Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS R8→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 EOS R8. 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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Burst rate30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical vs 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic
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Battery life570 shots (CIPA) vs ~220 shots (CIPA)
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Generation1 year newer (2024 vs 2023)
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 R8 | EOS R5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.3 | ||
| Street | -0.1 | ||
| Travel | +0.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.1 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.8 | ||
| Documentary | +1.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.1 | ||
| Landscape | +1.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | -0.1 | ||
| Food | +1.4 | ||
| Macro | +1.6 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS R8 | EOS R5 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,629 | £4,399 | |
| Released | 2023 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 45MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 45MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, Cinema RAW Light | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, AI subject tracking | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS (coordinated with IS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | 570 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 461g (body only) | 746g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | 0.64" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Canon RF | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS R8 and EOS R5 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 EOS R5 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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