The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is a flagship full-frame mirrorless camera (announced July 2024, shipping August 2024) aimed at advanced still and video professionals. It inherits much of the original R5’s design, but adds a stacked, back-illuminated 45.0 MP CMOS sensor with a new processing pipeline (dual DIGIC X + DIGIC Accelerator) for faster read-out. Key specifications include:
- Sensor: 45.0 MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS (no optical low-pass filter).
- Processor: Dual DIGIC X plus a dedicated DIGIC Accelerator for deep-learning (Dual Pixel Intelligent AF) processing.
- Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with up to 1053 selectable focus zones and 100%×100% coverage (100% horizontal, 90% vertical area). Eye-Controlled AF (gaze-based focus point selection) is newly supported. The system tracks people (eyes, face, head, body), animals (dogs, cats, birds, horses), and vehicles (cars, planes, trains) in real time. It works down to −6.5 EV light level.
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 30 fps (electronic shutter) or ~12 fps (mechanical shutter) for stills. (The 30 fps burst is maintained for ~200 JPEG or ~93 RAW frames on a CFexpress card.)
- In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): 5-axis IBIS rated up to 8.5 stops (7.5 stops at image edges). IBIS coordinates with the lens IS for optimal shake reduction. The R5 II is Canon’s first camera with “Peripheral Coordinated Control” IBIS for compatible wide-angle lenses, reducing “wobble” at frame edges.
- Viewfinder/LCD: 0.5″ OLED EVF, 5.76 million dots (≈0.76× magnification) at 100% coverage. 3.2″ TFT vari-angle touchscreen LCD (≈2.1 million dots) with 170° tilt/swivel. Both EVF and LCD support live histograms, focus peaking, and full touch control (touch AF/shutter).
- Storage: Dual card slots (one UHS-II SD, one CFexpress Type B. Fast CFexpress is required for the highest video and burst rates.
- Video: Up to 8K 60p RAW/IPB (XF-AVC S/XF-HEVC S codecs) and 4K up to 120p (4K60p oversampled from 6K), plus 2K/FullHD up to 240p. Internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording (XF-HEVC S/XF-AVC S) with Canon Log2/Log3 and HLG. External output via full-size HDMI (Type A) supports 8K RAW or 4K ProRes (10-bit 4:2:2). 4-channel 24-bit audio and Timecode are built in. Pre-recording (5 sec buffer) and waveform/zebra displays are included.
- Connectivity: USB-C (USB3.2 Gen 2) with PD charging; full HDMI; 3.5mm mic in and headphone jack; N3 remote port; PC Sync. Wireless: Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax 2×2, 6GHz/5GHz/2.4GHz) and Bluetooth 5.3. Wi-Fi supports FTP/FTPS/SFTP transfers, EOS Utility tethering, and image. Canon Cloud Transfer, linked shooting, and live streaming. An optional BG-R20EP grip adds Gigabit Ethernet (wired LAN) and a built-in cooling fan.
- Power: Uses LP-E6P battery (approx. 3500 mAh); also compatible with older LP-E6N/E6NH (with reduced performance modes). Battery life is rated ~340 shots (EVF) or 630 shots (LCD) under CIPA testing. The optional BG-R20 grip doubles the capacity or accepts two batteries.
Table of Contents
Design and Build Quality
The R5 II’s body is a magnesium-alloy chassis with weather/dust sealing identical to the original R5. It looks and handles very similarly to its predecessor: the overall shape, button layout, and grip size are largely unchanged. The hand grip is deep and ergonomically shaped, and users report it feels even more comfortable than before. Notable control changes are minimal but welcome: Canon replaced the R5’s top-left power dial with a Stills/Video mode switch, and moved the power on/off into the lock switch at top-right. All main dials (shutter, exposure, multi-function) are well-placed. Canon did not add a joystick; instead, the rear multi-selector remains for manual AF-point moves.
The EVF is bright and high-resolution (5.76M dots), and the 3.2″ LCD is a sharp vari-angle touchscreen. Both provide full 100% coverage. A minor ergonomic grievance: the small AF-point dial around the rear control (found on some cameras like the R7) is still absent, and some users miss a dedicated manual aperture dial (EOSHD reviewer noted a desire for the R7’s unique thumb dial). However, in general, the button placement and menus are intuitive to existing Canon users. The Body+Grip weight is about 656 g (746 g with card and battery), just 6 g heavier than the R5. The camera is well-balanced even with large RF lenses, and build quality is solid.
