Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS R5→Canon EOS R1
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS R5. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS R1
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Burst rate40fps electronic, 12fps mechanical vs 12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic
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Battery life~530 shots (CIPA) vs ~320 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2024 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution24MP (down from 45MP — optimised for low light)
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 R5 | EOS R1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.1 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Travel | -0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.1 | ||
| Documentary | +0.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.6 | ||
| Landscape | -1.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.1 | ||
| Casual | -0.4 | ||
| Food | -0.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | -1.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.7 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS R5 | EOS R1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,499 | £5,999 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 45MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 45MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | 8K RAW/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/120p | 6K RAW/60p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II — 1053 AF zones, subject/animal detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF III — 100% coverage, deep learning subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 8 stops combined with IS lenses | IBIS — up to 8 stops combined | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | 40fps electronic, 12fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~320 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 650g (body only) | 920g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.76× magnification | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.15" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon RF mount | Canon RF mount | |
| Memory Cards | CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type B |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS R5 and EOS R1 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 EOS R1 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS R5
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Camera family history