With the release of the Canon R5 Mark II it was expected to see the price of the Canon R5 Mark I to go down. But this price drop has happened faster than expected according to this page which is reporting a huge discount found at Walmart ($2408!). Amazon still selling the same camera for $2799. Those who love Amazon may have to wait for the Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals from this site to get it as low as what we see now at Walmart.
The Canon EOS R5 is a powerful mirrorless camera introduced by Canon in 2020. It’s geared toward professional photographers and advanced enthusiasts, particularly those looking for high-quality still images and robust video capabilities. Here’s a more detailed look at what the Canon R5 has to offer:
Key Features
- Sensor and Image Quality: The R5 sports a 45-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, allowing it to capture incredibly detailed images. With this high resolution, it’s an excellent choice for wildlife, landscape, and studio photographers who may need to crop their images without sacrificing much detail.
- ISO Range: Its native ISO range of 100–51,200 (expandable to 50–102,400) makes it versatile in various lighting conditions. The camera performs well in low-light environments, offering low noise levels even at higher ISO settings.
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF II: Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus system on the R5 is remarkably fast and accurate, with up to 1,053 AF points covering almost the entire frame. It supports eye, face, and animal detection autofocus, which is particularly beneficial for wildlife photographers.
- In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): The R5 has 5-axis in-body stabilization that works with both RF and EF lenses, allowing for up to 8 stops of stabilization when combined with compatible lenses. This makes handheld shooting easier and provides smoother shots for video work.
- Burst Shooting: The R5 can shoot up to 20 frames per second (fps) with the electronic shutter and up to 12 fps with the mechanical shutter. This high-speed shooting makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects, like birds in flight or other wildlife.
- Video Capabilities: The Canon R5 was the first in Canon's lineup to offer 8K RAW video recording at 30 fps. It also supports 4K video up to 120 fps, making it a versatile option for videographers who need high resolution and slow-motion capabilities. However, 8K recording tends to generate a significant amount of heat, leading to some concerns about overheating during extended recording sessions. Canon later released firmware updates to improve the camera’s thermal management.
- Dual Card Slots: The R5 is equipped with dual card slots: one for a CFexpress card and another for a standard SD card. This is useful for photographers who want to back up their work in real time or need the speed benefits of CFexpress for high-resolution video.
- Build and Ergonomics: The camera body is made from magnesium alloy, which provides durability while keeping the weight manageable. It’s also weather-sealed, which is essential for those shooting in challenging outdoor conditions. The R5 features a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 5.76 million dots, providing a clear and lifelike view of the scene, along with a fully articulating touchscreen.
- Battery Life: The R5 uses the Canon LP-E6NH battery, which provides a reasonable shooting time, though heavy 8K or continuous shooting may require extra batteries.
- Connectivity: The camera offers built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and FTP capabilities, which are useful for remote shooting, transferring images, or even live streaming.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent image quality and resolution.
- Highly capable autofocus system with animal tracking.
- 8K and 4K video capabilities, supporting a range of video formats.
- Compact and robust body with weather sealing.
Cons:
- High price point, geared towards serious users.
- Overheating issues with prolonged 8K recording, though firmware updates have mitigated this.
- CFexpress cards for 8K video are costly.
Who is it Best For?
The Canon EOS R5 is ideal for photographers and videographers needing high resolution, fast autofocus, and top-tier video capabilities. It’s particularly well-suited for wildlife and sports photographers, portrait shooters, and even videographers looking for 8K recording.
In essence, the Canon R5 is a camera that combines the quality and speed of Canon’s high-end DSLR lineup with the compactness and versatility of mirrorless technology, making it a standout option in Canon’s EOS R series.
An alternative to this camera would be the Canon R6 Mark II currently being sold at Amazon for $1999.This means that for $400 more you can go up one level in the Canon Eco System. Here is a Comparison between these two cameras.
