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Camera technology changes so fast that determining products with the most longevity and value is often difficult. The Canon Electro-Optical System (EOS) line of single lens reflex (SLR) cameras has a great reputation for reliable point-and-shoot (P&S) performance.
The Cannon EOS R6 and R5 cameras are bestselling digital cameras with some of the fastest frame rates of mirrorless cameras. To help you select the best camera, we compare the Canon R6 vs R5, with 5 key differences, specs, and more!
Canon R6 vs R5: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Canon R6 | Canon R5 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is: | Canon EOS series mirrorless camera with a single interchangeable lens. | Canon EOS series mirrorless camera with a single interchangeable lens. |
| Application | professional photography, filmmaking, videography | professional photography, filmmaking, videography |
| Initial release | July 9, 2020 | July 9, 2020 |
| Influential developers | Canon | Canon |
| CMOS sensor | 20 megapixels | 45 megapixels |
| Max. native ISO | 102,400 | 51,200 |
| Screen size | 3 inches | 3.2 inches |
| Electronic viewfinder | 3690 | 5760 |
| Video resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) | 8K (8192 x 4320) |
| High-speed shooting | 12 frames per second (mechanical),20 frames per second (electronic) | 12 frames per second (mechanical),20 frames per second (electronic) |
| Wireless connectivity | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth |
| Battery | LP-E6NH higher-capacity battery | LP-E6NH higher-capacity battery |
| Dimensions | 138 x 98 x 88 mm | 138 x 98 x 88 mm |
| Weight | 680g | 738g |
Canon R6 vs R5: Key Differences
As two of the world’s best digital cameras, both have a unique spread of strengths and weaknesses. Here are 5 key areas where the R6 and R6 differ:
1. ISO specifications
ISO ratings determine the sensitivity of a digital camera to CMOS light. Higher ratings indicate increased sensitivity and better performance of the camera in low-light environments. Despite being the lower spec, the Canon R6 has double the maximum native ISO of the Canon R5 (up to 102,400 vs 51,200). Not only is its native ISO higher, but the R6 also has a slightly better low light ISO of 3394 compared to the R5 low light ISO of 3042.
2. LCD screen
The R5 has a much larger LCD screen, with a resolution that is 29% higher than the R6. In addition, the Canon R5 carries a top LCD for easy viewing and control of settings.
3. Focus and resolution
R6 also outperforms R5 in sensitivity focus, with 132 more focus points. Its sensor pixel area is 122 percent larger than the R5.
However, the Canon EOS R5 does warrant its price tag when it comes to resolution. The viewfinder resolution of the R5 is 5760 dot versus 3690 dot for the R6. This high-specification camera also has a sensor resolution that is more than double that of the R6, with greater color depth and dynamic range.
4. Video
The R5 also comes into its own when it comes to video recording. It has up to 8K video versus the 4K video that is standard with the R6 and has a much higher bit rate for improved video quality. If 4K video is shot on the R5, the camera can crop the footage, something that the R6 cannot do.
5. Battery and storage
The Canon R5 supports CFexpress Card, which is widely used for storing high-resolution photographic images. The R6 only has UHS-II memory card slots. The R6 has longer battery life and will shoot at least 40 more frames per charge despite being 58 grams lighter than the R5.
Similarities
R6 and R5 protect their sensor with an anti-dust shutter mechanism. The R5 and R6 cameras have Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth connectivity. They are equipped with in-body image stabilization and shake correction (up to 8 stops)
Both cameras have the world’s highest frame rate for a mirrorless camera. The Canon EOS R5 and R6 cameras use LP-E6NH higher-capacity batteries. The cameras are compatible with Canon RF, EF, and EF-S mount lenses.
The R6 and R5 cameras have an integrated microphone and voice note recorder. Both cameras are selfie and blogger/vlogger-friendly and can be used as a webcam.
Both cameras use CR3, HEIF, and JPG image formats. The cameras also have electronic viewfinders, large, high-resolution LCD screens, and a large rear dial.
What is the Canon EOS R6?
- Highest frame-rate mirrorless camera
- Highest sensitivity to light (highest ISO settings)
- Deepest frame buffer
- Long battery life
The Canon EOS R6 is one of the most advanced digital cameras on the market and has been designed with professional photographers, advanced enthusiasts, and prosumers in mind. It was released by Canon on July 9, 2020, at the same time as the Canon EOS R5. This mirrorless camera has a single interchangeable lens and a 3.69 million dots OLED electronic viewfinder with a refresh rate of 120 frames per second. R6 has been well received. Professional photographers report that it handles well, produces beautiful images, and makes taking the perfect shot simple and natural.
Key specifications
The Canon EOS R6 has all the features you would expect from a Pro mirrorless camera. Additional features have been added since its release in 2020. Here are the need-to-know specs of the Cannon R6 body:
- Canon’s proprietary DIGIC X high-performance image processor.
- 20-megapixel full-frame sensor
- 4K, 10-bit video recording at up to 120 frames per second.
- 8K, raw video recording at up to 29 frames per second.
- 100% active autofocus coverage with over 5940 individual autofocus points.
- Native ISO settings between 100 and 51,200. ISO settings can be extended to over 102,400.
- Continuous high-speed shooting with speeds of up to 12 frames per second with the mechanical shutter and 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter.
- In-body image stabilization along 5 axes and shake correction (up to 8 stops)
- Two SD memory card slots, up to UHS-II.
- OLED digital viewfinder with 3.69 million dots and a 120 frame-per-second refresh rate.
- Auto-brightness control for the viewfinder
- Vari-angle LCD touchscreen and large rear dial.
