Canon EOS R5
Announced July 9, 2020
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Canon EOS R5 is a versatile hybrid camera that delivers exceptional still image quality, fast autofocus, and effective in-body image stabilization. That said, it faces significant limitations regarding thermal management during high-resolution video recording and requires expensive CFexpress storage for optimal performance.
Weighted from 59 reviewer scores
Pros
- Highly responsive and accurate autofocus with deep learning technology
- Excellent image quality from the 45-megapixel sensor
- Effective in-body image stabilization
- Solid, ergonomic build quality with intuitive controls
- High-speed continuous shooting performance
Cons
- Severe overheating limitations during video recording
- Challenging file sizes and demanding post-processing requirements
- High cost and dependency on expensive CFexpress cards
- Inconvenient micro HDMI port for external recording
- Suboptimal battery life for intensive use
- Launch price $3,899 (USD)
- Sensor 45MP Full-Frame CMOS
- Video 8K 29.97p UHD 100p
- Stabilization In-body IS, 8 stops (CIPA)
- Burst 20 fps electronic 12 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 59 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 91/100
The Canon EOS R5 is well-suited for just about any type of photographer, whether you shoot portraits, events, weddings, sports, family gatherings, and more.
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The Canon EOS R5 may have had a bumpy start for video as expectations and reality took a rollercoaster ride, but judged as a stills camera alone for traditional photography, it’s hard to find fault.
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Ultimately, the Canon EOS R5 is one of the best all-around cameras ever made. If you have the money—and the storage space for the giant raw files—it’s more than ready to hang with just about any kind of workflow.
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The sensor and highly effective IBIS system deliver images of exquisite quality.
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Best camera ever.
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The bottom line is that in every metric, this is one of the best focus systems in the world.
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The Canon EOS R5 may not have been marketed perfectly, but I'm pretty confident that in 3 or 4 months time that'll all be water under the bridge and people will come to realize further what an excellent camera it is, especially for stills work.
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[T]he Canon EOS R5 is one of the best cameras that Canon has ever made, and one of the best cameras on the market today.
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We certainly love it. We really do think that it's the best Canon camera that's come out in a very long time [...]
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The Canon EOS R5 is Canon's flagship full-frame mirrorless camera, with class-leading video specifications, as well as impressive stills performance.
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The new EOS R5 is the most full-featured Canon camera to date, with its combination of a 45 megapixel sensor and 8K video recording along with cutting-edge mirrorless technology resulting in one of the most powerful cameras on the market.
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[T]his is a packed camera for still shooters and for video shooters.
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Still photographers will find little at fault with the high-resolution Canon EOS R5, but heat management issues will leave video-first creatives looking elsewhere.
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Canon's best ever stills camera, the EOS R5 is an incredibly powerful tool for almost every kind of photography.
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I really liked the Canon EOS R5 despite the overheating problems for $3,900, it's the only pure high megapixel hybrid camera that does photography and video equally well.
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So I'd say for landscape and travel you really can't go wrong with the Canon EOS R5. If you were thinking about getting one, anyway, go ahead, do it.
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Anyone wondering if Canon was fully committed to developing mirrorless technology for professional users could put those fears to bed when Canon finally pulled back the curtain on the EOS R5 in July 2020.
- Digital Trends 8/10
I have to admit, I’ve never been a Canon fan, but the EOS R5 has made me a believer.
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All in all, the Canon EOS R5 is an amazing stills camera for bird photography. It also has amazing video capabilities, but they come with severe overheating limitations.
- Photo Review 9/10
The EOS R5 is a good match for its target market: principally professional users who shoot both photos and video for work.
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The Canon EOS R5, it's catching some flack on the internet for video, but this has to be one of the best photography cameras that I have ever used.
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Canon's EOS R5 has generated a lot of press, and not all of it good.
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One of the best cameras on the market at the moment, and possibly Canon's finest ever technical achievement.
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All said, though, the Canon EOS R5 is a massive step forward for the R series, cementing the RF mount full-frame camera as the go-to purchase in this line-up.
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The auto focusing on this with the deep learning technology is probably the best advancement with any camera that you're going to upgrade to this camera from because you don't have to think about it anymore.
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I've been sold on mirrorless for a while personally, but I do understand the hesitation, and I really think people should give these a try because they deliver.
