Canon EOS R5 will deliver UNCROPPED 8K and advanced animal AF!

Canon EOS R5 will deliver UNCROPPED 8K and advanced animal AF!
(Image credit: Canon)

UPDATE: Check out our hands-on Canon EOS R5 review for our first impressions of the remarkable new 8K, 45MP body. We've also got a Canon EOS R5 vs R6 head to head, which compares the specs between the R5 and the new Canon EOS R6.

ORIGINAL STORY 13 MAR 2020: Canon has confirmed that, despite plenty of contrarian cynicism, the Canon EOS R5 will deliver uncropped 8K video at 30fps, recorded in-camera – and it will also feature the company's renowned Dual Pixel CMOS AF system.

In addition, it was announced that the full-frame mirrorless Canon EOS R5 will feature advanced animal AF, that is able to perform both eye and body recognition to detect and track birds, dogs and cats. 

"We've seen speculation that the EOS R5's specs are 'impossible'," said Richard Shepherd, Canon's Pro Product Marketing senior manager, alluding to the online speculation that the video features would in some way be compromised (namely with a crop, as seen in the 4K of the Canon EOS R and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, or the lack of Dual Pixel seen in the video of other bodies). 

"Today’s announcement confirms once again, we are achieving the 'impossible' in order to support our customers' need for a camera that delivers exceptional image quality and video capture."

Canon claims – and this does seem, on paper, to be very much the case – that the R5's video capabilities "will far exceed that of competing cameras on the market." Its full-width full-frame video will support Dual Pixel CMOS AF in all 8K modes, promising truly formidable footage.

It is not yet clear whether the advanced animal AF (which can recognize animals based on their bodies, when eyes are not visible) is similarly supported in all 8K modes, but the feature alone is a significant step in Canon's autofocus technology. Furthermore you can choose between dogs, cats and birds within the menu settings – and the prospect of being able to track a bird in flight with such an AF system sounds particularly attractive.

(Image credit: Canon)

"As an industry leader, we are challenging the market with this launch and showing what’s possible with our technology," added Shepherd. "The EOS R5 and the RF lens system is proof of our commitment to redefine mirrorless and shows Canon’s unparalleled strength in creating products with true purpose."

Other confirmed features so far for the upcoming Canon EOS R5 include:

• in-body image stabilization (this will be Canon's first camera with IBIS)
• twin memory card slots
• 20fps burst shooting with electronic shutter
• 12fps burst shooting with mechanical shutter
• Fold out LCD screen

Read more
The Canon RF lens roadmap

The best Canon camera in 2020

James Artaius
Editor

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.