The Canon EOS R5 Has Arrived. Here's What You Need to Know

Sensor

Starting with the sensor, the EOS R5 has a brand a new single plate 45 megapixel CMOS sensor that combines a cutting-edge DIGIC X image processor. The sensor touts a traditional full-frame size of 36 x 24mm and a 3:2 aspect ratio that packs in approximately 47.1 total pixels. The size of the pixels are 4.4 µ (microns). The sensor has a non-detachable low pass filter to suppress moiré and color distortion, and like other Canon sensors, it's self cleaning upon shutdown. 

The camera's ISO ranges from 100–51200 in 1/3- or 1-stop increments, and can be expanded from 50-102400. However, when shooting HDR (HDR PQ) the ISO is not expandable. 

Video Capture 

The headline leading up to the EOS R5 announcement was that the camera would record an uncropped 8K RAW image. It can. But it does a lot more. What Canon managed to do is develop a CMOS sensor that oversamples 8.2K to produce 8K or high-quality 4K images. Or what Canon is calling a 4K High Quality Mode (more on that later).

Now, don't get confused. The camera doesn't produce a final 8.2K image file. It oversamples the image, similar to the Sony FX9. Generally, oversampling produces better quality images because it starts with more data than standard resolutions.  

The EOS R5 has video recording formats and frame rates for 8K DCI, 8K UHD, 4K DCI, 4K UHD, and full-HD. Compression is either RAW, ALL-I, or IPB in either 8/10-bit 4:2:0/4:2:2 H.265/HEVC or H.264 AVC.

Canon Log is available as well as the HDR shooting mode HDR PQ, which is 10-bit 4:2:2 with a Rec.2020 color gamut. Both Canon Log and HDR PQ can be turned on or off in different shooting modes. 

8K Shooting Modes

The 8K video formats are fairly straight-forward. There are user-selectable options for DCI or UHD at RAW, ALL-I, or IPB  – all to a MP4 container. The RAW format is not the same as Canon's Cinema RAW Light found in its cine cameras as hoped, but rather it's own exclusive RAW format very similar, if not the same as the EOS-1D X Mark III. RAW is recorded at 12-bit. 

RAW video on the EOS R5 is a big deal. Many Canon cameras can shoot Canon Log, which the EOS R5 can do as well, but to have the option to retain all the sensor information of the image is great. RAW footage is captured internally by the CFexpress card slot, and it's also important to note that the autofocus and focus guide system will work at all frame rates and resolutions shooting RAW. 

8K Recording Formats:

• 8K DCI: 23.98, 24, 29.97fps RAW, ALL-I, IPB
• 8K UHD: 23.98, 29.97fps ALL-I, IPB

Depending if HDR PQ or Canon Log is enabled, 8K is recorded as follows:

• 8K HDR PQ Off, Canon Log Off: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.265/HEVC (Rec.709, 0-255)
• 8K HDR PQ On, Canon Log Off: 10-bit 4:2:2 H.265/HEVC (Rec.2020, 0-1023)
• 8K HDR PQ Off, Canon Log On: 10-bit 4:2:2 H.265/HEVC (Rec.709/2020, 128-1016)

The EOS R5 can also simultaneously shoot a 4K MP4 file while shooting 8K RAW. The 8K RAW signal would go to the CFexpress card, the 4K DCI would record to the SD card. 

8K bit rates will vary depending on the recording size and frame rate. They range from 2600Mbps on the high end to 1300Mbps on the low end. For perspective, shooting 8K RAW at 29.97fps is going to give you 3 minutes of footage on a 64GB CFexpress card and 51 minutes on a 1TB card when Log and HDR PQ is turned off. 

4K / Full-HD Shooting Modes

Internal 4K shooting gets a little more complicated in terms of how the sensor performs. In 4K, there is an option to enable or disable a crop mode. Disabled, you can record using the full width of the sensor. When enabled, it crops to APS-C which can be handy for those using APS-C sized lenses. To be clear, it's an option to crop the sensor – not mandatory. 

4K/HD Recording Formats: 

• 4K DCI: 23.98, 24, 29.97, 59.94fps, ALL-I, IPB
• 4K DCI: 119.88fps ALL-I
• 4K UHD: 23.98, 24, 29.97, 59.94fps, ALL-I, IPB
• 4K UHD: 119.88fps ALL-I
• Full-HD: 23.98, 24, 59.94fps, ALL-I, IPB
• Full-HD: 29.97, IPD Light

Canon also added a 4K High Quality mode. What this does is oversample the sensor to create the 4K images. The caveat is that High Quality Mode is only available at certain frame rates when shooting the full-width of the sensor. Here's how it works: 

Oversampling: Full-Frame Sensor and High Quality Turned On:

• 4K DCI 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97fps oversamples at 8.2K
• 4K UHD 23.97, 25, 29.97fps oversamples at 7.7K

So when shooting 4K DCI or UHD using the full width of the sensor, the sensor will oversample the image at certain frame rates. When in crop mode it's easier. There is no need to turn on High Quality mode as the sensor automatically oversamples by default. 

