Canon EOS R5 Mark II Hands-On Review: Must-Know Features for VR180 Filmmaking

Welcome to our hands-on review of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, where we dive deep into its features specifically for VR180 filmmaking.

In this video, I’ll cover:

✅ Built-in Digital IS stabilization and 8K 60fps RAW recording.
✅ In-camera VR preview
✅ Support for RF 5.2mm f/2.8 L dual fisheye lens and RF-S3.9mm
✅ In-camera upscaling and neural network noise reduction.
✅ Full-size HDMI, false color, and waveform monitor for precise shooting.
✅ HF Anti-Flicker Shooting for virtual production.

Plus, I'll address some limitations and areas where the R5 Mark II can improve, such as the leveling feature during recording and the ongoing overheating issue.

If you’re a VR filmmaker or looking to get into VR180, this camera has a lot to offer, and I’ll show you why it might be worth the investment.

📌 Chapters:
0:00 - Canon R5 II Overview
1:02 - Real-world Samples
1:33 - Dual Fisheye Lens Support
1:52 - Canon LP-E6P
2:06 - Digital IS for VR180
3:28 - VR Preview
4:40 - Neural Network Noise Reduction and Upscale
6:53 - C-log 2 and a hidden feature!
8:23 - NEW lens correction
8:51 - HF Anti-Flicker
9:34 - Audio
10:12 - Full-size HDMI
10:21 - New Zoom in 8K 60fps RAW
10:37 - How to turn on Waveform Monitor
10:54 - How to set false color
11:16 - How to customize the quick menu
12:07 - Drawbacks
13:06 - Overheat on 8K 60fps
13:50 - Work with RF-S3.9mm f3.5 stm dual fisheye lens?

Questions or suggestions? Drop them in the comments below, and I’ll address them in my next video!

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[davidknightx]

For anyone who hasn't experienced 180 VR videos, you are missing out; especially if it's in 3D and 4k/8k.

When done right, it's as close to the feeling of being somewhere as you can get. There's a reason Hou says you need special equipment when moving. The more real something looks, the more your brain is convinced you are and your inner ear says you're not and you get sick. So this tech isn't the gimmick that 3D TVs were. Although, I'm so glad they made them because I've built up quite a library of 3D movies for virtual theaters (if ONLY they were in 4k!). I remember trying a 3D TV at Best Buy and thinking "This isn't going to last". I'm not thinking that with 180/360 3D VR.

Now I have no idea if this tech will ever go mainstream (main reason I haven't started shooting content). The hardware is still too heavy, uncomfortable, complicated to use (for non-techies), and expensive (same for those that film).

But this tech isn't dying. It delivers an experience like nothing else. I've never visited Paris, but thanks to Hou, I felt how cramped and creepy the underground skull-filled tombs were. I've never visited New York or Japan, but I've experienced it a ton of times thanks to Slice of Life and YouTube. Yesterday, I was so close to Stonehenge, I could see the tiny plants growing out of the stone. A month ago, I was about a foot away from the face of a tiger and panther.

These are things my poor butt would've likely died never having experienced. Looking at it on TV/monitor is NOT the same. With a screen, the person filming chooses what you see. With this tech, you choose what to focus on.

I just hope the tech takes off enough to make tv shows/movies because the immersion potential is limitless.

[mvp_kryptonite]

Wow, this is mind blowing what Canon have done here! The level feature along with the histogram during recording is absolutely required! Looks like I need to get the bidirectional microphone! Thanks for putting this together, it’s wild!

[DavidGoncha]

18 min recording in 8k 60fps is very little recording time. Just preparing the camera to record already consumes that time. How long should you wait for the camera to cool down to record another 18 min? The Clog2 is more difficult to expose and also has more noise. I think the overheating problem is present again as in the Canon R5. To record in VR180 you will want 8k 60 fps to have the highest image quality and 60fps is simply necessary in VR. The R5C has no overheating problems. Clearly the R5 Mark II is more oriented to photography with great advances in video. I think it is better to buy the R5C to record in VR180 or wait for the R5C Mark II.

[DavidSmith-wzvb]

Dude this is essential and exactly what I needed. You rock 🤘

[diegopisante]

Best review! Finally, someone explained the upscaling and looking on VR.

