I shot a feature film in 8K RAW with the Canon EOS R5 (Amazon, B&H), and it has a special place in my heart.
The Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) was eagerly awaited. Has the Canon R5C (Amazon, B&H), and possibly the upcoming R5C Mark II, or C70 Mark II, made this camera redundant for video?
Is the Canon EOS R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) really a decent enough improvement? That’s what I wanted to find out in this article.
Please note: This article is video and cinema-centric. It’s not for photographers or for photography.
Let’s get started.
Comparison of sensors
Canon claims the R5 Mark II has a completely new back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor. Here are the specs:
| Camera | Sensor Size | Sensor Size for Video | Max Shoot Speed* |
| Canon R5 Mark II | 36 x 24 mm | 36 x 19 mm | 30 fps |
| Canon R5 | 36 x 24 mm | 36 x 19 mm | 20 fps |
| Canon R5C | 36 x 24 mm | 36 x 19 mm | 20 fps |
Here’s how the camera sensors compare for video:
| Camera | Resolution | FPS in 8K RAW | Max fps at 4K | Super 35mm RAW |
| Canon R5 Mark II | 8192 x 4320 | 60 fps | 120 fps | 4K DCI (62.1%) and UHD (58.1%)^ |
| Canon R5 | 8192 x 4320 | 30 fps | 120 fps | n/a |
| Canon R5C | 8192 x 4320 | 60 fps* | 120 fps | 6K and 4K DCI and UHD^ |
** It can record up to 100 fps in 8-bit 4:2:0 mode.
^ The percentage is the crop in this mode. 1.6x in DCI and 1.72x in UHD.
The Canon R5C (Amazon, B&H) has more RAW features, with both 6K and 4K RAW modes, as well as a Super 16mm 2K mode.
Rolling shutter
The Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) should clearly have the better rolling shutter performance.
This is a much-needed improvement. However, I’ll have to get my hands on one to test and see how it translates into real-world performance improvements.
Video features
Let’s look at more specs:
| Camera | Video ISO Range | Base ISO in Log | Dynamic Range |
| Canon R5 Mark II | 100-25,600* | 800** | 16 stops |
| Canon R5 | 100-25,600 | 800 | 12 stops |
| Canon R5C | 100-25,600 | 800 | 14 stops |
** Not confirmed yet.
The Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) clearly has more dynamic range, on par with Canon’s cinema line of cameras.
Here are log modes available:
| Camera | Canon Log | Canon Log 2 | Canon Log 3 |
| Canon R5 Mark II | No | Yes | Yes |
| Canon R5 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Canon R5C | No | No | Yes |
The R5 Mark II also has Canon Log 2, which is when it’s expected to reach 16 stops of dynamic range.
Here are the RAW modes available in each camera:
| Camera | Cinema RAW Standard | Cinema RAW Light | SRAW |
| Canon R5 Mark II | Yes | Yes** | Yes^ |
| Canon R5 | Yes | Yes** | No |
| Canon R5C | No | Yes* | No |
** Canon RAW Light ST
^ SRAW uses the full sensor, in 4K only, and comes in both standard and light variants. SRAW Is an image RAW format as far as I know. I don’t know how useful it is for video.
Here’s info on the rest of the codecs and color:
| Camera | H.264 | H.265 | Proxy |
| Canon R5 Mark II | XF-AVC (H.264) 10-bit 4:2:2, 8-bit 4:2:0, Long-GOP | XF-HEVC S/H.265 10-bit 4:2:2, 8-bit 4:2:0, ALL-I and Long-GOP | XF-HEVC S 10-bit 4:2:0, Long GOP XF-AVC S 8-bit 4:2:0, Long GOP |
| Canon R5 | XF-AVC (H.264) 10-bit 4:2:2, 8-bit 4:2:0, Long-GOP | XF-AVC (H.265) 10-bit 4:2:2, 8-bit 4:2:0, ALL-I and Long-GOP | 8-bit 4:2:0 |
| Canon R5C | XF-AVC (H.264) 10-bit 4:2:2, ALL-I and Long-GOP H.264 10-bit 4:2:2, 10-bit 4:2:0 and 8-bit 4:2:0, Long-GOP only | HEVC (H.265) 10-bit 4:2:2, 10-bit 4:2:0 and 8-bit 4:2:0, Long-GOP only | XF-AVC 8-bit 4:2:0, Long GOP H.264 8-bit 4:2:0, Long GOP |
There are two proxy variants in the new R5 Mark II. The lowest is 9 Mbps. The standard rate is 16 Mbps.
