First “Hollywood" Test of the Canon R5 in 8K RAW

Can you spot the difference in resolution? 

The Canon EOS R5 will be rolling out this week, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a production model of the camera to test. I teamed up with cinematographer Lukas Colombo of Moai Films in a production sponsored by Kondor Blue to put the highly-anticipated camera to the test in a real-world cinematic shoot. 

Designed to show how the camera performs from production through post-production and across a variety of different settings, two completely different production styles were chosen for the test. The first, a tripod-mounted, feature film style, with a re-creation of the most iconic courtroom scene from the classic film A Few Good Men originally starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. The second, a fast-paced, hand-held style production mirroring that of a leading hospital-drama television series.

These scenes are the first real world “Hollywood” test this camera has undergone where a full production cast and crew comes together to professionally light and stage a narrative scene, and the results are impressive. Both scenes were filmed on the EOS R5 internally at 8K RAW as well as 4K All-I. Can you spot the differences between the two formats? 

Colombo adapted the R5 native RF lens mount to a PL mount to accommodate the MasterBuilt Soft Flare Lens Series created by his friend and highly respected Hollywood camera operator, Tim Arasheben, who also joined the set. "These lenses are magnificent and the perfect balance between that coveted vintage look and high-quality optics,” said Colombo.  MasterBuilt is quickly gaining notoriety all across Hollywood with elite cinematographers in film and tv using their impressive series of lenses.

The camera rig featured supporting gear and premium camera accessories by sponsor, Kondor Blue, a US-based company with a mission to design high-quality production accessories with the filmmaker in mind. Kondor Blue provided a prototype cage for the Canon R5 and a myriad of shoulder rig accessories such as magic arms, v-mount plates, and hand grips. 

Get an early look at the test and the comparison in the first of a series of videos that are live on YouTube.  Throughout the next week leading up to the release of the camera, we'll share two additional 8K scenes filmed with Colombo with a full BTS episode documenting the entire process, looking at the on set tools used, the production process, and of-course, an in-depth analysis of the new camera.

What do you think of the footage? Tell us know in the comments below.      

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Your Comment

14 Comments

lovely ad.

July 27, 2020 at 11:54AM

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Paolo Mugnaini
Director/DP/Editor
535

Right? I like Blue Condor stuff...but Canon is blurring the lines between ads and facts during this whole overheating disaster which is kind of a shame. It’s just hard for them to say “we released it exactly when it was ready and the best we could do for our customers.” Mainly because that isn’t true. However, I will say their recent C series cameras are monsters though for docs and reality!! Credit where credit is due! They must have felt some major pressure from the finance guys to get a box with 8K on the side of it out into the world. We are talking about it after all. Maybe just not the way they would want us to. Oh well. Every camera company has had their snafus. This is a big one but we already have 12k to pick apart!

July 27, 2020 at 6:15PM

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Adam Reed
DP/Director...in that order.
81

I’m surprised people r hating on the r5 as much as they r. Firstly the tiltA back fan will solve the 8k problem. Secondly. U can record as much 4K 23.98 as u want. Overall performance / weather sealing. It’s a great compromise. Those who need 8k and slomo will be fine to use the tilta fan. Those who want it as a bcam to the c series doco and interview setups can shoot all day in 4K full frame. It’s first and foremost an insane stills camera that is weather sealed. I think the fan addon is the perfect balance for the few times we need 8k which isn’t a lot.

July 27, 2020 at 10:17PM

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Do you even know if the Tilta fan significantly cools the camera?

August 13, 2020 at 6:35PM

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Brian
Senior Producer / Graphic Design Artist
339

hello

July 28, 2020 at 2:43AM

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Phú Thọ 365
Phú Thọ 365 | Thông tin sản phẩm & dịch vụ tại Phú Thọ
300

My understanding is the 8k raw was just the shakey hospital scene. I thought the other scene looked good but with that 10 bit colour look. I was very interested in the raw but I couldn't tell too much from that shakey scene (it did look good). I must say now that the raw from the S1H is working and the A7s iii with 16 bit raw out is coming (both without recording limits) the Canon is probably not what I'm looking for.

July 28, 2020 at 4:37AM, Edited July 28, 4:38AM

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Stu Mannion
writer/dir/dp
952

looks like a b movie

July 28, 2020 at 4:42AM

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hello

July 28, 2020 at 9:03AM

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Phú Thọ 365
Phú Thọ 365 | Thông tin sản phẩm & dịch vụ tại Phú Thọ
300

This video doesn’t demonstrate much except for one thing and that’s that the guys who shot this video shot a good looking video with nice glass and knew how to light it well. My hat is off to them for a good job but you probably could have gotten most new cameras to look very very close. I mean don’t get me wrong the footage looks great but the BMC 6k could have probably done the same for half the price.

July 28, 2020 at 5:52PM

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disagree, footage looks ok - not a good promo for the camera.

July 30, 2020 at 11:32PM, Edited July 30, 11:47PM

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I agree. I thought the video Shane Hurlbut did with the 1Dc was much better, and that camera is 7 years old.

August 13, 2020 at 6:43PM

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Brian
Senior Producer / Graphic Design Artist
339

need a 1st AC, the skin looks so-so, and the lighting is kind of blah -
how many people have 8k monitors
to actually see this in 8k? 2k alexa footage still looks better regardless.

July 30, 2020 at 11:30PM, Edited July 30, 11:37PM

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The 8K is really only intended for photographers who want to pull stills from sports or fashion shoots.

August 13, 2020 at 6:38PM, Edited August 13, 6:38PM

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Brian
Senior Producer / Graphic Design Artist
339

I'm confused. Sony announces a 12MP camera and the videography world loses its mind (in a good way) and Canon announces a 45MP camera and the videography world rips it to shreds. Its a photo camera with video capabilities. The EOS-5D Mark II was the same way. It shot amazing photos (still better than some Sonys) and had full HD video capabilities. No one was mad that it didn't have continuous AF or IBIS. They were happy to have an amazing photo camera with impressive video capabilities and I think that's what we have with the EOS-R5. If you want 4K and contonuious recording invest in a video camera and some faster memory cards instead of complaining that a $3,899 camera can't shoot like a Cinema type camera can. It has C-Log, DPAF anf IBIS. The C100 was priced at $7,999 and the EOS-1D C $15,000 and neither of those came stock with C-Log, DPAF and IBIS. I shoot wedding video and got the C100 used (had to have DPAF added) but enjoyed the continuous recording the camera offers and shooting it hand-held it's not very shaky. So there are other options, not everyone needs 4K. But please keep complaining that Canon is trying to satisfy all camera users who want a mirrorless photo and video camera they can afford.

August 4, 2020 at 7:38AM, Edited August 4, 7:41AM

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Nick Straub
Videographer
1108