The Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6 are two of the most in-demand mirrorless cameras on the market.
How do you tell the difference between the two and know which is best.
We’ll cover all of that in this article across a variety of dimensions.
Let’s dive in.
Canon R5 vs. R6
Price
Let’s talk about price first since that’s what most are curious about.
The Canon EOS R5 retails for around $3,899, and the EOS R6 retails for approximately $2,499.
The easiest way to check availability is on Amazon.
Canon EOS R5
Canon EOS R6
Sensor and image quality
The Canon R5 has a 45 megapixel sensor while the Canon R6 has a 20 megapixel sensor.
That being said, both cameras have great image quality.
The main difference will be in the level of detail captured and how large you can print or crop your photos.
If you want to pixel-peep, then the R5 will give you about 2x the amount of detail.
But for most people, the R6 will be more than sufficient.
Both cameras can shoot 4K video at up to 60fps and 8K video at up to 30fps.
Autofocus system
The autofocus system is where the Canon R5 really shines.
It has 5,940 phase-detection autofocus points that cover 100% of the sensor.
In comparison, the Canon R6 has 1,053 phase-detection autofocus points that cover 88% of the sensor.
The R5 also has a dual pixel CMOS sensor which means every pixel on the sensor is used for both imaging and phase detection autofocusing.
This results in much better autofocusing in live view and video mode.
The Canon R6 does not have this feature.
If you’re someone who relies heavily on autofocusing, then the R5 is the way to go.
But if you don’t need all those extra features and you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of autofocusing performance, then the R6 will be a better choice for you.
Build quality and weather-sealing
The Canon R5 and R6 are both well-built cameras.
They’re made out of magnesium alloy and have weather-sealing to protect against the elements.
The Canon R5 is a little bit bigger and heavier than the Canon R6, but not by much.
Battery life
Both the Canon R5 and Canon R6 have excellent battery life.
The Canon R5 can shoot up to 740 photos on a single charge, and the Canon R6 can shoot up to 680 photos.
That’s with the LCD screen turned on. If you use the viewfinder only, you’ll get even more shots out of both cameras.
Lenses
Canon currently has 24 RF mount lenses available.
These are the native lenses for the Canon EOS R system.
Of those 24, there are 12 EF-M mount lenses which can be used on both the Canon EOS R and EOS M cameras with an adapter.
So if you already have a bunch of Canon EF or EF-S mount lenses, you can still use them on the Canon EOS R system.
Ease of use
The Canon EOS R5 and R6 are both easy to use cameras.
They have a similar menu system and controls.
If you’re upgrading from a Canon DSLR, then the transition will be seamless.
Viewfinders and LCD Screens
The Canon R5 has a 0.5 inch, 5.76 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder.
It’s big, bright, and sharp.
The Canon R6 has a 0.5 inch, 3.69 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder.
It’s not as large or as high resolution as the one on the Canon R5, but it’s still a great viewfinder.
Both cameras have fully articulated LCD screens.
The Canon R5 has a 3.2 inch, 2.1 million dot touch screen LCD.
The Canon R6 has a 3 inch, 1.62 million dot touch screen LCD.
Both screens are clear and bright with excellent color reproduction.
The Canon R5’s screen is a little bit bigger and has a higher resolution, but both are great screens.
Continuous shooting speed and buffer depth
The Canon R5 has a continuous shooting speed of 12fps with the mechanical shutter and 20fps with the electronic shutter.
The buffer depth is 1000 JPEGs, 350 RAW photos, or 200 RAW+JPEG photos.
The Canon R6 has a continuous shooting speed of 12fps with the mechanical shutter and 14fps with the electronic shutter.
The buffer depth is 1000 JPEGs, 240 RAW photos, or 120 RAW+JPEG photos.
So the Canon R5 is faster and can shoot more photos before the buffer fills up.
If you need those extra frames per second, then the R5 is the way to go.
But if you don’t think you’ll ever use more than 12fps, then the R6 will be fine for you.
Video quality and features
The Canon R5 can shoot 4K video at up to 60fps and 8K video at up to 30fps.
It has 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, dual pixel autofocusing, and can output 4K video to an external recorder over HDMI.
The Canon R6 can shoot 4K video at up to 60fps and Full HD video at up to 120fps.
It has 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, dual pixel autofocusing, and can output 4K video to an external recorder over HDMI.
So the Canon R5 has some extra video features that the Canon R6 doesn’t have.
If you’re a serious video shooter, then the R5 is the better choice.
But if you don’t need those extra features and you’re mostly shooting photos, then the R6 will be fine for you.
Image stabilization
Both the Canon R5 and Canon R6 have in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
This means that every lens you put on the camera will be stabilized.
The Canon R5 has 5-axis stabilization and the Canon R6 has 4-axis stabilization.
What this means is that the Canon R5 can stabilize the image better than the Canon R6 can.
If you’re using a lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), then the two cameras will perform about the same.
But if you’re using a lens without OIS, then the Canon R5 will give you better results.
Canon R5 vs R6 – Real World Comparison – Is 20MP enough?
FAQs – Canon R5 vs. R6
What are the differences between the Canon R5 and Canon R6?
The Canon R5 is a higher end camera than the Canon R6. It has a better sensor, faster continuous shooting speed, more video features, and slightly better image stabilization.
What lenses are available for the Canon EOS R system?
There are 24 RF mount lenses available from Canon. Of those, 12 can also be used on EF-M mount cameras with an adapter.
Can I use my EF or EF-S mount lenses on the Canon EOS R system?
Yes, you can use your EF or EF-S mount lenses on the Canon EOS R system with an adapter.
Is the Canon EOS R system a full frame or crop sensor system?
The Canon EOS R system is a full frame system.
What is the native ISO range of the Canon EOS R5?
The Canon EOS R5 has a native ISO range of 100-25600. It can be extended to 51200.
How much does the Canon EOS R5 weigh?
The Canon EOS R5 weighs 738g with the battery and memory card.
What is the sensor size of the Canon EOS R5?
The Canon EOS R5 has a full frame sensor with dimensions of 36 x 24mm.
What is the sensor size of the Canon EOS R6?
The Canon EOS R6 has a full frame sensor with dimensions of 36 x 24mm.
Canon R5 vs. R6 – Which is best?
So, which camera is best? The Canon R5 or the Canon R6?
It really depends on your needs and what you’re looking for in a camera.
The Canon EOS R5 is the better camera overall.
It has a higher resolution sensor, better autofocusing system, dual pixel CMOS sensor, and slightly better build quality.
The Canon EOS R6 is a great camera too and will be a better choice for some people.
It has a lower price tag, slightly smaller and lighter body, and slightly better battery life.
