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EOS R8 vs EOS R6 Mark II: full-frame face-off

Head-to-head, how does the EOS R8 compare with the EOS R6 Mark II? What features do they have in common, and what separates them?
On the left, a Canon EOS R8 on a table with greenery blurred in the background. On the right, a Canon EOS R6 Mark II on a rough-hewn piece of wood, with a pile of split logs in the background.

The EOS R8, at its launch, is the lightest full-frame camera Canon has ever produced, and like the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, it is equipped with a 24.2MP full-frame sensor, 40fps shooting speed, and intelligent AF technology.

Canon's growing range of EOS R System mirrorless cameras give photographers and content creators more choice than ever. But at the same time, the differences between models can seem less clear-cut.

Take two full-frame models in the mid-to-pro range, the Canon EOS R8 and the Canon EOS R6 Mark II. Compare the headline specifications of the two cameras – megapixels, autofocus, video capabilities, continuous shooting speed – and there seems to be little to separate them. Dig deeper, however, and you'll find some key distinctions that make the EOS R6 Mark II a better choice for dedicated photographers and content creators who want best-in-category performance for all genres, and some that make the EOS R8 a better choice for photography enthusiasts who want a lightweight, full-frame hybrid camera with advanced video capabilities and regard artistic results as the priority, more important than shooting speed or a list of pro photo features.

So what are the main differences and similarities between the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II? We draw on the detailed knowledge of Canon Europe Product Marketing Specialist Tibor Szövetes and Product Marketing Manager John Maurice to help you decide which camera best suits your needs.

A person holding a Canon EOS R6 Mark II camera, with an external microphone mounted on top, in one hand at waist level.

Both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II are true hybrid cameras, with pro-level video functions as well as outstanding stills features. They both include many of Canon's latest technologies, including intelligent autofocus and subject detection.

Canon EOS R8 with a Speedlite flash mounted on top sits on a wooden table, with a map, a notebook and pen, and a potted plant behind.

Both cameras have a versatile multi-function shoe designed to accommodate and power a wide range of accessories, including external microphones (as on the EOS R6 Mark II at left) and Speedlite flashes (as on the EOS R8 here).

Sensor size: full-frame quality

At the heart of both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II is a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor that delivers the perfect balance of speed and image quality. It works in combination with a DIGIC X processor in both cameras to produce outstanding low-light performance.

Both cameras offer the strengths of full-frame, and both make their features accessible to users stepping up to full-frame photography, thanks to the helpful Guided User Interface mode available on both. The EOS R8 might make the transition from an APS-C DSLR to a full-frame mirrorless camera easier in one respect: its compact size. "The EOS R8 is a similar size and weight to an APS-C DSLR," says John, "but the full-frame benefits and advanced features deliver a real step up in quality."

The Canon EOS R8 alongside the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, viewed from the top.

The EOS R8 (left) is substantially smaller and lighter than the EOS R6 Mark II (right), and there are some additional controls on the latter, but all the key buttons and dials are in easy reach on both cameras. Both have a photo/video mode switch on top, which makes it quick and simple to toggle between the two modes.

Design, size and weight

Comparing the EOS R8 and EOS R6 Mark II side by side, the EOS R8 is a significantly more compact camera. There's a notable difference in weight too: the EOS R6 Mark II weighs 670g with battery and memory card, the EOS R8 just 461g. In fact, at its launch the EOS R8 is the lightest full-frame camera that Canon has ever made.

Some of the difference in size and weight between the two cameras can be attributed to the bigger battery in the EOS R6 Mark II. It is equipped with a professional LP-E6NH battery pack, which delivers longer battery life, whereas the EOS R8 uses the smaller LP-E17.

"The EOS R8 has inherited the body design from the EOS RP," explains Tibor, "so it's a very similar size. It's only 1.1mm taller, and that's just because of the EOS R8's multi-function shoe – a feature it shares with the EOS R6 Mark II."

"The design emphasis of the EOS R8 is all about small size and practicality, whereas the EOS R6 Mark II is geared towards giving semi-pros direct access to the functions they need," adds John. "In the EOS R6 Mark II, there are dual card slots, for example, enabling you to have an instant backup. There's also an additional Quick Control dial and a multi-controller that makes it quicker to manipulate the AF point."

A technician wearing white gloves cleans the sensor of a Canon camera.

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EOS R6 Mark II-Stills tracking

Intelligent autofocus and subject detection

When it comes to autofocus performance, there are not many differences between the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II. Both cameras have Canon's high-performance Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology with intelligent subject detection, and can focus in light levels as low as -6.5 EV – about the same brightness as a scene lit only by the light from a quarter moon.

"The two cameras can identify and track subjects ranging from vehicles to animals in both stills and video mode," Tibor elaborates. "Just like the EOS R6 Mark II, the EOS R8 can recognise horses, trains and planes, as well as people, cars, motorcycles, cats, dogs and birds. Both cameras also offer an Auto function, which means that you don't have to tell the camera which subject you want it to look for – it will do that automatically."