From a filmmaking and cinematography perspective, Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) definitely has improvements all around.
Let’s explore further.
Autofocus
The Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) has, according to Canon:
OUR SMARTEST AUTOFOCUS YET
EOS R5 Mark II’s Dual Pixel Intelligent AF sets new standards. Sharp focus is maintained on moving subjects, even when briefly obscured from view. Action Priority mode detects players in football, basketball and volleyball, moving the active AF point in response to specific actions – such as a shot on goal made from a high-speed pass.
I expect it to do better than the other two cameras in this comparison. However, I’d still not recommend autofocus for cinema narrative work. It’s just too unreliable.
But, for video work it would definitely be an improvement.
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II has better exposure aids
Here are the exposure options:
| Camera | Exposure |
| Canon R5 Mark II | Waveform, False Color, Zebras, Histogram, Meter |
| Canon R5 | Zebras, Histogram, Meter |
| Canon R5C | Waveform, False Color, Zebras, Histogram, Meter |
The Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) has a false color tool. That is a great addition, and long overdue.
Overheating and Recording Limits
Unfortunately, the Canon R5 Mark II overheats, just like the original R5. The Canon R5C (Amazon, B&H) doesn’t overheat because it has an in-built cooling fan.
According to Canon:
Shoot 8K 30p video for up to four times longer, thanks to the cooling function build in to the optional Cooling Fan CF-R20EP grip.
The CF-R20EP Battery Grip has a multi-speed cooling fan. It takes two LP-E6P batteries so you get double the battery life.
It also features a 2.5G Base-T high speed ethernet port to quickly transmit photos and videos via LAN, especially when operating in Dual Shooting mode.
The problem is, the grip costs $399. And then, there’s this:
The cooling fan may make mechanical sounds that are included in recordings. In this case, set the fan speed to [Low] or [Off].
Canon
Switching off the cooling fan will definitely be as bad as not having it. Setting it to low will speed up overheating.
Canon R5 Mark II can record video up to 6 hours. But definitely not in RAW.
External Recording and RAW
Here’s the lowdown:
| Camera | HDMI Port | RAW Codec |
| Canon R5 Mark II | Type A | Prores RAW* |
| Canon R5 | micro-HDMI (Type D) | Prores RAW* |
| Canon R5C | micro-HDMI (Type D) | Prores RAW* |
Type A is definitely an improvement, though not a huge advantage. On my film we had an Atomos Shogun connected to the R5 for about 30 days, and we only managed to break one pin.
Image Stabilization
All cameras have 5-axis image stabilization. However, the Canon R5C (Amazon, B&H) has half a stop of improvement over the Canon EOS R5 and R5C.
Media cards
Let’s take a closer look at the media card situation:
| Camera | Dual card slots |
| Canon R5 Mark II | Yes, CFexpress Type B, UHS-II SD Card |
| Canon R5 | Yes, CFexpress Type B, UHS-II SD Card |
| Canon R5C | Yes, CFexpress Type B, UHS-II SD Card |
I’m not going into the data rates and such because the R5C has the best RAW options. Otherwise it’s a wash, mostly.
Batteries
What about battery life?
| Camera | Battery life* | Cost | Battery Type | Voltage |
| Canon R5 Mark II | 20% more than R5 | $79 | LP-E6P 2130mAh | 8.4V |
| Canon R5 | n/a | $79 | LP-E6NH 2130mAh | 7.2V |
| Canon R5C | 50 minutes | $79 | LP-E6NH 2130mAh | 7.2V |
The R5 Mark II uses the newer LP-E6P batteries. These batteries can be used with the R5 and R5C only after a future firmware update. However, it will not improve the features, overheating or add any benefits.
