Buzz
Basic Information about Canon EOS R5
While Canon EOS R, EOS Ra, and EOS RP are set to continue, the full-frame 45Mp Canon EOS R5 will be Canon's flagship mirrorless camera. It is designed to appeal to professional photographers and filmmakers and it surpasses the simultaneously announced Canon EOS R6 full-frame 20Mp.
Surprisingly, after complaints about Canon's habit of limiting 4K recording with some of its cameras (including EOS 5D Mark IV and EOS R), the Canon EOS R5 can record 8K footage onto its CFexpress card. Moreover, it can do so with real-time autofocus tracking. It's a commendable advancement.
Notable Features of Canon EOS R5
Inside the Canon EOS R5 lies a brand new full-frame sensor with 45 million effective pixels. Canon has introduced a new version of the Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor design, called Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, which helps provide some impressive autofocus functions in the EOS R5.
For instance: 100% of the vertical and horizontal sensor space is covered by the autofocus (AF) system and there are 5,940 selectable AF points. Additionally, detection and tracking are said to be improved with better eye detection performance and it has the ability to detect the heads and animals of humans including dogs, cats, and birds.
According to Canon, the EOS R5 can focus in 0.05 seconds, which is a new world record and in low light conditions down to -6EV. Another good news is that all autofocus functions are available in all video modes.
Interestingly, although the Canon R5 has lower resolution compared to the Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R 50.6Mp, the newly designed optical low-pass filter means Canon claims it can actually resolve more detail than these cameras.
Although the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II sensor design has pairs of optical diodes for phase detection, it also enables some interesting additional features. For example, with the EOS 5D Mark IV, Canon introduced Dual Pixel Raw, allowing three types of adjustments after shooting for images using Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software.
Image Microadjustment allows you to slightly change the focal length, Bokeh Shift allows highlights outside the focal length to be moved along the horizontal plane, and Diffraction Correction can help reduce the impact of objects such as flames.
Now Canon R5 introduces Dual Pixel Raw – Portrait Relighting. This allows you to select the area of interest in a portrait photo and adjust the subject's exposure without affecting the background.
Internal Body Stabilization
In-body image stabilization (IBIS) is now a highly anticipated feature and although Canon previously relied on lens-based stabilization, the EOS R5 features 5-axis IBIS. It also steals the IS crown with a claimed shutter speed compensation of 8Ev. That's the difference between 1/500 second and 1.3 seconds!
IBIS works in parallel with any lens stabilization to deliver the best possible results. This is supported by improved communication between the lens and the body made possible by the 12-pin connection of the RF mount.
Video
Unusually for Canon, there's a drip-feed of technical specifications about the EOS R5, particularly details about the video system. The headline is that the Canon R5 can shoot 8K 12-bit raw video at up to 29.97fps. You can also record in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 HDR PQ 10-bit (H.265).
In simple terms, shooting 8K video is equivalent to capturing 35Mp images and recording in 4:2:2 10-bit with Canon Log means there's plenty of latitude for post-production adjustments/classifications. It also means the EOS R5 can be used alongside other cameras, including Canon's cine range, and footage can be matched.
Additionally, 4K video can be recorded at speeds up to 119.88fps in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 HDR PQ 10-bit (H.265) 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log or PQ HDR 10:4:2:2. That's fantastic news for slow-motion video enthusiasts!
If you want to record 4K video to external storage devices, there's an HDMI connection capable of coping with recording at speeds up to 59.94fps.
Heat management is often a concern when shooting high-resolution video but Canon has used materials with excellent heat dissipation capabilities and Canon's engineers have worked to separate heat-generating components. Furthermore, advancements in technology mean the R5 is much more energy-efficient than previous cameras and generates much less heat.
Therefore, the Canon R5 can shoot 8K video for up to 20 minutes before shutting off to protect it from heat damage. Switch to 4K recording and Canon claims heat won't limit recording time.
Memory Cards and Batteries
While it's fantastic that the Canon EOS R5 features dual memory card slots, some photographers may be disappointed to discover that one is for CFexpress while the other is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II media.