Improvements Over the EOS R5
Compared to the original EOS R5, the Mark II introduces several significant upgrades:
- New Sensor: The stacked sensor enables faster readout and less rolling shutter. This supports higher continuous rates and video frame rates. For stills, the resolution (45 MP) is unchanged, but the electronic shutter can now reach 30 fps (vs 20 fps on R5).
- Faster Burst: In practice, the R5 II can sustain 30 fps bursts (electronic) for hundreds of frames (e.g. ~200 JPEGs), far more than the original R5. Mechanical shutter remains ~12 fps.
- Enhanced Video: The R5 II adds new video capabilities that the R5 lacked: internal 8K60p (vs 8K30p on R5, and the original could only do ~20 min total due to heat); internal 4K120p slow-mo (vs 4K60p limit); and improved codecs. Dual Pixel RAW and HEVC encoding are now XF-HEVC S compliant, supporting 10-bit 4:2:2 internally. A host of Cinema EOS features (C-Log2/3, 4CH 24-bit audio, waveform, zebras, LUTs, etc.) are carried over and expanded.
- Autofocus: The R5 II gains Canon’s latest Dual Pixel Intelligent AF II, with deep-learning subject tracking. Eye-Controlled AF for stills is introduced (a first in modern Canon EOS), letting you select focus by looking at a point in the EVF. The tracking algorithm now includes joint/head estimation and can follow people, animals, and even sporting actions more robustly. DPReview notes the AF is “faster and more accurate, and can select subjects via eye-control”. Essentially, the entire AF system is more powerful than the original.
- Stabilization: The 8.5-stop IBIS rating is an improvement over the R5’s 8.0 stops. Coordinated IBIS + lens IS control,l and the new “Peripheral Coordinated Control” gives smoother stabilization at wide focal lengths.
- Battery & Power: The R5 II uses a new LP-E6P battery (nominally 3500 mAh), which supports the higher current draw of video modes. In practice, CIPA battery life is roughly comparable to the R5, but the camera can run at peak modes longer. Note: Using the older LP-E6NH battery will work, but disables some high-speed burst/video functions.
- Connectivity: The R5 II adds the latest wireless tech. Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.3 enable faster transfers and more reliable remote control. A new Camera Control API and image. Canon Cloud Support gives more modern tethering options. USB-C is the full 5 Gbps Gen2 spec with PD charging. Unlike the R5, the R5 II has a full-size HDMI port (not micro). Optional accessories now include a battery grip with built-in active cooling and Ethernet.
- Price: The R5 II launched at $4,299 (body)—the same tier as the R5. A kit with RF24-105mm f/4 IS L was $5,399. As of mid-202,5 it remains around $4,099 body-only on sale (with retailers similarly offering about $4,299 MSRP).
Autofocus Performance
The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system is extremely capable. It covers virtually the entire frame (up to 1053 AF zones) and includes advanced detection algorithms. In practical use, the R5 II locks focus quickly and confidently, even on fast-moving subjects. Eye-Control AF (when calibrated) lets you look at an object in the EVF to place the focus point there, which reviewers found “up to the task” for sports and wildlife. Subject tracking is more reliable than before, recognizing 10 registered people, as well as dogs, cats, birds, horses, cars, bikes, planes, and specific sports actions. Low-light AF is strong (working down to – 6.5 EV). PhotographyBlog and DPReview both noted that AF performance is improved “on virtually all the things we loved about the original,” and they consider it significantly better for action shooting.
User feedback: EOSHD’s user reviewer likewise praises the AF: “working with everything from 8K60 to 4K S-RAW… it all looks good… I believe it will not overheat in [4K30/60] mode,” noting solid focus performance even in mixed conditions.
Image Stabilization Performance
In-body stabilization is very strong. Canon rates IBIS at 8.5 stops (normal view), which matches or exceeds many competitors. In practice, handholding long telephoto or low-speed shots is greatly aided. Testing has shown the system is very effective (e.g. TheDigitalPicture demonstrated ~8 stops benefit with RF lenses). Combined IBIS+lens IS works seamlessly via dedicated sensors and inter-processor communication. One quirk reported by a user: if the sensor reaches its travel limit, IBIS can “jerk” the frame back to center rather than smoothly settle, especially when walking; this appears to be a firmware issue and can be partially alleviated with third-party cages or future firmware. Overall, reviewers found the R5 II’s image stabilization excellent for both stills and video, improving sharpness and AF steadiness.
