The Canon EOS R8 and EOS R6 are competitive, mid-market full-frame cameras featuring Canon’s RF mirrorless mount. While the R6 is getting a bit older, having been replaced by the R6 II model, it’s still a great camera and easy to find. This lower price puts it just a few hundred dollars above the R8. Is it worth spending the few extra bucks for an older camera? The following spec list and recommendations should help you decide!
Canon EOS R8 vs Canon EOS R6 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Canon EOS R8 | Canon EOS R6 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | February 2023 | July 2020 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC X | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 24.2 MP | 20.1 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6000×4000 | 5472×3648 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) | 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 6.00µ | 6.58µ |
| 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 | No |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/16000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 30 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 6 FPS | 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) | 240 frames (20 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 | 1/200 |
| 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 | 10 bits |
| Raw Video | No | No |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 180 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | 1.07x crop at 4K |
| 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) | 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 3.1 |
| Battery Type | LP-E17 | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 150 frames | 250 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 370 frames | 360 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | 440 frames | 510 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 461 g (1.02 lbs.) | 680 g (1.50 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) | $2300 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Canon EOS R8 Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) | Canon EOS R6 Used Prices (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) |
Summary and Recommendations
Unlike the R8 versus R6 II comparison, things here are a little less clear cut. The R8 is 3 years newer than the R6, and as such, it does have a number of advantages, despite being cheaper.
The most apparent is the higher resolution sensor of the R8. The R8 has a 24 megapixel sensor, while the R6’s older sensor has 20 megapixels. This isn’t a major difference in day-to-day use, however. The R8 has support for shooting 40 FPS bursts with the electronic shutter, but the R6 is faster in the (arguably more useful) mechanical shutter mode, supporting 12 FPS bursts, compared to 6 FPS for the R8. Both cameras support an expansive ISO range, from ISO 100 through a native 102,400.
Where the EOS R6 really stands apart is in the features of the body. The control setup on the R6 is more full-featured, with an AF joystick and other nice conveniences. In particular, the R6 has dual card slots, which for event and wedding users is often considered a must-have. The R6’s battery is also bigger, leading to around 50% more photos per charge in viewfinder mode compared to the R8. The R6’s viewfinder is higher resolution, with better magnification.
Together, the features of the R6 reflect the higher price and position in the market it originally occupied. Now that time has passed and new models have come out, the R6 sits at a very interesting position, with high-end features like dual card slots, while still coming in under $2,000.
If you’re considering either camera, or are looking for the best midrange camera for the RF mount, you can’t go wrong with either model. While the significant price difference between the R8 and the R6 II makes the decision easy if you’re on a limited budget, the R6 is much closer in price.
As such, if you can stretch the budget a bit, the EOS R6 is generally what I’d recommend over the EOS R8. However, if you don’t need some of the more pro-oriented features, you can save money (and gain a lighter, slightly higher-resolution camera) by going with the R8.