EOS R8 Mark II vs EOS R8 vs EOS R7: which Canon mirrorless camera is the best choice for the needs of serious photography enthusiasts?

As the Canon EOS R System range continues to grow, there is more choice at all levels, from the pro powerhouse EOS R1 to the beginner-friendly EOS R100. In the mid-range there are a number of full-frame and APS-C cameras all with outstanding performance but slightly different feature sets, aimed at slightly different users. Head-to-head, how do they compare?

Here, Canon Europe Product Marketing Specialist Tibor Szövetes and Product Marketing Manager John Maurice guide you through the similarities and differences between the Canon EOS R8 Mark II and the closest mid-range EOS R System models, the EOS R8 and the EOS R7.

Both the Canon EOS R8 and the EOS R8 Mark II feature full-frame sensors, while the EOS R7 has a smaller APS-C sensor, which captures a narrower view of the image projected by the lens. You can read all about the differences between APS-C and full-frame in our in-depth article.

EOS R7: The smaller sensor of the EOS R7 has two advantages compared to the EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II, namely resolution and reach, explains John. "In wildlife and sports photography, there are often situations where you need to shoot over long distances. So, you'll benefit from the telephoto reach that an APS-C sensor provides. The 32.5MP resolution in the EOS R7 also gives you extra cropping potential."

EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R8: "At 24.2MP, both cameras obviously have lower resolutions than the EOS R7," says Tibor, "but their full-frame sensors are beneficial for low-light photography, both in indoor settings such as weddings or corporate events and for shooting nightscapes, twilight seascapes and so on."

All three cameras can make use of lenses equipped with an optical Image Stabilizer (IS) to counteract camera shake and capture sharper images. The high-speed RF lens mount enables movement information from the camera sensor and the lens to be combined for even more effective shake correction.

The EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R7, however, go a step further, as both are equipped with an In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS).

EOS R8 Mark II: "With up to 7.5 stops of stabilisation at the centre and up to 7 stops in peripheral areas, the EOS R8 Mark II can deliver sharper images when you're shooting without a tripod," says Tibor. "You can use a lens that doesn't have IS and still benefit from a more stable image. Pair the EOS R8 Mark II with an IS lens, however, and the IBIS and lens IS work together to combat camera shake. When you're filming handheld, Movie Digital IS can also be used alongside the other stabilisation technologies to provide extremely smooth footage. Enhanced+ Movie Digital IS, which crops the image a little tighter to allow for larger corrections, even lets you shoot smooth handheld video while walking."

EOS R7: The EOS R7 has up to 8-stops of stabilisation with selected lenses, making it top of the range in this camera comparison – although the CIPA standard for measuring image stabilisation performance has changed since the camera was released. "In practical terms, IBIS and optical IS each have their strengths: IBIS tends to be more effective with wide-angle lenses, while optical IS is better suited to longer focal lengths," says Tibor.

EOS R8: It isn't equipped with IBIS but, like the EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R7, the EOS R8 does have Movie Digital IS. This produces a more stable image when recording video by cropping the image slightly and using the extra image area to compensate for camera shake. If an IS lens is used, then the digital and optical IS systems can also be combined for even steadier footage. "Realistically, the EOS R8's combination of optical IS and Movie Digital IS could be enough for careful panning and handheld filming," adds Tibor.

Ultimately, however, IBIS can help produce sharper images and smoother video when shooting handheld – so it comes down to whether you need the EOS R7's extra reach or the full-frame capabilities of the EOS R8 Mark II."

The Canon EOS R8 Mark II, EOS R8 and EOS R7 are more compact than their DSLR counterparts. All three cameras feature a familiar EOS control layout, including an array of customisable buttons, a vari-angle touchscreen and a dedicated stills-to-video switch, which is really handy if you're a hybrid shooter. If you're upgrading from an EOS DSLR, you'll feel right at home. However, there are a few subtle differences in the feel and handling of each camera.

