Canon has announced the second generation of its EOS R8 full-frame camera. The Canon EOS R8 Mark II records 6K-oversampled 4K at 60p in 10-bit, with 7.5 stops of in-body image stabilization packed into a redesigned compact body.
Compact design
Canon’s pitch here is full-frame performance in a body sized like an APS-C DSLR. Measurements come in at 5.2 x 3.5 x 3.1 inches (131.4 x 90 x 79.7 mm). At 19.3 ounces (546 g), the Mark II weighs a little more than the previous generation. It’s still light for a full-frame camera.
Canon didn’t cut the viewfinder to save space. A 2.36m-dot OLED EVF sits alongside a 3.0-inch 1.62m-dot vari-angle LCD touchscreen.
Sensor
Behind the mount is a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor paired with a DIGIC X processor. In-body image stabilization delivers up to 7.5 stops.
The Mark II is also the first camera to include Canon’s new Dual Pixel 3D imaging technology, which captures JPEGs that carry depth information. You convert those images into 3D content afterward using the free Dual Pixel 3D Converter app for Windows. Mac users are out of luck for now.
Video recording
Recording tops out at 4K 60 frames per second (fps), oversampled from 6K. Drop to Full HD, and you can push to 180 fps for slow motion. Files save as 10-bit or 8-bit H.264 or H.265.
For grading, Canon Log 3 arrives as a Custom Picture mode with 14 stops of dynamic range. If you’d rather skip the color pass, HDR video, Canon 709 and BT.709 Standard all deliver closer to finished. A red tally lamp on the front shows when you’re rolling, which is a small thing that matters when you’re shooting alone.
Autofocus
Dual Pixel CMOS AF II handles focus, with deep-learning subject detection that recognizes and tracks people, animals and vehicles. Eye, face, head and body tracking are all on board. Register People Priority lets you flag up to 10 individuals for the camera to favor, which is genuinely useful at a busy event.
Canon also claims the Mark II focuses in light as low as EV -7.5. That matches the flagship EOS R1, a camera that costs several times as much.
Other features
Video output runs through a micro-HDMI port. The USB-C port covers livestreaming, charging and data transfer. Audio gets both a 3.5mm stereo microphone input and a 3.5mm headphone output.
Wireless includes 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth 5.3. Storage is the one soft spot. There’s a single SD card slot, so backup cards and relay recording aren’t options.
What we think
Canon has packed a lot into this body. As an upgrade over the original R8, it’s a substantial one.
The video spec is the headline. 4K 60 fps oversampled from 6K looks sharper than line-skipped 4K, while 180 fps HD covers slow motion. In-body stabilization keeps handheld shots steady, which the original R8 couldn’t claim. Log 3 gives you 14 stops to grade, though the delivery-ready HDR and Rec. 709 options mean you don’t have to.
Want full-frame image quality at something close to APS-C size? For Canon shooters, the EOS R8 Mark II is an easy recommendation at this price.
Pricing and availability
The Canon EOS R8 Mark II ships in the second half of October. Body-only pricing is $1,899.
