Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS R8→Canon EOS R5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The EOS R5 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most EOS R8 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the EOS R5
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Resolution45MP vs 24MP (+21MP)
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Burst rate12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic vs 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic
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Battery life~320 shots (CIPA) vs ~220 shots (CIPA)
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.7 | ||
| Street | -0.6 | ||
| Travel | -0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | +0.7 | ||
| Documentary | +0.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.4 | ||
| Landscape | +1.3 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.1 | ||
| Casual | -0.5 | ||
| Food | +0.9 | ||
| Macro | +0.3 | ||
| Architecture | +1.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.3 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS R8 | EOS R5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,629 | £1,207 used | |
| Released | 2023 | 2020 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 45MP Full-Frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 45MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 8K RAW/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | 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 | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~320 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 461g (body only) | 650g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.76× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 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
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS R8 and EOS R5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS R5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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