In my quest for the next great camera, many of the things that I'm on the lookout for will likely sound familiar to you on your own new camera searches. These can range from the latest new features such as the ability to shoot and record in 8K at 60f or more technical features such as sensor sizes.
Canon refers to the R5 C as a hybrid camera, and although I am not usually fond of the term, I think that description is a pretty good one. Perhaps it might even be something that I always look for, which is overall versatility as well as the many ways you can make this valuable purchase work for you and your clients.
The Canon R5 C fills in many of the requirements of today’s video professional, so I wanted to get out in the field and spend some time shooting stills and other various formats, playing that footage and seeing what I could come up by putting the R5 C through the paces.
First Blush
Getting the camera set up was pretty easy and after formatting my cards I just went with some basic settings. I'd describe the R5 C as very user friendly. Normally I like to do more menu researching but the camera menus were easy to follow and pretty self-explanatory.
Before I knew it, I was out shooting a last minute high school soccer game and was not disappointed. The camera captured beautiful video with that certain Canon look I have come to expect along with the color science, even without a bigger zoom lens. It was also great to be able to shoot both video and stills. It's all about versatility! The option to offer video or stills could be a game changer (sorry, I had to!)
Operating the Canon R5 C (IRL) In Real Life
Before we get to the technical specifications of the R5 C I wanted to touch on a few physical aspects when shooting the camera. Coming in at 1.7 lbs. sans lens, the R5C seemed like a heavier camera that I was expecting in this segment of cameras. I didn’t mind the weight difference, but I did notice it, but that was with some pretty big lenses. I should also note that there are times I don’t shoot with a rig or support because I want to move fast on the sidelines. But that said if you are into shooting with a monopod then you would be fine.
Another observation not lost on me was how well the camera worked in a very high heat environment over a very long period of time. I've never even heard the internal fan kick in. This means no faltering or high temp warnings for the entire time shooting at higher resolutions throughout the match.
The R5 C Boasts Some Impressive Features and Benefits
If you're going to invest any camera, shouldn’t that camera have the technical specifications to get the job done? It should also have what I call some “future proofing” built in, you ou know for that big shoot you are going to get down the road! Of course, it should and that’s where I think the R5 C really shines the brightest.
The R5 C includes 4K120 recording, HDMI RAW output, Canon Log 3 HLG/PQ support, and unlimited recording time. It offers several different video resolution and aspect ratio options. These include 8K RAW video recording as well as Super 35 mm and Super 16 mm cropped sensor recording modes. It also includes Canon Log 3. The EOS R5 C uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, but it doesn’t include any in-body image stabilization.
Additionally, the R5 C boasts a timecode port, along with Dual Pixel CMOS AF with eye detection. The camera has Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and footage compatibility with DaVinci Resolve and Canon applications. I also did appreciate the fact that I could record on either my standard SD cards or CF Express card and even though I didn’t stream I could have, which adds even more value to the R5 C.
I tried shooting some 10-bit 4K video recording at frame rates up to 120 frames per second and was really happy with the look of the footage. If I was building an athletes hype reel the slow-motion footage would be my go to, along with shooting stills for portfolios.
Also, the camera’s 15 stops of dynamic range was more than plenty. The R5 Cs dynamic range and the high bit depth means you will have plenty of room as far as color grading goes.
Something to Consider About the R5 C
The R5 C is a great camera that is also on Netflix's list of approved cameras. This allows filmmakers(like you) to use the camera for Netflix productions. If I am going all in on a handheld documentary the R5 C would definitely be in the mix. I also like that one can very easily and distinctly toggle between phot mode and video mode each with their own dedicated menus. But I have to temper that by saying I was not happy about the power draw on the batteries. They didn’t seem to last very long(maybe a half hour each tops)which is for sure not a good thing out in the field. If I am in the studio, I would go with the dummy battery and wall power. I keep hoping Canon will address the battery issue.
Closing Thoughts
Other than the previously mentioned battery issue, the R5 C would be a great hybrid camera that affords a lot of flexibility for a lot of different types of content creators. If you need to be competitive in many different creative spaces(and who doesn’t) I would want as many options as possible. The Canon EOS R5 C Mirrorless Cinema Camera might be the solution you are looking for.
A Few (of Many) Tech Specs
- Supports 8K/60P Internal RAW or Cinema RAW Light Recording, HDMI 8K RAW Output to Compatible Recorders, 8K HDR Recording (PQ/HLG)
- Internal Cooling Fan Enables Non-stop 8K/60P Recording
- Expanded Interface for Professional Needs
- Full-Featured 13 Assignable Buttons
- 8K Sensor and DIGIC X Processor with 4K and 2K Oversampling
- Approved for use on Netflix Productions
Comments
There are no comments on this blog post.