Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 officially announced

The EOS R5 shown with the RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. (Source: Canon.)

The pro-level EOS R5 delivers 45 megapixel stills and is designed for photographers who shoot both photos and video for professional applications. It is the first full frame mirrorless camera that can record 8K RAW footage at up to 29.97fps (25p for PAL format) internally while also offering both UHD and DCI 4K video formats with frame rates up to 120p (100p for PAL format). Recording durations are said to be up to 20 minutes but will be limited by heat build-up in the camera, which would be influenced by ambient temperatures.

The EOS R6 shown with the RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. (Source: Canon.)

The EOS R6 shares many features with the higher-resolution EOS R5 but is targeted at serious photo enthusiasts and semi-professionals across all genres. Featuring the same 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor as the professional EOS-1D X Mark III, it offers class-leading speed combined with full frame quality and versatility.

Both cameras feature a new 5-axis In-Body Image Stabiliser, which has been designed to work with the Optical IS systems of RF lenses to add pitch and yaw adjustments to the sensor’s roll and X-Y axis shake correction. The system can achieve up to eight stops of stabilisation with lenses like the popular RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM and RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM as well as the unstabilised RF 85mm f/1.2L USM and RF 28-70mm f/2L USM lenses.

While the R5’s video capabilities are clearly more professional, the R6 is almost as suitable for professional applications when used for video recording, retaining some ‘professional’ features, although with limitations (outlined in the table below). Both cameras support Canon Log recording at 4:2:2 10-bit colour depth as well as time-lapse recording in 4K or Full HD formats, although only the R5 is 8K enabled and the R6 only supports ALL-I compression for time-lapse and is unable to record RAW video footage.  Users of the R5 who want the very highest 4K quality can use the 4K HQ mode to reproduce maximum detail at frame rates up to 30p by internally oversampling 8K footage. The main differences between the EOS R5 and EOS R6 are listed below.

	EOS R5	EOS R6
Sensor	Approx. 36 x 24mm CMOS with approx. 47.1 photosites; low-pass filter	Approx. 36 x 24mm CMOS with approx. 21.4 photosites
Pixel size	Approx. 4.4μm square	Approx. 6.56μm square
Resolution	45 megapixels	20.1 megapixels
File formats	JPEG, HEIF, RAW (CR3, 14 bit RAW format), C-RAW (Canon original); Movies: ALL-I, IPB, RAW	JPEG, HEIF, RAW / C-RAW (CR3), C-RAW (Canon original) ; Movies: ALL-I (Time-lapse video only), IPB, MP4
Native ISO range	100-51,200 (expansion to ISO 50 and ISO 102400 available for stills)	100-102,400 (expansion to ISO 50 available for stills and ISO 204800 for stills and movies)
Movie quality	8K DCI/UHD @ 30p 12-bit; 4K at up to 100p; 4K UHD at 50p/25p; 4K DCI at 50p/25p/24p; FHD at 50p/25p; RAW movies; 4K HQ mode movies	4K UHD movie @ 50p 10-bit, 25p; FHD at50p/25p + HFR up to 100 fps
Time-lapse movies	8K, 4K, Full HD	4K, Full HD
Canon Log functions	Exposure control: P, Tv, Av, M; 10-bit internal (card) recording	Auto / Manual exposure; 10-bit internal (card) recording
Built-in microphone	Monaural	Stereo
EVF	OLED with 5.76 million dots; max. refresh rate = 119.98 fps; 0.76x magnification, 23mm eyepoint; +4 to -2 dpt adjustment	OLED with 3.69 million dots; max. refresh rate = 119.98 fps; 0.76x magnification, 23mm eyepoint; +4 to -2 dpt adjustment
Monitor	3.2-inch vari-angle with 2.1 million dots; Clear View LCD II coating; touch-screen controls	3-inch vari-angle LCD with 1.62 million dots; Clear View LCD II coating; touch- screen controls
Card slots	1x CFexpress, 1x SD	2x SD UHS II
Top panel	Dot matrix data display	Mode dial
Buffer capacity	SD card: 190 JPEG/ 66 RAW CFexpress card: 350 JPEG/180 RAW	240 JPEG/ 110 RAW
AF divisions	39 x 27 (1053 divisions)
Selectable AF points	5940	6072
Focusing brightness range	Stills: EV –6 to 20 Movies: 8K: EV -3 to 20, 4K/Full HD: EV -4 to 20	Stills: EV –6.5 to 20 Movies: EV –5 to 20
In-camera processing	DPRAW:  portrait relighting, background clarity; RAW (Adjust face lighting (Auto Lighting Optimizer), Clarity, HEIF-JPEG conversion (8K/4K)	RAW (Adjust face lighting (Auto Lighting Optimiser), Clarity, HEIF-JPEG conversion; 4K frame grab
Voice memo	Yes	No
Wireless File Transmission	Yes, with optional WFT-R10	No
Wi-Fi support	5 GHz with (WFT-R10)	2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and FTP
Dimensions (wxhxd)	138.5 x 97.5 x 88.0 mm	138.4 x 97.5 x 88.4 mm
Weight (Inc. battery & cards)	738 grams	680 grams

Both cameras have similar stills capabilities, including the ability to record in the HEIF file format. This option was introduced in the EOS-1D X Mark III as a JPEG alternative that supports higher bit depths and can display more than one billion colours. It can also capture a wider dynamic range to provide greater scope for post-capture editing. In-camera HEIF to JPEG conversion is available, along with raw image processing that includes Auto Lighting Optimiser and Clarity adjustments.

