Canon EOS R5 II as a video tool

The Canon EOS R5 II isn’t just a new version of the company’s popular R5 mirrorless camera; it’s the spiritual successor to the EOS 5D series of ‘affordable’ full-frame digital cameras. That includes the EOS 5D Mark II, the world’s first Full HD video-capable DSLR, a model that reset the market’s expectations for video capabilities on ‘photography’ cameras, and which, according to several Canon insiders we’ve talked to over the years, gave Canon the confidence to expand more aggressively into the digital cinema market.

Many of the R5 II’s headline-grabbing specs have centered around the camera’s photo capabilities, but it shouldn’t be a surprise that the EOS R5 II is for filmmakers as much as it is for stills shooters. In the following slides, we’ll examine what the camera offers to movie shooters.

Video specs

The EOS R5 II includes a wide variety of resolutions and frame rates to support just about any level of video quality. At its highest quality, the camera can capture DCI-style 8K Raw video internally at frame rates up to 60p. The R5 II also features a new 4K ‘SRaw’ recording option, with frame rates up to 60p. Canon hasn’t disclosed whether this 4K is downsampled from 8K or subsampled on the sensor, but it’s something we’ll test for our full review.

When shooting compressed video, the camera can capture 8K, 4K, and even Full HD resolutions in either DCI (1.89:1) or UHD (16:9) aspect ratios, using either the full width of the sensor or a very slight crop (1.05x). This includes 8K up to 30p, subsampled 4K up to 120p, and subsampled FHD up to 240p. It’s also possible to capture 4K and FHD resolutions in both DCI and UHD ratios using a cropped APS-C region of the sensor.

Finally, when connected to an external recorder via HDMI, the camera can also output 8K Raw at up to 30p or 4K Raw at up to 60p, both in a 1.89:1 aspect ratio. We’d be very surprised if this can’t be encoded as ProRes RAW once Atomos has had some time with the camera.

Codecs

The R5 II includes multiple codecs to support its myriad video options. When recording Raw video, the camera provides the option to record in either Canon’s Raw or Raw Light format. Video captured at frame rates of 50p or higher uses the Raw Light format to keep file sizes in check. Of course, there’s also the aforementioned SRaw option for 4K Raw video.

In an effort to better align its newest mirrorless cameras with its Cinema EOS product line, the R5 II features Canon’s XF-HEVC S and XF-AVC S compressed video formats, both of which can capture 4:2:2 10-bit color. The XF-HEVC S format, based on the H.265 codec, also allows you to capture 4:2:0 8- or 10-bit video, whereas XF-AVC S, based on the older H.264 codec, offers a 4:2:0 8-bit option.

The R5 II also includes the ability to capture HDR video by simultaneously capturing normal and underexposed frames, combining them to better preserve highlights in high-contrast scenes. This can be combined with the camera’s PQ picture profile for use on compatible TVs or displays.

Rolling shutter

One of the most significant upgrades in the EOS R5 II is the addition of a Stacked CMOS sensor, which promises to improve the camera’s rolling shutter performance (though it isn’t nearly as fast as the one in Canon’s new flagship mirrorless camera, the R1).

We measured the R5 II’s rolling shutter rate when shooting DCI 8K video at ∼12.6ms. That’s not going to set any records, but it’s faster than the 15.4ms we measured for the same resolution on the original R5, which should make rolling shutter artifacts less noticeable on the newer model.

Most Stacked sensor cameras don’t capture video using the super-fast multi-line readout modes they use for stills, so they’re not as impressively fast. A sub-15ms rolling shutter rate is extremely good, though, so you’d have to really provoke it to see any rolling shutter distortion.

C-Log2

The EOS R5 II will be the first Canon mirrorless camera to hit the market with Canon’s C-Log2 gamma profile. According to Canon, this is part of its effort to better align video capabilities and workflows across its product line.

C-Log2 encodes a wider dynamic range than the C-Log3 gamma profile included on some previous Canon mirrorless bodies and will better replicate and match footage from Canon’s cinema cameras. However, C-Log3 remains available for use in less challenging situations where the extra dynamic range of the C-Log2 curve isn’t required, retaining more data per stop of light.

Overheating

The original R5 received criticism for its propensity to overheat, particularly when shooting 8K video. The R5 II can also experience thermal issues at its most demanding resolutions and frame rates, but Canon has introduced a new accessory grip with a built-in cooling fan, the CF-R20EP, to help mitigate this issue. It joins manufacturers like Panasonic and Fujifilm that have provided accessory cooling fans for video-focused mirrorless cameras.

According to Canon, when capturing 8K/30p video, the R5 II should run for up to 26 minutes or up to 37 minutes with the camera’s auto power-off temperature set to high (based on an unused camera starting in an environment of 23ºC/73ºF). With the accessory fan attached, these times should increase to 106 minutes or 120 minutes (or more). When capturing 4K/60p footage, Canon claims the accessory fan will allow recording without time restrictions.

The CF-R20EP has a suggested retail price of $400. It also includes an ethernet port for fast connectivity or remote operation.

Dual recording

The R5 II includes a new dual recording feature that allows you to capture high-resolution JPEG images while recording video. Using this feature, the camera can capture Full HD video at up to 30p on one card while capturing UHD 8K (7620 x 4230 resolution) JPEG images at up to 7.5fps on the other.

This feature does have limitations. You’ll likely need to optimize your shutter speed for either photos or video, as the camera uses the same setting for both media. Also, some camera functions, such as focus breathing correction, chromatic aberration correction, diffraction correction, and in-camera image upscaling, will not work in this mode. Dual recording requires the new LP-E6P battery that can provide more sustained power.

Video tools

Although the R5 II has some very impressive video specs, we’re equally excited to see Canon include helpful tools to better support the user experience of capturing video. To start, Canon has finally added a waveform display to one of its mirrorless bodies, allowing video shooters to judge exposure across the frame when shooting video more accurately. Similarly, Canon has also added a false color display, which makes it easier to visualize exposure values in an image or to quickly dial in the correct exposure for a particular part of an image, like skin tones.

On the hardware side, the R5 II now includes a full-sized HDMI port, an improvement over the mini-HDMI port on its predecessor. It also has a front tally light to let subjects know when you’re recording. It includes 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks.

Finally, Canon has also added the ability to pre-capture either three or five seconds of video, which should help in situations where it’s difficult to anticipate when the action will start.

Multi-function hot shoe and digital/4-channel recording

The EOS R5 II also gains Canon’s multi-function hot shoe, which includes communication pins for compatibility with accessories beyond speedlights. The original R5 didn’t include this feature, though it appeared subsequently on the EOS R3.

The main benefit of the multi-function shoe for video shooters is support for digital audio input, as well as 4-channel audio support.

Summary

The original EOS R5 came to be known as a capable video camera, able to deliver stunning video quality, once the initial concern about overheating had cooled. The R5 II goes the next step to address some of the challenges encountered by its predecessor, such as providing an add-on fan to improve thermal management, refining the workflow experience through the addition of tools like waveforms, false color and better hardware connections, and through enhanced capabilities, like the addition of C-Log2 and dual recording.

The result is a camera that promises to perform very well for both stills and video and could potentially integrate pretty seamlessly as a B-cam on a production using Cinema EOS equipment. If you’re a serious video shooter or even an enthusiast just looking to experiment and expand your horizons, the R5 has a lot of potential. We’ll see how it stands up to real-world use once we receive a production copy, and look forward to testing the autofocus to see how well the experience on the stills side of the camera translates to video.

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