Canon EOS R5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera Body

Canon EOS R5 Mark II Camera Body Only Summary

Following in the footsteps of the immensely popular first generation is the all-new Canon EOS R5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera Body. The latest EOS R camera marks a significant upgrade building on the original R5’s successes with another round of firsts while continuing the heritage of the revolutionary EOS 5D-series.

The R5 M2 adopts an all-new 45 megapixel back-illuminated stacked sensor with reduced rolling shutter faster readout speeds and wide dynamic range. This is paired with an evolved AF system which integrates a new level of deep learning and the R5 Mark II adopts neural network technology to a greater degree than any previous Canon camera.

This provides countless advantages for professional photographers working videographers and hybrid content creators including improved AF blackout-free shooting and a number of evolved features for content creation. Amongst the most notable are in-camera 8K 60fps RAW and 4K 120fps 4:2:2 10-bit video recording Dual Shooting 33.2MP (16:9) stills and Full HD video recording to two memory cards and in-camera VR playback for 3D content creation.

Canon has enhanced shooting speeds in the EOS R5 Mark II with a range of continuous burst frame rates up to an impressive 30fps RAW and photographers can upscale images in-camera while suppressing noise thanks to deep learning technology. Eye Control AF seen previously in the EOS R3 has been improved and adopted in the new body which also features enhanced ergonomics for a more streamlined workflow.

The image quality which the camera can achieve is second to none thanks to a combination of the new sensor plus an updated white balance and metering system up to 8.5-stops of in-body IS and new Dual Pixel Intelligent AF system.

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Canon EOS R5 Mark II Camera in More Detail

New Full-Frame Sensor with DIGIC X processor and new Accelerator

Canon has introduced an all-new 45-megapixel back-illuminated stacked sensor paired with a newly developed DIGIC accelerator and the existing DIGIC X processor. Together this forms the most powerful image processing system in EOS history enhancing image quality while improving shooting colour accuracy and AF speeds.

The sensor boasts a wide dynamic range reducing the effects of rolling shutter and improving stills and video capture rates effectively preserving the shape and detail of features such as wings racquets and balls.

Sensitivity reaches up to ISO 51200 with neural networks reducing noise from data signals controlling noise effects at higher ISO values. Image quality is further enhanced by an overhauled metering system offering far more precise results through 6144 white balance/metering zones.

When shooting at 12fps in mechanical shutter you can capture a maximum 760 JPEG or 230 RAW images to CFexpress card or 200 JPEG or 93 RAW images at 30fps in electronic shutter mode.

Pre-Capture shooting has been added allowing up to 15 images to be recorded before fully pressing the shutter helping to capture fleeting moments such as birds taking flight or athletes in action. Thanks to faster processing Canon has been able to introduce Dual Shooting for the first time in an EOS camera. While in this mode you can record video plus separate stills files at up to 7fps to the CFexpress card and SD card. This achieves excellent quality and saves time compared to extracting image files from video footage.

An in-camera image upscaling feature is also available which utilises deep learning to upscale and crop images while reducing noise by up to 2-stops even when reaching sizes of 180 megapixels. This satisfies the need for ultra-high-resolution images for billboards magazine covers and more without compromising on shooting speed ISO sensitivity and without needing a tripod.

Sample 1 captured with the RF 24-105mm f/4.0 L USM Lens @90mm. Camera settings: 1/800 sec. f/4.0 ISO 2000

8K60 Raw and 4K120 Video Recording

With the ability to record internal full width 8K 60p RAW footage 4K 120p 4:2:2 10-bit and oversampled 4K the R5 Mark II’s video performance has been upgraded vs the original camera. Various compressions and colour profiles are available including C-Log with a wide dynamic range.

Recording is possible for up to 6 hours and VR playback is now available in-camera with the ability to review VR footage in a format equivalent to one eye viewing with VR Goggles. 4 channel 24 bit audio recording is available along with compliance for industry-wide file naming conventions and users can utilise Custom pictures which enables better matching of styles between different cameras.

Thanks to internal recording a new LP-E6P Battery Pack DC Coupler DR-E6P and the availability of an optional CF-R20EP Cooling Fan Grip the EOS R5 Mark II will record for longer at higher resolutions and faster frame rates catering to professional content requirements.

