8K video shootout: Sony Alpha 1 vs. Canon EOS R5

How the mighty

Sony Alpha 1

does it compare to the cheapest

Canon EOS-R5

when it comes to video performance?

LensProToGo

shared a video comparison that puts the two cameras against each other in an 8K shootout.

Announced in early 2021

, the Sony Alpha 1 mirrorless camera is called by the company its “professional cinema camera” because it can deliver 8K video footage at up to 30 frames per second. The Canon EOS R5, which can also deliver 8K video footage, hasn't been heavily marketed as a video tool since the first teasers, as its primary purpose is photography (and it suffers from overheating issues). p>

).

According to the company

, the inclusion of 8K was a specification that was included simply to beat the competition to the punch and was not one that should necessarily be used heavily.

The price difference between the two systems is a big factor for interested buyers looking to shoot in 8K, and while that's not the R5's strong suit, the major cost gap may still draw some photographers out of it. select over the Alpha 1 (the Sony Alpha 1 is currently priced at $6,498 and the Canon R5 at $3,899). Although they are identical on paper, are there any compromises that justify the major price differences?

To test a real difference between the two cameras when it comes to shooting video, Dom from LensProToGo has put together a comparison to see how the two cameras perform in various tests. The Canon EOS R5 offers multiple 8K shooting options, divided by aspect ratio and different compression modes, while Sony Alpha 1 offers fewer choices for users.

First, Dom solved the

heating problem. by Canon R5

testing how much 8K footage can be recorded on both cameras for two hours with a full battery and all auto and IBIS functions off. This particular test was developed instead of just seeing which camera overheats the fastest, as it's likely Canon would be the worst performer there.

During this experiment, Dom had to let the Canon R5 cool down after the first 22 minutes of shooting, followed by a sequence of shooting and cooling periods until the two hours were up. This gave him a total of 49 minutes of 8K footage. Compared to the more practical Sony Alpha 1 result of 117 minutes, where no overheating occurred, Sony outperformed Canon by a significant margin. Don noted that although the exterior of the Alpha1 was rather warm to the touch, the only timeout required was due to a dead battery or full memory card.

When it comes to 8K video quality, testing showed the difference to be rather negligible between the two systems. When forced to really look at the pixels, Dom says Sony seems to come out sharper. In an autofocus test, which isn't always a really fair comparison as it depends on the performance of each lens, Canon seemed to offer faster and more accurate autofocus tracking.

Other tests were carried out, such as color, skin tone and low light comparisons - were interesting, but did not necessarily lead to an objective conclusion. These factors are highly dependent on the tastes and preferences of a specific user.

Overall, both cameras are capable of delivering high quality video and good performance, each with their own pros and cons. However, Dom concludes that despite some performance issues associated with the system, the Canon R5 is the more flexible option, while the Sony Alpha 1 is the more reliable choice. Its higher price tag is a major detractor, however, and puts it out of reach for many.

More gear reviews and comparisons can be found on the LensProToGo YouTube channel

where the team regularly posts videos of recent photo and video material.

Picture credits:

All images provided by LensProToGo and used with permission.