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Canon Debut the EOS R5 & R6 Mirrorless Cameras

- 4 years ago

Canon has [finally] revealed the EOS R5 and EOS R6 mirrorless cameras. Two new full-frame mirrorless camera additions to the already popular EOS R System, built on the future-proof RF Mount. Such a significant announcement, we’ve posted Canon’s official press release in full, well, minus a handful of the overblown superlatives!

Canon EOS R5
Canon’s new flagship mirrorless camera, the EOS R5

The pro-level EOS R5 delivers 45-megapixel stills at up to 20fps and is the first full-frame mirrorless ever to record 8K RAW up to 29.97fps internally and 4K to 120p. EOS R6 is perfect for enthusiasts and professionals moving to mirrorless and looking for greater capabilities, capturing 20.1-megapixel stills at 20fps, stunning 4K video up to 60p and Full HD at up to 120p. Nothing comes close to the speed and resolution of EOS R5 and EOS R6.

Redefining professional mirrorless

Next-gen CMOS sensor technology combined with high-performance RF lenses enables users to capture new levels of detail at industry-leading speeds. EOS R5 and EOS R6 can shoot up to 20fps with the electronic shutter in complete silence with full auto exposure [AE] and autofocus [AF] tracking. Users can be confident capturing action, both stills and video, in exceptional quality in any location without disturbing subjects. The mechanical and electronic first curtain shutter also delivers high-speed continuous shooting up to 12fps.

Canon R5 & R6
Canon R5 & R6 with the Four new lenses and Two Extenders

For the first time in the EOS series, EOS R5 and EOS R6 incorporate 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilisation [IBIS] providing benefits for users of all types of lenses. Designed to work collaboratively with the IS system of RF lenses, the solution has been engineered so that RF lenses and the sensor work to correct pitch and yaw with the sensor correcting X-Y and roll movements. This intelligent stabilisation system corrects at up to an incredible 8-stops – the world’s best image stabilisation – for new levels of creativity when shooting handheld at slow shutter speeds or filming without a tripod.

The wide diameter of the RF Mount ensures that light continues to reach the entire sensor all the way to the corners, even with the sensor movement introduced with in-body image stabilisation. The 54mm diameter enables RF lenses to be designed with larger image circles facilitating the greater movement of the body IS system, meaning some non-IS RF lenses such as the RF 85mm F1.2L USM or RF 28-70mm F2L USM can also achieve up to 8-stops of image stabilisation.

Key specifications

Users of EF lenses will experience enhanced IS performance as in-body IS works with IS enabled EF lenses to provide roll and X-Y correction. Even non-IS EF lenses will benefit from the 5-axis correction provided by EOS R5 and EOS R6 in-body IS.

EOS R5:EOS R6:
45 megapixel full-frame sensor20.1 megapixel full frame sensor
Up to 20fps/ 12fpsUp to 20fps/ 12fps
In-body IS up to 8-stopsIn-body IS up to 8-stops
Dual Pixel CMOS AF IIDual Pixel CMOS AF II
ISO range 100-51,200ISO range 100-102,400
8K movie 30p 12-bit [full width]4K movie 60p 10-bit, Full HD 120fps
5.76 million dot EVF3.69 million dot EVF
3.2inch 2.1 million dot vari-angle LCD3inch 1.62 million dot vari-angle LCD
Dual card slots [1x CFexpress, 1x SD UHS II]Dual card slots [2x SD UHS II]
Top panel display and AF multi-controllerAF multi-controller
Built-in 5Ghz Wi-Fi with optional wireless transmitter [WFT-R10]Built-in 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and FTP
BluetoothBluetooth
USB charging and power via PD-E1USB charging and power via PD-E1
Body only 650g [738g with battery/ memory card]Body only 598g [690g with battery/memory card]

Keeping it sharp

DIGIC X processor technology at the core of EOS R5 and EOS R6 – the same technology in the coveted EOS-1D X Mark III – supports renowned next-generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF II pushing speed and reliability to unmatched levels. The world’s fastest AF focuses in as little as 0.05 seconds and EOS R5 can focus in light levels as low as -6EV and EOS R6 is the first EOS camera to offer a minimum EV for AF of -6.5EV. The high precision AF is effective in even poorly lit or low contrast shooting conditions.

The iTR AF X AF system has been programmed using deep-learning AI and face/eye detection mode ensures subjects are kept sharp even when moving unpredictably with a shallow depth of field. Even if a person turns away for a moment, their head continues to be tracked.

Advanced tracking enabled by deep learning algorithms recognises faces and eyes of humans, and now includes cats, dogs and birds in both still and movie modes. EOS R5 and EOS R6 maintain high-precision focus and tracking regardless of the subject’s size, posture, orientation or direction of the face helping users to confidently shoot even the most unpredictable subjects.

Connection

With built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the EOS R5 [5Ghz Wi-Fi] and EOS R6 [2.4Ghz Wi-Fi] can be easily connected to a smartphone and networks allowing high-speed file sharing and FTP/FTPS transfer. This functionality also allows for the cameras to be remotely controlled using the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps, tethered to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or high-speed USB 3.1 Gen 2. With content delivery just as important as image and video capture, the EOS R5 and EOS R6 support the automatic transfer of image files from the device to the image.canon cloud platform to share and print images or integrate with Google Photos or Adobe Creative Cloud workflows.

