Canon EOS R5, R6 and new lenses announced
Thursday 9 July 2020, 14:00 by Elja Trum | 4,942 views | 11 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Canon has announced two new full-frame mirrorless cameras, four new RF lenses and two RF extenders today. We list all the new toys.
Canon EOS R5
Let's start with the most interesting camera. At least, that's what I think. I still have a Canon EOS 5D mark III, but this could certainly be a worthy successor to that camera.
The Canon EOS R5 is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 45 megapixel sensor. You can shoot photos at no less than 20 frames per second.
It is Canon's first camera with built-in image stabilisation on the sensor. This also works together with the image stabilisation found in many of Canon's lenses. This allows up to 8 stops of correction.
Canon EOS R5 specifications
- Full-frame 45 megapixel CMOS sensor
- 20 photos per second, 12 with the mechanical shutter
- Dual Pixel AF II autofocus with 100% phase-detection coverage
- ISO sensitivity: 100 to 51,200, expandable to 50 to 102,400
- 3.15-inch display, 2.1 million dots
- Electronic viewfinder: OLED, 5.69 million dots
- Face and eye detection, including cats, dogs and birds
- 1x CFExpress, 1x SD memory card slot
- 10-bit HDR photos in HEIF format
- Weather-sealed, comparable to the 5D mark IV
- Wi-Fi, 5 GHz
- 8K RAW video at 29.97 fps
- 4K video at 120p
- RF mount
- Weight: 650 grams without battery
The Canon EOS R5 is almost a completely new camera. Both the sensor and the autofocus sensor are new, but we also see built-in image stabilisation for the first time, and the camera offers 8K video. That makes the Canon R5 a very interesting and impressive new camera.
We have had to wait long enough for built-in image stabilisation. I would have liked to see it much sooner. Now that it is here, it is worth noting that this system works well with the existing image stabilisation system in many of Canon's lenses.
This makes up to 8 stops of image stabilisation possible, which is of course a huge amount and gives you plenty of options for taking handheld photos in low light.
Controls
What is naturally nice for people who are already used to Canon is that this R5 will feel familiar straight away. It is clearly a Canon with the familiar controls.
Even the familiar controller, as we know it from the 5D, is back. The touch bar found on the EOS R has disappeared, rightly so.
New battery
Both cameras have a new battery with a longer battery life. Fortunately, the battery is also compatible with all current cameras that use the LP-E6 series battery.
The LP-E6NH replaces the LP-E6N and has a 14 per cent higher capacity of up to 2,130 mAh. This means you can take photos and film for longer, while compatibility with existing products and accessories is maintained.
Price and availability
The Canon EOS R5 will cost 4,549.99 euro. Unfortunately, that is a hefty price, but you do get a fine camera for it. It should already be in the shops at the end of this month.
Canon EOS R6
The Canon EOS R6 is the more affordable sibling of the Canon EOS R5. It can be compared well with the Canon 6D versus the Canon 5D. The specifications of this camera are still excellent.
When you look at the camera's speed, it is also a great replacement for the EOS 7D mark II.
The camera has a 20.1 megapixel sensor, which can also shoot 20 frames per second. Video is still a decent 4K, at 60p.
Canon EOS R6 specifications
- Full-frame 20.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
- 20 photos per second, 12 with the mechanical shutter
- ISO sensitivity: 100 to 102,400, expandable to 50 to 204,800
- 3-inch display, 1.62 million dots
- Electronic viewfinder: OLED, 3.69 million dots
- 4K video at 60p
- Full HD video at 120p
- RF mount
- Wi-Fi, 2.4 GHz
- Weight: 598 grams without battery
Price and availability
At 2,739.99 euro, the Canon EOS R6 is around 1,800 euro cheaper than its bigger brother. The R6 should be in the shops at the end of August.
BG-R10 battery grip
A new battery grip has also been announced alongside the cameras. It can be used with both the EOS R5 and the EOS R6.
The new battery grip allows you to power the camera bodies with two batteries, LP-E6/N/NH. This battery grip also provides duplicate control buttons for easier vertical shooting.
The BG-R10 battery grip will be available from the end of July for 409.99 euro.
WFT-R10 Wi-Fi transmitter
The Canon EOS R5 can also use a special Wi-Fi transmitter in battery grip form. This transmitter has 2x2 MIMO antennas for faster transmission over a greater range.
The WFT-R10 also offers improved network communication for SFTP via Wi-Fi and has gigabit speeds through the Ethernet port.
The WFT-R10 will also be available from the end of July, priced at 1,169.99 euro.
Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM
Canon has also announced a number of new lenses. One of them is this fast 85mm lens. It seems ideally suited to portraits and macro photos.
The image stabilisation is good for 5 stops. In combination with the R5 or R6, you can achieve 8 stops.
The RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM will be available from October for a recommended retail price of 719.99 euro.
Canon RF 600mm and 800mm f/11 IS STM
Two unusual lenses. These super-telephoto lenses not only have a fixed focal length, they also have a fixed aperture. With the 600mm and 800mm, you can therefore only shoot at f/11.
The idea is that they are therefore considerably cheaper than other lenses, making them much more accessible to hobbyists. Their simpler construction also makes them more compact and lighter.
A minimum aperture of f/11 is usually a problem for your camera's autofocus, but in combination with the R5 or R6, it now works.
