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Canon R5 Aperture Problems
The Canon EOS R5 is a camera that does a lot of things well.
It has a 45-megapixel sensor, captures full-res RAW images at up to 20fps, features an impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, and shoots 8K (4320p) video.
Despite its video capabilities, the EOS R5 is widely considered a stills-first camera. The advanced AF system and fast 12fps/20fps burst shooting modes mean it performs just as well in low light as it does during the day.
That said, the R5 can run into aperture-related issues from time to time, with either too much or too little light coming through the lens. Let’s look at some of the most common aperture problems R5 shooters have reported.
Aperture ‘L’ Error
By default, Canon assigns aperture control to the rear dial, while the main dial behind the shutter button handles shutter speed.
These controls can be reassigned, so there’s a chance you might see an ‘L’ message when adjusting settings.
We walk through leica m11 vs Canon EOS r5 step by step in a separate post.
If you see this message, check the ‘Quick Control Dial’ on the back of the camera. If it’s locked, slide it to unlock, and your aperture (along with other controls) should work normally again.
Not every locked dial is accidental, though. Sometimes you’ll want to lock it on purpose after dialing in the exact aperture for your shot so you don’t accidentally bump it mid-session.
The lock is actually pretty handy in situations where an unintended exposure change could ruin your shoot. So don’t hesitate to use it when it makes sense.
Bottom line: if your EOS R5 won’t let you change the aperture and shows an ‘L’ on the top screen, your camera isn’t broken. Just unlock the dial on the back.
Aperture Randomly Closing with Sigma Lenses
If you’re using Sigma lenses on your EOS R5 and the aperture randomly closes to a specific value on its own, the resulting images will obviously come out underexposed.
In most cases, firmware is the culprit. When Canon launched the EOS R, many users had to update their Sigma lens firmware using the USB dock adapter that Sigma sold alongside the firmware updates on their website.
You might also want to read our Canon r5 autofocus settings guide for the full picture.
Make sure your Sigma lenses are running the latest firmware if you’re pairing them with the R5. Plenty of people shoot with Sigma glass on the R5 and haven’t had any issues after applying the updates.
Large Apertures Have Whitish Photos
Wide-open apertures let in a lot of light. Sometimes your EOS R5 can’t drop the ISO low enough or push the shutter speed fast enough to compensate.
Try checking your settings or moving to a darker location to see if you can bring the ISO down. You can also stop down slightly to something like f/5.6 and see if that helps.
Overexposed Images
Overexposure can happen when the aperture fails to close down during exposure. This is usually caused by a broken spring, a faulty aperture ring, or sticky blades.
Sticky blades are common in older lenses that use oil on their blades. When the oil hardens over time, the blades won’t close quickly, or they won’t close at all.
A sticky aperture ring can also result from leaving your EOS R5 in high temperatures for too long, like inside a car on a hot day. Unfortunately, the only real fix for sticky blades is a trip to a service center since the lens needs to be taken apart.
Soft Images on Small Apertures
Whenever possible, try to avoid using very small apertures on the EOS R5. Why?
Small apertures cause an optical effect called diffraction, where the hard edges of the aperture opening bend the light entering the lens. This bending happens at every aperture setting, but it becomes much more noticeable at smaller apertures, making your images look soft or fuzzy.
To fix this, try opening up your aperture by half a stop or one full stop.
Final Thought
If you own or use a Canon EOS R5, you may run into aperture issues at some point. Don’t panic. Many of these problems can be fixed by adjusting your settings or updating your firmware. And if you can’t sort it out yourself, a service center can take care of the rest.
