In some ways, the Canon R5 and Canon R6 II are very similar cameras. The R5 and R6 were essentially the same camera, but with the R5 having a higher resolution. The R6 II is the updated version of the R6 with better autofocus and a few other minor performance improvements. Aside from the specialized Canon R3, the Canon R5 and R6 II should be the two finalists for most Canon shooters when looking for a full-frame camera. So, which one is for you?
Canon EOS R5 vs Canon EOS R6 II Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Canon EOS R5 | Canon EOS R6 II |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | July 2020 | November 2022 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC X | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 45.0 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 8192×5464 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 4.39µ | 6.00µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | Yes | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 51,200 | ISO 102,400 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-102,400 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | Yes (JPEG only) | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | No | Yes |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/16000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 12 FPS | 12 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 20 FPS | 40 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | None | 12-bit raw at 40 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 12 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 83 frames (20 FPS), 180 frames (12 FPS) | 75 frames (40 FPS), 110 frames (12 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 1053 | 1053 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -4.5 EV | -5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | Yes | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 12 bits | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 12 bits | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | Yes | Yes, externally |
| 8K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | N/A |
| 6K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 60 FPS1 |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 180 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 360 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | CFExpress Type B | SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | SD (UHS-II) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.1 million dots | 1.62 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Fully Articulating | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.76x | 0.76x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 5.76 million dots | 3.69 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | Yes | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.1 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | LP-E6NH | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 220 frames | 320 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 320 frames | 580 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 490 frames | 760 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 738 g (1.63 lbs.) | 670 g (1.48 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5″) | 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $3900 (Check Current Price) | $2500 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Canon EOS R5 Used Prices | Canon EOS R6 II Used Prices |
| 1The Canon EOS R6 II supports 6K video, but only with an external recorder over HDMI | ||
Summary and Recommendations
In most ways, the Canon R5 is the better camera, and that’s not just because of resolution. It’s also got high-resolution sensor shift modes, 12-bit video and Raw video, and a higher-resolution viewfinder. And of course resolution does make a difference: in the realm of wildlife photography, the cropping power between a 24MP sensor and a 45MP makes a noticeable difference.
But it’s hard to ignore the newer features in the R6 II with its pre-burst mode and updated autofocus system with more subject recognition modes.
For most poeple, the R6 II makes more sense then, just because not many people really need more than 24MP. On the other hand, if you’re into wildlife then I’d still go for the R5. Not only is it pretty much as capable as the R6 II in most departments, it can also be bought used for pretty much the same price as a new R6 II.
If you’re leaning a bit more towards the Canon R5, you may also be interested in how the Canon R5 compares with the Nikon Z8.
What does the Canon EOS R5 offer over the Canon EOS R6 II?
- 1.86 times more megapixels (45.0MP vs 24.2MP)
- Higher resolution electronic viewfinder, with about 1.6x more dots, making shooting more enjoyable
What does the Canon EOS R6 II offer over the Canon EOS R5?
- Updated autofocus with a few more subject recognition modes
- Better battery life when using the viewfinder, with approximately 100 more shots according to CIPA measurements
- Lighter weight (68g lighter)
- Much lower price, costing $1400 less
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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