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Don’t take your EOS R5 outside on a warm day – serious 8K and 4K overheating issues

by 63 Comments

Well, we were all waiting for the other shoe to drop on the Canon EOS R5. 8K RAW video for under $4,000? There had to be a catch, right? Well, it looks like, yeah, there probably is. According to Canon’s documentation for the EOS R5, it’s potentially going to suffer from some pretty drastic overheating issues, even when shooting 4K.

In this video, Max Yuryev goes over the video recording specs in the Canon documentation and calls out Canon and EOS R5 reviewers for not bringing this to more peoples attention during all the announcements and talk yesterday about the new camera. And it looks like it’ll be even worse than the overheating issues Sony used to suffer from.

 

On first glance, the EOS R5 sounds like a pretty awesome camera for video shooters. 8K RAW, 10-Bit 4K 120fps? What’s not to love? Well, it seems the overheating issues are what’s not to love. When shooting 8K video in either RAW or HEVC (H.265) you’ll only get 20 minutes of recording before shutting off. At 4K60, you’ll get around 35 minutes.

This possibly wouldn’t be so bad if you could just wait a few minutes, let it cool down some, and then get another 20/35 minutes. But the problem is, the cooldown times really aren’t that great, either. According to the information, after shooting 8K video for 20 minutes, if you leave it to cool down for 10 minutes, you only get a further 3 minutes of record time before it overheats again.

Even leaving it to do nothing for 20 minutes only offers you 8 minutes of record time before it overheats again. So, even if you’ve got two bodies, you can’t just keep swapping them in and out every 20 minutes. You’re still going to have a fair amount of downtime when both are simultaneously waiting to cool down.

If your shoots are more scripted, narrative, 30-60 second long clips that you’ll cut down and edit together to create something a little more cinematic, then you’ll probably be ok. But if you’re a wedding or even shooter, even if you’re not planning to shoot 8K, but only 4K, you’re still going to potentially face some issues.

And these times are at fairly low ambient temps measured in a controlled test environment. If you’re outdoors in 90°F sunshine, your EOS R5’s going to heat up even faster and be out of commission for longer during a video shoot.

At the moment, these numbers are all theoretical until somebody who actually has one in their hands can show us exactly when it overheats at each of the different resolutions in different ambient temperatures – and I’ve no doubt somebody will do that as soon as they start shipping out to people. Max has already pre-ordered himself an EOS R5, so if nobody beats him to it, then chances are he’ll do that test for himself and record it for the rest of us to see.

Will you buy the Canon EOS R5? Did you pre-order already?

Related posts:

Canon confirms no-crop internal 8K RAW video recording on upcoming EOS R5 mirrorless camera Canon EOS R5 leak shows 5-axis IBIS, Zebras and can turn 8K into “higher-quality 4K” Canon confirms the EOS R5 overheats in 4K as well The 8K Canon EOS R5 to make its public debut at The Photography Show in the UK

About John Aldred

John Aldred is based in Scotland and photographs people in the wild and animals in the studio.

You can find out more about John on his website and follow his adventures on YouTube and Facebook.

  • andrei ioan

    are you crazy? are you seriously bashing canon for clearly stating that a small mirrorless will overheat when recording freaking 8K??? when the sonys were overheating without any warning from sony itself no one seemed to care. and it’s a small mirrorless camera, not a huge cinema body with fans and active cooling and space to dissipate the heat…

    • Kaouthia

      You need to learn the difference between “bashing” and merely “stating”. People cared with Sony – mostly people who’d spent their money on one. Perhaps you just weren’t listening? And, sure, it’s a small mirrorless body… A small mirrorless body which has had 8K RAW video as its biggest selling point since its development was first announced. :)

      • andrei ioan

        No, i don’t think you’re “merely stating”…not by reading the title or the article. “Serious issue” implies problem and canon stating it in the manual (assuming that’s where that screenshot is from, it’s just a leak) means specified behaviour. And it still is a small mirrorless body that records 8K

    • g_discus

      The declared function does not work. That’s fucked up.