EOS R7: "The EOS R7 is the heaviest of the three cameras, but even then only weighs 612g with card and battery," says John. "They're all quite lightweight cameras and when they're on your shoulder or with a lens added, you won't feel much of a difference between them. If you compare them to the DSLR-plus-lens alternative, however, you really do start to notice the change. With the EOS R7, you get dual card slots – a pro-level feature that the other two cameras don't have – and an intuitive thumb dial, which is a scroll wheel combined with the AF controller. This enables you to make adjustments very quickly."

EOS R8 Mark II: "At just 546g with card and battery, the EOS R8 Mark II is remarkably lightweight for a full-frame camera," says Tibor. "In fact, it's comparable in size to an APS-C DSLR, with only a slight increase in weight compared to the EOS R8, due to the inclusion of the IBIS system. It has a new modern look that's inspired by the past – with the reassuringly familiar EOS ergonomics complemented by a simple, clean design that has the majority of buttons and controls on the right side of the body for easier single-handed operation. Other refinements over the EOS R8 include a Multi-controller joystick for intuitive control using your thumb, an improved grip and a dedicated control customisation menu inherited from more advanced cameras like the EOS R6 Mark III and EOS R5 Mark II."

EOS R8: The lightest camera in the comparison, at only 461g with card and battery. "In fact, as we speak, it's the lightest full-frame camera that Canon has ever made," says Tibor. "The weight difference between the EOS R7 and the other two cameras is largely down to the battery. The EOS R7 uses LP-E6 type batteries, whereas the EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II use LP-E17 batteries, which are a lot smaller and lighter."

As you can see in the table below, the Canon EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R8 beat the EOS R7 in a head-to-head shooting-speed test. Both full-frame cameras can shoot at up to 40fps using their electronic shutters, versus the EOS R7's 30fps. Comparing only the top burst speeds of the three cameras doesn't tell you the full story, though.

EOS R8: As well as the super-fast frame rate, the EOS R8 has a 30fps RAW burst mode with pre-shooting. "This enables the camera to start capturing RAW files when you half-press the shutter button and then, when you fully press it, save the images in the buffer at that moment – up to half a second's worth of shots," explains Tibor. "This is ideal for photographing unpredictable subjects."

EOS R8 Mark II: The EOS R8 Mark II can sustain 40fps for more shots than the EOS R8, making it more suited to fast-moving scenes. Its pre-continuous shooting option is also significantly improved. "Unlike the pre-shooting option in the EOS R8 and EOS R7, where RAW files have to be extracted later from a single movie-like file, the EOS R8 Mark II saves individual RAW files to the memory card, which is more convenient," says Tibor.

EOS R7: A combination of speed and reach is a key reason why the EOS R7 is a great choice for wildlife and sports photography. Like the EOS R8, it also features RAW burst shooting mode with pre-shooting. "Its electronic shutter is slower than those on the EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II, but its mechanical shutter delivers up to 15fps, compared with 6fps offered with the other cameras' electronic 1st-curtain shutters," explains John. "When panning the camera or capturing high-speed movement – such as a golf swing – then you might notice a 'rolling shutter' effect with an electronic shutter, so you might want to switch to mechanical."

You need to consider whether rolling shutter will actually be a problem for you though. "It's likely to arise only in extreme situations such as in very fast-moving motorsports where the movement is parallel to the photographer, or when shooting under artificial light, which can produce a strobing effect," says John. "The EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R8 are designed to minimise rolling shutter, and it's not going to be noticeable with common types of motion, such as a spinning dancer or a dog jumping to catch a ball."

All three mirrorless cameras feature fast, reliable autofocus with deep-learning AI and intelligent subject tracking. As a general rule, the most recent models include the latest evolution of the technology for even better performance. "The more that deep learning progresses, the more subjects it can detect reliably," says John, "and the Canon EOS R8 Mark II offers the most advanced autofocus of these cameras."

EOS R8 Mark II: The autofocus refinements take the performance to a level somewhere between the EOS R6 Mark II and EOS R6 Mark III. "There are some focusing features that the EOS R8 Mark II inherits from the EOS R6 Mark III," says Tibor. "For example, Register People Priority allows you to register specific individuals – up to ten on the camera and 100 on a memory card – for the camera to detect in a scene. It's especially useful for crowded shots, such as at a wedding or a street market, helping to ensure that the people most important to you are kept in focus automatically. The EOS R8 Mark II also has EV -7.5 low-light AF capabilities, so it can focus in darker conditions than the EOS R8 (EV -6.5) and EOS R7 (EV -5)."

