Canon EOS R5 getting C-Log 3 and 120fps 1080p next month?

The next firmware update for the Canon EOS R5 is reportedly due to arrive in February and will deliver some much-requested video features – namely Canon Log (C-Log) 3 and the long-awaited 120fps frame-rate when shooting in 1080p.

While the Canon EOS R5 is already one of the best cameras for video, thanks to its powerhouse 8K features and 4K capture up to 120fps, it is currently limited to shooting in Canon Log 1 and can only record 1080p video up to 60fps.

According to the latest reports, though, the next firmware update for the R5 will redress both of these limitations when it arrives in February.

"The next Canon firmware update for the Canon EOS R5 is still on schedule to be released sometime in February 2021 I have been told," says the story on Canon Rumors. "The same source also suggested that the new firmware is already out there in beta form in loaner cameras," indicating that the firmware is in a near market-ready state.

So what does this actually mean for you and your videos? Well, currently the R5 only supports Canon Log 1 – which, according to Canon, is good for 12 stops of dynamic range when shooting at ISO400. However, this Log profile is susceptible to issues such as banding.

By contrast, Canon Log 3 boasts up to 14 stops of dynamic range, and retains greater detail in the highlight areas while sharing the same straightforward grading characteristics of Canon Log 1. In short, it offers superior quality and greater flexibility when it comes to editing your footage.

When it comes to the increased frame-rate, obviously the current 1080p / FullHD limit of 60p is doubled to 120p, enabling you to achieve true 4x slow-motion footage. It was always curious that this feature wasn't included in the R5 from the start (particularly since the Canon EOS R6 can shoot 1080p up to 120fps), but at least it will be on the way soon.

In addition to these key upgrades, the new firmware is also said to add Canon Cinema RAW along with some bug fixes. We wouldn't hold your breath for any improvements to the overheating / record limits in this update, but we'd love Canon to surprise us!

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James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.

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