Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 is a full-frame mirrorless camera from 2020 built around the RF mount. Its high-resolution sensor and 8K video make it a hybrid tool for photographers who want detail for large prints and room to crop, alongside serious movie capability.

That mix suits working photographers: portrait, landscape and wildlife shooters who crop tightly, and filmmakers who want high-resolution capture in a stills body.

Carrying it involves some commitment. At roughly 738 grams including battery and memory card, it is a substantial body, and the 320-shot battery rating makes a charged spare useful on longer outings.

The R5's stills capability is exceptional, scoring 88 in our optics assessment and placing in the top 2% of cameras in our database for Optics. The 45 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor produces files with detail for large prints and real freedom to crop tightly.

In-body stabilisation counters camera shake, so it can help when using slower shutter speeds for static scenes. Moving subjects still need enough shutter speed to control their motion.

Speed is generous when action demands it. Electronic-shutter bursts reach approximately 20 fps with lenses other than EF-S, while the mechanical shutter reaches about 12 fps, with rates depending on conditions. The 1/8000 s top shutter can help freeze movement. Autofocus provides 1053 automatic areas in Face + Tracking mode.

The RF mount opens access to Canon's mirrorless lens range, and the ISO 100 to 51200 span covers bright daylight through dim interiors. Framing goes through a 5.76-million-dot electronic viewfinder for a detailed view of the scene.

Video is where this camera scores a full 100 in our assessment, and the recording options explain why. It records 8K DCI at up to 29.97 frames per second, which gives footage you can crop heavily or downsample to 4K.

For slow motion, 4K DCI and UHD run at up to 119.88 frames per second, commonly called 120p. That pairing lets you slow fast movement smoothly while keeping 4K resolution. 8K at 120 frames per second is not an available mode, as resolution and frame rate are paired.

Files record as MP4, with RAW available in supported movie modes for more post-production flexibility. Canon documents temperature-related recording limits for 8K, so long takes need planning around heat rather than an assumption of unrestricted recording.

Timelapse is built in, so interval work needs no external controller.

The features package rates as very good at 87. At the centre is a 3.2-inch touchscreen with 2.1 million dots for playback and live view, and it flips to help with waist-level or overhead framing.

The body is weather sealed, which offers protection for shooting in dust and damp, though it is not waterproof and care is still sensible in heavy rain.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in for wireless connection to other devices, and live view is available. There is no GPS, so location tagging is not something the camera does on its own.

No flash is built in, but the camera supports an external flash when extra or directional light is needed.

Storage is a strength. Two card slots take CFexpress plus SD, SDHC or SDXC cards with UHS-II support, pairing a fast option for heavy video files with the flexibility of SD.

Battery is where this section scores 68, rated good rather than exceptional. Depending on display mode, LP-E6NH ratings range from 220 to 490 shots, with 320 applying to screen Smooth or viewfinder Power Saving. A charged spare remains useful for longer sessions.

Treat that as a rating, not an all-day guarantee. USB charging is supported, with Canon listing in-camera charging and powering through its PD-E1 adapter, so topping up between shoots is straightforward if you carry that specific adapter.