Reviewed! The brand new VR video camera Canon R5C

12.04.2022

Great news for all VR creators: Canon’s new high-end EOS R5C is an incredible tool for producing high-quality virtual reality video in stunning 180º 8K60FPS. The videos is also available in VR.

The EOS R5 C has many of the same features as the R5, including the ability to support a dual-optic lens that captures 180° stereo footage through a single sensor. It’s all part of Canon’s exciting new EOS VR System, which also includes new firmware so the EOS R5 camera can support immersive capture, and new post-processing software.

The new Canon R5 C provides true 8k 60fps VR footage. The camera captures 8192 x 5464 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps [1030 to 2570 Mb/s bitrate] in the Canon cinema raw light (.crm) codec. The file size of the resulting footage is relatively large, and we estimate you can capture 52 minutes using a 1TB CFexpress memory card.

When it comes to creating VR footage, using this model with the new RF5.2mm F2.8 L Dual Fisheye lens is a game-changer. This lens is especially important for VR as it captures both views onto the single image sensor in the camera. It greatly simplifies the process of capturing 180° imagery as both views will have perfectly matched alignment, color, calibration, focus and time sync - removing the complications that come with using two different cameras.

As all VR creators know, any mismatch in these factors can lead to a poor user experience, as the viewer’s eyes struggle to reconcile the differences in each image.

But the R5 C also excels at video performance when compared to the original R5. This new model employs cooling technology so 8K overheating is no longer an issue, plus the promise of “non-stop, uninterrupted 8K/60p” recording means you can shoot for hours at a time without needing to break. Also, the R5 C supports 8K/60p, which is superior to the R5’s 8K/30p specs.

DeoVR’s Head of Post-Production, Kirill, put the R5 C through extensive testing and was hugely impressed. He said: “The camera is the best 180 VR camera currently on the market. It feels lightweight but powerful and very professional. I like the idea that I can shoot with a regular lens and switch to a 180 lens to shoot high-quality VR video with the same camera.”

Overall, DeoVR believes that the Canon R5 C camera, combined with the 180 VR FishEye lens, is one of the best 180 VR camera set-ups available on the market at the moment.

For more information, watch the review hosted at DeoVR. Here, you can see the camera in action and we will also explain how to set up your VR camera rig and what settings to use for the best results.

Recording natural skin tones is one of the most challenging aspects of recording all video footage, not just VR, but the Canon R5C does a superb job. It’s arguably the best natural skin tone on the market.

For the Canon R5C VR rig, we recommend the following pieces of equipment:

Canon R5C
Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L Dual Fisheye 3D VR Lens
Atomos Shinobi 7" 4K HDMI/SDI Monitor
SmallRig "Black Mamba" Camera Cage for Canon EOS R5 C, R5 & R6
SmallRig HDMI and USB Type-C Cable Clamp for Canon EOS R5 C/R5/R6 Cage
Angelbird 1TB AV Pro CFexpress 2.0 Type B Memory Card
Tether Tools TetherPro Micro-HDMI to HDMI Cable (15')
Angelbird CFexpress Type B MK2 Memory Card Reader
Canon DR-E6C DC Coupler for EOS R5 C Canon CA-946

And it’s worth noting that from today, you can play any video from Canon VR via the DeoVR player by adding "_fisheye190 or _rf52 to the video filename. It’s no longer necessary to convert your footage into the equirectangular projection anymore (currently this option is unavailable for .CRM files).

Learn how to stitch together native 190º Canon fisheye footage in Mistika using our easy-to-follow workshop.

We’d like to thank Canon Cinema Europe for providing us with a review copy of this excellent camera.

Also check VR video cameras explained