      • andrei ioan

        How does it not work?

        • g_discus

          It doesn’t work more than 20 minutes. After 20 minutes there is no this fuction.

          • Alan Sach

            Until it cools down. What other hybrid camera out there gives you 20 minutes of 8k? 10 minutes? Anyone?

        • Alex Kalimat

          In 8K and 4K you cannot guarantee recording times… That’s not a reliable tool, when it’s being sold as having 8K video capability.

          • andrei ioan

            It still has 8k capability but you know what it doesn’t have? Holes in the body to move air to cool the sensor like a cinema camera capable of 8k

    • Alex Kalimat

      Um… we did care! The Sony cameras were blasted for the overheating. We don’t want overheating! It’s not a partizan issue (Sony v Canon)… It’s a “when I’m filming I don’t want to have to stop for 20 minutes to let the camera cool down… So I’m disappointed this camera is not an ‘all-in-one’ solution” issue!

      • Chainsaw Charlie

        You don’t want to stop after 20 minutes of 8K recording? Then buy an 8K camera that can record more. Where’s the problem?

        • Alex Kalimat

          It’s weird. I never realised how much I just wanted to shoot back-to-back 8K. But, I just read that (inspired by the disposable cameras of the 1990s (or the hipster weddings of the 2010s) several manufacturers are developing single-use 8K cameras. You get 29 minutes and 59 seconds of footage (to avoid EU tax laws that don’t apply since 2017). The down-side is that you have to send them to PrestoPrint to get the footage sent back to you on a CD.

      • Alan Sach

        Then shoot 4k 30 or HD instead of the more extreme modes. Crimey, here you have a small, mirrorless hybrid camera that does what no other small, mirrorless hybrid camera does, and people are whining because it doesn’t do what a dedicated 8k video camera that costs 5 times as much does!! How many minutes of 8k do Nikon or Sony mirrorless cameras record before overheating?

        • Alex Kalimat

          What’s that? Whining?! You’re right! Stop the debate everyone. I see it all so clearly now! The 8K truth that is illuminated by the heat-glow coming off the sensor.

          We ALL definitely need 8K. Remember how we never stop talking about it? And we need 8K from a camera that doubles up as an internal toaster-oven. And if we don’t want it to go on fire (who would?) in extreme conditions such as interviews, vlogging, wedding ceremonies, performances, or just shooting back-to-back clips on anything more that a moderately sunny day — Canon’s got us! Just turn the dial down from 8 to 3… (because there’s no numbers in between) and be grateful that in 2020 you can shoot line-skipped 4K or HD (what?).

          Remember, your dreams! The dreams of shooting short, ultra high resolution video clips on a stills camera.

          And never question the product direction or marketing tactics of and major corporation. That’s just whining.

          Sigh! Good times!

    • Adrian Thoma

      just like that thing Canon had, with the claim of 5000 AF Points. As soon people realised that these 5000 points had to be picked manually, on that small screen with a lousy joystick, this spec hasnt been found on any ads for that wonderful Camera..lol

      • andrei ioan

        What are you on about? You don’t choose each individual focus point, you choose zones and according to your needs, those zones are larger or smaller. And on top of that, even before canon introduced their DPAF they had one of the best touchscreen implementation (don’t know about mft cameras though, but miles ahead of sony and nikon back then) which made choosing where to focus an absolute joy

  • Hell No!! I will never switch to Canon, I am a Nikon shooter for life. I watched this video and at least he called Canon out on the over heating issue unlike the shills like Peter McKinnon who sold their souls to Canon and are getting paid to shill for them and will never say a negative thing about them.

    • Michael Bray

    • Michael Bray Peter did mention the overheating issue in his video.

    • Jonathan C Riley Not really, not to the extent he should have, but of course he wouldn’t mention it that way as he is getting paid by Canon

    • Everyone else: Oh My god Canon released the R5 I have to rush and preorder one… Me:

    • You brand loyalists make me laugh.

