've been using SD cards forever so this is a huge jump for me. I also noticed the LP-E6NH batteries are different from my old ones and people say the old ones dont even let you hit the full 20fps or whatever it is... so now I gotta replace my entire battery stash too?

Im looking to spend maybe another 800 bucks max before this trip to Arizona which is not a lot considering how pricey Canon glass and parts are. I already have the EF-RF adapter so that part is fine but im worried about the smaller things I might be forgetting thatll ruin my day in the desert. Do I need a screen protector or is the glass tough enough? Should I get a cage even if im not doing heavy video just for the mounting points or cooling? Its all just a lot more complicated than my old setup and I feel like a total amateur again even though I've been doing this for ten years.

What are the absolute must-have accessories for the R5 that I actually need for a professional shoot and what is just hype that I can skip for now?

CodeComet · Accepted Answer

I've been shooting with the R5 for years and the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Silver Series 512GB works well for weddings while staying cheap. Honestly, I'm really happy with my SmallRig Black Mamba Camera Cage for Canon EOS R5 too. It adds protection and helps keep it cool in the sun. No complaints at all with that setup for the price, definitely saves you some coin.

RiannSaf · Answer

Look, dont blow your whole budget on one card. Grab a ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B Gold 512GB since they are often way cheaper than the SanDisk ones but still super reliable for weddings. You definitely need at least two Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery packs tho because those old batteries really do limit your burst speed and die fast. Skip the cage, its just extra weight in the heat. TL;DR: Get one solid CFexpress card and two official NH batteries to keep the speed up.

EtherForge · Answer

jumping in here because im basically living this exact nightmare right now... been shooting professionally with my trusty 5D line for over a decade and this r5 jump has me questioning everything i know. i've been dealing with this same anxiety for about a month now trying to prep for a high-noon outdoor gig and it is just stressful.

the power management is a total mystery to me

those card prices are honestly heart-breaking

worrying about the heat stopping a shoot is a new level of stress it is just so frustrating because i want that reliability i had with my dslrs but i cant seem to find a straight answer anywhere. been lurking for weeks and still feel like im totally unprepared for the switch even though i know these cameras inside out on paper.