Canon R8 vs R8 Mark II: What Changed and Is IBIS Worth It

The Canon EOS R8 Mark II keeps the original R8's 24.2MP full-frame sensor and DIGIC X processor, then adds 5-axis in-body stabilization, an AF joystick, a deeper buffer and a better-placed card slot. At launch prices the Mark II costs $400 more, and the stabilization is the main reason to pay it if you shoot handheld in dim light, with long lenses, or video without a gimbal.

A quick note on where this comes from. I shoot on a Sony FX3 and own a Canon 5D Mark II and Mark III. I have not used either R8, so everything below is drawn from published reviews and Canon's announced specs, credited as I go.

Canon R8 vs R8 Mark II: specs side by side

Here are the numbers that matter most for a buying decision. Prices are launch or estimated retail prices, not current street prices.

Spec	Canon EOS R8	Canon EOS R8 Mark II
Sensor	24.2MP full-frame CMOS	24.2MP full-frame CMOS, same resolution
Processor	DIGIC X	DIGIC X
In-body stabilization	None	5-axis, up to 7.5 stops centre / 7.0 stops edge
AF joystick	No	Yes, 8-way
Low-light AF limit	-6.5EV	EV -7.5
Top burst speed	40fps electronic shutter	40fps electronic shutter
RAW buffer	Just over 50 frames	Up to 73 RAW files
Weight with battery and card	461g	546g
Battery	LP-E17, 220 shots via viewfinder	LP-E17, 220 shots via viewfinder
Card slot	Single UHS-II SD	Single UHS-II SD, moved to the side
4K video	4K/60p oversampled from 6K	4K up to 60p oversampled from 6K
Launch price, body only	$1,499	$1,899 estimated
Launch price, kit with 24-50mm	$1,699	$2,099 estimated

What stayed the same

The core imaging hardware did not change. Both cameras use the 24.2MP sensor that Canon first introduced in the R6 Mark II, paired with the DIGIC X processor. Imaging Resource described that sensor as straightforward rather than stacked or backside-illuminated, but called it an excellent sensor with impressively sharp, detailed images for its resolution.

On the Mark II, The-Digital-Picture's testing found that underexposing by 3 stops carried very little, if any, noise penalty compared with using a 3-stop-higher ISO. Digital Camera World said the Mark II strikes an excellent balance between detail and noise for its price.

Speed is also carried over. Both bodies shoot 40fps with the electronic shutter. Both top out at 6fps with the electronic first-curtain shutter, and neither offers a full mechanical shutter.

So if you already own an R8 and you are happy with your pictures, the Mark II will not make them look different in good light. The upgrade is about handling and steadiness, not resolution.

If you are setting up an original R8, our beginner settings guide covers the menus.

What changed on the R8 Mark II

In-body image stabilization

IBIS is the big one. The original R8 had no in-body stabilization and relied on lens IS, plus digital IS for video. The Mark II adds a 5-axis unit rated up to 7.5 stops at the centre of the frame and 7.0 stops at the edges.

Canon also added Coordinated Control, which combines in-body and lens-based stabilization, and Peripheral Coordinated Control, which Canon says targets edge blur on wide-angle lenses. PetaPixel called the addition of IBIS an undeniable improvement and said it alone makes the Mark II a worthwhile upgrade for many situations.

A joystick and better handling

The original R8 has no AF joystick and no thumb dial on the back. Imaging Resource found the missing joystick very difficult to get used to, though you can assign the directional buttons to move the AF area through custom controls.

The Mark II adds Canon's 8-way joystick multi-controller, which The-Digital-Picture called a major upgrade. Digital Camera World also noted the memory card door is no longer in an awkward spot blocked by tripod plates. Canon released an optional EG-E2 Extension Grip at $99.99 alongside it. It adds more to hold but no extra power.

Deeper buffer and pre-capture

The buffer was a weak spot on the R8. Imaging Resource measured just over 50 frames shooting RAW and noted you work through it fast at 40fps.

The Mark II holds up to 73 RAW files in a burst. Canon cites a 30% increase for RAW and 58% for JPEG compared with the R8. Digital Camera World said it could photograph birds without waiting for the camera to catch up.

The Mark II also supports pre-continuous shooting, which buffers up to 20 frames before you fully press the shutter.

Autofocus refinements

Canon rates the Mark II's autofocus down to EV -7.5, the same figure it quotes for the EOS R1. The R8 is rated to -6.5EV. The Mark II adds improved tracking persistence and Register People Priority, which lets you register up to 10 faces in-camera so it prioritizes those people in a busy scene.

