The verdict
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is the best all-around flagship in this list — TechRadar and PhotographyBlog both gave it a perfect 5/5, Tom's Guide 4.5/5. The stacked sensor, 30 fps burst, 8K 60p RAW, Eye Control AF, and improved thermal design fix every complaint about the original R5. The only reason not to pick it is if you're already invested in Nikon or Sony lenses; otherwise this is the top pick for most pros.
Strengths
- +45 MP stacked BSI CMOS sensor with readout speeds matching the Nikon Z8 — negligible rolling shutter
- +8K 60p RAW internal with improved thermal performance over the R5 — fixes the original's overheating reputation
- +Pre-capture shooting stores up to 0.5s of frames before you press the shutter (huge for wildlife)
- +30 fps RAW burst, Eye Control AF returns, new Dual Pixel AF with deep-learning subject detection
- +In-body image stabilization rated up to 8.5 stops with compatible RF lenses
Watch-outs
- −Priced aggressively at $4,299 — still a premium over the Nikon Z8's $3,996 street
- −LP-E6P battery is not backward-compatible with older LP-E6N — forces battery replacement for R5 upgraders
- −CFexpress required to unlock highest frame rates — CF cards and readers aren't cheap
Rating sources
Our 4.8 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
