CANON EOS R5 C PROMISES ‘NO LIMITS’ VIDEO CAPTURE

Canon’s first full-frame 8K Cinema camera is a powerful hybrid option for pros

Canon has announced the EOS R5 C, a video-first version of the standard EOS R5 that shoots internal 8K 12-bit up to 60p, has Dual Base ISO, and possesses an integrated cooling fan – which means that it has “no limitations on shooting”.

While the EOS R5 C is, at its core, very similar to the standard EOS R5, it’s specifically a Cinema EOS product. In short, where the R5 was a stills camera that enabled you to shoot video (with compromises such as recording limits), the R5 C is a cinema camera that enables you to shoot stills.

To that end, the camera operates in two distinct modes. Boot it up in stills mode and it behaves almost identically to the R5; it has the same menus, the same full-frame 45MP sensor, the same 20fps maximum burst rate, the same Dual Pixel CMOS AF II (with Animal AF), even the same EVF and LCD screen. What it doesn’t have, however, is the same in-body image stabilisation (there is no IBIS whatsoever), and it possesses a slightly modified version of the R5’s Digic X processor.

Canon EOS R5 C: what’s new

Since the R 5 C can’t shoot video in stills mode (or vice versa), you’ll need to boot the camera up in video mode to capture moving images – and upon doing so, the familiar EOS menus are replaced by the Cinema EOS menus.

Here you can unleash the camera’s full video potential. New to the R 5 C is the ability to shoot internal full-frame 8K video up to 60p in 12-bit Cinema Raw Light, optimised for HDR footage – though the camera must be connected to an external power source (including

a new Canon mains adapter, or a power bank) to shoot 8K 60p. Internally, it also shoots Super 35 up to 5.9K 60p and Super 16 up to 2.9K 60p.

In addition to 12-bit Raw, this new video format enables you to shoot configurations including Raw HQ, Raw ST, Raw LT, HDMI Raw, XF-AVC YCC 4:2:2 10-bit, MP4 / HEVC YCC 4:2:2 10bit, MP4 / HPEC YCC 4:2:0 10-bit, and MP4 / H.264 YCC 4:2:0 8-bit.

Also new is the ability to capture 4K 120p – in DCI / UHD in 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP and Intra) – with audio recording, where the sound can be captured as a separate audio file, removing the need to record audio independently. Proxy recording is also offered, which isn’t possible on the base R5.

For the first time in a Canon product, the R5 C is offering Dual Base ISO – a technology that works differently to the Dual Gain Output featured in cameras like the Canon EOS C70. Whereas the C70 had fixed ISO sensitivities (an ISO800 base and Dual Gain from ISO160-25600), the R5 C features different base ISOs depending on the chosen gamma settings (though Dual Base ISO is not available for stills).

There’s a new integrated cooling fan, which Canon tells us means: “no limitations on shooting. Obviously with the R5, because it’s a stills product first, you’ve got that limitation on the video shooting capability; with this one, it’s about your battery and about your memory card”.

That said, recording durations are imposed based on the format and settings you choose for your video, ranging from ½ hour to 30½ hours .

Accordingly, the EOS R5 C measures a beefier 142 x 101 x 111mm and weighs 680g (770g with battery and cards), compared to the 138.5 x 97.5 x 88mm and 650g (738g) of the existing R5. Physically its ergonomics are like a deeper R5 – and in fact, it’s not too dissimilar to the feel of the EOS C70.

Despite the addition of the cooling fan, the camera remains weather-sealed against dust and moisture. This factors into another new feature of the R5 C: the Multi-Function Shoe, which is the same 21-pin hotshoe found on the EOS R3 (enabling power delivery and two-way communication with accessories such as the new Canon DM-E1D shotgun mic and Canon ST-E1 Speedlite transmitter).

A notable omission from the video capability is the lack of Animal AF, which is a feature specific to the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II (as noted, it’s still available in stills mode). This is because, when booted up in video mode, the camera functions as a Cinema EOS product – and Cinema EOS cameras only support the original Dual Pixel CMOS AF.

The Canon EOS R5 C is priced at £4,499.99 / $4,499 body-only, and will be available from March. For comparison, the standard EOS R5 is currently priced at £4,299.99 / $3,899.