The Canon EOS R8 and the EOS R5 at first glance are two quite different cameras. The EOS R5 is a higher-resolution beast and it costs 2.6 times as much as the R8. Yet, the R8 is still a serious competitor to the R5 because it is very close in features such as autofocus. So what should you get? Read on to find out!
Canon EOS R8 vs Canon EOS R5 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Canon EOS R8 | Canon EOS R5 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | February 2023 | July 2020 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC X | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 24.2 MP | 45.0 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6000×4000 | 8192×5464 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 6.00µ | 4.39µ |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) | No | Yes |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Max Native ISO | ISO 102,400 | ISO 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-204,800 | ISO 50-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | Yes (JPEG only) |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | Yes | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/16000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 6 FPS (EFC) | 12 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 40 FPS | 20 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | 12-bit raw at 40 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 6 FPS) | None |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 56 frames (40 FPS), 1000+ frames (6 FPS) | 83 frames (20 FPS), 180 frames (12 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 1053 | 1053 |
| Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity (Standardized to f/2, ISO 100) | -5 EV | -4.5 EV |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/250 |
| Curtain to Protect Sensor at Shutdown | No | Yes |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 10 bits | 12 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | No | Yes |
| 8K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 30 FPS |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 120 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 180 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 120 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | CFExpress Type B |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.2 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 1.62 million dots | 2.1 million dots |
| Articulating LCD | Fully Articulating | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | 0.76x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2.36 million dots | 5.76 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | Yes |
| 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 3.2 Gen 2 | Type C 3.1 |
| Battery Type | LP-E17 | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 150 frames | 220 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 370 frames | 320 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 440 frames | 490 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 461 g (1.02 lbs.) | 738 g (1.63 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 133 x 86 x 70 mm (5.2 x 3.4 x 2.8″) | 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $1500 (Check Current Price) | $3900 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Canon EOS R8 Used Prices | Canon EOS R5 Used Prices |
Summary and Recommendations
Looking at this chart, there are ways in which the R5 absolutely wins over the R8, especially in the realm of resolution and continuous shooting speed in mechanical shutter mode. In other words, for people who regularly shoot fast action, the R5 is the clear winner.
Yet, the Canon R8 is really not too far behind the R5: the R8 has the same sensor as the Canon R6 II and basically the same autofocus system. The R8 even has a higher electronic shutter shooting rate of 40FPS over the 20FPS of the R5.
In other words, the R8 offers a lot of features very close to the R6II and the R5 for a fraction of the price. The R8 even has some video features that the R5 does not such as 120FPS in 1080P and a longer recording time.
One glaring omission in the R8 is IBIS. The R8 has no in-body image-stabilization, unlike the R5. This is such an important feature for many shooters that you should not overlook it. Still, for only $1500, the R8 is an incredible camera for the price.
So which one should you get? The R5 is still an amazing camera despite being three years older than the R8, and likely you’ll be able to find the R5 used for a very nice price. Thus, for most shooters, the R5 makes a little more sense.
On the other hand, the R8 is a perfect camera for shooters who don’t care about IBIS and the high resolution of the R5. Videographers who use external stabilization methods or vloggers who need an amazing full-frame camera on tripod would be much better served by the R8 compared to the R5.
What does the Canon EOS R8 offer over the Canon EOS R5?
- Lighter weight (277g lighter or about 1.6 times lighter)
- Some more advanced video features like a longer recording time
- Much lower price, costing $2400 less—you could buy a bunch of cool lenses!
What does the Canon EOS R5 offer over the Canon EOS R8?
- 1.86 times more megapixels (24.2MP vs 45.0MP)
- In-body image stabilization, allowing for easier handheld photography even with non-stabilized lenses
- Faster continuous shooting rate for the mechanical shutter
- Two card slots, which is better for redundancy and backup
- Higher resolution electronic viewfinder, with about 2.4x more dots, making shooting more enjoyable
- Better battery life when using the viewfinder, with approximately 70 more shots according to CIPA measurements
Questions? Go to our forum, where you can start a conversation and talk to photographers about these two cameras!
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Thank you, this is super helpful!