The brutal crop when shooting 4K might be a decisive factor for a lot of filmmakers when considering whether to buy the EOS R, but for many it’s a solid option at a good price. How does it compare to its DSLR equivalent, the 5D Mark IV? This video aims to find out.
Parker Walbeck and his team of videographers give a comprehensive comparison of the EOS and the 5D Mark IV, creating a compelling list of reasons why the R is arguably the better option, especially if you’re a videographer. Of course, there are a number of disadvantages, such as the single card slot, but whether that offsets other aspects such as the difference in price and the selection of lenses makes it a tricky choice.
While I hate bringing up this rather tired discussion, in watching this video a year after the release of the EOS R, it strikes me as even more of a mystery as to why Canon chose not to include dual slots. With Nikon making the same compromise and having the Sony a7 III as the most obvious competitor, it seems like it would have been worth the extra space and cost. The 4K crop would feel one flaw rather than part of a list of potentially decisive shortcomings.
Whichever you choose, it's worth noticing that now is a great time to buy, with seasonal discounts knocking $500 off the R, and $600 off the Mark IV. Ridiculous.
If you were buying today, which would you prefer? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
I own both the EOS R and the 5D4. In my experience, if i were strictly recording internally i would choose my 5D4 everytime. DCI 4k and 422. Everyone please ignore all the lies surrounding the MJPEG codec. It's not bad. In fact, I'm so damn impressed with it every time i use it. Yes, they are large file sizes, but it works with my workflow, i don't vlog or anything like that.
Second, when it comes to the autofocus, when doing tracking, i find the EOS R to me more "active" trying to search rather than stay tracking on a moving subject, and since the af is so fast, it creates a less than desirable look to the final product, but i may need to tinker with the settings more. The 5D4 with face tracking has been a gem. I have relied on it for 50+ videos and it hasn't failed me yet, (expect in super dark lighting conditions)
My takeaway. Both great. Image quality is on par with each other. The R has more potential with external recording, but now there no longer the price advantage and you have to carry more gear. 5D4 wins for general purpose. The R wins on the simple end with lower bitrates and the high end with external recording.
"Canon EOS R Versus the 5D Mark IV: Which Is the Better Choice for Videographers?"
A Sony or a Panasonic...