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The Canon EOS R5 delivers one of the most significant leap in camera performance of recent years.
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The EOS R5 autofocus and IAF is absolutely amazing and is able to track eyes throughout the frame with ease.
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Having tested the Canon EOS R5 for several months, I am very impressed. It exceeded my expectations in many ways and I was surprised by how well I liked the experience.
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I think I've been super impressed with the image quality. I don't think there's many people out there who are going to be saying it's not up to what they wanted, because what did they want?
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The Canon EOS R5 may not be my favorite video camera, nor is it my favorite stills camera, but it is the best all-in-one.
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All that said, I still think this is the most all-around professional photo camera you can get right now, especially when it comes to mirrorless.
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Again, just to wrap things up, I've tried all these cameras; the Canon EOS R5 is the one for me.
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So all in all I have really enjoyed so far shooting with the R5, not to mention just the image quality but just how the camera feels in your hand and just the the practicality of the buttons.
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So that is the Canon EOS R5, a hybrid camera for the people that need both really great photography and really great video, and it fills a nice gap where there wasn't really a camera that did both photo and video in a really, really nice way.
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This is easy; the R5 is both the fastest and highest-resolution full-frame Canon mirrorless. If you need it; you need it. Unlike most mirrorless, my R5 seems completely competent to track and shoot sports and action all day.
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Perhaps the ultimate all-purpose shooter, the Canon EOS R5 is to mirrorless in 2022 what the Canon EOS 5D was to DSLRs in years past.
- ExpertPhotography 94/100
The Canon EOS R5 finally places Canon back on the market, providing an edge that will take some time to catch up to.
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It is a pretty amazing camera.
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The handling is good, and autofocus seems to meet any needs I’d have. Exposure seems accurate and unphased by shift, tilt, or any old optics I might attach.
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Its heating issue does make it ill-suited for long sessions of video recording. But if you are a professional photographer, the EOS R5 can offer you amazing results.
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[T]his camera body here is far from flimsy; it is a sturdy, hearty, very comfortable piece of gear that can be customized to achieve quick and accurate performance levels out in the field.
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I would like to say though in closing that I have literally not been as excited about any camera in Canon's history as I am with the Canon EOS R5.
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Where the R5 really shines is Canon Log. You have an assist feature so you get very pleasing images right off the bat.
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The Canon EOS R5 is one of the roughest cameras we have tested, and the first with 8K video recording.
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[T]hese cameras to anyone coming from a 5D or if you want to switch from Nikon or Sony or whatever, they're a fantastic camera.
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The Canon R5 stands out as an excellent choice for photographers across various genres, with a particular appeal to wildlife and bird photography enthusiasts.
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The EOS R5 is a superb camera. It works, and works excellent. The image quality and the resolution is sufficient to cover any assignment. Thus it is almost perfect as a professional camera, which gets out of the way and lets the photographer do his work.
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Its versatility, its high resolution, its dynamic range, its ease of use, its ergonomics, I have nothing negative to say.
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Now with all that being said, yes, the Canon EOS R5 is a pretty incredible photography camera. I really had a great time shooting with it.
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Cameras don't get worse because they get older. The R5 is a fantastic professional quality, wellspeced camera just like it was in 2020.
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I really enjoyed using the EOS R5. It performed as I expected a Canon DSLR to perform, and I had the added feature of shooting in 8K RAW.
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We've had a great weekend away and so far the Canon EOS R5 has definitely exceeded my expectations for shooting stills.
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The Canon EOS R5 is the best camera that I’ve ever used. The build is sturdy, it’s fast and packed with features, and the images are crisp, true-to-life, and dazzling.
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Yes, I would totally recommend using the R5 as a dedicated video camera if you're a hybrid shooter, even better, because I think the R5 is the best hybrid camera out there right now.
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Would I buy this camera myself? I cannot believe I'm saying this, and I I I just can't believe I'm about to say this, this camera, even though the autofocus is just a step behind the 1DX, has won me over from my 1DX Mark II.
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Like I mentioned, it's an absolutely amazing camera. It is really good at photos, it is really good at videos, but it's definitely a photo first camera that's also just really good at video, so definitely keep that in mind.
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I am really positive about using this camera. I bought it with my own money.
- DANAMIC 8/10
The Canon EOS R5 does feel like Canon’s first proper entry into the mirrorless market.
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