While the AF performance is identical, the way in which you can manually select an AF point is different. The EOS R8 doesn't have a multi-controller like the EOS R6 Mark II, and is instead equipped with cross-keys.

Like the EOS R6 Mark II, however, the EOS R8 also supports Touch & Drag AF, so you can move the AF point with your thumb on the rear display while you're looking through the viewfinder.

A Canon EOS R8 sitting on green leaves rich in colour and captured from above.

EOS R8 vs EOS R7 vs EOS RP

Canon experts highlight some of the key differences between the EOS R8 and the closest mid-range EOS R System models.
A black and white Border Collie jumps to grab a blue frisbee with its mouth, photographed in mid-air thanks to the Canon EOS R8's electronic 1st-curtain shutter.

Using their electronic shutter, both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II can shoot at up to 40fps with full Servo AF, helping you get the perfect shot. Taken on a Canon EOS R8 with a Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM lens at 214mm, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1 and ISO 800.

A cyclist performs a stunt in mid-air, with mountains visible in the background, photographed on a Canon EOS R6 Mark II.

In addition, both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II have a RAW burst mode. This not only captures 30fps with AF tracking, but also has a pre-shooting option, which will save half a second's worth of shots before you fully press the shutter button, increasing your chances of capturing the moment. Taken on a Canon EOS R6 Mark II with a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens at 70mm, 1/2000 sec, f/2.8 and ISO 100. © Teddy Morellec

Continuous shooting speed

Both the EOS R8 and EOS R6 Mark II offer high-speed continuous shooting, capturing bursts of images at up to 40fps using their silent electronic shutter. This makes it easier than ever to capture the decisive moment, whether you're shooting events or a lively pet bounding towards you.

In addition, both cameras also have the option of an electronic 1st-curtain shutter, which can reduce the risk of image distortion when you're shooting extremely fast-moving action, such as an aircraft propeller, a golf club swing or motorsports where the subject is moving rapidly across the camera's field of view. In the EOS R8, this works at 6fps, as compared to 12fps in the EOS R6 Mark II, so the latter may be a better choice for pro photographers who regularly shoot fast-moving subjects and want more images to pick from to find the perfect shot.

The EOS R6 Mark II also has a fully mechanical shutter with the same 12fps top speed, giving pro photographers an additional option if required.

A woman looks at the screen of a Canon EOS R8 she holds in her hands.

Both cameras can shoot 180fps high frame rate movies, producing super slow motion effects when played back at normal frame rate, although the EOS R6 Mark II can sustain this for 60 minutes compared to the EOS R8's 20 minutes.

A Canon EOS R6 Mark II pictured from the side, with its side flap open to reveal the two card slots.

Unlike the EOS R8, the EOS R6 Mark II is equipped with dual card slots. This allows you to record an in-camera backup, giving you peace of mind while shooting unrepeatable events. You can also assign video to one card and stills to the other, or use the second slot for proxy video recording.

Video capabilities

Both the EOS R8 and EOS R6 Mark II are true hybrids, capable of recording full-width 4K 60p that's oversampled from their sensors' 6K data, delivering even sharper resolution than native 4K recording, and high frame rate Full HD at 180fps for superior slow-motion playback at standard frame rate.

Advanced filmmaking features – such as Canon Log 3, HDR PQ, electronic focus breathing correction, false colour warnings and a 3 or 5 second pre-recording function – are available on both cameras, but the EOS R6 Mark II has a few additional tools that make it more suited to professional use. "For example, it can output 6K ProRes RAW video via HDMI to an external recorder," says Tibor, "and it can also do simultaneous proxy recording, thanks to its dual card slots.

"Recording times are also longer on the EOS R6 Mark II as compared to the EOS R8. It's theoretically possible to record 4K for up to six hours on the EOS R6 Mark II, whereas the EOS R8 offers a still considerable two hours."

If you need high-sensitivity performance for recording video in low-light conditions, the EOS R8 (when set to 4K 50p/60p, or when shooting Canon Log 3) offers an expanded ISO equivalent to ISO 51,200, while the EOS R6 Mark II goes up to the equivalent of ISO 204,800.

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

Image stabilisation

A key point of difference between the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II is the latter's In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS). This works in a coordinated way with compatible lenses to deliver up to 8-stops of stabilisation, which is enough to give you sharp shots when you're shooting handheld with exposure times as long as 4 sec or steady video when you're walking slowly with the camera while filming.

Even without IBIS, the EOS R8 can still deliver a high degree of stabilisation using the optical Image Stabilizer in IS-equipped lenses when shooting stills or video, with the addition of Movie Digital IS for video. These technologies, available in both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II, are ample for general handheld stills shooting, panning video or short handheld video clips without strong camera shake spoiling your footage. "The majority of the lenses in our range have an optical Image Stabilizer built in," Tibor notes, "and these are very effective – especially when they're working together with the Movie Digital IS option."