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus for high accuracy and image quality. Detects human faces, animals, and birds.
- 6072 focus points.
- Canon’s CR3 raw image format, plus HEIF and JPG image formats.
- All video formats are accommodated by the camera’s internal recording.
- Compatible with Canon RF mount lenses or Canon EF/EF-S mount lenses via an adapter.
About Canon
The Japanese multinational corporation Canon has been renowned for its optical and imaging technology for almost 85 years. The company produced Japan’s first 35 mm camera with a focal plane-based shutter called the Kwanon, a religious term from which the company name is derived. Aside from cameras, the company produces scanners, printers, medical and industrial imaging equipment, and lenses.
Canon has been a producer of digital cameras since it released the RC-701 in 1984. It is also the developer of the EOS series of digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras which are used may many professional photographers.
Since the rise of the smartphone camera, Canon has suffered a significant fall in consumer sales, but the market for its high-end professional cameras remains strong.
What is the Canon EOS R5?
- The world’s highest pixel rate
- Outstanding resolution and image quality
- An unmatched frame rate
- Remarkable autofocus and tracking
- Amazing ergonomics and handling for a confident, natural shot
The Canon EOS R5 is a high-end mirrorless digital camera that is in the same EOS series as the R6, with higher specifications and cost. Like the R6 it is a full-frame and interchangeable lens camera. The R5 was released alongside the R6 on July 9, 2020 and has had a positive reception and sales with outstanding reviews from professional photographers like Ken Rockwell and others.
Two years after its release, this digital camera remains a contender for the world’s best mirrorless camera. Here’s why:
EOS R5 shoots the most and highest resolution images of any camera currently on the market.
Key specifications:
The Canon EOS R5 works with a range of Canon RF mount lenses. It can also use Canon EF and EF-S mount lenses with a suitable adapter. Here are the headline specs of the R5 camera body:
- Canon’s proprietary DIGIC X high-performance image processor.
- 45-megapixel full-frame sensor
- 4K, 1080 pixel video recording at up to 120 frames per second.
- 100% active autofocus coverage with over 1050 individual autofocus points.
- Native ISO settings between 100 and 102,400. ISO settings can be extended to over 200,000.
- Continuous high-speed shooting with speeds of up to 12 frames per second with the mechanical shutter and 20 frames per second with the electronic shutter.
- In-body image stabilization and shake correction (up to 8 stops)
- Two SD memory card slots, for UHS-II and CFexpress memory cards.
- 0.5” OLED digital viewfinder with 5.76 million dots and a 120 frame-per-second refresh rate
- Auto-brightness control for the viewfinder
- Vari-angle LCD touchscreen and large rear dial.
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus for high accuracy and image quality.
- 5940 focus points.
- Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 5) and Bluetooth enabled.
- Canon’s CR3 raw image format, plus HEIF and JPG image formats.
- WFT-R10A Wireless File Transmitter.
- The camera’s internal recording accommodates different video formats
- Integrated voice note recorder.
About Canon EOS
EOS stands for Electro-Optical System, the name given to a range of SLR and mirrorless cameras produced by Canon since 1987. Since then, Canon has produced over 70 cameras in the EOS series, including the Canon R6 and R5.
EOS cameras have been fully digital since 2005 and carry proprietary digital image sensors. In 2012, the mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC) system was introduced. These cameras carry a unique EF lens mount. This bayonet-style mount has no mechanical linkages between the camera’s moving parts and lens. Instead, electrical contacts within the lens control its aperture and focus.
The EOS series also has its line of Speedlite flashes developed in line with the cameras. You can choose from conventional wired or wireless flash setups and create radio-linked networks of up to 16 synchronized flashes.
Is the Canon R5 really better than the R6?
If you have the budget, the R5 enables you to own a lighting-fast, high-res mirrorless camera equipped with technology that future-proofs your purchase against competitor models in the coming years. In the hands of a professional photographer, this camera will probably earn its value back in a couple of months.
The Canon R5, in particular, has extremely competent tracking, making it an excellent partner for wildlife, sports, and action shots. Images are crisp, even at fast frame rates, without smearing or blacking out.
Any professional photographer would be pleased with either of these cameras. Though the R5 is higher resolution, a closer examination of the specifications of the R6 reveals that it outperforms the R5 in several areas.
If you can scrimp on the 45 megapixels, the Canon R6 delivers just as much speed with the advantage of higher ISOs and deep buffering. It is lighter in your hands, on the data, and on the battery consumption, so you will get more shots from a full charge and have room on your SD card. The R6 is also almost $1000 less, so you need to give this some camera serious thought.
Canon R6 vs R5: Six Must-Know Facts
- Neither the Canon EOS R5 nor R6 has GPS connectivity.
- The Canon R6 and R5 are IP6-rated and can withstand prolonged (~30 min) shooting in heavy rain.
- Canon released an updated version of the R6 called the EOS R6 Mk II in November
- 2022.
- There are over 400 different Canon camera models currently released.
- The EOS range includes Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) and mirrorless cameras.
- The 24.1-megapixel EOS R3 is the latest Canon mirrorless camera, offering 6K video.
Canon R6 vs R5: Which camera should you buy?
R6 and R5 are best-in-class picks for anyone serious about photography. Though the R5 is technically more advanced than the R6, this cheaper model punches above its weight in many areas, making it a shrewd purchase that leaves some of your budget for lenses and Speedlite flash!
Either of these Canon cameras would be an amazing buy, but the Canon EOS R6 slightly overtakes its higher-spec sibling. It is simply better value for money while delivering great tracking and shots. The lighter R6 camera body will perform beautifully, paired with any RF or vintage EF lenses you want to add to your collection.
