One R5C element that got some attention among reviewers was the fact that it appears to have two independent operating systems available, depending on whether you're using the camera to shoot video or stills. Most reviewers found this a bit janky, as it requires a reboot to switch over. DPReview's video-focused reviewer Dale Baskin disagrees in an interesting way.
Baskin notes that in the past cameras moving toward hybrid functionality would add video- or stills-related features in an add-on menu. Being a video guy, he finds himself frustrated with interfaces that throw video features into a submenu.
It is true that most R5C buyers are less likely to be amateurs – who would find the R5 perfectly suitable – and are more likely to be applying the body against actual professional work. Those people want the Cinema EOS features. For them, a five-second reboot is worth the trouble.
The implication of all this may be – contrary to almost everyone else who has commented on the interfaces – that this was more a deliberate strategy for the specific market, rather than Canon not having had adequate time to meld cinema features into the R5's “red camera” menu. We may see more cameras in the future employing both systems.
In addition to the Cinema EOS and the operating system most current Canon shooters know from its full frame offerings, it also maintains at least two others: a security camera version and the point-and-shoot camera platform that was later morphed into the EOS M platform. That is a lot of platforms to keep updating, especially when some major new features – like tracking – apply to two or three of them at a time.
Most people will be primarily video shooters and will appreciate the new GUI, but they'll also already be completely familiar with the stills GUI from previous Canon cameras.
The only issue I can see is for people who need to switch rapidly between stills and video. The time taken to reboot will be a problem for wedding photographers etc, but can probably be shortened considerably by turning off the sensor-cleaning option at startup and shutdown.
I shoot both photo and video, but never within the same job. It's always a photo or video job. Currently I have two R5s for photography, and a C70 for video, so the R5C slots perfectly in the middle for me. The menu system and functionality can just match whatever other camera i'm shooting with. If i'm on a video job, i'll have a video menu system that matches my C70. For a stills job, i'll have a menu system that matches my R5.
I always hate shooting video with the stills-based menu you get on the R5. The menu system for the C70 is WAY better for video, i'm super happy that Canon have this split menu system, it's absolutely perfect for the way I shoot.
I appreciate that Canon now has so many options based on the needs of the shooter (R6, R5, R5C, C70, R3, C300iii, etc…). What’s great is that we can all find a really powerful tool for our individual needs.
Actually I only remember seeing positive receptions of the camera when it comes to articles (features, preview/review,..). I don't watch "youtubers" if that is where people are seeing negative stuff?
Comments is another story... Of course the "dual-boot" concept will not work for everybody, but as always when somebody does something new there's lot of negative comments if it is not exactly the camera people was waiting for (or in some cases probably mostly because it is the "wrong" brand)...
Hire a photographer to take photographs while you take videos. If you can't do that, than this camera isn't for you. It's a camera aimed specifically at the video crowd while maintaining the photo-centric features of the R5.
When it was first announced and people were complaining, it just reminded me how no matter what camera you put out, there will always be voices who will never purchase or could even afford the camera, complaining about what it does or doesn't have.
Except the Sony crowd. Like the Macbook crowd, they will take a punch to the face before they admit there's an issue.
For this year I was thinking of buying the c70, for a better dynamic range...but finally I took the R3 because in raw the dynamic range is close to the c70 (which is not the case with the r5 and certainly the r5c ) while keeping the advantages of the R5 that I loved…then I also take photos.
After my first tests, I do not regret my choice. The R5 will be my b-cam in video.
If the r5c had the same dynamic range as the c70 I would have taken it and overlooked the IBIS. But honestly not having the IBIS, less good AF and having the same limited dynamic range of the R5 is very annoying I find. The R3 seems to me the most balanced.