Canon EOS R5 vs. Canon EOS R6: which camera is right for you?

Building upon the ground-breaking Full Frame mirrorless technology introduced with the Canon EOS R and RF lens range, two powerful new Full Frame mirrorless cameras bring the next level of EOS performance. Both offer expanded capabilities and boundless creativity, but which one is right for you?

The culmination of several years of development, the Canon EOS R5 is the flagship EOS R System camera for professionals, redefining what a mirrorless camera can be. The Canon EOS R6 is a hybrid powerhouse, offering the best performance yet in low light conditions across stills and video.

The two cameras share a market-leading level of Image Stabilization of up to 8-stops using a combination of lens and in-body IS, fast continuous shooting speeds of up to 20fps, and advanced tracking with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system. Each camera also has its unique advantages, from the Canon EOS R5's incredible 8K RAW video to the Canon EOS R6's high ISO range.

Here we explore the main features of the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6, with Canon Europe's European Product Marketing Manager John Maurice and Product Specialist Mike Burnhill drawing out the cameras' shared strengths and key differences.

The Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 are the first Canon cameras to feature in-body Image Stabilization, with an innovative new system delivering up to an industry-leading 8-stops of combined IS.² This means sharper images and smoother, more stable footage, dramatically reducing image blur caused by camera shake.

"Many people want to take advantage of the wider aperture of fast f/1.2 or f/1.8 primes, which frequently don't have built-in optical IS," John adds. "With these cameras you're stabilising the result, for video and stills, even if you don't have IS in the lens and you can achieve up to 8-stops with a lens such as the RF 85mm F1.2L USM (according to the CIPA standard testing)."

With ground-breaking video capabilities, the Canon EOS R5 is the first Full Frame mirrorless camera to record 8K RAW internally and to shoot 4K at 120p. Shooting using the full width of the sensor at 8K resolution in RAW at up to 30p captures four times as much detail as 4K and gives the flexibility to crop hugely in post-processing, especially if outputting in Full HD.

"The Canon EOS R5 is very high resolution, and also offers features that serious video users are looking at, such as more compression options including All-I as well as IPB, the DCI aspect ratio, and up to 4K 120p and 24p alongside 23.98," says Mike. "That combination gives you video flexibility for present-day needs and for possible future demands."

What's more, the EOS R5 allows different movie formats to be recorded to two cards, saving a full-resolution RAW file and an 8K MP4 proxy file alongside each other, speeding up the workflow for professional video production.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 offer recording using Canon Log for maximum dynamic range, making it straightforward to slot either camera into a professional production workflow. Also, for the first time in an EOS camera, both introduce the option to display 'zebras' to guide exposure and indicate any over-exposure when filming alongside the focus guide for assisted manual focusing. For audio recording and monitoring, there are ports for a microphone and a pair of headphones, spaced optimally for mounting in a flash hot shoe and separated to avoid the cables interfering with each other.

The Canon EOS R6 also offers diverse video options, shooting movies in 4K UHD at up to 60p – improving upon the Canon EOS R's 4K 30p, and reducing the video crop to cover virtually all of the sensor’s horizontal area (94%). Footage can be recorded internally in either the widely-used 8-bit H.264 format or the H.265 codec when used with the 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 formats for a huge depth of colour information. Canon EOS R6 also has the option of HDR PQ movies as an alternative to Canon Log for an HDR workflow. In addition, the movie self-timer function allows a short pause before recording starts after the button is pressed, so you can make sure you're ready to start your piece to camera and reduce the time you have to spend editing out those initial moments.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 incorporate cutting-edge technology from Canon's flagship DSLR for sports and action photography, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. This includes the powerful DIGIC X processor and its intelligent autofocus advancements.

"The Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 have a lot in common, because they share the DIGIC X processor, which is the brain behind the camera controlling the performance," says John. "With the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III a lot of people saw the new capabilities of the DIGIC X processor. The autofocus is much better at subject detection, and it's got deep learning technology built into it."

The advanced AF system can detect eyes, faces and heads – particularly useful for sports photographers tracking subjects such as skiers and racing drivers, who have their faces concealed – and, for the first time, animals, across both stills and video. Spot AF has also been added for more precise autofocus for macro and product photography.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 have 1,053 automatically selected AF areas, compared with 143 on the Canon EOS R. The EOS R6 has approximately 6,072 selectable AF points, compared with 5,655 on the EOS R, and the EOS R5 has 5,940, covering 100% of the frame in both directions on both EOS R5 and EOS R6 in Face + Tracking mode. As well as this fine control, both offer blazing AF speed: when paired with a lens such as the Canon RF 24-105MM F4L IS USM at 105mm, both cameras can focus in as little as 0.05 seconds.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 offer new shooting possibilities, with blistering continuous shooting speeds of up to 20fps when using the electronic shutter or 12fps with the mechanical shutter.¹ AF tracking is available either way. This takes performance to a new level and makes both cameras suitable for even more areas of use.

Matched with their next-generation sensors and full AF tracking, both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 offer an optimum combination of speed and quality for enthusiasts and professionals. A reduced noise, ‘softer’ shutter mechanism helps prevent the sound of the shutter from disturbing wildlife and other sensitive subjects and, when total silence is needed, an electronic silent shutter option is available with reduced rolling shutter.

Thanks to their next-generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, both cameras can deliver astonishing low-light performance, focusing at light levels as low as -6EV on the Canon EOS R5 and an incredible -6.5EV on the Canon EOS R6 with the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM or RF 85mm F1.2L USM lens. With their superb EVFs (3.69m dots on EOS R6 and 5.76m dots on EOS R5) and in-body IS, both cameras are capable of focusing and shooting in almost entirely dark situations where in the past cameras couldn't autofocus.