A hand holding a smartphone running the Canon Camera Connect app, with a Canon EOS R8 sitting alongside on a wooden table.

The Canon Camera Connect app on your smartphone or tablet enables you to adjust camera settings and trigger the shutter remotely on both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II, and you can also review and transfer your images on the go using the app.

Seamless connectivity

Both cameras have built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for easy sharing via the Canon Camera Connect or image.canon apps. The latest version of the Camera Connect app also enables remote control of both the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II either wirelessly or via an optional wired connection.

For professionals, the EOS R6 Mark II has more advanced connectivity options, such as WPA/WPA2-Enterprise support and a wireless LAN connection for FTP transfers and MFT.

"If you're a pro shooting at a venue that has many different wireless signals, the wider bandwidth of the 5GHz Wi-Fi in the EOS R6 Mark II enables you to switch to a less crowded band for a more stable connection," John adds.

Water flows over mossy rocks in a forest, forming multiple waterfalls, captured on a Canon EOS R8.

A digital teleconverter is available on both cameras. This can be assigned to one of the customisable buttons, which you can press to instantly get 2x or 4x the focal length of your lens. If you're also using an RF-S or EF-S lens, then the image will automatically be cropped by 1.6x, making the effective magnification 3.2x or 6.4x. Taken on a Canon EOS R8 with a Canon RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM lens at 24mm, 1/80 sec, f/5.6 and ISO 100.

EOS R8 vs EOS R6 Mark II: which camera is for you?

Comparing the EOS R8 and the EOS R6 Mark II, it's clear that they have many features in common. Both give you all the benefits of full-frame photography, outstanding low-light performance and a blazing continuous shooting speed of up to 40fps with electronic shutter. Both have Canon's intelligent AF and subject detection, although the controls here differ slightly – on the EOS R8, you can tap the rear LCD screen to select the subject to detect, while the EOS R6 Mark II has a multi-controller and a second Quick Controller dial for moving the AF point in addition to Touch AF.

The EOS R8 is a great choice if photography is a serious hobby for you, you've been using an APS-C camera and you want to step up to full-frame – it will open up new creative territory for you, giving you a wider view for landscapes, more artistic blurred backgrounds for portraits and wider dynamic range for better low-light performance. With pro-level video features, it is ideal if video is becoming more important for you and you need a versatile fully hybrid camera for events and all kinds of content creation.

However, if you spend most of your time shooting action stills or video, the EOS R6 Mark II is better suited for your needs. With its longer battery life, IBIS and dual card slots, it's built for more demanding photography and video tasks. It is not as lightweight as the EOS R8, but serious action or portrait photographers and videographers will benefit from pro-level features such as 12fps continuous shooting when you need to use the mechanical shutter rather than electronic, HDMI RAW video output, the option of proxy recording direct to a second card and pro connectivity options including FTP and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Image stabilisation

Coordinated Movie Digital IS + lens Optical Image Stabilizer
5-axis In-Body IS, Movie Digital IS + lens Optical Image Stabilizer,

Up to 8-stops when used with compatible RF lenses

Low light AF

Sensitive to -6.5 EV [1]
Sensitive to -6.5 EV [1]

Continuous shooting speed (fps)

40fps, 20fps or 5ps with Servo AF using electronic shutter,

30fps RAW burst with Servo AF using electronic shutter,

6fps with Servo AF using electronic 1st curtain shutter
40fps, 20fps or 5ps with Servo AF using electronic shutter,

30fps RAW burst with Servo AF using electronic shutter,

12fps with Servo AF using electronic 1st curtain shutter,

12fps with Servo AF using mechanical shutter

Movies

Full-width 4K 60p oversampled from 6K sensor data,

Full HD (180fps)
Full-width 4K 60p oversampled from 6K sensor data,

6K ProRes RAW external,

Full HD (180fps)

Viewfinder

2.36 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder,

22mm eyepoint / 0.70x magnification,

Up to 120fps refresh rate
3.69 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder,

23mm eyepoint / 0.76x magnification,

Up to 120fps refresh rate

Body size (WxHxD) & weight (with battery + memory card)

132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0 mm,

461g
138.4 × 98.4 × 88.4 mm,

670g

Card slots

1 x UHS-II SD
2 x UHS-II SD

Battery life

With LP-E17, 220 shots (EVF Power Saving mode), 370 shots (LCD Power Saving mode), based on CIPA standard,

USB charging via PD-E1 USB power adapter charger
With LP-E6NH, 450 shots (EVF Power saving mode), 760 shots (LCD Power Saving mode),

USB charging via PD-E1 USB power adapter charger

[1] Stills shooting, Centre AF point, when used with f/1.2 lenses, excluding RF lenses with Defocus Smoothing coating

Marcus Hawkins

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