Upgrade Guide
Canon Canon EOS R8 Mark II→Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Canon EOS R8 Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS R5 Mark II
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Resolution45MP vs 24MP (+21MP)
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StabilisationImproved — 8-stop IBIS (coordinated with IS lenses)
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Battery life570 shots (CIPA) vs 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF)
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 | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | EOS R5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.4 | ||
| Street | -0.4 | ||
| Travel | -0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.7 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.3 | ||
| Documentary | +0.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.0 | ||
| Landscape | +0.9 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.6 | ||
| Casual | -0.6 | ||
| Food | +0.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +0.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | EOS R5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,729 | £4,299 | |
| Released | 2026 | 2024 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 45MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 45MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled from 6K, 10-bit Canon Log 3/HLG | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, Cinema RAW Light | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection (people/animals/vehicles) | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, AI subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS (coordinated with IS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 40fps electronic | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF) | 570 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 546g (with battery and card) | 746g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.64" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Canon RF | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Canon EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R5 Mark II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS R5 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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