The EOS R1 is also the first flagship model of the EOS series.
Canon officially launches a new lineup of mirrorless cameras intended for professional photographers. Techies, meet the EOS R1, the first flagship model of the series. In addition, the brand also launched the 2nd-generation EOS R5 for those who want balanced performance both on video and photos. About time too, since the first-generation R5 is about 4 years old now.
For 35 years now, the EOS-1 Series has greatly helped professional photographers take crucial moments in their field, especially those with fast and intense action, such as marathons, surfing, and other sporty activities. That legacy continues with the EOS R1. Meanwhile, the EOS R5 Mark II is dubbed a “hybrid camera”, a jack of all trades, master of none. It retails in the US for USD 4,299 (~PHP 250.8K), about USD 400 more expensive than its predecessor when launched.
CANON EOS R1: Flagship Photodeography!
The EOS R1 represents the top-of-the-line mirrorless camera in the series, aimed at photojournalists who desire only the best performance. It features a 24MP Back-Illuminated Stacked (BSI) CMOS sensor with Canon’s DIGIC Accelerator and DIGIC X Processor which promises faster processing and shots, even during bursts. It is also capable of 40fps of pre-continuous shooting so you can take the most crucial moments without missing a beat. All you have to do is half-press the shutter release.
As sports photographers need to take images at an almost instantaneous pace, autofocus and a fast shutter speed is crucial. The R1 is equipped with Canon’s “Dual Pixel Intelligent Autofocus” which detects faces, eyes, and bodies even when they are covered with a helmet or mask. It can also prioritize different sports such as volleyball and basketball, two sports that require constant rapid movement, and adjust the AF point.
You may have heard of smartphones upscale their photos to reach a massive megapixel count. Say, a 12MP sensor, when combined four times, equates to a single 48MP image which allows you to see more details, and sharper results. Well, it seems like we’re having a similar situation here with the EOS R1.
It couldn’t be a tech event in 2024 without mentioning AI. No tech is safe from the word, be it cameras, printers, computers, and phones. With that said, the EOS R1 uses AI upscaling to create a 96MP JPEG file within a span of 10 seconds! This is a dedicated mode that uses the camera’s deep learning system to upscale an image both vertically and horizontally, consistently.
While photos are the main priority, the EOS R1 also has some hybrid capabilities up its sleeve. Canon also equipped the camera with a “Dual Shooting” function which allows you to take a snap while also shooting a video simultaneously. When releasing the shutter button, the camera captures a 17MP (5616x3168px) JPG image at 10fps using the same shutter speed, all while without interrupting your video shoot.
It will be available around September, fall/autumn season, this year. It retails for USD 6,299 (~PHP 367.4K), or costs as much as your average top-end Macbook.
EOS R5 II: Balanced, in every way.
While the R1 is designed for action photographers, the R5 Mark II, like its predecessor is aimed at professionals that want a balance of great photography and videography. Hence why it is advertised as a “hybrid camera”. Also, the R5 II is significantly more affordable than the EOS R1.
It is equipped with a 45MP BSI CMOS sensor. Everything great about the R5 I is retained, including its notable high-resolution sensor. So, content creators and enthusiasts who want to get serious on photo and videography will surely find this appealing. That is, if they can afford it. The EOS R5 II costs USD 4,299 (~PHP 250.8K) and the retail package appears to not come with a default 35mm lens. Photography is a great, yet expensive hobby.
It retains the same DIGIC X and DIGIC Accelerator processors as the R1, so it is guaranteed to snap and process images even when things become intense. It is capable of doing 30fps pre-continuous shooting while half-pressing the shutter release.
Because of its status as a “hybrid camera” one would expect some noteworthy video-related features. Thankfully, the R5 II is jam-packed. This mirrorless camera can internally record SRAW 8K@60fps or 4K@120fps at full sensor width. However, taking videos at this rate and quality is costly and demanding, and even the first-gen R5 suffered some heating issues. Thankfully, Canon is aware of this and has addressed it simply by adding a much more powerful fan. Recording is limited to 120 minutes at 4K@60fps and lower. You need to take another video after that.
A noted feature is Action Priority mode which you can switch by dialing on the shutter. Like the EOS R1, the R5 II features the same AI upscaling and Dual-Pixel Intelligence AF and quickly detects eyes and different sports quickly.
Among other specs, the EOS R5 II natively has up to 51,200 ISO (can be extended by up to 102,400 ISO using different lenses), 1/32,000s shutter speed (extendable with different lenses), and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
The camera is rugged yet remains lightweight. Canon says the camera can withstand different weather conditions because the body itself is moisture and dust sealed. It probably has an IP rating, but Canon has not explicitly stated it. It uses an LP-E6P battery and the package comes with a charger as well. However, if you need to use the camera for longer, the EOS R5 II also accepts power from an LP-E6N and LP-E6NH battery pack too.
Source: Pocket-Lint, BalasTech, Canon EOS R1, Canon EOS R5 II
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