The Canon R5 and the Nikon Z6 are fairly different cameras at different price points. The R5 has a higher resolution sensor and a better autofocus system, but the Nikon Z6 is much more budget-friendly. Do their feature differences make up for the difference in price, and which one is right for you?
Nikon Z6 vs Canon EOS R5 Specifications Comparison
| Camera Feature | Nikon Z6 | Canon EOS R5 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | August 2018 | July 2020 |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor Type | BSI CMOS | CMOS |
| Image Processor | EXPEED 6 | DIGIC X |
| Resolution | 24.5 MP | 45 MP |
| Pixel Dimensions | 6000×4000 | 8192×5464 |
| Sensor Dimensions | 36 x 24 mm (Full Frame) | 36 x 24 mm (Full Frame) |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 5.94µ | 4.39µ |
| 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 51,200 |
| Extended ISOs | 50-204,800 | 50-102,400 |
| High-Resolution Sensor Shift | No | Yes (JPEG only) |
| Focus Stack Bracketing | Yes | Yes |
| Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 | 1/8000 |
| Longest Shutter Speed | 900 seconds | 30 seconds |
| Continuous Shooting (Mechanical Shutter) | 12 FPS | 12 FPS |
| Continuous Shooting (Electronic Shutter) | 12 FPS | 20 FPS |
| Notes for High FPS Shooting | None | None |
| Buffer Size (Raw) | 43 (12 FPS) | 180 (12 FPS), 83 (20 FPS) |
| Autofocus System | Hybrid PDAF | Hybrid PDAF |
| Autofocus Points | 273 | 1053 |
| Low-Light AF Sensitivity (f/2 Lens, ISO 100) | -6 EV | -4.5 EV |
| Voice Memo | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/200 | 1/250 |
Video Features | ||
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) | 8 bits | 12 bits |
| Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) | 10 (12 with paid upgrade) | 12 bits |
| Raw Video | No (Yes, externally, with paid upgrade) | Yes |
| 8K Maximum Framerate | N/A | 30 FPS |
| 4K Maximum Framerate | 30 FPS | 120 FPS |
| 1080P Maximum Framerate | 120 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Additional Video Crop Factor | No | No |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) | 4:2:2 |
| Video Recording Limit | 30 min | 30 min |
Physical and Other Features | ||
| Card Slots | 1 | 2 |
| Slot 1 Type | CFExpress Type B or XQD | CFExpress Type B |
| Slot 2 Type | N/A | SD (UHS-II) |
| Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) | 3.2 in | 3.2 in |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2.1 million | 2.1 million |
| Articulating LCD | Single Axis | Fully Articulating |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF | EVF |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.8x | 0.76x |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 3.69 million | 5.76 million |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| USB Type | Type C 3.1 | Type C 3.1 |
| Battery Type | EN-EL15b | LP-E6NH |
| Battery Life (Viewfinder) | 310 frames | 220 frames |
| Battery Life (Rear LCD) | 380 frames | 320 frames |
| Battery Life (Eco Mode) | N/A | 490 frames |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + Card) | 675 g (1.49 lbs.) | 738 g (1.63 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (LxHxD) | 134 x 101 x 83 mm (5.3 x 4.0 x 3.2″)1 | 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5″) |
Price Comparison | ||
| MSRP, Body Only | $2000 (Check Current Price) | $3900 (Check Current Price) |
| Used Prices | Nikon Z6 Used Prices | Canon EOS R5 Used Prices |
| 1 The Nikon Z6’s official dimensions do not include the depth of the protruding viewfinder. To match the standards of other manufacturers, 15mm were added to the Z6’s depth measurement in this table. | ||
Summary and Recommendations
As you can see from the The Canon R5 is a much more capable camera, with not only better autofocus, but better buffer, sensor resolution, and video, just to name a few. No wonder it’s almost double the price.
Maybe you found yourself on this page because you’re an existing Nikon Z6 photographer wondering if the Canon EOS R5 is worth the upgrade – in that case, my answer would be yes, with the caveat that I usually don’t recommend switching camera brands if you can help it. (If you have existing Nikon Z lenses, the Nikon Z7 / Z8 / Z9 lines are all potential upgrade paths that could save you money rather than switching brands completely.)
That doesn’t mean the Nikon Z6 is a bad camera – far from it. In fact, I personally use a Nikon Z6 and love it. Its autofocus system is solid and it works very well for portraits with its eye-AF. I’ve even shot a bit of wildlife with the Nikon Z6, and for larger or slowly-moving birds, the Nikon Z6 works very well.
Of course, for action, the R5 is a powerhouse. In fact, we have tested the R5 in various wildlife scenarios and found it to keep up with both the Nikon Z9 and the Sony A1! That’s impressive considering that it’s easily the least expensive of those three cameras.
I think most users will already know which of these two cameras they need. Both can accomplish nearly any photographic task, but the R5 shines when it comes to the niche of action and wildlife, and it’s even the better landscape camera because of the higher resolution capabilities.
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