EOS R8: Unlike the EOS R7, both the EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II can detect and track trains, planes and horses, as well as people, cars, motorbikes, cats, dogs and birds. "And in addition to manual selection of the subject to prioritise, the EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II gain the EOS R6 Mark II's auto subject detection option," says Tibor. "This will analyse the scene and try to recognise whether the subject is a person, an animal or a vehicle, and it will then attempt to focus on the relevant part of the subject."

EOS R7: The EOS R7 was released before the EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II, so it doesn't have the very latest version of intelligent autofocus – but it's still able to distinguish between people, animals and vehicles and bring the subject into focus at extremely high speed.

Video performance is a key strength of both the Canon EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R8, making them a better choice in some situations than the EOS R7.

With no 30-minute clip limit, all three cameras let you record for longer. The EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R8 offer higher frame rates too, with the option to shoot Full HD at 180fps for super-slow-motion playback at the standard 25/30fps, while the EOS R7 shoots up to 120fps Full HD.

EOS R7: "The EOS R7 gives you the option of 4K 60p, plus a 4K Crop mode, which is handy for filming wild animals and sports that you can't get close to," says John. "It also has a 4K 30p Fine mode. This oversamples the 7K sensor output for better quality."

EOS R8: "You also have the ability to record very high quality oversampled 4K 60p from the EOS R8's 6K sensor data," says Tibor. "The EOS R7's 4K Fine mode sounds better, but that 7K output is coming from a smaller sensor. The EOS R8's full-frame sensor is going to provide more of an artistic look and give better results in low-light conditions, so if you're shooting video where these aspects are important, then the EOS R8 is the better choice."

EOS R8 Mark II: The more recent full-frame camera's video capabilities are similar to the EOS R8's, although there have been numerous improvements, Tibor explains. "Similar to the EOS R6 Mark III, the mode dial has an S&F option that gives you quick access to Slow/Fast Movie Recording. A new Enhanced+ image stabilisation mode for video allows you to achieve stable footage even if you're walking while you shoot. The frame is cropped, but the fact that this camera can use IBIS combined with lens IS and Movie Digital IS Enhanced+ brings a step up in performance over the EOS R8. And when you're ready to explore video further, there are advanced features such as Canon Log with the ability to import Look Files into the camera for a specific look and feel, and four-channel audio recording."

The EOS R8 is a great companion for those taking their first steps into the world of full-frame photography, and ideal for enthusiasts who want the smallest, lightest full-frame camera in the Canon range. It is a practical hybrid camera for content creators looking for a good balance of photo and video capabilities, with reliable, intelligent autofocus. For capturing landscapes, portraits and events, it offers the depth of field, wider angle of view and low-light performance benefits of a full-frame sensor, as well as continuous shooting at a blazing 40fps with its silent electronic shutter.

The high-speed EOS R7 meets the needs of wildlife and sports photographers in particular, with its APS-C sensor giving lenses greater reach when you can't get closer to capture elusive animals and action on the playing field. Sports and wildlife photographers on location will also benefit from pro features such as dual card slots, IBIS and autoexposure in Burst mode, which will all help you bring home that unrepeatable shot.

The EOS R8 Mark II is an ideal travel camera for photographers who want to enjoy the benefits of a full-frame sensor without the bulk. It is made for confident handheld shooting, with powerful image stabilisation and a new modern, lightweight design. Despite its compact size, the EOS R8 Mark II is packed with creative features that you can explore at your leisure, such as Filmtone colour filters and Slow/Fast Motion video. With the most advanced AF tracking and low-light performance of the three cameras, plus advanced features and functionality that have trickled down from the EOS R6 Mark III – including pre-continuous shooting, Register People Priority and improved video features – the EOS R8 Mark II gives you a taste of what a more advanced camera can offer, in a smaller, more affordable package.

Find out more about the mirrorless Canon EOS R System and all the outstanding cameras in the range.