Canon EOS R5 Mark II Review: A True Hybrid Powerhouse

The Canon R5 Mark II is one of the most talked-about mirrorless cameras on the market right now, and for good reason.

I’ve been a Sony shooter for almost a decade, and the R5 Mark II has me tempted to switch back to Canon. This camera raises the bar in several key areas while remaining intuitive and responsive.

I spent several weeks shooting with the Canon R5 Mark II in a variety of situations. I’m impressed by how Canon has managed to blend high-resolution stills, impressive autofocus, and serious video capabilities into one versatile package.

Whether you’re a professional wedding photographer, a hybrid shooter who wants to excel at both photos and video, or simply someone who demands top-tier performance from your gear, the R5 Mark II feels like it’s built for you.

This camera is a tool that can keep up with fast-paced shooting environments without getting in your way.

Read on to find out what I loved about this camera and a few quirks that I think could be improved in future updates.

Canon R5 Mark II Specs

• Dimensions: Approx. 5.9 x 4.4 x 3.3 in (150.7 x 104.6 x 76.2 mm)
• Weight: About 738 g (1.63 lbs) body only
• ISO range: 100–51,200 (expandable)
• Continuous shooting: Up to 12 fps mechanical, 20 fps electronic shutter
• 45MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS sensor
• Dual Pixel Intelligent AF with Eye Control AF
• Video: 8K 60p RAW, 4K 60p S-RAW, 4K 120p 10-bit
• Burst shooting up to 30 fps with Pre-Continuous Shooting mode
• 5.76-million-dot EVF with OVF Simulation View Assist
• 3.2″ vari-angle touchscreen LCD
• In-camera upscaling up to 179MP
• Dual card slots: CFexpress + SD UHS-II

Build & Appearance

Canon continues its tradition of premium build quality with the R5 Mark II.

The magnesium alloy body feels rugged yet refined in hand, and the weather sealing gives confidence shooting in tough conditions. 

I particularly like the large, bright OLED electronic viewfinder, which offers a crisp and immersive preview with minimal lag.

The fully articulating touchscreen is a joy to use, especially for video or creative angles, and the tactile buttons and dials are satisfyingly solid and easy to locate by feel.

Having used a lot of cameras over the past 15 years as a professional photographer, I was very pleased with the design of the Canon R5 Mark II.

Although I primarily shoot with Sony cameras, this camera was very intuitive to jump into. With just a little customization, I had all the dials and controls at my fingertips, allowing me to efficiently capture what I wanted.

Ergonomics & Handling

The R5 Mark II feels comfortable and balanced, even with heavier lenses attached. The grip is deep enough to hold securely without feeling bulky.

Gone are the days of mirrorless cameras feeling small and unprofessional. While they are still more nimble than DSLRs, Canon’s latest mirrorless models have a solid ergonomic design that fits nicely in your hand.

Canon’s menu system is familiar and user-friendly, with plenty of customization options so you can tailor the camera controls exactly to your shooting style.

I quickly customized my exposure controls to different dials for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO via the menu. I also set up some of the more advanced autofocus and video controls in the quick menu.

The button layout makes sense and rarely feels cluttered, even during fast-paced shoots where quick adjustments are crucial.

It took very little time to feel like I had the layout mastered and could control the settings naturally without extra thinking.

Overall, I think this is one of Canon’s most refined models with all the functions literally at your fingertips.

Focus Performance

Autofocus on this camera is a real standout. In bright daylight, it locks on instantly with pixel-level precision.

Low-light autofocus remains surprisingly reliable, and the eye-tracking feature works seamlessly whether you’re photographing people or animals.

In action or unpredictable scenarios, the tracking stays locked on, which is a huge help when capturing fleeting moments.

Out of the box, I found the autofocus to work very well, even in tricky sports situations where I wanted to track a specific player. It felt intuitive and natural.

When the traditional viewfinder autofocus wasn’t nailing the shot, I switched to the backscreen touch focus, and this allowed me to lock onto a subject even when it briefly went behind others or neared the edges of the frame.

This camera also includes the eye-tracking autofocus function, but I didn’t find it very intuitive to use. This technology sounds really cool, but I think I just didn’t have the patience to make it work for me.

Autofocus on modern cameras feels like cheating compared to the focus and reframe techniques I used years ago. If you can’t get sharp images with the Canon R5 Mark II, it’s probably not the camera’s fault ;)

Low Light Performance

The R5 Mark II performs admirably at high ISOs, maintaining good detail and controlling noise up to ISO 6400 and beyond.

Shooting in dim environments like indoor weddings or nighttime events is manageable without losing too much image quality.

While shooting a foggy soccer game with an f/8 zoom lens, I was able to crank up the ISO and get sharp images despite the low light.

I knew that with a little noise reduction in post, the images would be of excellent quality. At around ISO 25600, you will definitely get some noise, but with a fast lens, I don’t see the need to use such crazy ISO values.

Again, it feels like we’ve reached a place where camera tech has gotten so good that you worry a lot less about camera settings.

Shooting handheld at 1/4 sec shutter speed? The internal image stabilization has you covered. Shooting fast action at ISO 12800? A little AI noise reduction in Adobe Lightroom and you’re ready to make clean prints.

