News

The hype surrounding the new Canon EOS R5 has been considerable, especially those exciting headline video features, but some commentators have wondered aloud about the cost of capturing such high resolutions at the highest frame rates—8K/30p and 4K/120p. Then Canon itself confirmed the limitations when it supplied detailed information (to UK pro-video dealership CVP) about “recording times before overheating” and “recovery time after overheating”—as reported by EOSHD. Now, in a new “media alert,” Canon has attempted to explain itself.

The company begins by (re)stating the R5’s and R6’s shooting times before overheating:

Canon also confirms the punishing periods you have to wait after overheating occurs as well as the even more limiting maximum recording time after waiting:

Detailing the steps it took to “manage the potential for overheating,” Canon says it used magnesium alloy in the body to dissipate heat and included an “overheat control” function to reduce heat generation when the camera is in standby. It goes on to explain why it decided to omit a cooling fan (as found in cameras such as the Panasonic S1H), namely, to maintain the cameras’ “compact size, lightweight construction and weather resistance.”

Helpfully, Canon also offers four tips on what you can do to avoid overheating:

• Set Overheat Control function to “ON” (default). When the overheat control function is enabled, the movie size and frame rate are automatically changed while the camera is in standby mode to suppress the rise of the internal temperature.
• Between recordings, it is recommended to turn off the camera.
• Position the camera out of direct sunlight.
• Use an external fan to dissipate heat.

Underwater filmmakers, of course, will very likely see all this as a lot of hot air, given that clip length is typically measured in seconds rather than minutes when shooting marine subjects. The vast majority of underwater videographers will see the recording limits as inconsequential next to the sheer awesomeness of 4K played back at quarter speed.