Review: Canon EOS R5 Mark II

Friday 7 March 2025, 13:13 by Nando Harmsen | 5,867 views | 4 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II has been on the market for a while now. This successor to the successful EOS R5 comes with new options and several improvements. Is it enough to consider an upgrade? I was given the camera for a review to find out.

The original Canon EOS R5 was one of Canon's first mirrorless full-frame cameras aimed at the professional market. Over the years, the EOS R models have received small changes. The location of buttons, switches and menu functions has been improved where necessary.

With this model, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II is up to date again. New functions have also been added, and the autofocus has been equipped with the latest technology. Are the latest functions and updates enough to make an upgrade worthwhile?

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is a fantastic camera. Good enough to upgrade from the EOS R5? (RF24-105mm at 30mm - ISO125 - f/8 - 1/80s - edited to taste)

Specifications

I have made a list of the camera's most important specifications.

45-megapixel backside-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor
5.76-megapixel OLED electronic viewfinder
Eye sensor for autofocus subject selection
Up to 30 frames per second without blackout in the viewfinder
In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS) up to 8.5 stops
0.5-second pre-capture
8K video at 60 fps
Canon C-log2 profile
Waveform monitor and false colour overlay
Full-size HDMI port
Improved cooling for video
Autofocus with machine learning for specific sports
Simplified AF menu
Option to register people for recognition
AI noise reduction after shooting, and upscaling
Photo/video button and better integrated on/off switch
Multi-function hotshoe

The camera body in detail

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is largely the same as its predecessor. The camera is slightly taller but at the same time a few grams lighter. Its shape is a little more like that of the EOS R3. Most buttons are in the same place.

A comparison between the original EOS R5 and the EOS R5 Mark II
The exception is the main switch. It is now next to the mode button. This has made room for a photo/video button. Anyone upgrading will have to get used to this. Once you are used to it, you will notice that it is a better choice.

The main switch, video switch and viewfinder are the most noticeable differences.
The camera's viewfinder looks large and impressive. However, the viewfinder itself has not changed. The space around it is used for the eye sensor, which allows you to control the autofocus with your eye.

The EOS R5 Mark II has a new battery. The camera is compatible with older-generation batteries. However, some functions will not be available with older batteries. These are very specific things, so in practice they hardly cause any problems.

The connections on the EOS R5 Mark II. Note the ventilation openings.
It is good to see that a full-size HDMI connection has been added. The other connections are as before. The hotshoe has multi-function contacts. The ventilation openings are noticeable. They help prevent overheating during video recording.

The camera still uses a UHS-II SD card and a CF Express Type B. If you upgrade, you can continue using the cards you already own.

The menu

The menu has received a small update. Removing the page numbers means that an extra menu item can be displayed on each page. The camera has gained an extra tab for the customisation options.

The menu is familiar to Canon users. There is room for an extra menu item on each page.
The autofocus menu has been greatly simplified. The cases for autofocus behaviour have been changed. Although this should make things simpler, it takes some getting used to if you are familiar with the old system.

Setting the autofocus offers many options. The cases have disappeared, which should make it easier to set up the camera.

The sensor and dynamic range

The CMOS sensor in the EOS R5 Mark II has the same resolution as its predecessor. However, it is a new backside-illuminated stacked sensor.

At higher ISO values, the camera performs similarly to its predecessor. ISO 25,600 is no problem if the exposure is correct. These are in-camera JPEG photos
The dynamic range and ISO performance are almost the same as those of the old Canon EOS R5. If there are differences, they only become visible with extreme edits and corrections.

Correcting underexposure at ISO400 gives around 4 to 5 stops of correction room. These photos were taken in CRAW and edited in Lightroom Classic.

Autofocus performance

The autofocus system has been greatly improved compared with its predecessor. The changes in the menu are not the only thing that makes it easier to use. There are also presets made specifically for sports using machine learning.

Set the action priority to football for optimum autofocus performance. (RF100-500mm at 223mm - ISO1250, f/5.6, 1/1000s - in-camera JPEG, unedited)
Autofocus settings can be saved so they are quickly accessible. The EOS R5 Mark II has the eye-controlled autofocus options that were already available on the EOS R3. This lets you look at an object in the viewfinder to position the autofocus point.

Do you often photograph people? You can register faces. These people will then receive priority, so the autofocus 'knows' who is important.

Various autofocus settings let you get the best performance from the camera.
It is important to use the right autofocus settings. If you use the wrong combination of settings, performance may suffer. In many cases, the camera will make the right corrections, but not always.

To set up the camera's autofocus properly, it is advisable to find out how everything works. Use the QR code to read up on it.

Continuous shooting speed

The EOS R5 Mark II has become faster. With the mechanical shutter, the maximum number of shots remains unchanged at 12 frames per second. The electronic shutter now offers 30 frames per second.

To increase your chances of getting the shot, the camera has half a second of pre-capture. When you half-press the shutter button, the camera already starts recording images. When you fully press the shutter button, the shots recorded half a second before pressing it are saved.

Settings for pre-capture and other continuous shooting options.

The EOS R5 Mark II in practice

Using the EOS R5 Mark II is not very different from using its predecessor. The only thing you regularly get wrong is the on/off switch. When you use it, you discover that it is the video/photo switch. This is just a matter of getting used to it.

