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

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.

• Sensor size: full-frame quality
• Design, size and weight
• Intelligent autofocus and subject detection
• Continuous shooting speed
• Video capabilities
• Image stabilisation
• Seamless connectivity
• Which camera is for you?

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.