So, I've been doing some digging into how these flagship releases usually play out, and honestly, the outlook for refurbs on the Canon EOS R1 is pretty slim for the near future. If you look at the competition, like the Nikon Z9 or even the Sony Alpha 1, those took like... almost a year to start appearing in manufacturer refurb programs. Here’s what I’ve gathered from a market perspective:
- Supply vs. Demand: Because the R1 is a specialized tool, the "buyer’s remorse" return rate is super low compared to something like a Canon EOS R5. There just aren't many units flowing back to Canon yet.
- Tiered Pricing: Usually, Canon prioritizes their CPS members for any "like-new" or demo units before they ever hit the public refurbished store.
- Grey Market Risks: Be reallyyy careful with third-party sellers offering "new-in-box" for cheap. A lot of times those are international models, and you’ll have zero warranty support, which is scary for a camera this expensive. I mean, it’s definitely the smart move to save some cash, but basically, we’re probably looking at a 6-12 month wait before the first real batch of official refurbs drops. Just my two cents!

Building on the earlier suggestion about being patient, I'm actually gonna go against the grain and say skip the R1 wait entirely. I've been using the Canon EOS R3 and I'm honestly so satisfied with it for wildlife... the stacked sensor and eye-control AF are incredible. You can actually find R3 refurbs on the Canon site right now, so you don't have to play the waiting game for a year or more. Quick tip for a DIY speed boost: if you stick with your R5, try using ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B Cobalt cards. A lot of times that perceived AF lag is just the buffer bottlenecking on slower media. Also, tossing on a Canon BG-R10 Battery Grip gives you that pro vertical handling for way less cash... works well for me anyway and keeps the balance right with big lenses.

Saw this thread earlier today and wanted to chime in. Tbh, I'm always a bit paranoid about buying high-end gear from anywhere but the manufacturer, especially flagships. I think I heard somewhere that Nikon tends to be a bit more aggressive with their refurb cycles compared to Canon, but I'm not 100% sure on that. One resource you might want to try is Canon Price Watch. Someone told me they have a specific tracker for the refurbished store that can send alerts when new stock drops. IIRC, it can be way faster than just checking the site manually. Also, maybe look at B&H Photos used section? They have a pretty solid reputation for being conservative with their condition ratings, which might give you some peace of mind. Not sure if an R1 will show up there anytime soon though... those flagship bodies usually stay in the hands of pros for a long time before they hit the used market.

Yep, this is the way

Hey! I totally get wanting to save on the R1. It's a beast of a camera! Honestly, I'd be patient about refurbs. Flagship models take time to hit the secondary market. In my experience, KEH and MPB are pretty reliable. I've bought from them before and their warranties are decent. Just check the fine print carefully! I'd also keep an eye on lensrentals.com; they sometimes sell off their used gear. Good luck scoring that R1!

Hey there!

I totally get the R1 lust! That autofocus is legendary, I've seen what it can do. I was in a similar boat a while back, wanting to upgrade for wildlife. Instead of waiting (possibly forever!) for a refurb R1, have you considered other options to boost your R5's performance in the meantime? I know it's not *exactly* what you asked, but hear me out...

Specifically, look at lenses first. The lens is often more critical than the camera body, especially for autofocus speed and low-light. A faster aperture lens (f/2.8 or even better, f/1.8 or f/1.4 if you can swing it) will suck in WAY more light than, say, an f/4 zoom. This will help your R5's autofocus lock on quicker in dim conditions. Plus, a better lens will be sharper, which can sometimes give the *impression* of better autofocus even if the system itself hasn't changed.

Also, you can seriously optimize your R5's autofocus settings! Are you using back-button focus? It's a game-changer. Mess around with the different AF case settings, too. Canon has a whole guide dedicated to these, and one of them is usually much better suited to your specific wildlife subject (birds in flight, larger animals moving predictably, etc.).

Finally, have you thought about renting the R1 for a weekend? Sites like Lensrentals.com let you test drive gear before dropping serious cash. That way, you can confirm if the R1 *really* gives you that much of an edge over your optimized R5 + better lens setup. You might be surprised!

Just some food for thought! Waiting for refurbs can be a long game, and these options might scratch that itch in the meantime. Good luck!

Hey! I hear you on the R1! Amazing camera, but pricey, even used. Honestly, since you're already rocking the R5, have you considered just investing in REALLY good glass? Seriously, top-tier lenses can make a HUGE difference, and might scratch that itch without the massive R1 cost. Plus, you can always transfer them if you *do* get an R1 later! Just a thought... might be a more cost-effective upgrade path!