    • Adam Lee McCoy I’ve been shooting Nikon for almost 10 years and love the results I get from their cameras. Mind you I do own and occasionally use a Sony RX100 VII compact point and shoot camera as well as my DJI Mavic Mini and Osmo Action. There is only 3 companies whose products I will never switch to or use: Canon (just their cameras, as their printers are phenomenal), Apple and GoPro

    • I am actually surprised the R5 can do this without an active cooling solution. If the specs hold up, the R5 would make a great B-camera for inserts. If you really NEED 8K for your production you are likely working on a project that has the budget for 8K cinema cameras.

    • Raymond Yuen Exactly, especially at $6500.00 Canadian dollars for an R5 for just the body after taxes without the adapter. Hell combined that’s what both my Z6 and Z7 with two F to Z adapters cost me

    • Its easy to bash a camera. I could take apart the Z6/Z7 for various issues. The R5 and R6 are very capable cameras, a big step up from the D5mk4, with specs that are better than the Nikon D850, which for me has been the bench mark since its release. The overheating issue (if it really is an issue) shouldn’t be a surprise, 8k is huge around 32mp image and to be able to shoot at for 10 minutes at 30fps is impressive, let along 20 minutes (at normal temperatures).

      The reality is most people are not going to be shooting 8k, the files are exceptionally large and you need some huge cards to store the data. Even 4k 60fps is going to have limited use, so I think people are over reacting.

      Oh before you say it. I am not a Canon user, my daily driver is a Nikon D800, with a back up of a Fujifilm X-H1.

      I am glad Canon have stepped up and are offering true competition to Sony. Now Nikon need to step up. Hopefully, fixing the issues, I have with the Z6/Z7 (with the rumours Z6s/Z7s) and eventually releasing a world beating Z8/9 because competition is good for the photographer.

    • Michael Bray did someone from canon cheat on you?

    • Michael Bray

    • Alan Sach

      Canon doesn’t need you. I will never switch to Nikon or Sony either. But I will be honest about why. Because I have too much invested in Canon lenses and accessories (EF lenses will still be usable with these new cameras). “The best” cameras come and go, and are claimed by a different company every year. It’s mostly about bragging rights and has little to do with actual results. Very few people can afford to switch back and forth, and common sense would dictate that they don’t.

    • Michael Bray He is Canon ambassador , what did you expect ?

    • Michael Bray Peter did mention the overheating issues 😂😂😂😂 u watched the video angry

  • Yesterday, everyone said 8K RAW is useless and thee is no need for it.
    Now, they are complaining 20mn of 8K recording will pause due to overheating?!!!
    You guys should get a life. Seriously.

    • g_discus

      He. 4K is the same problem.

    • man.ka

      Love how you ignore this camera overheats even in 4K. It needs a long standby after 30 minutes in 4K and will not allow you another 30 minute recording. More like 10 minutes

      • Check my answer up!
        Thanks

      • Alan Sach

        4k 60p. It doesn’t say anything about 4k 30p.

        • Alex Kalimat

          HQ 4K 30p has a 30 min limit. Line skipped 4K 30p works without hearing issues. Delicious!

    • Alex Kalimat

      Most of us don’t care about 8K… We do care about reliability… And 4K (as pointed out) is the same problems. Maybe someone needs to get down off their high horse… Seriously. ;-)

  • Does he know that he was sent a preproduction model? this guy is an idiot

  • Tha video is click bate. He never picked the EOSR5 or 6.
    He is talking about something he didnt test.
    Its obvious thta filming 8k will creat ear isues, the idea of this cam os not to make a full one hour vídeo in 8k.
    Its amazing how you try to see the Bad thing instaid of the food thing…

    • Rui Bandeira exactly!

    • Still it affects the 4K too. Im very sceptical about it being even remotely usable on video. Yes the low end 4K will work but the 4K 10bit 4:2:2 60-120p will too heat up fast. What’s the point of camera that can shoot 3 min and after you need to shut it off completely for 10 min to cool it down to shoot JUST another 3 min? And those are canon them self stated times..