With the new extenders that Canon has also announced today, see below, you can even achieve 1600mm. Autofocus continues to work then too.
The 600mm weighs around 930 grams and the 800mm 1,260 grams. The RF 600mm and RF 800mm f/11 IS STM will be available from the end of July for recommended retail prices of 819.99 and 1,069.99 euro respectively.
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
This super-telephoto zoom will be an interesting all-rounder for many photographers. The lens also offers 5 stops of image stabilisation and can be used with the announced extenders.
The RF 100-500mm will be available from September for a recommended retail price of 3,149.99 euro.
Canon RF extenders
Canon's two new extenders for the RF system allow you to get even more out of the telephoto lenses announced today. They provide either 1.4x or 2x magnification of your focal length.
The extenders now work with the RF 100-500mm, the RF 600mm f/11 and the RF 800mm f/11. However, these extenders do not work with the 70-200mm.
Both extenders will be available from the end of July, priced at 609.99 euro for the 1.4x and 769.99 euro for the 2.0x.
About the author
Elja Trum is the founder of Photofacts and online photography course website Photofacts Academy. He has been writing about photography since 2006. Elja is also the author of (Dutch) books on composition, black-and-white photography, flash photography and portrait photography.
You might also like
-
External cooling for the Canon EOS R5 overheating problemby Nando Harmsen
-
Review: Canon EOS R6by Nando Harmsen
-
Development of Canon EOS R5 announcedby Elja Trum
-
Review: Canon EOS R5by Nando Harmsen
-
Canon EOS R6 Mark II announcedby Elja Trum
-
Is the Canon EOS R5's high-resolution option any use?by Nando Harmsen
11 comments
-
Tromp Willem van Urk
wrote on Thursday 9 July 2020 at 17:55
| reply
I’ve also been waiting for the EOS R5. Also with a switch from the Canon 5D Mark3.
Translated from Dutch.
Only the price is a bit hard to swallow now! I’m a photographer and not a filmmaker, and I think a large part of that price is in the video features. So I don’t think I’ll get much use out of those and I get to pay for them anyway :-|. -
elvin hage wrote on Monday 13 July 2020 at 08:14 | replyCompletely agree with Tromp, I've been saying that for years, leave out that whole film stuff Then it will be even more attractive in price and maybe you can put more into it that is important for photography than is currently the case.....
Translated from Dutch. -
guest wrote on Tuesday 14 July 2020 at 16:06 | replyCurious about the overheating issues with 8K. Don't think it adds much at the moment otherwise. At least some serious competition for the Sony mirrorless cameras for once. They'll be coming out with the A7SIII again soon.
Translated from Dutch. -
Wilfried wrote on Tuesday 14 July 2020 at 17:05 | replyWhat are the possibilities for using flash? Possibly at all shutter speeds? 2nd curtain with studio flashes? What about double exposure and exposure bracketing? Finally an A-Dep again? There is still a lot that is unclear.
Translated from Dutch. -
Peter wrote on Tuesday 14 July 2020 at 21:24
| reply
Looks nice, waited a long time for it.
Translated from Dutch.
I agree with the opinion on filming, I only take photos.
Typo: the price of the R5 says R6.
Strange that the R6 is more light-sensitive than the R5. -
guest wrote on Tuesday 14 July 2020 at 22:29 | reply
I also think it's a shame that the camera is being elevated to a super video camera. If I wanted that, I'd go for a different type of device. A movie camera, for example.
Translated from Dutch. -
Dree wrote on Tuesday 14 July 2020 at 23:06 | replyWhy is there no screen on top of the R6? Is this camera considered an entry-level model for amateurs who only shoot in automatic mode?
Translated from Dutch. -
Mario Bentvelsen wrote on Wednesday 15 July 2020 at 10:34 | replyI hope there will still be a 5DV (with mirror). A somewhat simpler version than the 1DX3, for example. I'm not waiting for a new system or 8K.
Translated from Dutch. -
Henk wrote on Wednesday 15 July 2020 at 11:37 | replyI see many techniques in the R5 that Sony has had for longer. I wonder whether the camera can compete with Sony because of the (high) price
Translated from Dutch. -
John wrote on Wednesday 15 July 2020 at 20:11 | reply
When the Canon R came out, I bought the Sony 7IV because this Canon could not measure up to Sony. After 1.5 years of intensive use, this camera is very disappointing in use: very sensitive to dust, especially when travelling through Namibia, very sensitive to seawater as well, after 4 weeks at sea the flash (Profoto) no longer worked because the camera's flash contacts had been corroded by the sea air, despite cleaning them regularly. The fold-out screen is also awkward during photo shoots. To understand the menu, you have to take a special course, and even then a lot still goes wrong in practice. You might think this is a bad buy, but the images are fantastically sharp, though they lack Canon's somewhat warmer colour. The focusing on the eyes of animals was also very disappointing, unlike that of people. As a former Canon user, I am therefore eagerly looking forward to the reviews of this new camera.
Translated from Dutch. -
jheronimus
wrote on Friday 28 August 2020 at 23:25
| reply
Exciting! The R6 is high on my wish list!
Translated from Dutch.
Have your say
Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.
Become a better photographer every week
A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
39,021 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via 
Facebook.
Elja Trum
Photofacts; everything to do with photography!
Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about PhotofactsPhotofacts is made possible in part by
