Late August will see the release of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, a new flagship model for enthusiast and entry-level professional photographers as well as creative storytellers.
Angled view of the new Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera with the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. (Source: Canon.)
Positioned just below the EOS R3 in Canon’s mirrorless camera hierarchy, the EOS R5 Mark II features a new 45-megapixel BSI stacked sensor and the same DIGIC X plus DIGIC Accelerator processor system as the EOS R1. This combination delivers a 60% reduction in rolling shutter effects over the previous EOS R5 model. Autofocus tracking coupled with an electronic shutter capable of up to 30fps with low rolling shutter distortion allows users to capture fast-paced action situations. In-camera upscaling of JPEG and HEIF images is also supported in the R5 II, with 2x to 4x upscaling available to a maximum of 179 megapixels. Continuous shooting is supported at up to 30 fps with the electronic shutter or 12 fps with the mechanical shutter. Pre-shooting capture enables users to start record stills up to half a second before the shutter button has been fully depressed or record 3 or 5 seconds of video. The EOS R5 II offers a greater synergy with Canon Cinema EOS line with shared features and formats. It can record up to 8K 60p RAW Light video with a range of Cinema EOS level options, including Custom Picture controls and support for Canon Log 2 and Canon Log 3 recording, which can encompass up to 16 stops of dynamic range. Proxy recording is supported, along with internal full-size 12-bit RAW video capture and a new Dual Shooting mode that can record FHD video plus a 16:9 still image simultaneously.
The camera’s body has been redesigned to introduce new vents in the side and base panels that provide passive cooling to prevent the camera from over-heating while recording. The EOS R5 II also uses a new high-powered battery that has been upgraded to provide a 20% improvement in performance, with a rating of approximately 620 shots per charge. Fortunately, the new camera retains battery compatibility with the previous model’s LP-E6NH lithium-ion battery, making it easy to swap batteries when needed. USB charging is supported and the camera is supplied with a USB power adapter plus a DC coupler. A new battery grip – one of three options no available – has been introduced with an integrated cooling fan to enable the camera to record 4K 60p video for ‘unlimited’ time periods. One of the other grip options includes an Ethernet port that allows the camera to be connected to a network for quick transfer of recorded images and video files.
This diagram shows the air flow created by the cooling fan in the new battery grip accessory. (Source: Canon.)
The EOS R5 II has a maximum native sensitivity of ISO 51,200 and has a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second with the mechanical shutter. Co-ordinated Control Image Stabilisation has now improved to 8.5 stops of shake correction at the centre of the frame and 7.5 stops at periphery. A new fog-resistant, two times brighter EVF offers a resolution of 5,760,000 dots with the Eye Controlled AF function inherited from the EOS R3 but featuring double the detection speed. The EFV also boasts a new design with more eye relief to make it usable when wearing glasses. The new model retains the dual CFexpress Type B and SD (UHS-II) media slots of the original EOS R5.
Sample images taken at a Canon Australia preview event at URBNSURF in Sydney Olympic Park with a pre-production model of the EOS R5 Mark II and RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lenses.
Portrait shot; 200mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/500 second at f/2.8.
Portrait shot; 75mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/1000 second at f/2.8.
Portrait shot; 168mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/320 second at f/2.8.
200mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/640 second at f/4.5.
200mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/500 second at f/4.5.
177mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/1000 second at f/4.5.
200mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/800 second at f/4.5.
200mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/2000 second at f/4.5.
172mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/2000 second at f/4.5.
128mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/400 second at f/4.5.
147mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/800 second at f/5.
156mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/1250 second at f/4.5.
500mm focal length, ISO 200, 1/640 second at f/7.1.
500mm focal length, ISO 125, 1/500 second at f/7.1.
324mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/640 second at f/5.6.
300mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/1000 second at f/5.6.
200mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/1600 second at f/5.6.