Canon R5C... for me?

[Jorgen Udvang]

I've spent the last 24 hours watching videos by people who have actually used this new Canon, trying to avoid the spec-sheet readers who all complain about the lack of IBIS, and trying to figure out if this is for me.

It does lack IBIS of course, but most of Canon's lenses have IS, there's even an EF mount 85mm with IS, and the electronic stabilisation seems to work fine too. It also doesn't have a full sized HDMI port, but this camera records 8K 60p internally and have most of the video tools one can dream of, so I can't see why I would need an external monitor.

Where it does click the buttons for me are:

- 8K 60 and 4K 120 RAW internally
- Unlimited recording with all formats
- Half the weight an size of a Z9
- Fully separated menus and function button settings for photo and video
- Maintains the standard R5's image quality and features for stills (except IBIS)
- A relatively reasonable $4,500
- ... and the list goes on and on and on

The reviews from actual users all seem to be more or less sponsored by Canon, but the enthusiasm shows. This is a high quality workhorse with few limitations. If I go full frame this year, this is a strong candidate.

 

[KC_2020]

I've spent the last 24 hours watching videos by people who have actually used this new Canon, trying to avoid the spec-sheet readers who all complain about the lack of IBIS, and trying to figure out if this is for me....

The reviews from actual users all seem to be more or less sponsored by Canon, but the enthusiasm shows....

The review by Johnnie Behri of CineD is also by an actual user and very positive. However he follows it up with an interview with a Canon product marketing specialist answering some pretty direct questions. It's definitely worth your time to watch both of these videos if you have not already seen them.

It looks like an amazing camera and one I'm also considering.

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

The review by Johnnie Behri of CineD is also by an actual user and very positive. However he follows it up with an interview with a Canon product marketing specialist answering some pretty direct questions. It's definitely worth your time to watch both of these videos if you have not already seen them.

It looks like an amazing camera and one I'm also considering.

Here's an interesting comparison of IS modes with the R5:

 

[iiiNelson]

Looks like a great camera with a few head scratching desicions I thought they’d correct. The first is that there’s no full sized HDMI, the second is that there’s not a dual CFE-B slot, and the third is the removal of IBIS. If they had all of these things I think it would’ve cut deeply into what the Z9 hopes to do… and maybe even would’ve picked up some RED users that have a hard time picking up those cameras due to shortages.

 

[Jorgen Udvang]

Looks like a great camera with a few head scratching desicions I thought they’d correct. The first is that there’s no full sized HDMI, the second is that there’s not a dual CFE-B slot, and the third is the removal of IBIS. If they had all of these things I think it would’ve cuz deeply into what the Z9 hopes to do… and maybe even would’ve picked up some RED users that have a hard time picking up those cameras due to shortages.

It's an R5 body. Once they start changing things, it costs money, in addition to losing the advantage of a shared parts bin between the two R5 models. That's the reason for the HDMI, the card slots and the single hole tripod mount. There are two main reasons for the removal of IBIS. One is that many potential users prefer a camera with a fixed sensor for assorted, mostly good, reasons. The other is that neither the processing capacity nor the battery capacity is sufficient to handle IBIS when the new formats had been added, particularly the compressed 8K RAW.

See the interview by Johnnie Behri linked to above: an interview

 

[iiiNelson]

It's an R5 body. Once they start changing things, it costs money, in addition to losing the advantage of a shared parts bin between the two R5 models. That's the reason for the HDMI, the card slots and the single hole tripod mount. There are two main reasons for the removal of IBIS. One is that many potential users prefer a camera with a fixed sensor for assorted, mostly good, reasons. The other is that neither the processing capacity nor the battery capacity is sufficient to handle IBIS when the new formats had been added, particularly the compressed 8K RAW.

See the interview by Johnnie Behri linked to above: an interview

Well there are clearly physical differences in the body like active cooling and software like cinema menus that differentiate it from the normal R5. All of the things I mentioned are things that are video/cinema people are going to really want. Then there’s the removal of the IBIS (which yes some would prefer) but they’d also like internal VND in that space even at a higher price point. Again… just my opinion and further cementing that I made the correct choice in just getting an actual cinema camera for my video needs. It’s like Canon was soooo close to getting everything right and sealing the deal for so many but then they pulled a Canon and brought out that old cripple hammer.

As it stands the R5C is just as heavy as my Mavo Edge body for body but also about 1/3 the price. I’d love to see some of these hybrid companies just getting it all right but there’s always something whether they leave out what many feel are critical feature, the body is too small, the brand is on their last legs, or the product just needs more time to be fleshed out….