Image Quality (Stills)
Still photo quality is superb. The 45 MP sensor delivers extremely high resolution and dynamic range. In practice, JPEG and RAW files up to ISO 6400 show virtually no visible noise; image clarity remains high into the mid-ISO range. TheDigitalPicture notes “outstanding image quality, including ultra-high resolution with modest noise levels”. Dynamic range is excellent, with smooth tonal graduations. The camera supports HEIF (10-bit) capture and has Canon’s full suite of color profiles; users have also lauded the new PhotoAI “image doubling” (neural upscaling) feature that generates 179 MP images from the sensor in-camera. Autofocus and IBIS contribute to tack-sharp results. In short, as expected for a modern 45 MP sensor, still image quality is among the best available. (Some users note that high-ISO noise becomes visible at ISO 12800 and beyond, but those levels are rarely used for large prints.)
Video Quality and Codecs
Video performance is a primary focus of the R5 II. The camera can record 8K 60p (XF-AVC S/IPB or RAW) internally, with a 120-minute limit. It can do 4K 120p (oversampled from 6K) and 4K 60p (6K oversampled) internally, as well as 2K/FullHD up to 240p. The in-camera codecs include XF-HEVC S (H.265) up to 10-bit 4:2:2, and XF-AVC S (H.264) up to 10-bit 4:2:2 for high-quality modes. There are also 8-bit 4:2:0 “light” modes and Proxy recording. Canon provides C-Log2/3 and HLG profiles for extended DR, and 16+ stops DR is claimed. The editing-grade features (4-channel audio, timecode, HDR PQ, waveform, vectorscope, etc.) are all present. Output via HDMI can produce 8K RAW (with an external recorder) or 4K ProRes (10-bit 4:2:2).
In use, video quality is excellent. Footage is very detailed, with smooth highlight roll-off, especially under C-Log2. One user remarked that C-Log2 was a “wow” improvement for highlight handling compared to previous Canon cameras. Both reviewers and users praise the sharpness and color of 8K/4K footage. The R5 II’s 4K modes show virtually no aliasing in normal scenes (though one user noted heavy moiré in the 4K S-RAW mode on certain patterns). Overall, the video features and quality are significantly improved over the R5’s, making it far more practical as a hybrid stills/video camera. The camera also supports simultaneous RAW photo capture during video (4K photos up to 60 fps) and shooting stills/video interchangeably.
Usability and Ergonomics
The EOS R5 II’s user interface is familiar to Canon shooters. The menu system and Q (Quick Control) settings operate the same way as on the original R5 and other EOS R bodies. Canon has made a few ergonomic tweaks: the new Stills/Video switch and relocated power switch simplify changing modes. The rear multi-selector and touch-screen allow quick focus point moves. The body’s top-plate LCD (info panel) is omitted (as on R5), but the EVF and top LCD relay all shooting data.
Users generally find handling to be very good. The camera’s grip is large and comfortable, even for long telephoto use. An EOSHD user remarked that Canon “hits this one out of the park” in ergonomics, noting the improved grip comfort and the usefulness of the new photo/video switch. The R5 II is slightly taller and wider than the R5 (to accommodate cooling vents), and its optional grips (BG-R20 series) are well-contoured. The viewfinder is bright with minimal blackout during bursts, and the LCD is easy to see in daylight.
One quirk: the electronic level on the display still disappears during movie recording (requiring disabling exposure simulation) – a minor user complaint. Also, as with all mirrorless cameras, the battery grip (if attached) and the camera itself can get warm during heavy video use. The camera’s finish is matte black; weather seals around all doors and switches are tight, matching the R5’s robust build. In sum, the ergonomics are slightly evolved from the R5 but generally carry over the strengths: a confident grip, logical control layout, and a durable construction.
Battery Life
The new LP-E6P battery provides about the same rated life as the R5’s LP-E6NH (slightly more capacity). Canon rates ~340 frames/charge via EVF or ~630 via LCD (CIPA), which is roughly comparable to or slightly better than the R5 (320/490). In normal use, expect around 500 shots on a charge. Video recording is naturally more demanding: shooting 8K or continuous 4K will drain batteries faster. One user reported that under intense video shooting, battery life was “noticeably worse” than with an R7 (which itself is much smaller). Using the optional battery grip (BG-R20) effectively doubles runtime. USB-C PD (with the PD-E1 adapter) can also power/charge the camera for very long sessions. In practice, battery life is adequate for a day’s shoot with some spare, but professional users often carry multiple batteries or the optional grip for extended filming or long bursts.