Sample 2 captured with the RF 24-105mm f/4.0 L USM Lens @53mm. Camera settings: 1/1000 sec. f/4.0 ISO 5000

New Dual Pixel Intelligent AF

Canon’s effective Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system has evolved into Dual Pixel Intelligent AF adopting new technology and upgraded features for the fastest and most accurate AF in a Canon camera to date.

Deep learning technology has been integrated more comprehensively with accurate subject representation and acquisition as well as more precise tracking through obstacles. Tracking evolution improves instances where subjects cross adds upper half body detection and avoiding obstacles by estimating head area even when briefly obscured from view. More advanced tracking is available for people birds and horses improving on existing capabilities for common subjects.

Active Priority focus mode is available in Electronic Shutter for sports including football basketball and volleyball. This feature predicts where the action will be automatically switching the active AF area to a person performing the kind of a critical action that has traditionally been hard to shoot such as a shot from a high-speed pass. Supported actions include:

• Football – Shoot header short pass long pass dribble clear place kick save by keeper throw in sliding tackle
• Basketball – Shoot rebound pass dribble free throw jump ball
• Volleyball – Spike toss receive serve

The AF system also sees the addition of Registered people priority with the ability to store up to 10 faces after taking a picture of someone or by using an image from a memory card. This feature has been improved too with enhanced face recognition even in profile view and easier updates providing an essential tool for sports wedding and event photographers.

Eye control AF is another autofocus feature adopted from the R3. This is more reliable than previous iterations with improved performance through:

• Higher pixel count sensor
• Improved infrared LEDs (for detection when wearing glasses)
• Larger eye detection algorithm
• Eye movement detection is 2x quicker

Sample 3 captured with the RF 24-105mm f/4.0 L USM Lens @70mm. Camera settings: 1/500 sec. f/4.0 ISO 200

Up to 8.5 stops Image Stabilisation

Utilising improved sensor-shift technology the R5 Mark II now offers up to 8.5-stops of Image Stabilisation (IS). This provides an unprecedented advantage when shooting handheld stills and video and for working in low light situations without a tripod or monopod. 

Such a groundbreaking level of stabilisation effectively improves image quality through the ability to shoot at slower shutter speeds using narrower apertures and with lower ISO values both indoors and outside.

The benefits are immediately tangible whether you shoot interiors portraits fashion videos or wildlife far improving on the traditional ‘reciprocal rule’ which creators may still work from.

Sample 4 captured with the RF 24-105mm f/4.0 L USM Lens @61mm. Camera settings: 1/1000 sec. f/4.0 ISO 12800

Body Design and Connectivity

The exterior body design built around the revolutionary RF mount remains similar to the previous model with some specific updates which enhance usability and improve on usability. These include moving the ON/OFF switch in favour of a dedicated movie / stills dial which is on the top left of camera and the addition of cooling vents underneath the LCD.

Two memory card slots are housed behind a door with continued support for a high-speed CFexpress Type B (maximum capacity 2TB) and a UHS-II SD card. The camera also utilises a new 2130 mAh LP-E6P Battery which improves on power delivery compared to the previous LP-E6NH. The previous battery can be used in the new body however some features including high frame rate 8K video will be unavailable.

Many features will be familiar to existing users such as the Tally Lamp however the next-generation R5 Mark II adds support for Wi-Fi 6E or 2.5 Base T ethernet via an optional grip providing faster wireless speeds and lower latencies. FTP Multi thread is also supported which enables faster data transfer thanks to a single large file being into multiple parts automatically for simultaneous download. Automatic access point recommendation is available with automatic switching to stronger signals and users can register a wired / wireless LAN for single connection. Additionally Canon has swapped the Type D HDMI terminal for a full-sized Type A in the new body.

Sample 5 captured with the RF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM Lens @70mm. Camera settings: 1/1000 sec. f/2.8 ISO 2000

The camera itself is built around a magnesium alloy body that's designed to withstand the rigours associated with professional use yet it remains lightweight for handholding weighing within 6g of its predecessor. It also supports every type of content creation with a fully rotating LCD screen and 2x brighter Electronic Viewfinder.

Alongside the camera body is a choice of three battery grips each catering to different user requirements.

1. Canon BG-R20 Battery Grip which is designed for vertical shooting housing two batteries in a cradle while replicating the camera buttons when in vertical orientation.
2. Canon BG-R20EP Battery Grip With Ethernet Port which adds ethernet support additional batteries and vertical shooting.

• Canon CF-R20EP Cooling Fan Grip provides cooling only for demanding video recording in high-speed 8K RAW and 4K formats.