Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-09-19)

36 http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk

Canon EO

A er a big build-up, Canon’s  agship full-frame

mirrorless model is  nally here. Michael Topham

was given the opportunity to  nd out how it performs

W

hen Canon

revealed it was

entering the

full-frame

mirrorless market and announced

a new system based around a

new RF lens mount, many hoped

the  rst camera in the EOS R

series would be a mirrorless

masterpiece. Rather than imitate

Sony and Nikon’s approach of

releasing a pair of premium

models built around the same

body with different sensors and

speci cations, Canon released

one full-frame camera in the

guise of the EOS R, but it wasn’t

without its shortcomings.

The EOS R was an entry-point

into full-frame mirrorless rather

than the miniaturised version of

the company’s popular EOS 5D

series many had dreamed of.

Next came the entry-level EOS RP

in early 2019. Canon’s approach

of launching two models that

didn’t provide what many serious

enthusiasts and professionals

were after asked some serious

questions. Canon had to up its

game if it wanted to keep up in

the full-frame mirrorless race.

What was needed was a camera

with better ergonomics and one

that could exploit the potential of

the company’s RF-mount lenses.

Features

As the  agship model, the EOS

R5 sits above the EOS R6 that

was launched at the same time,

and boasts the more impressive

speci cation, which is re ected

by its higher price. It’s built

around Canon’s RF lens mount

that has a 54mm internal

diameter, 20mm  ange distance

and 12-pin data connection.

Behind the mount is a 45-million-

pixel full-frame Dual Pixel CMOS

Testbench CAMERA TEST

For and against

Canon’s finest mirrorless

camera at time of writing

Impressive video specification

Stunning electronic viewfinder

performance

Supports attachment of EF/

EF-S lenses via adapter

Very expensive at the time

of launch

CFexpress cards don’t come

cheap

High-resolution video

generates a lot of heat

Rather power hungry

Datafile

ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE STREET PRICES

Ataglance

£4,199 body only

● 45-million-pixel Dual Pixel

CMOS AF sensor

● DIGIC X image processor

● ISO 100-51,200 (expandable

to ISO 50-102,400)

● 5,940 selectable autofocus

positions

● 5.76-million-dot electronic

viewfinder

● 8K/30P, 4K/120p, Full HD

60p video

● Twin card slot (CFexpress and SD)

Sensor 45MP CMOS, 36x24mm

Output size 8192x5464 pixels

Focal length mag 1x

Lens mount Canon RF

Shutter speeds 30-1/8000sec, bulb

Sensitivity ISO 100-51,200 (ISO 50-102,400

expanded)

Exposure modes PASM, Fv, Auto

Metering Evaluative, partial, spot, centre-

weighted

Exposure comp +/-3 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps

Drive mode 12fps (mechanical), 20fps

(electronic)

Screen 3.15in, 2.1-million-dot vari-angle

touchscreen

Viewfinder 0.5in, 5.76-million-dot EVF

Video 8K up to 30P, 4K up to 120P

Memory card CFexpress and SD (UHS-II

compatible)

Power LP-E6NH Li-ion

Battery life 320 (EVF), 490 (LCD)

Dimensions 138.5x97.5x88mm

Weight 738g (with card and battery)