The DIGIC X processor introduced in the EOS-1D X Mark III is common to both cameras, enabling them to support continuous shooting at up to 20fps with the electronic shutter or up to 12fps with the mechanical shutter, in both cases with AF/AE tracking. Buffer capacities vary, depending on the type of memory card in use, and are outlined in the table above.

The rear panel of the EOS R6 showing the multi-controller. Both cameras have similar rear panel layouts. (Source: Canon.)

User demand sees the return of the multi-controller (AF joystick) to the new cameras for quick and easy adjustment of the AF frame. Both cameras also feature the next generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocusing system, which boasts a ‘world’s fastest’ lock-on speed of approximately 0.05 seconds over the full image frame. Users can choose between four AF methods – Face+Tracking, Spot AF, 1-point AF and Zone AF with 9×9, 9×21 and 31×9 selections. AF area expansion is also available and autofocusing is now possible at extremely low light levels.

Algorithms in the iTR AF X AF system’s face/eye detection mode ensure subjects are kept sharp, including when they are moving unpredictably within a shallow depth of field.  A subject’s head and body will continue to be tracked, even if they turn away momentarily. Advanced tracking can also recognise cats, dogs and birds in both still and movie modes, maintaining focus and tracking regardless of the subject’s size, posture, orientation or direction of the face.

The top panels of the EOS R5 (upper) and EOS R6 (lower) show the differences in layouts. (Source: Canon.)

The bodies of the new EOS R5 and R6 cameras are similar in size although the R5 is made from magnesium and is more weather-resistant, which makes it 58 grams heavier than R6. The EPS R5 and R6 differ in their top panel control layouts (shown above), where the EOS R5 has a LCD data display but the R6 has a mode dial that is similar to those on Canon’s enthusiast-level DSLR cameras. Mode selection on the R5 is carried out via the button on top of the rear control dial. No mention has been made of weather-proof sealing in the press materials provided for the EOS R6 but diagrams that have been supplied (reproduced below) suggest there is weather sealing in this camera’s body.

Two diagrammatic views of the EOS R6, presumably showing the positions of weatherproof sealing. (Source: Canon.)

The LCD monitor on the R5’s rear panel is also larger than the R6’s and, consequently, has slightly higher overall resolution. The other major physical difference is in the choice of card types for the dual card slots: the EOS R6 has dual SD UHS II slots, while the R5 has one slot for high-speed CFexpress and the other for SD UHS II cards. Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in both cameras make it easy to connect each camera to a smartphone and networks for high-speed file sharing and FTP/FTPS transfer. They can also be remotely controlled using the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps or tethered to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or the high-speed USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface. Image files can be transferred automatically from the device to the www.image.canon cloud platform for sharing, printing or integration with Google Photos or Adobe Cloud workflows.

The dual CFexpress and SD card slots in the EOS R5. (Source: Canon.)

Both cameras are powered by a new LP-E6NH battery, which replaces LP-E6N in the EOS R but retains compatibility with all existing cameras that use the LP-E6 series batteries. The new battery has an increased capacity of 14%, reaching 2130mAh, which enables users to shoot for longer. It can be charged via the USB-C terminal on each camera using the PD-E1 power adapter, which can also be used to power the camera.

The EOS R6 supports a wider ISO range for both stills and video, which make it ideal for shooting weddings and indoor events. It also records 4K UHD footage by oversampling from 5.1K capture, which results in higher quality than pixel binning and achieves frame rates up to 59.94fps (50 fps for PAL format). Unlike the R5, the R6 doesn’t permit DCI 4K movie recording. However, Full HD slow-motion footage can be recorded with AF support at frame rates up to 100fps (PAL format). The R6 also includes the option to record internally in 8-bit H.264 or 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 H.265 with Canon Log for post-production flexibility.

Both cameras have the same shutter speed ranges, which extend from 30 seconds to 1/8000 second. Flash synch for the mechanical shutter is at 1/200 second, while with the electronic shutter plus first-curtain sync is rises to 1/250 seconds. (Neither camera has a built-in flash.)

The new BG-R10 battery grip (top) and WFT-R10 Wi-Fi transmitter. (Source: Canon.)

Canon has also released two new grips: the BG-R10 battery grip which accepts two batteries and is compatible with both cameras and the WFT-R10 Wi-Fi transmitter, which is only compatible with the EOS R5. Providing 5GHz frequency support, it includes two MIMO antennas to provide faster and longer-range transmission. It also features enhanced network processing enabling SFTP via Wi-Fi as well as supporting gigabyte speed via an Ethernet port.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 will be supported by Canon Australia’s 5-year warranty when purchased from an authorised local dealer. Pre-orders for the EOS R5 and EOS R6 will be accepted from 9th July 2020 via the Canon Australia Store and specialist retailers. The new cameras will be available from late July 2020 (R5) and late August 2020 (R6). Canon doesn’t supply RRPs to Australian journalists but readers should be able to find them on the Canon Store website after 10 p.m. when full details of the new cameras will be released. In the interim, the Canon Rumors website has the EOS R5 body listed at AU$3899 (~AU$5581) and the EOS R6 body at US$2499 (~AU$3577).

Footnote: When we checked Canon Australia’s online store this morning to find the local RRPs for the new cameras it appears we underestimated the ‘Australia tax’ that would be applied to the new products. Canon has the EOS R5 body listed at AU$7099 and the EOS R6 at AU$4749. A further price check on 30 July showed the EOS R5 price at AU$6899 and the EOS R6 at AU$4599, which may be influenced by the rising value of the Australian dollar. Actual in-store pricing is likely to be somewhere between our estimate and Canon’s RRPs with the latest best ‘pre-order’ prices we’ve found having the R5 at AU$6448 and the R6 at $4299.