Connectivity Options
The R5 II is well-connected for modern workflows. Wireless support includes Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz band) and Bluetooth 5.3. These support high-speed image transfer (FTP/FTPS/SFTP) and tethering (via EOS Utility or Camera Connect) as well as direct upload to Canon’s cloud service (image.canon). It also supports Canon’s Camera Control API for advanced tethering and live streaming setups. Physically, the camera has USB-C (3.2 Gen2, 10 Gbps) for wired tethering and charging, a full-size HDMI output (8K/4K signal), a headphone jack and mic input, and a PC-sync terminal for studio flash. The multi-function hotshoe can power external devices (e.g. the new Glydways transmitters). Uniquely, the optional BG-R20EP grip adds a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired LAN (ideal for studio/upload use). All told, connectivity is comprehensive and on par with a professional hybrid camera.
Thermal Performance and Overheating
Canon significantly improved the R5 II’s thermal management. It uses a faster sensor and processing with better heat spread, and the optional CF-R20EP grip even adds an active cooling fan. In practice, the R5 II can record much longer than the R5 before overheating. In one test, the R5 II ran about 34 minutes of continuous 8K60p video at standard power-off temperature before shutting down, whereas the original R5 would cut off sooner under similar conditions. Canon claims roughly double the recording time for many modes. In normal use, most users can shoot long 4K clips (even at 60p or 120p) without hitting thermal limits, especially if not in extreme heat.
That said, the R5 II is not immune to heat. In very hot/humid environments, heavy modes can still trigger warnings. For example, one user noted that several short 30s clips of 4K Fine 60p in 90°F with 80% humidity produced overheating warnings. Video at the highest data rates (8K RAW, 4K120p) will accumulate heat quickly. Using the “High” auto power-off threshold setting extended run times (e.g. 4–5+ hours of 8K IPB in lab tests), but that pushes the camera hot. In summary, thermal performance is much improved over the R5 – it will handle serious shoots far longer, but for marathon shooting, limits are still reached. The optional fan grip can alleviate this for critical use, and early firmware updates are expected to further optimize the cooling behavior. Overall, overheating is far less of an issue than on the original R5, but not entirely eliminated under extreme conditions.
Expert Reviews and User Feedback
Strengths: Reviewers largely agree that the R5 II “improves on virtually all the things we loved” about the R5 photographyblog.com. It has won praise as Canon’s “best all-round full-frame mirrorless” to date. Experts highlight its vastly better video capabilities (8K60p, 4K120p, cinema tools) and very strong AF system. ThePhotographyBlog concluded it is the “best all-round Canon FF mirrorless camera” after testing photographyblog.com. TheDigitalPicture commended the image quality, noting it as “outstanding” with “ultra-high resolution and excellent dynamic range” the-digital-picture.com.
Users echo these positives. One EOSHD reviewer wrote that “ergonomics – Canon hits this one out of the park” and found the grip and mode switch upgrades very welcome eoshd.com. The same user praised video quality at all formats and was especially impressed by the new C-Log2’s highlight rolloff eoshd.comeoshd.com. Many hybrid shooters appreciate that the R5 II can now shoot long-form 4K without cutting off, effectively replacing heavier cinema cameras for some tasks.
Weaknesses: Criticisms tend to focus on remaining heat limits and some bugs. While far improved, the R5 II is still a high-power camera that can get hot; as noted above, a few users have seen overheating warnings when filming heavily in high ambient temperatures eoshd.com. Early firmware issues have been reported: for example, one user experienced random screen blackouts (EVF video freezing) and temporary lens connection losses (especially with third-party adapters)eoshd.com. Some users found that IBIS “jerks” at the motion limits (a fixable firmware quirk)eoshd.com. The battery life under extreme use can be disappointing to some (though it’s normal for this class of camera) eoshd.com. The 4K S-RAW mode has been noted to exhibit moiré on fine patterns eoshd.com. Finally, the price and large size remain barriers for some buyers.
Overall, however, the consensus is that the R5 II’s improvements far outweigh its faults. It retains all the R5’s still-photo strengths (resolution, IBIS, color), while transforming the video side and AF. For professionals requiring hybrid performance, many consider it a top-tier choice despite the premium price.
Pricing and Availability
At launch, Canon announced the EOS R5 II body would retail for $4,299 (USD). A kit with the RF24-105mm f/4 L IS was $5,399. As of spring 2025, the body-only price is around $4,099 (Canon USA site sale price); retailers like B&H, Amazon, and Best Buy list it for roughly $4,299. The R5 II is widely available new (not a limited edition), and back-orders have generally been short. There are also many accessories available: the new LP-E6P batteries, the BG-R20 series grips (with optional Ethernet or fan), cooling fans, and of course RF lenses.
In summary, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II is positioned as a top-of-line hybrid camera. It commands a high price, but for advanced users, its specifications and real-world performance are on par with or exceed competing mirrorless models in 2024–2025. Its combination of high-resolution stills and pro-grade video makes it a versatile tool for professional photographers and filmmakers alike.