Hands on: I tried Canon's new-look EOS R8 Mark II — it's a solid upgrade of the EOS R8, but the competition from Nikon is fierce

by · TechRadar

Early Verdict

Canon has lavished a fresh look on the EOS R8 Mark II, which supposedly takes its design cues from various decades-old analog SLR cameras — there's a slight resemblance, but I'd argue that Canon's design department could have been given a bit more latitude. Nonetheless, the second-generation model introduces useful upgrades over the original EOS R8, for a price that could tempt Canon enthusiasts who want powerful features, but who don't need the tough build quality, high-specced displays or long-lasting battery life the EOS R6 series has. I expect the EOS R8 Mark II to be a popular model, especially if its launch price comes down.

Pros

  • +Stabilized full-frame sensor
  • +Improved control layout, now includes a multi-controller
  • +Pre capture is a boon for wildlife and action

Cons

  • -Poor battery life
  • -Entry-level quality body
  • -Somewhat dated LCD and EVF displays

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Canon EOS R8 Mark II: Two-minute review

It might look like a Sony or Nikon, but I can assure you that the EOS R8 Mark II is a Canon camera. It's the realization of a long-rumored model that was expected to be a digital remake of the AE-1 analog SLR camera to mark that camera's its 50th anniversary, only those rumors proved unfounded, with Canon working in a "modern twist".

I can see the faint resemblance between the two cameras, and I like the EOS R8 Mark II's angular look, but I also think Canon has missed a trick by not going all-out retro here, in the way Nikon did with its Zf.

Design should have been the major selling point here, but instead we have a camera that blends in, and that's not a compliment. This makes it harder to forgive the dated elements of the camera that have been carried over from the original EOS R8.

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That's not to say the EOS R8 Mark II isn't a decent upgrade from the EOS R8 — it adds in-body image stabilization that's rated up to 7.5EV to the 24MP full-frame sensor, plus an AF joystick (Canon calls it a multi-controller) which makes autofocus selection simpler.

The Canon EOS R8 Mark II isn't the retro design we'd been led to expect (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Video specs are also improved, autofocus performance enhanced, and pre-capture appears for the first time in a Canon camera at this price point.

The EOS R8 Mark II is a better camera than the EOS R8, but it also carries the same LCD and EVF displays, and the same tiny battery and entry-level build quality. These dated elements only highlight how much better a camera the Nikon Z5 II is — and that camera from 2025 costs less.

Still, if you're a Canon fan and committed to its system, the EOS R8 Mark II is a solid upgrade of the EOS R8, and a sensible alternative to the pricier EOS R6 Mark III for users who don't need the premium design, superior battery life and various high-end features.

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