EOS R5 is certainly a leap forward in mirrorless technology and offers the highest resolution EOS camera ever. The DIGIC X processor, CMOS sensor and RF lenses combine to advance all aspects of image quality to achieve a resolution exceeding 45 megapixels. Up to 100% AF coverage with 5,940 selectable AF points and ISO range of 100-51,200 keep subjects razor-sharp even in extreme low light conditions. Dual-card slots support a high-speed CFexpress and SD UHS-II card, housed in a weather-resistant magnesium body.

Professionals can capture stunning 8K 12-bit RAW video internally using the full width of the sensor for a truly cinematic result with continuous eye and face AF tracking for people and animals. The EOS R5 also sets new standards for videographers shooting in 4K. Capture 4K DCI [full frame] and 4K UHD at frame rates up to 120p [119.88fps] with 4:2:2 10-bit quality, enabling high resolution, smooth slow-motion with full AF performance. Users seeking the very highest 4K quality can use the 4K HQ mode to reproduce incredible detail at frame rates up to 30p by internally oversampling 8K footage.

  • 8K RAW internal video recording up to 29.97fps [non-cropped]
  • 8K internal video recording up to 29.97fps [non-cropped] in 4:2:2 10-bit Canon Log [H.265] or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ [H.265]
  • 4K internal recording up to 119.88fps [non-cropped] in 4:2:2 10-bit Canon Log [H.265] or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ [H.265]
  • 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ output via HDMI at 4K 59.94fps

User demand sees the return of the multi-controller to EOS R5 in addition to touch and drag AF using the 3.2inch vari-angle touch screen with 2.1 million dot resolution. With Dual Pixel RAW also supported, correction of the focus and contrast in the background and changing the lighting in portraits is possible after capture – enhancing creative possibilities. The 0.5inch electronic viewfinder [EVF] refreshes at 120fps with 5.76 million dot resolution for a staggeringly realistic view of the world comparable to an optical viewfinder.

Canon EOS R6
The Canon EOS R 6

EOS R6: All-rounder mirrorless from Canon 

EOS R6, like EOS R5, showcases the amazing capabilities of the EOS R System, giving the potential to take sharp images and movies handheld. Providing class-leading speed and full-frame quality, EOS R6 is a powerful and versatile camera far exceeding the demands of enthusiasts and semi-professionals across all genres. Sports and wildlife enthusiasts can confidently capture fast-moving action utilising the up to 20fps speed, the flexibility of up to 6,072 selectable AF points and deep learning-based automatic face, eye and animal AF tracking modes. The 20.1 megapixel CMOS sensor shares many technologies and performance seen with the EOS-1D X Mark III providing 100-102,400 auto ISO range enabling users to produce clean images in the toughest low light environments such as weddings and indoor events, providing additional flexibility and choice.

Enabling content creators to meet the increasing demand to produce both still and moving image, the EOS R6 can film in 4K UHD resolution at up to 59.94fps achieved through oversampling from 5.1K. Output incredible slow-motion footage with AF support using Full HD at up to 119.88fps. During movie shooting, zebra display can be used as a guide to exposure adjustment, particularly useful in conditions that typically result in overexposed highlights. With the option to record internally in 8-bit H.264 or 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 H.265 and Canon Log, users can experience ultimate post-production flexibility.

The 0.5inch 3.69 million dot EVF working up to 120fps maximum refresh rate supports minimal lag ideal for photographing sports, offering a transparent and responsive view of shooting subjects. The 3-inch vari-angle 1.62 million dot LCD screen encourages shooting from creative angles. Dual card slots allow users to input 2x SD UHS II cards and record to both cards simultaneously, with the ability to record in different formats for safety, security and speed.

Canon EOS R5 Card slots
Canon EOS R5 XQD & SD Card Slots

Three new EOS accessories

LP-E6NH

A new longer life battery supplied with EOS R5, EOS R6 and compatible with all existing cameras that use the LP-E6 series batteries. LP-E6NH replaces LP-E6N, with an increased capacity of 14% reaching 2130mAh, enabling users to shoot for longer while maintaining compatibility with existing products and accessories.

BG-R10 battery grip

Enables extended, undisturbed shooting with EOS R5 and EOS R6, great for wedding, wildlife and news shooters. The new battery grip gives users the ability to power the bodies using two batteries [LP-E6/N/NH]. The grip also offers duplicate controls for easier vertical shooting.

WFT-R10 transmitter

Battery grip style Wi-Fi transmitter and 2×2 MIMO antennas for faster and longer-range transmission, compatible with EOS R5. WFT-R10 also features enhanced network processing enabling SFTP via Wi-Fi and includes a gigabyte speed via ethernet port.

Pricing & Availability

The EOS R5 will be available on the 30th July 2020, with the following SRP: £4,199.99

The EOS R6 will be available on the 27th August 2020, with the following SRP: £2,499.99

Head to Canon’s site for any further info.

About the author

Read Canon Debut the EOS R5 & R6 Mirrorless Cameras

Simon Skinner

Co-founder // Editor

Having spent many years working in various pockets of the music industry, and always with a camera in hand, Simon has worked with organisations such as Warner/Chappell, Food Records and ultimately, co-founding the innovative independent record label, Izumi Records before moving fully into the world of publishing in 2007. Amongst numerous other projects in the last decade, he has been responsible for a number of specialist photo trade magazines and journals for the filmmaking and photography communities, along with a coffee table book entitled, "Great Britons of Photography' which he produced with Peter Dench and Leica. Now heading up PhotoBite, Simon and the team have set themselves a task of delivering informative and inspirational content for photographers of all levels, from the beginner, shooting with smartphones, to the seasoned photographer and filmmaker.