Canon R8 Mark II Accessories: What to Buy First, in Order

The first accessories to buy for the Canon EOS R8 Mark II are a spare LP-E17 battery, a fast UHS-II SD card and, if you shoot video, a wireless mic for the 3.5mm input. After those come a variable ND filter that matches your lens thread and a comfortable strap, while a cage, a gimbal and the extension grip can wait.

Why the buying order looks like this

The R8 Mark II keeps the small LP-E17 battery from the original R8. Digital Camera World lists the rating at 220 shots through the viewfinder, or 370 in power-saving mode. It also has just one UHS-II SD slot, which now sits on the side of the body. On the video side, it records 4K up to 60p oversampled from 6K, with Canon Log 3 and HLG.

Those three facts set the order. Power runs out first, the card is your only copy of every file, and audio is the weakest link in most first videos. Filters and straps make shooting easier, but they don't stop you from shooting.

If you haven't set the camera up yet, start with the R8 Mark II first-time setup guide, then come back to this list.

Order	Accessory	Why it comes here
1	Spare LP-E17 battery and LC-E17 charger	Rated 220 shots through the viewfinder
2	UHS-II V60 SD card	Single UHS-II slot, no backup slot
3	DJI Mic Mini	3.5mm mic input and headphone socket
4	Variable ND filter (67mm if your lens takes it)	Controls exposure for video outdoors
5	Strap	Body weighs 546g with card and battery

1. Spare LP-E17 batteries and a charger

What the battery numbers say

Battery life is the one complaint reviewers say Canon did not fix. Digital Camera World notes the R8 Mark II carries the same 220-shot viewfinder rating as the original, or 370 in power-saving mode. Camera Jabber lists around 340 shots using the LCD and 220 through the finder. Canon says a more efficient processor improves battery life, but PetaPixel's reviewer still calls the battery bad and recommends keeping a second one handy for a full day out.

Real-world reports vary. Digital Camera World's reviewer shot more than 350 frames with charge left over, yet still calls a spare battery a must for long shoots and travel. Fstoppers' reviewer took the camera on a full-day trip of hybrid capture without needing a second charge. Video, the rear screen and long playback sessions all pull from the same small pack, so plan for the low end of those numbers.

Canon rates the LP-E17 at 7.2V and 1040 mAh. Most compact EOS models use this battery, so if you already own one from another Canon body, it is the same pack. Buy at least one spare. If you shoot video or travel, two spares is a sensible start.

Charger or USB power

Canon lists the LC-E17, LC-E17E and LC-E17C as chargers for the LP-E17. A separate charger lets you top up one battery while you shoot on another, which matters more than it sounds when each pack is small.

The side USB-C port is listed for USB power as well as computer and smartphone connection. Before you rely on it for charging in a car or from a power bank, check Canon's manual for the power adapters the camera accepts. One practical detail: the bottom battery door sits far enough from the tripod mount that a quick release plate does not block it.

For more on choosing spares, see the guide to spare batteries for Canon, Sony and Nikon.

2. A UHS-II V60 SD card

The R8 Mark II writes to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards and supports up to UHS-II V90. There is only one slot, and it has moved to the side of the camera. The Digital Picture points out that a single slot means no in-camera redundancy, so the R8 Mark II is not the right camera for anyone who needs that.

Why V60 is a sensible first card

The V60 SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II line is rated Video Speed Class 60, with read speeds up to 300MB/s. SanDisk lists capacities up to 2TB and rates the cards IP68 for water and dust resistance. That sits between basic cards and the V90 ceiling the camera supports.

The video modes are what push the card. The camera records 4K up to 60p oversampled from 6K, plus Full HD up to 180fps. Fstoppers shot its sample clips in 4K at 24 fps, XF-HEVC S 4:2:2 10-bit C-Log 3. If you plan to shoot 10-bit 4K at 59.94p, check Canon's manual for the card speed class that mode asks for, and buy to that rating.

Stills can be demanding too. The camera shoots 40fps with the electronic shutter, with a buffer of up to 73 RAW files. A fast UHS-II card is the sensible match for bursts that size. To save space, Canon's C-RAW option cuts RAW file size by an estimated 40%.

Buy two cards so you can swap one out when it fills, and copy your files off after every shoot. For more card options, see the roundup of SD cards and CFexpress cards and the guide to external drives and backup accessories.

3. A wireless mic: the DJI Mic Mini

The left side of the R8 Mark II has a 3.5mm stereo microphone input and a 3.5mm headphone socket. Fstoppers notes the camera can also take four channels of 24-bit audio through the smart hot shoe with a top handle. For a first upgrade, a small wireless kit on the 3.5mm jack is simpler and cheaper to start with.

The DJI Mic Mini receiver connects to a camera with DJI's Camera Audio Cable, a 3.5mm TRS lead. DJI's spec page lists runtime figures of about 11.5 hours and 10.5 hours, measured with noise cancellation off and the receiver plugged into a camera. DJI says a fully charged charging case can refill two transmitters and one receiver about 3.6 times. Its transmission range is listed at 400 m in an open, interference-free space, a figure DJI gives for reference only.

Plug headphones into the camera while you record, so you hear problems before you get home.

If you want a wired option or a shotgun mic instead, the guide to budget microphones for beginner filmmakers covers both.

4. A 67mm variable ND filter

A variable ND filter works like sunglasses for your lens. You need it for video outdoors: when you keep the shutter speed near double your frame rate for natural motion and shoot at a wide aperture, bright light overexposes the shot. The ND cuts that light so you can keep both settings where you want them.

For stills it matters less. The electronic shutter reaches 1/16,000, which helps with a wide aperture in daylight but may not be enough on its own. Treat the ND as a video purchase.

Check the filter size printed on the front of your lens or the inside of the lens cap before you buy. If it reads 67mm, the filter below fits. If not, buy the same type of filter in your lens's size, or a larger one with a step-up ring.

The R8 Mark II video settings guide covers the frame rate and shutter settings to pair with an ND.

5. A comfortable strap

Camera Jabber lists the R8 Mark II at 499g body-only and 546g with card and battery. That is light enough to carry all day, which is the reason to replace the stock strap with one you will wear. A sling style that adjusts quickly lets you move from carrying across your body to shooting at eye level.

What to skip early

A cage

The R8 Mark II has a new angular body that looks quite different from the original R8. Don't buy a cage made for the original R8 and hope it fits. Wait until a cage designed specifically for the Mark II is available and reviewed. Until you are rigging a monitor, a top handle and other extras, you don't need one.

The extension grip, for now

Canon launched the EG-E2 Extension Grip alongside the camera. It is purely for ergonomics and adds no extra power. It still gives access to the bottom battery door. PetaPixel's reviewer liked it, but also found the body plenty comfortable without it. Digital Camera World's reviewer found the standard grip managed well even with a 100-400mm lens mounted. Revisit the grip once you own heavier lenses.

A gimbal

The R8 Mark II adds 5-axis in-body stabilization, rated to 7.5 stops at the centre and 7.0 stops at the edges. It also has movie digital IS. A gimbal such as the DJI RS 3 Mini is a purchase to make once you know you need smooth walking shots, not on day one.

For a longer list of things new owners tend to buy too soon, see accessories beginners buy too early.

After the basics: a second lens

The R8 Mark II kit pairs the body with the RF24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. Once your batteries, card and audio are sorted, a fast prime is the next upgrade that changes your pictures more than any accessory. A 50mm f/1.8 is the usual low-cost step toward blurred backgrounds and better low-light shots.

The best first lens guide for the Canon R8 and the R8 Mark II background blur guide cover lens choice and settings in more detail.