Upgrade Guide

Canon EOS R→Canon EOS R5

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Canon

EOS R

£400 used

2018

→

Upgrade to

Canon

EOS R5

£1,207 used (+£807)

2020

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the EOS R. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the EOS R5

↑

Resolution

45MP vs 30MP (+15MP)
↑

Stabilisation

IBIS added — significant for handheld and video
↑

Burst rate

12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic vs 8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE)
↑

Generation

2 years newer (2020 vs 2018)

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.

Full spec comparison

Spec	EOS R	EOS R5
Price	£400 used	£1,207 used
Released	2018	2020	↑
Sensor	30.3MP full-frame CMOS	45MP Full-Frame CMOS
Resolution	30MP	45MP	↑
Video	4K/30p (1.7× crop), 1080p/60p	8K RAW/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus	Dual Pixel CMOS AF — 5655 AF areas, Eye AF	Dual Pixel CMOS AF II — 1053 AF zones, subject/animal detection
Stabilisation	No stabilisation	IBIS — up to 8 stops combined with IS lenses
Burst Rate	8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE)	12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic	↑
Battery Life	~350 shots (CIPA)	~320 shots (CIPA)	↓
Weight	660g (body only)	650g (body only)	↑
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.71× magnification	EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.76× magnification
Screen	3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating	3.15" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount	Canon RF mount (full-frame)	Canon RF mount
Memory Cards	Single SD UHS-II slot	CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II

Compare side-by-side

See EOS R and EOS R5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS R5 against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the EOS R

Related buying guides

Camera family history