There was little time to compare the autofocus with its predecessor in detail. It is good to see that the camera works quickly and accurately. As far as I can judge, eye-controlled AF works better than on the Canon EOS R3. It is a useful option, as long as you keep looking at the subject.

Look at your subject and the autofocus point automatically follows your line of sight. Be careful not to look at the edges, because the autofocus point follows you there too. (RF24-105mm at 105mm - ISO800 - f/5.6 - 1/3200s - edited to taste)
If you look at the edges of the photo for potentially distracting elements, the autofocus point follows your gaze. This means that the option is not always desirable. The same applies to the priorities you can assign to faces. If you are only photographing those people, it works well. If you want the person next to them to be sharp, it can work against you.

The autofocus is good at finding the subject and ignoring branches in the foreground (RF100-500mm at 400mm - ISO12800 - f/8 - 1/160s - edited to taste)
As always, you should use the options when they add value. This can differ from one situation to another. With the EOS R5 Mark II, it is also important to choose the right settings. Although the autofocus menu has been simplified, it can take some getting used to if you are familiar with the old one.

Setting the action priority to football helps predict movements and maintain focus more effectively (RF100-500mm at 500mm - ISO1600 - f/8 - 1/1000s - in-camera JPEG, unedited)
The pre-capture function is a welcome addition that helps you get ahead of the action. It increases your chances of getting the shot and the number of shots per action. At 30 frames per second, things move very quickly.

Focus tracking works very well, even against a busy background. The sensor's fast readout speed of 6.3 ms prevents the rolling shutter effect. (RF100-500mm at 400mm - ISO1250 - f/8 - 1/500s - edited to taste)
An additional benefit that should not be underestimated is the sensor's readout speed. At 6.3 ms instead of the previous EOS R5's 16.3 ms, there is hardly any chance of the dreaded rolling shutter effect.

The autofocus is fast and accurate. (RF24-105mm at 53mm - ISO800 - f/5.6 - 1/1000s - edited to taste)

Conclusion

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is a camera that will be a welcome upgrade for some photographers. That group is action photographers. Do you photograph sport, birds and other fast-moving subjects? Then the EOS R5 Mark II offers a significant upgrade.

Strong backlighting, a great distance and a busy background with similar contrasts cause few problems for the autofocus. (RF100-500mm at 500mm - ISO500 - f/7.1 - 1/1000s - edited to taste)
Those who photograph less fast-paced moments, such as in portrait and wedding photography, will benefit much less from the new features offered by the EOS R5 Mark II. There are some pleasant improvements, but whether they are worth the extra investment of an upgrade is the question.

Pre-capture can help you capture the right moment. (RF100-500mm at 343mm - ISO1600 - f/6.3 - 1/1000s - in-camera JPEG, unedited)
For landscape photographers, the upgrade offers no added value at all. Almost none of the improvements and extra options are used for this type of photography. You do not need eye AF or other action settings. To those photographers I say: stick with the original EOS R5.

Why upgrade

30 fps instead of 20 fps (electronic shutter)
Minimal risk of rolling shutter effect due to the sensor's 6.3 ms readout speed
Pre-capture (15 shots before pressing the shutter)
Eye-controlled autofocus and registration of up to 10 faces
Improved autofocus and subject recognition
Many more autofocus points available
Updated AF menu
On/off switch moved and separate film/photo switch
Blackout-free viewfinder
Waveform monitor and false colour overlay for video
Improved cooling for video
Longer video recording time
Canon Log2 available for video
Multi-function hotshoe

The EOS R5 Mark II is a good upgrade for those who photograph a lot of action. Or birds. (RF100-500mm at 500mm - ISO5000 - f/7.1 - 1/1000s - edited to taste)

Reasons not to upgrade

As you can see from the list above, almost all improvements are for photography where action and speed matter. It will also be attractive to those who do a lot of video work. However, if most of the points above offer you no added value, there is currently no reason to upgrade. It is as simple as that.

There is little reason for landscape photographers to upgrade. But it is certainly a fine camera to use for this purpose too. (RF24-105mm at 24mm - ISO800 - f/8 - 1/30s - edited to taste)
Thanks to Canon Nederland for making the Canon EOS R5 Mark II available.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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4 comments

Paul eos wrote on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 16:01 | reply
Hi Nando
You write that the new sensor isn't a stacked sensor, below I found this description of the sensor in the information from a well-known camera store!
"The updated, 45 megapixel Back Illuminated stacked CMOS sensor"
Anyway, as a wildlife photographer, the R5 mk II is the ideal camera for me.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 16:20 | reply
The sources I had indeed talked about a BSI sensor, and specifically mentioned that it was not stacked.
I checked Canon's website (which I should have done earlier) and indeed; BSI stacked.
I corrected it in the text.
(incidentally: I also advise you not to use (un)known camera stores for this kind of information. They don't always get it right either)
But tell me; in what way is it the ideal camera for you? I’m very curious about that.
Translated from Dutch.

Paul eos wrote on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 17:03 | reply
Hi Nando
For my purchase of the R5 MK II I of course also consulted Canon's website.
For me it is the ideal camera because the autofocus works so incredibly well, even in more difficult conditions. But taking a stacked photo with this camera is also so simple and fast. You only need to delve into and read up on this camera a bit and set the controls according to your own preferences, that is sometimes forgotten by many photographers.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Wednesday 12 March 2025 at 10:03 | reply
Thank you for explaining your choice.
I understand that it isn't an upgrade from the first EOS R5.
Translated from Dutch.

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