Oversampling: Crop Mode:

• 4K DCI: 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59,94fps oversamples 4.8K
• 4K UHD: 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59,94fps oversamples 5.1K

It's may be a little confusing, but once the camera in hand it will be simple. 4K has a High Quality mode, that when enabled, oversamples the image. For the remaining frame rates, the sensor does not oversample. 

4K Frame Rates with No Oversampling:

• 4K DCI: 50, 59.94, 100, 119.88fps no oversampling 
• 4K UHD: 50, 59.94, 100, 119.88fps no oversampling 

Depending if HDR PQ or Canon Log is enabled, 4K is recorded as follows: 

• 4K HDR PQ Off, Canon Log Off: 8-bit 4:2:0 H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC (Rec.709, 0-255)
• 4K HDR PQ On, Canon Log Off: 10-bit 4:2:2 H.265/HEVC (Rec.2020, 0-1023)
• 4K HDR PQ Off, Canon Log On: 10-bit 4:2:2 H.265/HEVC (Rec.709/2020, 128-1016)

4K bit rates vary as well, ranging from 120Mbps to 1800Mbps. Shooting times have a broad range. 4K DCI at 59.94fps provides 9 minutes of footage with a 64GB card and 36 minutes on a 256GB card when Log and HDR PQ is turned off. External recording in 4K is also available up to 59.94fps. 

Movie recording times is maxed at 29 minutes 59 seconds, and is different for higher frame rates. 4K 60p no crop recordings max out at 25 minutes due to an increase in temperature.  

Dual Pixel Autofocus AF II

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is one of the best sports photographer's cameras available. The EOS R5 takes notes and expands upon on it with Canon's latest Dual Pixel AF II which uses approximately 100% of the autofocus area. That's 100% vertical and 100% horizontal. For reference, the EOS-1D X Mark III is 90% of the width and 100% of the height. 

When shooting stills in live view mode, the camera will automatically select 1,053 zones across the screen, while you can manually select 5,940 points which covers 90% width and 100% of the height – similar to the 1D X Mark III. For movies, 819 zones are automatically selected. Autofocus using the center point is rated down to EV -6 with an F1.2 lens, except for lenses with a Defocus Smooth (DS) coating. You can expect the Dual Pixel AF to fare well in low light. 

The Canon EOS R wasn't the best when it came to subject tracking, but the EOS R5 looks to catch up with competition with tracking algorithms that use deep learning technology to track subjects around the frame. The camera doesn't learn on its own, but the EOS iTR AF X tracking identifies subjects, detects the human eye, face, or head as well as the eyes, face, or body of animals including cats, dogs, and birds. 

Dual Card Slots

The EOS R5 has dual card slots that includes one CFexpress and one UHS-II SD card slot. Shooting stills with the mechanical shutter provides continuous shooting of 12fps and 20fps with the electronic shutter. Depending on the selected image format and media format, there's a maximum burst of 260 shooting C-RAW with the mechanical shutter using a CFexpress card, and a 130 max burst with the electronic shutter. Again, the CFexpress card slot records the RAW movie format. 

In-Body Image Stabilization 

Viewfinder / Touchscreen

The viewfinder sees an upgrade from the EOS R. A OLED color electronic viewfinder touts approximately 5.76 million dots covering 100% of the relative shooting area. All the common Canon settings are visible in the viewfinder. 

Body

The EOS R5 body has a different footprint than the EOS R, as well as the new EOS R6. Most of the customizable functionality found on the original EOS R has carried over to the new body with a few new additions. One thing that has been changed is that the joystick has replaced the multi-function bar on the back of the camera. 

The left side of the EOS R5 sees changes as well. Canon flip-flopped the flash sync with the microphone and headphone jack and raised the position of the USB and HMDI port. This is a good move, especially when it comes to the microphone input. One of the downfalls of the EOS R when using an external cold shoe mic was that the chord would block the LCD screen when it was flipped towards the front. It's an issue all cameras face with similar setups. While placing the input higher won't fully fix the problem, it could clear up some of the clutter.

As for the top and right side of the camera is virtually unchanged with the exception of a larger memory card door to compensate for two cards. The front of the camera gets a few new additions too including a self-timer lamp.

Battery

The EOS R5 uses a new rechargeable LP-E6NH battery. With that, the camera also has two new optional battery grip accessories. The BG-R10 ($349) which accommodates up to two batteries, and the WFT-R10A ($999) which includes wireless file transfers and a Ethernet port. 

Pricing & Availability 

The EOS R5 body will retail for $3,899 and will be available at the end of July. The EOS R5 and RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens kit will cost $4,999.