Canon has officially announced its video-centric EOS R5c and this beefy beast costs $4,500
Jan 19, 2022
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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The world has been expecting this camera for a long time and now it’s finally here. Canon has today announced the new Canon EOS R5c, a video-centric version of the Canon EOS R5 with active cooling (so you can actually shoot 8K for more than a few minutes) and a more streamlined UI aimed at video shooters.
Canon says that it combines the “best of both worlds” melding the EOS R5 and EOS C70 cameras into one – which you can see as soon as you turn the camera around to see how beefy it is compared to the EOS R5. The active cooling has meant that the camera is quite a bit thicker and from behind, more closely resembles the EOS C70 than its EOS R5 namesake.
The Canon EOS R5C takes a lot of pointers from both the EOS R5 and the EOS C70 to bring what Canon describes as a “true hybrid camera”, offering many of the best features of both. It shoots up to 8K 60fps and can record 12-Bit Cinema RAW Light internally. It offers HDMI RAW output as well as unlimited recording time, a timecode port, Dual Pixel CMOS AF with eye detection and active cooling to prevent overheating (which is why it’s so thick).
If you picked up the EOS R5 primarily for its video features but felt a little underwhelmed after dealing with overheating issues (even after the firmware updates), the Canon EOS R5c is here to answer your prayers. Of course, that doesn’t help you if you’ve already spent the money to get an EOS R5, but for those who’d been debating it, it sounds like the EOS R5C is going to be the better option.
That being said, and while the EOS R5C appears to be just as capable as the EOS R5 when it comes to stills with 20fps continuous shooting at 45-megapixels and the area around the grip looks quite easy to handhold, if stills is your primary need and the video is just a happy bonus, then the EOS R5 may still be the one to go for. If you really need something that’s good at both, then probably get both – if those needs justify the cost – and then each can act as a backup to the other in an emergency while maintaining their primary function.
| EOS R5c | EOS R5 | EOS C70 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 45-megapixel full-frame CMOS | 45-megapixel full-frame CMOS | 8.85-megapixel Super 35mm CMOS |
| Lens Mount | Canon RF | Canon RF | Canon RF |
| Max resolution | 8192 x 5464 | 8192 x 5464 | 4096 x 2160 |
| Stills File format | RAW, JPG, HEIF | RAW, JPG | JPG |
| Stills Bit-depth | 14-Bit (CR3 RAW) | 14-Bit | 12-Bit (brought down to 8-Bit due to JPG format) |
| ISO/Gain | ISO 100 to 51,200 in Manual Mode (Extended: 50 to 102,400) ISO 100 to 25,600 in Auto Mode (Extended: 200 to 51,200) | Photo: ISO 100 to 51,200 in Manual Mode (Extended: 50 to 102,400) Photo: ISO 100 to 51,200 in Auto Mode Video: ISO 100 to 25,600 (Extended: 51,200) | ISO 160 to 25,600 (Extended: 100 to 102,400) Gain -6 to 54 dB (Native) / -2 to 54 dB (Expanded) |
| Stabilisation | Sensor-Shift (Video Only) | 5-axis in-body image stabilisation works with IS lenses | Yes. Function depending on lens used, Digital 5-Axis IS for non IS lenses. Combination of Optical IS and Digital IS to give combined 5-Axis IS. IS performance depends on lens used |
| Continuous shooting | 12fps (mechanical) / 20fps (electronic) | 12fps (mechanical) | Unspecified |
| 8K Video | 8K DCI (8192 x 4320) at up to 59.95fps Cinema RAW Light / 29.97fps Raw 12-bit / 29.97fps 4:2:2: 10Bit | 8K DCI (8192 x 4320) & 8K UHD (7680 x 4320) at up to 29.97fps RAW / 4:2:2 10-Bit | N/A |
| 4K Video | 4K DCI (4096 x 2160) & 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) at up to 119.88fps 4:2:2 10-Bit | 4K DCI (4096 x 2160) & 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) at up to 119.88fps 4:2:2 10-Bit | 4K DCI (4096 x 2160) & 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) at up to 119.88fps 4:2:2 10-Bit |
| HD Video | Full HD (1920 x 1080) at up to 59.94p | Full HD (1920 x 1080) at up to 59.94p | Full HD (1920 x 1080) at up to 179.82fps 4:2:2 8-Bit |
| Focus type | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Eye Detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF (also available in 8K and 4K video modes) | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Face Detection |
| AF Points | 1053 phase detection | 1053 phase detection | N/A |
| Viewfinder | 5.79m-dot EVF | 5.76m-dot EVF | N/A |
| LCD | 3.2″ 2.1m-dot Articulating Touchscreen LCD | 3.0″ 1.04m-dot Articulating Touchscreen LCD | 3.5 inch LCD 2.76 million dots (1280 x 720 x RGB) Touchscreen LCD |
| Card slots | Dual CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD | Dual CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD | Dual UHS-II SD |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth | WiFi, Bluetooth | N/A |
| Dimensions | 142.2 x 101.6 x 111.8 mm | 138 x 97.5 x 88 mm | 130.2 x 160 x 115.9 mm |
| Weight | 1.7 lb / 770 g (With Battery, Recording Media) | 738 g (Body with Battery and Memory) | 1.34 kg (With Battery) |
| Launch price | $4,499 | $3,899 | $5,499 |
So, it’s not quite as good as the EOS R5 in some respects (like only getting sensor-shift stabilisation in video mode) and it’s not quite as good as the EOS C70 in others (lower 1080p frame rates and a lower resolution LCD), but it’s better than both in many respects and looks to be a fantastic compromise between the two – especially if high resolution 8K video is your priority.