CFexpress cards are still not widely available and are expensive. However, this type of card is required to facilitate 8K recording.
Although Canon has introduced the new LP-E6NH battery (7.2V 2130mAh 16Wh) for the EOS R5, it has a similar form factor to the LP-6N (7.4V 1865mAh 14Wh) used in Canon's recent enthusiast-level DSLRs and the EOS R. This means older battery types can be used in the R5.
Connectivity
As expected, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity are integrated with the Canon EOS R5 (5Ghz) and it can connect to a smartphone or Wi-Fi network to share files. Additionally, there's FTP/FTPS transfer.
The Canon R5 can also be remotely controlled via the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps or can connect to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or high-speed USB 3.1 Gen 2 connection.
Images can also be automatically transferred to the image.canon cloud platform for sharing and printing or integrated with the workflows of Google Photos or Adobe Creative Cloud.
Design
The Canon EOS R5 is crafted to the same standards as the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and features a magnesium alloy construction along with weather sealing. Its handling is also similar, but the control layout has been altered to accommodate the vari-angle display.
As a result, the rear of the Canon R5 looks like a blend of the EOS R and 5D Mark IV. Fortunately, the touch bar (also known as the M-Fn bar) adorned on the top rear of the EOS R has disappeared and in its place is a mini control dial. I tried to like the M-Fn bar on the EOS R but found it disappointing, and I'm much happier with the physical control dial.
Below, the EOS R5 has a large jog wheel with a center Set button, reminiscent of the Canon EOS 5D IV.
There's also a collection of buttons for accessing/activating key features. It's great to see a dedicated AF-on button. I'm also a fan of the rating button that makes reviewing images (hint hint) a worthwhile exercise.
Heading to the top of the camera, I was slightly disappointed to see the mode dial with numbers around it as on the EOS R. I wish there was a mode dial like on the 5D line and other DSLRs like this that allows you to view and set exposure modes without having to power on the camera.
It's great to see a monochrome LCD screen on top of the R5, just to the right of the viewfinder. It's very convenient for checking exposure modes and setting buttons if the vari-angle screen isn't flipped out.
When the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV came out, I wondered why a camera with such good video information had a fixed screen, and I was told it was for durability. There was also an argument that truly professional filmmakers would invest in an external monitor.
However, Canon seems to have reconsidered its position. It's fantastic to see the vari-angle screen on the EOS R5. It makes shooting video from above or below head height much easier while still keeping the size and weight of the kit. Plus, because the screen is so responsive, you can control the camera with just a few taps.
Canon quickly realized the benefits of touchscreen controls and it's implemented well in its cameras without causing any inconvenience to physical controls.
And don't forget that the Canon R5 is a mirrorless camera, which means its viewfinder is electronic so it can also be used when you're shooting video.
Like the EOS R, the EOS R5 features a 0.5-inch OLED viewfinder. However, Canon has upgraded the resolution from 3.69 million dots to 5.76 million dots in the R5. That's a resolution similar to the viewfinders in the Panasonic Lumix S1R and S1, which is fantastic. Additionally, the refresh rate has increased from 60fps in the EOS R to 120fps in the R5. That means there's more detail visible and motion looks more natural.
Conclusion
There seems to be little doubt that the Canon EOS R5 is the most exciting camera announcement of 2020 so far. It's fantastic to see Canon shake up what's happening in the photography industry and produce a camera with an intriguing set of specifications.
In recent years, we've become accustomed to inserting the word 'but' into any discussion around the video capabilities of Canon EOS cameras, 'it shoots 4K but with an added crop factor,' 'the video quality is great but the screen has been fixed,' etc... With the EOS R5, it seems Canon has delivered what people want and then some.
The capability of 8K video might seem excessive to some and it certainly will fill up storage drives very quickly, but it opens up some exciting possibilities, especially for anyone working solo. Instead of having to set up two or three cameras to capture different details, with careful framing and lighting, you can get what you need in one shot with one camera.
Canon's advancements in subject detection and eye AF are also very exciting. It's great to see it working with animals (including birds) and in both stills and video modes.
