Canon EOS R5 Field Test: Aviation Photography at JASDF Iruma Air Base 2024

JASDF F-15J Eagle fighter jet with "FIGHTING DRAGON" fuel tank art on a tarmac.
Mitsubishi F-15J Kai.

The chaos on the ground melted away the moment I pointed my lens to the sky. As a Chinook helicopter made an impossibly tight turn above Iruma Air Base, its twin rotors beating a deep wub-wub-wub, 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 terrifying 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. My old camera would have struggled, but this beast delivered.

A Japanese Kawasaki C-1 military transport jet flies in a clear blue sky, as seen from below.
Kawasaki C-2 flies high above the crowd.

The power of 45 megapixels: Cropping the Canon R5

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, if not more. However, the Canon R5’s 45-megapixel sensor saved the day.

A Japanese military CH-47J Chinook helicopter in camouflage, parked on the Iruma airfield tarmac.
Kawasaki CH-47 helicopter.

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.

The Japanese Blue Impulse aerobatic team's T-4 jets lined up on the Iruma airfield tarmac.
Blue Impulse on the ground.

Navigating Iruma Air Base Open Day: 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.

A Japanese C-130H Hercules military transport plane on display for a crowd at Iruma Air Base Open Day 2024.
A military stalwart, the C-130 Hercules.

When the gates opened, it was time to find the big toys! The mad dash to get photos before the main crowd arrived is a trial for older photographers like me. My knees aren’t what they once were.

In 2019, the Mitsubishi F-2 and F-15 Eagle drew 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.

A crowd views a Japanese U-4 military transport jet on display at an airshow.

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 in 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.

A low-angle, head-on view of a gray Japanese Kawasaki C-2 military transport aircraft.
Kawasaki C-2s are big.

Switching from Fujifilm to Canon: A trial by fire

That was the pattern for the rest of the day. 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 know I’ll get faster with practice. It takes time.

A Japanese Kawasaki OH-1 attack helicopter in camouflage, parked on an airfield tarmac.
Kawasaki OH-1 on the tarmac.

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!

A Japanese U-4 military transport jet parked on an airfield tarmac with a guard standing watch.

Photographing the Blue Impulse: A miss 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.

A Japanese Kawasaki C-1 military transport jet in camouflage flies in a clear blue sky.
Kawasaki C-1.

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 many photos.

A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-60K helicopter sits on an airfield tarmac.
JMSDF Mitsubishi H-60 navy helicopter.
A Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 fighter jet in blue camouflage, parked on an airfield tarmac.
Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero multi-role fighter.
Close-up of the nose of a camouflaged Japanese Kawasaki C-1 transport plane with a 70th-anniversary sticker.
Kawasaki C-1 transport aircraft.
A Japanese Fuji T-3 trainer aircraft in red and white, parked on an airfield tarmac.
Fuji T-3 trainer aircraft.
A crowd of people on an airfield tarmac viewing a Japanese Kawasaki C-2 military transport aircraft.
A Japanese Kawasaki T-4 trainer jet, number 771, parked on an airfield tarmac.
Kawasaki T-4 jet trainer aircraft.

Final Verdict: Is the Canon R5 the ultimate air show camera?

Using my new Canon EOS R5 at the Iruma Air Base Air Show was like a dream. This camera might be the king of action photography! 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.

A close-up of the nose of a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force T-400 trainer jet on a tarmac.

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.

JASDF aircraft at Iruma Air Base

  • Boeing CH-47 Chinook
  • British Aerospace 125
  • F-15J Kai
  • 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

Photo gear for the air show

Camera Body: Canon EOS R5

Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

Picture of Rohan Gillett
Rohan Gillett

Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5. The project will take more than one lifetime to complete.

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