The Canon EOS R8 and EOS R6 II are both great full-frame camera options featuring Canon’s RF lens mount. The R6 II is a multimedia creator’s ideal camera, with support for great photos at high frame rates, along with 6K video and raw video output. However, the far more affordable pricing of the R8 makes it a great camera for photography specifically, while still being able to do 4K60 video. If you’re looking at a mid-market RF mount camera, either of these would be a viable option – check out the specs below to see how they compare.
Canon EOS R8 vs Canon EOS R6 II Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Canon EOS R8 | Canon EOS R6 II |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | February 2023 | November 2022 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC X | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 24.2 MP | 24.2 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6000×4000 | 6000×4000 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 6.00µ | 6.00µ |
| 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 102,400 |
| Extended ISOs | ISO 50-204,800 | ISO 50-204,800 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | No |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Shoot Burst Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/16000 | 1/16000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 6 FPS | 12 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 40 FPS | 40 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | 12-bit raw at 40 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 6 FPS) | 12-bit raw at 40 FPS (14-bit raw is available at 12 FPS) |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 56 frames (40 FPS), 1000+ frames (6 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) | -5 EV | -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 | 10 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 bits | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | No | Yes, externally |
| 6K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 60 FPS1 |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 180 FPS | 180 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:2 | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 120 min | 360 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | SD (UHS-II) | SD (UHS-II) |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.0 in | 3.0 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 1.62 million dots | 1.62 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 | 3.69 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Voice Memo | No | 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 3.2 Gen 2 | Type C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Battery Type | LP-E17 | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 150 frames | 320 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 370 frames | 580 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 440 frames | 760 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 461 g (1.02 lbs.) | 670 g (1.48 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) | $2500 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Canon EOS R8 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
Both of these cameras show just how far camera technology has come. To have a full-frame camera like the R8 at the $1500 price point is impressive, while the R6 II manages to pack in even more features and still keep a price below $3,000. Interestingly, the R6 II and R8 share many of the same features, as can be seen in the chart above. To recap the key similarities, they both have a 24.2MP full frame sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensitive down to -6.5EV, and 4K60 video.
Where things start to get a bit different is in the shooting experience. The R8 is a smaller and lighter body, which is a plus for some users. Others may find that the lesser weather sealing and sacrifices to control interfaces (like the AF joystick) make the fuller-featured R6 II a better choice.
The “good enough” philosophy continues to the viewfinder, with the R8’s panel being smaller and lower resolution, with lower magnification. While it can still do 120hz, which makes tracking fast motion easier, the R6 II’s viewfinder is much nicer to use.
Another feature the R8 sacrifices is dual card slots. While some consider dual card slots essential, I’d only say that’s true on pro-level bodies. Dual slots are definitely nice to have, as they enable on-camera backup, overflow, or separation of files by file type. At the $1500 level, I wouldn’t expect dual card slots, but this could limit the use of the R8 for a backup body for wedding or sports shooters, for instance. If you do go with the R8, make sure to buy high quality memory cards and consider switching them out more frequently to reduce the risk of failure.
Overall, the R8 makes some compromises compared to the R6 II, but that shouldn’t be a surprise as it’s nearly half the price. The extra $1000 or more can make a significant difference in the lenses you can have in your bag, and for some photographers, the R8’s compromises won’t be an issue at all.
Still, the R6 II definitely stands above the R8 for events, action, and professional use, thanks to the faster frame rates, dual memory card slots, and conveniences like the AF joystick. The R8, on the other hand, is a great entry point to RF full frame, and would be a very good camera for most everyday uses.
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