The Canon EOS R5 offers an ISO range up to ISO51,200, extendable up to ISO102,400, while the Canon EOS R6 truly excels in low-light performance and dynamic range, with a standout ISO up to ISO102,400, extendable up to ISO204,800. Offering comparable quality to the flagship pro Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, thanks to its similar sensor technology and the DIGIC X processor in both, the Canon EOS R6 delivers the highest quality results in low light, for everything from street shooting to sports, wildlife, reportage and weddings.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 also support HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) recording for exceptional HDR capture.

With an advanced 45MP resolution sensor and shooting speeds of up to 20fps, the Canon EOS R5 delivers an unprecedented combination of speed and resolution. Its Full Frame CMOS sensor combines high resolution, high speed and stunning video performance, capturing new levels of detail when combined with high-performance RF lenses. The sensor also produces Dual Pixel RAW images with several new functions added such as portrait relighting.

"The Canon EOS R5 offers 45MP, so if you want to shoot for advertising or the ability to crop later, EOS R5 will be your choice, providing that additional flexibility for professionals who are used to working in higher resolutions and those whose clients demand additional post-processing and detail in the final output," says Mike. "It's also useful for enthusiasts who want the ultimate file to work with and have the hardware to handle this resolution."

The Canon EOS R6, meanwhile, has a 20MP Full Frame CMOS sensor comparable with the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III pro DSLR, which allows more manageable file sizes, less processing time, and higher performance in lower light conditions. For many users it offers a substantial upgrade and an optimum balance, with ample resolution for large print sizes if required.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 offer enhanced image transfer capabilities, with built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi making for easy connection with a smartphone or Wi-Fi network and USB 3.1 gen 2 connections allowing the cameras to be tethered to a computer.

Both also include support for Canon's new image.canon cloud service, with an auto transfer option to automatically back up your images to the Canon cloud, to be synced to other services or automatically downloaded to your home computer.

For professionals, the Canon EOS R5 introduces support for built-in 5GHz³ Wi-Fi in an EOS camera for the first time, as well as featuring rating and voice tagging. It also supports a new Wi-Fi transmitter, the WFT-R10, to enable pro sports photographers and photojournalists to transmit images from the field using Gigabit Ethernet and Secure FTP, with the ability to save and restore network configurations and share them between EOS R5 and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III.

Canon has responded to feedback following the release of the Canon EOS R, and both the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 have a multi-controller joystick for quick and simple AF point selection – as seen on the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV – and a quick control dial on the rear of the cameras for reviewing images and adjusting settings such as aperture. Both have high-res Vari-angle LCD screens ideal for vlogging and versatile shooting at unusual angles – 2.1m dots in the case of the Canon EOS R5 and 1.62m dots on the Canon EOS R6.

"Design-wise EOS R5 is more similar to the Canon EOS R, in that it has the top panel LCD and a high-resolution LCD, and a mode button rather than a mode dial like the EOS R6," says John. The Canon EOS R5's magnesium alloy body and weather resistance equivalent to the 5D series make it an ideal choice when durability is critical, shooting in tough conditions. The Canon EOS R6 is similar to the EOS 6D Mark II and is designed for enthusiasts and semi-professional users, with a lighter overall weight but still with a magnesium alloy chassis for rigidity and heat dissipation, and polycarbonate external parts, front cover, top cover and back cover, as on the Canon EOS RP and the EOS 6D Mark II.

Further building on feedback, both cameras have dual card slots. The Canon EOS R5 has one high-speed CFexpress card slot – to support the faster write speeds associated with the camera's shooting speed, resolution and video options – and one universally compatible SD card slot; the Canon EOS R6 has two SD card (UHS-II SD) slots. On both cameras, these ensure fast write times, responsiveness and the ability to duplicate images, save RAW files and JPEGs separately, or record video footage separately from stills, whether for extra peace of mind or a particular workflow.

When using studio flash, some photographers will appreciate the Flash PC terminal on the EOS R5, and some regular users or sports shooters using the maximum frame rates will be more assured to use the EOS R5 with its longer 500,000-shot shutter life compared to the 300,000 on the EOS R6.

With high-quality 0.5-inch electronic viewfinders providing 100% coverage of the scene, both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 offer a clear and smooth shooting experience. The Canon EOS R6 has a 3.69m dot viewfinder with a refresh rate of up to 120fps, bringing the same clarity as the Canon EOS R but with an increased refresh rate, while the Canon EOS R5 has a new 5.76m dot electronic viewfinder and a 120fps refresh rate, providing a viewing experience as near to an optical viewfinder as possible.

"For people who are used to shooting with the very best optical viewfinders, moving to a mirrorless viewfinder is an extremely important part of the experience," says John. "You need something that's high resolution and high frame rate, where looking through the viewfinder is close to real life and allows you to have a connection to your subject without the frustration of a lag. The Canon EOS R5 is pushing the envelope in that regard – it's becoming more like what you get through an optical viewfinder. The technology has reached a level that is more acceptable to professional photographers."

A new higher-capacity lithium-ion battery powers the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6. The LP-E6NH is an evolution of the LP-E6 battery series, with approximately 14% greater capacity than the LP-E6N. Using the same LC-E6 charger introduced with the Canon 5D Mark II, the new battery is also backwards-compatible with all cameras that use the LP-E6 type battery dating back to the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II, which includes cameras such as the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Canon EOS R.

Both the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 also support USB charging or being powered via the USB-C connector using the PD-E1 USB power adaptor or other compatible USB-PD certified devices with high power output and a USB-C to C cable.