The Canon EOS R5 excels at aviation photography, as demonstrated at the JASDF Iruma Air Show 2024. Its 45-megapixel sensor provides immense cropping flexibility for distant aircraft, while the advanced vehicle tracking autofocus ensures sharp focus on fast-moving jets. For photographers, it delivers professional-grade performance and resolution in challenging, action environments.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here.
The chaos on the ground melted away the moment I pointed my lens to the sky. A giant Kawasaki C2 transport aircraft banked over Iruma Air Show 2024, its two jet engines let out a low roar, I put the R5 to the test. I’d set the autofocus to track vehicles, and it instantly snapped onto the cockpit, holding on with precision as I held down the shutter. A moment later, the sky screamed as a pair of Kawasaki T-4s tore past. Even though they were tiny dots in my 105mm lens, the focus box stayed glued to them.
The Canon R5’s 45 MP cropping power
My Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens was admittedly too short for high-flying aircraft. Usually, you’d want a 100-500mm for an air show, at least. However, the Canon R5’s 45-megapixel sensor saved the day.
Because the resolution is so high, I could crop in significantly while still maintaining sharp detail. Think of it as a “poor man’s zoom“. Even when I cropped heavily, I was still getting high-quality images that looked like they were shot on a much longer lens. It’s a lifesaver until I can add a dedicated telephoto lens to my kit.
Air Show 2024: Crowds & camera gear
When I arrived earlier that day, the excitement had me pumped. Everyone at the gate felt the same. You could see it. The kids (including the big ones) had massive smiles. It was our chance to see the aircraft of our dreams.
It was time to find the big toys when the gates opened! The mad dash was chaos with everyone sprinting to the planes to get photos before the main crowd caught up to us. It was a trial for older photographers like me. My knees aren’t what they once were.
The 2019 Iruma Air Show saw the Mitsubishi F-2 and F-15 Eagle draw the most attention. 2024 was the same. That’s no surprise. They are sexy aircraft. My only complaint was that they didn’t take to the sky.
Once the slower people arrived, it was game over. Cameras and smartphones were everywhere. It was a patience game waiting for a space to open. I squeezed my way through some places to get my photos. But in most cases, it was simply a case of waiting. That was the pattern for the rest of the day.
Switching from Fujifilm to Canon
My biggest challenge wasn’t just the crowd, but my own hands. After seven years with Fujifilm, my muscle memory was all wrong for the Canon R5. It’s a bigger, heavier camera driven by menus, not the dials I’m used to. Fumbling to find a setting while a perfect shot disappeared was frustrating, but I knew I’d get faster with practice. It would take time.
I skipped most of the hangar displays. Aircraft photos were my target. I didn’t want to line up with hundreds of people. Time was important. After all, the Air Show went from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Six hours was all the photographers had to work with!
Missing the Blue Impulse at Iruma
The Blue Impulse aerobatic team was the highlight of the day. It’s Japan’s version of America’s Blue Angels. They flew Kawasaki T-4s, a subsonic intermediate jet trainer. The pilots knew how to work a crowd. Everyone on the ground lapped it up.
Well, I imagine they did because I missed it completely! Around midday, I felt a fever coming on, so I beat a hasty retreat. This was a letdown, but I didn’t want to be sick on a crowded train. That was okay because I still took plenty of photos.
Is the Canon R5 built for air shows?
Using my new Canon EOS R5 at Iruma Air Show 2024 was like a dream. This camera is still an action photography king (even at time of publishing in 2026)! Others claim that title too. Maybe I should say it exceeded my expectations. It’ll be exciting to see how it performs in other situations. Well, I do need a little more time to get used to the ergonomics, but technically it’s amazing.
The Canon R5 proved to be a beast, but learning it in the chaos of an air show was a trial by fire. I was nervous spending so much money on it, but it was worth the investment. To see more of the venue, see the official Iruma Air Base website.
JASDF aircraft at Iruma Air Show 2024
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook
- British Aerospace 125
- F-15 Eagle
- Kawasaki C-1
- Kawasaki C-2
- Kawasaki T-4 jet trainer
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Mitsubishi F-2
- Mitsubishi H-60 maritime helicopter
- Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Photography gear for this photo shoot
- Camera Body: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
