Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS M5→Canon Canon EOS R8 Mark II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS M5. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Canon EOS R8 Mark II
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Burst rate40fps electronic vs 9fps
-
Generation10 years newer (2026 vs 2016)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS M5 | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.4 | ||
| Street | +0.7 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +2.0 | ||
| Documentary | +3.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.7 | ||
| Landscape | +1.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +3.0 | ||
| Casual | +1.4 | ||
| Food | +2.6 | ||
| Macro | +4.1 | ||
| Architecture | +1.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS M5 | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £1,729 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled from 6K, 10-bit Canon Log 3/HLG | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection (people/animals/vehicles) | |
| Stabilisation | — | 7.5-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 40fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF) | ↓ |
| Weight | 427g (body only) | 546g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots | Vari-angle touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon RF-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS M5 and Canon EOS R8 Mark II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Canon EOS R8 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS M5
Related buying guides
Camera family history