Upgrade Guide
Canon Canon EOS R8 Mark II→Canon EOS R5
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
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Resolution45MP vs 24MP (+21MP)
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StabilisationImproved — IBIS — up to 8 stops combined with IS lenses
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Battery life~320 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.1 | ||
| Street | -0.7 | ||
| Travel | -0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.9 | ||
| Filmmaking | +0.2 | ||
| Documentary | -0.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.5 | ||
| Landscape | +1.1 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.5 | ||
| Casual | -0.8 | ||
| Food | -0.2 | ||
| Macro | -0.9 | ||
| Architecture | +1.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.3 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | EOS R5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,729 | £2,499 | |
| Released | 2026 | 2020 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 45MP Full-Frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 45MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled from 6K, 10-bit Canon Log 3/HLG | 8K RAW/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection (people/animals/vehicles) | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II — 1053 AF zones, subject/animal detection | |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 8 stops combined with IS lenses | |
| Burst Rate | 40fps electronic | 12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF) | ~320 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 546g (with battery and card) | 650g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.76× magnification | |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 3.15" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Canon RF mount | |
| 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 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 R5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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