You can use LP-E6NH batteries with the R5 Mark II, though with decreased performance. From Canon:
When using the LP-E6NH/LP-E6N, the network (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) functions and multi-function shoe accessories that require heavy power supply from the camera cannot be used. Pre-continuous shooting, HDMI RAW output, and dual shooting (still & movie) are not available. Continuous shooting speed may be reduced. During movie recording, resolution, image quality, and frame rate are limited.
What the new LP-E6P battery has is a higher voltage, which gives enough power to help get 8K 60 fps, and to drive the additional processing power required. As I stated earlier, the R5C can record in 8K 60p only with external power.
Which camera is cheaper to own?
Let’s just add up the costs:
| Camera | Canon R5 Mark II | Canon R5 | Canon R5C |
| Camera body | $4,299 | $2,999 | $3,599 |
| Media | Same | Same | Same |
| Batteries | Same | Same | Same |
| Battery Grip | $399 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,698 | $2,999 | $3,599 |
I’ve included the battery grip, otherwise this comparison is moot, really. The price difference is substantial.
Recap
Who wins each feature?
| Feature | Winner |
| Sensor and ISO | Tie |
| Video features | Canon R5 Mark II |
| Dynamic Range | Canon R5 Mark II |
| Color | Canon R5 Mark II |
| Rolling Shutter | Canon R5 Mark II |
| Overheating and Recording Limits | Canon R5C |
| Exposure Aids | Canon R5 Mark II and R5C |
| Media | Tie |
| Lenses | Tie |
| Ergonomics | R5C* |
| Ports and Monitoring | Canon R5 Mark II |
| External Recording | Tie |
| Audio | Tie |
| Autofocus | Canon R5 Mark II |
| Image Stabilization | Canon R5 Mark II |
| Battery life | Canon R5 Mark II |
My Verdict of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Here’s what I think:
| Type of Filmmaking | Preferred Camera | Major Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Documentaries and corporate videos | Canon R5C | No overheating, Timecode |
| Short or feature films | Canon R5C | No overheating, Timecode |
| Music Videos | Canon R5 Mark II | Better AF, IBIS, rolling shutter |
| Wildlife | Canon R5 Mark II | Better AF, IBIS, rolling shutter |
| Weddings and Events | Canon R5 Mark II | Better AF, IBIS, rolling shutter |
Which is the better camera? For most video-centric work the Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) is clearly the better camera.
For narrative filmmaking though, the R5C still wins. The only serious advantage the R5 Mark II has is 16 stops of dynamic range, though that might be in Canon Log 2. Canon hasn’t published the results in Canon Log 3, which I suspect will be not that significant a difference.
The Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) might be a better B-camera if Canon Log 2 is the primary codec. With RAW, though, it doesn’t matter.
Is the Canon R5 Mark II worth it?
I won’t beat around the bush.
I don’t think the Canon R5 Mark II (Amazon, B&H) is worth the money. It’s too expensive for whatever improvements it provides.
If you’re a working professional and are earning a lot of money go buy a Canon C400 or a Canon C70. Both those cameras will allow you to do more jobs and earn even more money. That is where your “added investment” should go. Read this to know more about the state of the cinema line:
In my strong opinion, the R5 Mark II has clearly been curtailed on purpose so it stays a photographer’s camera primarily.
I won’t be upgrading for sure.
In this price range, the Canon R5C (Amazon, B&H) and the Canon C70 are still the best choices.
What do you think?
R5c with updated firmware is capable of recording 8K60p with new LP-E6P batteries :) It’s worth updating in your great article!
A very interesting camera. In don’t think the camera will get to those 16stops in video mode. It’s still 12 bit processing in video mode. It probably will be more, otherwise they wouldn’t include canon log 3, but let’s wait and see.
I have an R5C and the biggest thing for me is the full size HDMI and the dynamic range, but those are definitely not worth it to lose the Cinema OS for. That’s worth a lot more to me.
Absolutely. It’ll be great to have 16 stops on an R5C Mark II, though.
Did you test the Canon R5 mkii with the cooling grip? It is said to make a huge difference.
I’ll try to get my hands on it if I can. How much is “huge”?
One of the best cameras in market