Canon
EOS R5
45MP full-frame hybrid with 8K RAW, 4K 120p, strong AF, and 8-stop in-body stabilization.
$3,899
Released Jul 2020
Canon
EOS R8
Lightest Canon full-frame mirrorless — R6 II AF in a compact, affordable body.
$1,499
Released Apr 2023
EOS R8 is 2.8 years newer.
Wins
EOS R5
Wins
EOS R8
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R5 has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 0 stops)
- AEOS R5 has higher Max video bit rate (2600 Mbps vs 180 Mbps)
- BEOS R8 has higher AF points / zones (4897 vs 1053)
- AEOS R5 has higher RAW buffer depth (180 frames vs 70 frames)
- AEOS R5 has higher EVF resolution (5,760,000 vs 2,360,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R5
139 × 98 × 88 mm
738 g (1.63 lb / 26.03 oz)
EOS R8
133 × 86 × 70 mm
461 g (1.02 lb / 16.26 oz)
EOS R5 is 6mm wider, 11mm taller, and 18mm thicker than EOS R8.
EOS R5 is 277 g heavier than EOS R8.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm EOS R5 · 70mm EOS R8
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R5
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
EOS R8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R5
✓ more lensesCanon RF
105+
native lenses available
EOS R8
✓ more lensesCanon RF
105+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R5
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
IBIS effectiveness
8 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138.5, 97.5, 88
Max video bit rate
2600 Mbps vs 180 Mbps — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
180 frames vs 70 frames — higher is better
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
EOS R8
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.5, 86.1, 70
AF points / zones
4897 vs 1053 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 51,200 — higher is better
AF low-light limit
-6.5 EV vs -6 EV — lower is better
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only EOS R8 supports it
Weight
461 g vs 738 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R5
Pros
- ✓45MP sensor balances resolution and speed
- ✓8K RAW and 4K 120p internal video
- ✓Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with advanced subject tracking
- ✓8-stop IBIS
- ✓CFexpress Type B plus SD UHS-II storage
Cons
- –Heat limits can matter for extended high-end video
- –Battery life is modest
- –Still expensive versus newer enthusiast bodies
EOS R8
Pros
- ✓461g — ultralight full-frame body
- ✓Dual Pixel CMOS AF II (same as R6 II)
- ✓4K 60p oversampled — excellent quality
- ✓Accessible $1,499 price
Cons
- –No in-body stabilization
- –Single SD card slot
- –LP-E17 battery — only 290 CIPA shots
- –USB-C 2.0 — no USB video out
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, EOS R5 or EOS R8?
EOS R5 scores 9.5/10 versus 4.5/10 for EOS R8 — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R5 and EOS R8?
EOS R5 is 45 MP and EOS R8 is 24.2 MP, so the EOS R5 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R5 and EOS R8 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R5 has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while eOS R8 does not have IBIS.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R5 or the EOS R8?
EOS R5 reaches 20 fps electronic. EOS R8 reaches 40 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R5 and EOS R8?
EOS R5 weighs 738 g and EOS R8 weighs 461 g, so the EOS R8 is 277 g lighter.
Do the EOS R5 and EOS R8 record 4K video?
EOS R5: 8K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. EOS R8: 4K up to 60p.
Are the EOS R5 and EOS R8 weather sealed?
EOS R5: Yes. EOS R8: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 490 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R5 and 290 shots for the EOS R8, giving the EOS R5 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R5 launched at $3,899 and EOS R8 at $1,499. The EOS R8 is $2,400 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.