[edwardrobison]

I’m renting the R5C and dual fisheye lens next week to do some testing for an upcoming VR projects, and your videos have been very helpful. Thank you! I also am adding a vote for anaglyph playback on the new R5II

[IAwarenessI]

I can't wait to see your comparison in low-light conditions and the new noise reduction feature vs the R5-C! This is a HUGE issue for me with the R5C / dual fish eye lense, even with post-production editing there's always a lot of noise unless I'm in perfect lighting conditions.

[csffcqm]

Another amazing video!

Would love to see a video on how to stitch together dual action cam (such as GoPro Hero 12) footage in Davini Resolve

Especially using their native stereoscopic tools… how to sync left and right, timecodes, built in anaglyph in color tab, etc…

Keep it up!

[kigiphoto]

Great review! If Canon is reading I'll adda vote to get the leveling feature added, also to make it work quickly with the auto-focus VR lens. I have a Vision Pro and have been experimenting with some 3D video, I especially love the idea mentioned in this video of super-res VR180 Timelapse videos - Apple just recently released an immersive video with hot air balloons and by far the clearest part of that video was sunrise timelapses of balloons taking off at dawn, I have to wonder if they had early versions of this camera...

[MikeVR]

Exciting! I've been looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this camera and the new sensor. I've always been disappointed by the amount of noise with R5C footage.

Level - I can't believe the level goes off when you hit record. Terrible! Bring back the level Canon!

I was surprised to hear 6k max recording so very pleased to see you can do 8k 60fps. To do that without external battery sounds like a dream!

Oh man. I want this camera! I wonder how it will compare to the C400. That built-in ND system on the C400 would be sooo nice.

[LloydStewart]

Yes, the leveling feature is critical. Canon: please restore!

[ringrace]

Great review. Can you zoom in during playback on normal 8k RAW or only VR one?

[TyKix]

We need a way to jack in a VR headset to the camera to have a live stereo stitch preview… that’s the dream

[labs]

It's funny they call it "VR preview" when there's really nothing VR about it. At first I thought it was going to be some kind of companion app where you can connect the camera to a headset and live preview in VR without 3rd party software. Maybe next time?

[leonhausmann]

Hey I really like your videos. What is unclear for me is how to watch the 180 degree videos on Apple Vision Pro. Can you do a tutorial on the workflow from the point where I’ve rendert the video to the point where I want to watch the video on Apple Vision Pro. Because I want to watch the 180 degree videos like I can do in Apple TV.

[immerVR]

Thanks Hugh for another great video! Question regarding the Canon RF-S 3.9mm mounted on R5 Mark II. For videos, you showed already it is limited to 4K on the R5 Mark II. But can you take photos in the full 8K resolution with it? If so, could you please share one to download?

[LloydStewart]

Sorry, sometimes I'm so slow on the uptake. I thought spatial and immersive video were pretty much the same. Now I get it....I think. Spatial seems more for those times with the family and kids where the effect tends to make the viewer feel as if he's there, but watching from a short distance away. Whereas immersive is where one feels as if he's actually in the video and could reach out and touch or actually be bitten by a dinosaur or a rhino, or walk on the grass he's virtually standing on.

That makes my choice somewhat easier since IMMERSIVE is (mostly) what I want to do. I suppose now the question is, does one buy the Canon R5 Mark II, or wait for the Blackmagicdesign Immersive camera, supposedly due out before the end of the year?

I think I'll wait and see what Hugh says after he tries the Blackmagicdesign Immersive camera, once it is released. Sound reasonable?

Meanwhile I'm gonna watch this video several more time to see what else I can absorb.

[kayreichelt]

Great, looking forward to call it my own.
Do you know wether it is possible to have a live view on meta quest 3?

[ViciousXUSMC]

I have tve R5C and ill be grabbing this too (already pre ordered)

Wonder if i could rig this to use on a motorcycle ride :)

With the 4 channel audio is it possible to use my Rode NT-SF1 for ambisonic directly to the video and no longer nees my Zoom F6? Id assume you would need a XLR hot shoe at minimum to do that and that is just as bulky probably.

[harrisonmccullough]

Excellent video. Question, did you notice any improvements in video codec for sharper or clearer footage compared to R5C? I’ve been shooting allot with the R5C codec and feel the Calf footage that you shared is sharper.