High ISO has been solved on cameras, especially the Canon R5 Mark II!

Image Quality

Images are detailed and vibrant straight out of the camera, with an excellent dynamic range that preserves highlights and shadows beautifully.

The amount of latitude in exposure in the Canon R5 Mark II is impressive. It can capture clean shadows and bright highlights all in one RAW image. 

You may not notice it at first, but during editing, you’ll realize the 11+ stops are really nice to work with. However, one quirk is that the dynamic range drops about a full stop when you use the electronic shutter.

If you want the most latitude in editing, be sure to use the mechanical shutter.

While I imagine most photographers with this camera will certainly shoot in RAW, I did appreciate that the JPEG engine renders pleasing colors and contrast.

This is a nice feature to have if you are on a quick deadline and want a nice baked-in look from the camera.

Whether shooting landscapes or portraits, the R5 Mark II delivers consistently sharp and rich images.

Canon R5 Mark II Sample Images

Here are some sample images I took using the Canon R5 Mark II and the Canon 100-400mm f/5.6-8.

Overall Performance

The camera fires up almost instantly and maintains a snappy, responsive feel throughout use.

Burst shooting at 12 fps mechanical or 20 fps electronic shutter is reliable, and the buffer handles dozens of RAW frames without slowing down.

The camera’s startup time and minimal shutter lag make it ideal for fast-paced photography, where missing a moment is not an option.

Overall, the performance of this camera is spectacular!

Other Useful Features

The Canon R5 Mark II is packed with features. Coming from a lower-end camera, you’ll appreciate that the dual card slots provide backup or overflow options – great for professional reliability.

The in-body image stabilization on this camera is also excellent, and I appreciated the ability to shoot at very low shutter speeds handheld.

Video features on this camera are also exceptional. With 8k 60p RAW video capability and 4k 120p, you’ll be able to capture high-resolution slow-motion footage.

For those concerned about overheating, the optional accessory fan allows unlimited 4k record times. This was a big complaint on the original R5, so I’m glad to see Canon addressing the problem.

Another handy feature was the speedy wireless image transfer function paired with the Canon app, allowing you to share images on the go.

This camera is also packed with customization options that let you make it your own and capture things your way.

How I Tested the Canon R5 Mark II

I tested the R5 Mark II over multiple weeks across weddings, portraits, commercial, and personal shoots. I paired it with the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 lens to test out its functionality as a sports/wildlife setup.

Over the many hours I spent with this camera, I really enjoyed using it.

I was shooting in a variety of lighting conditions to push the autofocus and low-light limits and get a sense for the performance.

For video testing, I didn’t push this camera too far. I was mainly interested in the stills capabilities, but I did shoot some 4k slow motion, and the dynamic range was great.

Honestly, if I weren’t so heavily invested in the Sony lens lineup, I would be very interested in this camera!

Alternatives to Canon R5 Mark II

If you’re considering other options, the Sony A7RV offers strong hybrid photo/video features at a slightly lower price point. Nikon’s Z8 is another powerhouse with impressive autofocus.

However, for those already invested in Canon glass or who prioritize the latest autofocus technology and 8K video, the R5 Mark II remains a top contender.

Another recently released camera at a friendlier price is the Canon R6 Mark III. It inherits a lot of the impressive specs and speed of this camera, with a little less resolution.

There are so many good cameras on the market today that it can be difficult to decide, but that is the best problem to have.

The real choice comes down to what specs are most important to you and how that balances with your budget.

Value for Money

Priced just under US$4,000 for the body, the Canon R5 Mark II is definitely an investment.

That said, its combination of high-resolution stills, video capabilities, and advanced autofocus justifies the price for serious professionals.

Compared to similar models, it offers a premium feature set that delivers real-world benefits. 

The main challenge in terms of value is that Canon doesn’t offer quite as many affordable lenses as other brands.

Third-party lens manufacturers like Viltrox are making lenses for Nikon and Sony, but fewer for the RF mount.

I strongly encourage you to factor lens cost into your budget when considering the Canon R5 Mark II. However, the camera body itself is great value.

FAQs

Does the R5 Mark II overheat during 8K recording?
Improved heat management allows longer 8K recording times compared to the original R5, but an external cooling fan or shorter clips are still recommended for extended shoots.

Can I use my EF lenses with the R5 Mark II?
Yes, with the Canon EF-EOS R adapter, you can use your existing EF and EF-S lenses seamlessly. They won’t feel/look as natural, but it does open up a variety of affordable options in terms of lenses.

Canon R5 Mark II Review | Conclusion

The Canon R5 Mark II is a powerful and versatile camera that raises the bar for hybrid shooters who want top-notch image quality and video performance in one package.

It’s well-built, handles beautifully, and delivers excellent autofocus and low-light performance.

While it is pricey and produces large files, the benefits for professional photographers and videographers make it a worthwhile investment.

I would be tempted to use this camera if I weren’t already invested in Sony lenses. The lack of affordable third-party lenses also makes the overall kit a little bit of a reach when I’m trying to keep my budget reasonable.

I do highly recommend it for those seeking cutting-edge features and who are already invested in Canon lenses. 

Let me know if you have any questions about this camera in the comments below.