Canon has combined its mirrorless and cinema expertise into a single body, the 45-megapixel EOS R5 C. Given the excellent reviews of the R5 and the added video features in the new model, this is a hybrid camera that may well find its way onto the wish lists of many pro photographers who want or need high-end capabilities for still and video in a single body.

On the still side, the R5 C is, essentially, an R5 with plenty of photo options. The R5 C can capture up to 20 frames per second and features Canon’s excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system with 1,053 AF zones. You’ll also find body, face and eye detection (including for animals) and there’s a still-image vehicle subject detection for tracking cars and motorcycles.

[Read: Canon’s EOS R5 & R6 Full-Frame Mirrorless and More]

Physically, one of the key differences from the R5 is the size. In order to fit the cooling system into the body, the camera has gained some bulk and measures 5.6 x 4.0 x 4.4 inches and weighs 1.7 pounds with the battery and CFexpress card. Another notable physical difference, and a welcome change, is the replacement of the R5’s hotshoe with an accessory shoe (like that of the EOS R3) that can accommodate 3rd-party XLR adapters.

The biggest differences are, of course, on the video side. While the Canon EOS R5 had solid video features, recording time was limited to 30 minutes and users often had problems with the camera overheating. Thanks to the new internal cooling system, Canon promises recording times limited only by battery life and/or card capacity (the R5 C has dual CFexpress and SD card slots).

Video capabilities are extensive and flexible for a long list of options. While you’ll need to visit usa.canon.com for full details, highlights include the ability to capture up to 8K/60p RAW Light files internally to a CFexpress card. XF-AVC and MP4 Codecs are also available and dual format recording is possible. The R5 C can shoot up to 4K 120p for 4:2:2 10 bit slow and fast motion recording. And, the camera will record a WAV audio file at the same time—an excellent option so you don’t have to record audio separately for high frame rate capture.

[Read: Canon EOS RS 3 Review: A Sharp Speed Demon]

Although the R5 C doesn’t have in-body image stabilization like the R5, it does offer digital stabilization that can work in concert with IS lenses for both still and video.

There are far more features than we have room for here but let’s just say you’re likely to find everything you need for a wide variety of projects. Whether you’re tasked with shooting stills and video at a wedding or producing multimedia content for events or any of almost limitless possibilities for clients or reportage, the Canon EOS R5 C may prove invaluable to your work.

The Canon EOS R5 was announced in July 2020 for a price of $3,899 (body only). The EOS R5 C body only is launching at $4,499. Do the math and you’re getting a whole lot more for only an additional $600. Sounds like a good value to us!

usa.canon.com