CANON TEASES WITH MORE TASTY EOS R5 SPECS

IN A THIRD pre-launch press release Canon has released more details about its planned pro-level EOS R5 mirrorless camera. Canon is building anticipation for the camera it's now dubbing “The King”. The company says the R5 will “redefine the mirrorless category” and the latest information on its video capabilities look to be on a par with the new EOS C300 Mark III Cinema camera.

The key video specs are 8K RAW internal recording using the full sensor width at 25 or 30fps. There will also be the options of recording 8K video internally with 10bit 4:2:2 colour in Canon Log (using the H.265 compression codec) or 10-bit 4:2:2 in HDR PQ (again with H.265). With 4K recording, both options will be available at frame rates of up to 100/120fps for slow-mo (again internal recording witth no cropping). The external 4K feed via HDMI can deliver a 10-bit 4:2:2 output in Canon Log o HDR PQ at 50 or 60fps. Phase-difference detection autofocusing via Canon’s Dual Pixel AF technology is available in all video modes, resolutions and frame rates.

Canon’s latest press release also reveals that the EOS R5’s dual memory card slots will be for CFexpress – essential for 8K and also 4K at the highest quality modes – and UHS-II SD card support.

Canon’s previous announcement revealed that the EOS R5 will boast a number of important features, including five-axis in-body image stabilisation and up to 20fps continuous shooting with its electronic shutter (12fps with the mechanical shutter). Canon has also confirmed that the EOS R5 will have AI-based animal AF with subject recognition for dogs, cats and birds, relying not only on the eyes of the animal, but also the face and body for situations when the eyes are not visible (a variation of the EOS-1D X Mark III’s Head AF). Autofocusing will, of course, be via Dual Pixel CMOS AF.

Canon says the R5 represents “the first of the next-generation full-frame mirrorless cameras in the EOS R system”. The R5 will be the first RF mount body with IBIS and dual memory card slots, and these will support the automatic transfer of image files to the new image.canon cloud platform.

Given the viewing options for 8K video are still limited, the facility will have other benefits in terms of extracting high-resolution still frames (sized in the order of 33 megapixels) and will deliver better video quality when downsampled to 4K. Consequently, it’s safe to assume the R5 will have a higher-res sensor than the EOS R’s 31.7MP imager. According to rumours, this could be anywhere between 40 and 60MP.

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