Canon EOS R5

Specs

Sensor Size: Full frame, 45 megapixels

Top Video Quality: 8K RAW at 29.97 fps

Mirrors: Zero $3,899+

Canon’s EOS R5 had a lot to live up to, not only because it took the mantle of the apparently defunct 5D line, but because Canon itself spent ages upping the ante with a series of breathless teaser announcements in the run-up to a final release. In the flesh, it doesn’t quite live up to the impossibly high expectations Canon itself did little to tamp down, but how could it? Nevertheless, the result is still an astounding best-in-class full-frame mirrorless camera that has clobbered the competitors.

As a stills camera, the R5 is unmatched. Its new 45-megapixel full-frame sensor captures stunningly high-quality, high-resolution shots at speeds of up to 20 frames per second, with awsome autofocus and excellent ergonomics. The guinea pig for Canon’s new in-body image stabilization, the R5 can offer up to eight stops of stabilization under optimal circumstances and with compatible lenses. We’re talking acceptable handheld exposures at two seconds, if your hands are steady.

Yes, the R5 can record in stunning 8K, as heavily hyped, though with some strings attached: prone to overheating in certain conditions, the R5’s 8K mode comes with warnings and safeguards that can require considerable cool-down times between bouts. This makes the R5 a technically capable powerhouse for everyday videographers but potentially impractical for longer shots.

But even with its flaws, the EOS R5 is a remarkable accomplishment from Canon, and a leap forward in its mirrorless technology. It proves that while the diehards may miss its flagship full-frame DSLRS, they’re not for want of alternatives.