      • Alan Sach

        It shoots 20 minutes to 35 minutes before overheating. Personally, if I am shooting a clip that long, it isn’t going to be in 8k, or 4k 60p for that matter. It’s going to be HD or 4k 30p.

    • Tero Syväniemi I can’t hardly think of a scenario in which I’d need to shoot 4k at 60p for any longer than a few minutes. I mean, are you to shoot a kids school concert at 4k 60p? Ar you going to shoot a wedding in 8k raw? What would be the point of that?

      The camera has different recording formats so users can choose the appropriate format for the job. If you’re shooting in scripted narrative in a controlled setting, 20min of recording time is likely to be more than enough. That’s before you answer the question of whether 8k is even necessary. The r5/6 shoot 4k under 30p in 10-bit with no overheating issues – that in and of itself is incredible. The camera has enormous flexibility and capability for the price. People really need to keep perspective.

    • I wholeheartedly agree Jonathan. If someone is working as a videographer or filmmaker, and needs 8k video, a red camera is more what they need — a professional wouldn’t be banking on using a stills camera for that kind of footage. These headlines are also written as though if you film for any length of time the camera is going to turn to slag in your hands; 20 min of raw 8k 30fps video on a small form factor mirrorless camera with no fans seems pretty cutting edge to me.

  • Whatever

  • Roger Melen

    This seems to be trash talk/bashing to me. It is clearly no a camera for shooting 1 hour weddings properly in 8K. Most real video shooters should well aware that such cameras cost over $10,000 for just the body. Canon specifies clearly the limitations. I was impressed with it having 20 minutes capacity as most users of this type of technology should 1 minute segments or less. 20 minutes is way more than this. For this use there is not heath problem. Moreover, the R5 makes it easy to get good IQ stills from the same 8K video. Many phototographers today need to generater both still and video from the 1 minute clips done for many wedding and today you have to re-enact the scene or use two photographers: one for video and one for stills.

    • Alan Sach

      Just a couple days ago everyone was saying, “I’ll bet it will only be able to shoot timelapse 8k!” Twenty minutes WAY beat everyone’s expectations, but now it’s a big fail!! LOL!

  • Chainsaw Charlie

    Come on, Canon, i have promised my son i will shoot all of his soccer games in 120 fps 4K. What am i going to do now?!?!?! I’m doomed!!! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!

  • Thats type of topics are rly stupid 　. I think professionals know what i mean. BTW here is good example to here about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fceyaj6bPFc

  • Canon releasing these information on her own. This is expectation control.

  • If you want video, buy a video camera. Personally I wish the R5 didn’t even have video and cost less.

    • Then buy the R6 , when you remove the video specs , that’s what you get basically , part from the 45 MP

    • Richard Gifford yes it’s a camera not video!

  • What a Joke, stick to Panasonic Lumix S1H…!!!

    • The R5 overheats when shooting 8K, so the solution is a camera that doesn’t shoot 8K? Wow!

  • jazzmsngr

    If you have never owned a camera that overheats….you WILL care. The fact that canon has issued a memo means you can take those times and half them. When do manufacturers give reliable battery times? Those time they list are in OPTIMAL conditions with OPTIMAL setting. Change any variable and times will drop. Coming from owning an A6300 it stunted my confidence as a shooter. I’m not even talking about 8k which was the selling point. And no….on a hot day you will not get more then even 10min of 8k. But I’m more upset with the overheating 4K. Sure you can line skip 4K but then I could also do that for a camera that is significantly less money.

    You do not want to walk into a wedding or an interview worrying about when the camera will overheat. And it will. And the bigger issue canon has vs. Sony HAD….is the recovery time. With Sony pop out a new battery and you are pretty much ok to go. Again this memo is stating only 3min of record AFTER recovery….you are screwed.

  • Have u used it yet?

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