August 30, 2025
Canon R5 versus the new R5 mark II
Naturally, a little more than a year after I get my R5, Canon comes
out with the R5-II. But this is no surprise. The camera world
cranks out new models every few years.
And what about the R1?
This is available for about double the price of the R5 ($6700).
It has the big dual grip body like the professional cameras in
the 1D series. Canon states that it targets professionals working
in fast action situation. It has a 24 megapixel sensor, which may
seem surprising, but less pixels allows things to get done faster.
But now back to that R5 mark II
It has a 45 megapixel sensor just like the R5.
The difference is that it is a "stacked back illuminated sensor".
So it reads out faster and has better low light performance.
The Mark II also uses a new DIGIC processor.
There are a host of differences in detail.
They moved the power switch to the right side, wrapping it around the mode dial.
(They put a movie/still switch on the left in lieu of the original power switch).
It can capture images at 30 fps in 14 bit,
(compare to 20 fps in 12 bit for the original R5).
Naturally it has autofocus improvements,
but as a landscape photographer, these aren't things I care much about.
Full retail is $4300, about $1000 more than the R5.
Note that the original R5 can capture 14 bit raw files,
it just doesn't offer the 20 fps frame rate when doing so.
You get 14 bit with the mechanical shutter and 12 bit with
the electronics shutter.
Electronic first curtain retains 14 bit, and is the only electronic
shutter mode that I use.
My take is that most of these changes will benefit the fast action
photographer. As a nature/landscape photographer, speed has never
been an important consideration.
Improved low light performance is always a good thing.
Features lost moving to the R5-ii
Dual pixel raw - this allowed recovering an extra stop of highlight dynamic range,
but few ever used this (I looked at dual pixel raw and just scratched my head).
Doing so required special software. So I say, who cares.
I presume the new sensor design doesn't even allow any of this.
Multiple exposures using RAW mode. This is now JPG only.
Likely this is because RAW files with some lenses had uncorrected lens aberrations.
Again, I don't care and was never even aware such things were possible.
No RC5 infrared control capability. I call this a good choice.
I use the BR-E1 remote and think it is far far better.
You can also use bluetooth from your phone.
Feedback? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's Digital Photography Info / tom@mmto.org