Canon EOS R5 Development Announced – 8K Video and IBIS

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by Jeff LochFebruary 13^th, 2020

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Canon has just announced the development of a high-end EOS R camera: the Canon EOS R5. This new flagship Full-Frame RF-mount camera can shoot 8K videos and is the first camera to feature in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Let’s take a closer look!

Canon EOS R5 – Features

Rumors about a new high-end Canon EOS R mirrorless camera have been appearing everywhere on the Internet for quite a while now. Today, Canon confirmed that they are working on the Canon EOS R5, a “full-frame mirrorless camera containing CMOS sensor, image processing, optical and other state-of-the-art technologies.”

Here is what we know at the moment about the Canon EOS R5:

• It features a newly developed CMOS sensor.
• The Canon EOS R5 can shoot stills at up to 20 frames per second using an electronic shutter. Using the mechanical shutter, you can go at up to 12 FPS.
• Support automatic transfer of image files from the R5 to the image.canon cloud platform.
• For filmmakers and everybody waiting for it, it can shoot 8K video. There is no official information at the moment about the EOS R5 codecs, framerates, bitrates, or anything else. We also don’t know if Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus will work in 8K resolution. Obviously, you can extract stills from an 8K video that will be decent enough for most photography use cases. Also, the R5 can down-sample 8K videos to 4K for improved image quality. No word on any potential cropping that might occur in either mode.
• Also, a feature that every content creator has been waiting for from Canon is finally here: in-body image stabilization (IBIS). If you combine the in-camera stabilization with IS from Canon lenses, I have no doubt that it will be a rock-solid stabilization system. (Believe it or not, this is the first Canon camera to ever feature IBIS.)
• Another very welcomed feature is the addition of dual media card slots for redundancy purposes.

Image credit: Canon

The EOS R line was started in October 2018. A flagship camera like the Canon EOS R5 was the missing link to make filmmakers and photographers embrace the new ecosystem fully – so far it seemed like Canon was still betting mostly on DSLRs for high-end photography. Yet, Canon has been pushing their boundaries and video capabilities in their cameras lately with the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III and Canon C500 Mark II, which is a great thing. We can’t wait to have more information and review the EOS R5.

There is currently no other official information about the Canon EOS R5, its price, or even availability.

Image credit: Canon

Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM Lens

Next to the EOS R5 announcement, Canon also launched a new entry-level zoom lens: the Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM lens. Indeed, this wide-angle to short telephoto lens is not the fastest out there with a variable maximum aperture that goes from F/4 at the wide end all the way up to F/7.1 at 105mm.

Image credit: Canon

The Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM features an Optical Image Stabilizer as well as an STM motor for quiet and fast AF performances. Also, with a minimum focusing distance of only 5.2″, the lens features a unique Center Macro Focus position, which allows for a 1:2 maximum magnification ratio. Finally, you can configure the Control Ring to adjust a wide variety of settings, including aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation.

The Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 IS STM has a 67 mm front filter diameter, and it is relatively compact at just 3 x 3.5″ / 76.2 x 88.9 mm for a weight of only 394.5 grams. This lens looks like a good “kit lens” that can be purchased next to a Canon EOS R/RP. Indeed, this soon to be available lens is one of the most affordable RF zoom lens at just $399.00, but we shouldn’t expect wonders from it as this looks very much like the specs of a typical kit lens (with the loss of light across the range being the biggest problem).

Image credit: Canon

Canon RF Lenses Roadmap

Last but not least, Canon announced the development of nine RF lenses that should be released during this year. Amongst these new RF lenses, there will be the RF 100-500mm F/4.5-7.1 L IS USM. Also, two RF Extender will be launched, with a 1.4x and 2x magnification ratio. All these three new products will be on display in the Canon booth at CP+ 2020 in Japan – stay tuned for our coverage – that starts on the 27th of February (if all goes according to plan – an increasing number of events are being canceled due to fears of the Coronavirus – for example even the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that was supposed to take place at the end of February).

What do you think of these new Canon RF announcement? Do you think the Canon EOS R5 could be your first step into the RF-mount ecosystem? Let us know in the comments below!