Wedding Camera

The Canon EOS R5 C is the perfect wedding camera for both video specialists and hybrid shooters. It can switch from a full-featured Cinema EOS video camera to a professional stills camera, with a 45MP sensor capable of delivering stills at up to 20fps as well as long-duration 8K RAW video. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 C with a Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM lens at 1/50 sec, f/1.8 and ISO100. © Kevin Clerc

A wedding album is not enough anymore. Today's tech-savvy couples want top-quality digital photos and videos that they can share with family and friends around the world. Whether you're primarily focused on photos, a hybrid shooter who wants to capture both stills and video on a single camera, or a videography specialist intent on creating a cinematic experience, there's a Canon camera that's perfect for the big occasion.

We spoke to professional wedding shooters and Canon's technical experts to find out the best camera for wedding videography as your main medium and wedding video alongside photography.

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Combining 8K RAW video and 45MP stills in an incredibly compact yet robust body, the Canon EOS R5 C boasts the full range of high-end Cinema EOS functions, dual card slots, plus professional autofocus. An integral, active cooling system enables full 8K movie capture for as long as you need it.

Canon's Cinema EOS range is dedicated to professional, top-end video capture. Some of the latest models such as the EOS R5 C and EOS C70 are designed to pair with the growing range of formidable RF lenses. For hybrid shooters who don't require the specialist features of the Cinema EOS system but still want both pro-grade video and cutting-edge stills capture, the EOS R5 enables seamless switching between the two – see the best Canon cameras for wedding photography and videography below.

The Canon EOS R5 C is based on the EOS R5, explains Canon Europe product specialist Ram Sarup. They're both hybrid cameras, ideally suited to capturing both stills and video, but approach the mix from different starting points. The EOS R5 is a fantastically capable photographic powerhouse, whereas the EOS R5 C – from Canon's Cinema EOS range – is far more videocentric, making it a seriously cinematic filmmaking tool.

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Building on the same 45MP image sensor and processor as the EOS R5, the EOS R5 C adds an active cooling system that enables extended periods of 8K video capture. Most customers don't yet request 8K video delivery, but shooting in 8K gives you freedom to crop, pan and zoom in post.

Alongside 8K 30p in HEVC and 4K in XF-AVC with oversampling, both highly practical formats used widely by wedding videographers, the EOS R5 C offers multiple 12-bit RAW recording options for video. This gives videographers the greatest flexibility, Ram explains. The availability of multiple RAW options, as well as XF-AVC and MP4 formats, really marries the EOS R5 C with the rest of the Cinema EOS line. The maximum 8K frame rate is also increased from 30fps to 60fps, with an external power source.

Other video-specific features compared to the EOS R5 include a waveform monitor, false colour and timecode terminal, which are key professional-assist tools and features for high-production video capture. Although it's the smallest, most lightweight Cinema EOS camera, the EOS R5 C delivers absolutely beautiful footage. The controls are also enormously customisable, with 13 buttons that you can assign to various functions, so you can shoot just how you want.

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Filmmaker Kevin Clerc used the EOS R5 C to shoot a wedding as part of a film about the island of Madeira, and he was impressed by its versatility. He found the eye and face tracking autofocus very reliable and loved the Dual Pixel Focus Guide feature, which assists when you're focusing manually. Such a professional camera in such a small body! he comments.

Ultimately, the EOS R5 C is ideal for professionals needing a compact, lightweight camera for long-form, high-quality wedding videography, along with the ability to cover an entire wedding from a stills perspective with exceptional resolution, all without the need to switch between different cameras.

A key advantage of the EOS C70 is that it has a DGO (Dual Gain Output) sensor, Ram says. This outputs the imaging data twice, prioritising highlights and shadows, then combines the two signals, thus extending the dynamic range at the sensor level. As a result, the Super 35mm sensor outputs an incredible 16+ stops of dynamic range with amazing highlight roll-off and shadow detail. It's brilliant for wedding videography, where you want to capture everything from sunny skies and white dresses to dark suits.

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Built-in neutral density filters add to the appeal, ideal for maintaining wide apertures for a shallow depth of field, even under bright lighting, Ram adds. Dedicated audio controls ensure top-end sound quality, along with mini-XLR sockets for connection with other pro audio kit. Plus, with the Mount Adapter EF-EOS R 0.71x, you can use the broad range of Canon EF lenses while maintaining the same Full Frame angle of view alongside an increased light transmission of approximately 1-stop.

Sofia and Elena Costa, who run the Costa Sisters Productions wedding videography company, have built their unique style on creating a sense of fast-paced movement. They shoot with a Canon EOS R5, which they love because of its 8K video capture capabilities and image stabilisation, but mainly with an EOS C70. One of the great things about the EOS C70 is its face- and eye-detection AF, especially when we're on the go at weddings, says Elena. The camera's 4K 120fps capture is also great for creating slow-motion footage, ideal for scenes like the first dance, the first kiss and confetti shots. It adds a really cinematic element to the video.

The EOS C200 has many benefits, says Marco. The camera is ergonomic to use, the batteries have a long life and the dual SD card slot enables us to have a real-time backup of footage. Also, the main functions are easily accessible through the appropriate keys (such as WB, ND, Zebra and Waveform).

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Using ND filters, we always have a shot angle of 180 degrees with a frame rate of 50fps, even in strong light conditions. We're not forced to close the diaphragm to avoid overexposing our images or even forced to set a shutter speed that is too high. So our images are always very natural and soft.

The EOS C200 is a compact and versatile high-performance camera for a wide range of shooters that captures sharp 4K 50P images.

Marco adds that he could not do without the camera's reliable AF. I'm always sure to have the subject in focus even if I do not see the display clearly because I'm shooting in full sun, he says. At the other extreme, he has found the face detection AF invaluable even in low light conditions, such as when he is shooting the speeches at the reception – even if the speakers move around, the AF remains locked on to them.

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Mirrorless cameras gave me a whole new way of shooting, says Fabio Mirulla, who took this witty shot on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens at 1/160 sec, f/6.3 and ISO320. © Fabio Mirulla

We've mentioned that the EOS R5 C is a full-featured Cinema EOS video camera that can switch to shooting 45MP stills. If you don't require the Cinema EOS interface and specialised pro video output options offered by the EOS R5 C, all of Canon's professional EOS cameras are designed for capturing both stills and video. This hybrid capability means you have more storytelling potential in your hands throughout the day – and all without having to carry extra equipment around or employ additional photographers or videographers.

A superb hybrid camera, the EOS R5 is less videocentric than the EOS R5 C, says Ram. Even so, it can capture professional-grade video and has different advantages. For people who don't need to shoot long-form 8K video but do need to switch between shooting video and stills instantaneously, the EOS R5 is a perfect choice.

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The separate video recording button of the EOS R5 is a great hybrid feature, adds Canon Europe senior product specialist Mike Burnhill. It means you can be shooting stills and, just by pressing the video button, start recording video with a whole different set of movie settings, without even needing to take your eye away from the viewfinder or go to any menus. It's perfect when capturing unrepeatable moments, like throwing the bouquet. And for situations like this when it's a tough choice between shooting video or stills, you can simply record video at 8K and extract 33MP stills from the footage.

Canon Ambassador and International Wedding Photographer of the Year 2021 winner Fabio Mirulla shoots photos with a Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6. The eye-detection autofocus tracking is phenomenal, and really nails focusing every time, even when people are moving around or confetti is flying through the scene, he says. Now I just leave