It is not flawless. Digital Camera World found animal eye AF did not pick out a bird in a mess of branches as well as the reviewer wanted.

Video, connectivity and extras

The Mark II lists Full HD up to 180fps for slow motion, Canon Log 3, HLG, a Cinema View 2.35:1 mode and LUT support. It supports Wi-Fi 6, wired live streaming over USB-C or HDMI, and wireless streaming through Canon's apps.

It is also the first camera with Canon's Dual Pixel 3D technology, which captures JPEGs with depth information that a free Windows app can turn into 3D images and models. Canon has not said whether that app will stay free.

A new look

The Mark II is styled after the Canon T80, a 1985 film SLR. PetaPixel called the design polarizing but said the camera still has the right Canon feel. That part is purely taste.

Is in-body stabilization worth the higher price?

Stabilization ratings are given in stops. In practice, stabilization lets you use slower shutter speeds handheld without blur from your own movement. It does nothing for a moving subject, so a running kid still needs a fast shutter speed.

When IBIS earns its cost

Dim light. Imaging Resource noted that in dim light, IBIS helps you get sharper shots at lower ISO settings. Lower ISO means cleaner files.

Long lenses. PetaPixel said IBIS helps keep the viewfinder steady, especially with longer lenses. Digital Camera World shot a 400mm f/8 telephoto at 1/60 second in shadowy branches to test it and called the stabilization impressive.

Lenses without IS. Because the stabilizer sits in the body, it works with whatever lens you mount. If your lens wish list includes unstabilized primes, that matters.

Handheld video. Camera Jabber pointed to steadier handheld video as one of the main benefits. On the R8, the alternative is Canon's digital stabilization, which costs a slight crop.

Digital Camera World summed it up as similar image quality to the original, with fewer blurry shots. For a beginner, fewer blurry shots is a real, everyday gain. Our guide to sharp photos with the R8 covers the shutter-speed habits that help on either body.

When the original R8 is enough

Bright light. Imaging Resource said the missing IBIS is not a big deal for stills in bright light.

Stabilized lenses. PetaPixel expected the lack of IBIS to be a deal-killer, then found the R8 performed very well for portrait and landscape work when paired with Canon's image-stabilized lenses. Digital Camera World noted Canon still leans on its lens-based stabilization and that post-production stabilization in editing software is now very good.

Gimbal shooters. PetaPixel thought the R8 would be a good match for the 795-gram maximum load of the DJI RS 3 Mini gimbal. If your video is going on a gimbal anyway, IBIS matters less.

Smallest body. The original R8 is still Canon's smallest and lightest full-frame R-series camera. The Mark II weighs 546g with battery and card, up from 461g.

Tight budget. Before launch pricing was confirmed, Camera Jabber suggested that if the price climbed, a used original R8 becomes the value pick. If $400 is the difference between buying a better lens or not, the lens may do more for your pictures. See our list of lenses for the R8.

The weight trade-off is small

Adding IBIS made the Mark II a little heavier than the original. The-Digital-Picture still called it the lightest Canon EOS camera with IBIS, lighter even than the EOS R7, and said IBIS is worth the minor size and weight increase.

Who should buy which

Choose the R8 Mark II if

• You shoot indoors, at events or at dusk, and want lower ISO handheld.
• You plan to use telephoto or unstabilized lenses.
• You shoot handheld video and do not want the digital IS crop.
• You want a joystick for moving your focus point quickly.
• You shoot action and kept hitting the R8's buffer.

Digital Camera World noted the Mark II is Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless camera with IBIS. The-Digital-Picture called it a solid value for such a powerful full-frame model.

If you are buying your first lens too, the kit pairs the body with the RF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM at an estimated $2,099.

Choose the original R8 if

• You mostly shoot in daylight.
• Your lenses already have IS, or your video lives on a gimbal.
• You want the smallest, lightest Canon full-frame body.
• You would rather put the price difference toward glass.

One thing neither camera fixes: battery life

Both cameras use the small LP-E17 battery. Canon rates the R8 at 220 shots using the viewfinder, while the R6 Mark II is rated for 450. The Mark II carries the same 220-shot viewfinder rating, or 370 in power-saving mode.

Those ratings can be conservative: Digital Camera World shot more than 350 frames on the Mark II and still had battery left. PetaPixel still recommended keeping a second battery handy for all-day use. Budget for at least one spare whichever body you pick. Our roundup of spare batteries can help.

To see where both cameras sit against the rest of Canon's mirrorless line, read Canon R-Series Compared.