The Canon EOS R5c is available to pre-order now for $4,499 as a body-only package or $5,599 for the EOS R5c and RF 24-105mm f/4L lens kit. Shipping is expected to begin in May. There’s also a new Canon DR-E6C DC coupler ($159.99) allowing you to power your EOS R5c from an external power supply like the Canon CA-946 ($299) or V-Mount batteries using the appropriate P-Tap adapter.
You can find out more about the Canon EOS R5C on the Canon website.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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13 responses to “Canon has officially announced its video-centric EOS R5c and this beefy beast costs $4,500”
Where is the data about the 10 bit raw stills downgrade on the R5c? It clearly looks like the same sensor and I cannot find where the image quality is cut down to 10 bit. I am only asking because this is crucial for someone using it as a hybrid everyday. Thank you.
The B&H specs list shows it as being 10-Bit for stills. I’ve yet to see clarification from Canon either way, but I have reached out to them to ask and confirm. :)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/73b37e3e13e8e0a398a16bde627461fa41fbe17e669a282195b540fb14cf3230.jpg
And just as I replied to you I heard back. Yes, it is indeed 14-Bit RAW and B&H specs are wrong, haha. Have updated the table above. Thank you! :)
And just as I replied to you I heard back. Yes, it is indeed 14-Bit RAW and B&H specs are wrong, haha. This Canon’s official spec sheet. Have updated the table above. Thank you! :)
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bd49c4041f19436a3757af2fbfe30dbadd76f151d7957e350a1bdbef7c78d0cf.jpg
Thank you! I also saw on another review that it has shutter angle control, but no one is reporting on this. I shoot lighting for a living, so this is a crucial upgrade not getting any attention. I can now avoid flicker with a superior tool that only one other mirrorless option has provided before this. Thanks for your research and response.
Oh yes, that’s a super handy feature! One of the few big benefits of the GH5 over the G9 these days, too, since the G9 firmware update. Shutter angle makes life so much easier, especially if you’re bouncing between frame rates regularly for some slow mo b-roll. :)
This excited me until I saw it doesn’t have internal NDs. While you can use the EF/RF ND adapter, if you are using RF lenses, no such luck.
Full Frame “Cinema” line for so cheap is nice though, although if video is the main focus I think the C70 may still be the better option overall, since you can get the speedbooster if needed.
Not if one wants to use an EVF
EVF without being able to angle it is not super useful for video in my opinion
Personally, I don’t mind if a camera doesn’t have built-in NDs. It’s certainly not a deal breaker for me. I’m probably going to stick a matte box on there anyway if I’m shooting video, which means I can just use my Schneider 4×5.65″ ND filters. And if I’m not using a matte box, I’ve got several VNDs that will do the job in a pinch. It’s not a defining feature of a camera for me. Nice to have? Sure. Essential? No, not really.
I Agree, for video I’d not even briefly think of getting the R5C over the C70 – if you want photo, sounds cheesy, but get a stills camera. C70 actually got more likely to be my upgrade with the new Firmware.
I don’t think it’s too important to the target audience, but it’s worth mentioning: there is no IBIS, and micro-HDMI remains. However, key things to remember: unlimited 8k/60p internal is *huge*, the price point of $4500, and people were doing just fine shooting photo’s without IBIS, there are plenty of lenses with IS. True there is no internal ND, but what else can do what the R5c can at its price?
The R5 can record in HEIF, can record 20fps with eshutter and has the same 3.2″ 2.1mp rear LCD and can record HD/120 (or 100) fps since firmware 1.3 last April. The only change on the stills side is the lack of IBIS. You should be able to get 33mp frame grabs from the 8k/60 (with no AF) ie at 60fps
I assume that the R5c will also support HD/120 and that the R5c still uses lens stabilisation if the lens has it. External USB powerbanks are also supported if 9V/3A rated.
The Z9 is a great camera but depending on the release date of the Z9 firmware update, Canon could be the first hybrid to support 8k60