Like the 5D series before it, Canon’s R5 line is an exceptionally versatile camera platform that can excel in plenty of shooting scenarios. Combine that versatility with professional ergonomics and you have a go-to camera for plenty of photographers. Wedding and portrait photographers in particular can find a lot to love about the system and the EOS R5 Mark II only makes things better. High-resolution stills, advanced autofocus, and very capable video options are just some of the key reasons for photographers to seriously consider this release.
Retaining the 45MP resolution of its predecessor, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II takes image quality up a level by using a newly developed stacked full-frame CMOS sensor. This sensor offers plenty of resolution for wedding photographers looking to capture all the detail of the couple’s special day. Dynamic range and noise have also been improved with a native sensitivity range up to ISO 51200.
The stacked design and DIGIC Accelerator have increased the data readout speed, resulting in less rolling shutter with the electronic shutter. The camera will even support black-free viewing in the EVF so that you never lose sight of your subject.
If 45MP isn’t enough, the R5 Mark II has an in-camera upscaling option that will use deep learning to intelligently increase the resolution to a staggering 179MP. That is more than most people will ever need. Also, a new neural network noise reduction algorithm can be activated in camera to help reduce noise without losing detail or quality.
Autofocus is another area where Canon has made strides with the R5 Mark II. The only camera that currently tops it is the EOS R1, and not by much. The R5 Mark II delivers incredibly responsive and fast AF with tons of new enhancements that make sure you never lose focus.
Making sure you don’t lose track of the bride and groom is key for wedding photography and portraiture. The camera will use subject recognition to find and track faces and eyes. In addition, the R5 Mark II now has the ability to keep a lock on one subject even when other people or objects cross in front of it. It can even detect things like the upper half of the body and use head area estimation to ensure that no matter what movement an individual makes the camera stays focused on them.
Features like preregistration of people can help ensure the camera knows who to prioritize. By registering a face that you always want to be in focus, you can ensure the camera always keeps them as the main subject.
Another great addition that came from the EOS R3 is Eye Control AF. This means that just by looking at the subject’s location in the viewfinder the camera will know where it should be focusing. It’s very cool tech.
All this should ensure that all of your photos are tack sharp.
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. That means that any moment that is missed is missed forever. Photographers need to be on top of their game to predict and capture those candid moments throughout the day and the R5 Mark II has a couple key improvements that ensure that nothing is missed.
Pre-continuous shooting is a new option for Canon mirrorless, and it allows for up to 15 shots to be buffered and captured when the shutter button is half pressed. When the shutter button is fully pressed, those pre-continuous images are saved to the card and the camera will continue to capture images until the buffer or card is filled. Be confident that you will get the exact frame you want.
The R5 Mark II is also incredibly fast with up to 30 fps continuous shooting with the electronic shutter and up to 12 fps with the mechanical shutter; making sure that every potential moment, whether that's the walk down the aisle or the first dance can easily be captured. Flash photography benefits from the R5 Mark II’s speed boost too, including being able to use flash with the electronic shutter and during continuous shooting.
At first glance, the R5 Mark II is a familiar-looking camera. It looks and feels like the original R5—which is a good thing since that was a well-designed camera. There are some nice tweaks and improvements to enhance the pro-oriented design though—chief among the changes is the viewfinder. The R5 Mark II now features the same 0.5” 5.76m-dot EVF found in the EOS R3. This is a nice, spacious viewfinder with excellent resolution, allowing you to have a crisp, clear view of your subject. Never underestimate a good finder. The OVF Simulated View Assist helps make this feel right as you work.
The physical design is dust- and water-resistant, equivalent to the original R5, which is what you need from a truly professional system. On top of that the camera has the usual physical controls and dials to ensure quick access to common settings:
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Photo/Movie Switch
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Tally Lamp
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Multi-Function Shoe
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Right-Hand Power Switch
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Customizable Buttons
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Vari-Angle Touchscreen
We do have a whole separate piece on what makes the R5 Mark II good for videographers, but it is worth mentioning here that having great video options makes the camera that much more versatile for hybrid shooters who are putting together both video and stills packages.
The R5 Mark II can record in full-frame 8K 60p raw and 4K up to 120 fps—those are class-leading specs. Considering how good the video quality is, you could even record in 8K resolution and pull stills of certain scenes. The camera also offers Cinema EOS features, such as Canon Log 2/3, proxy recording, waveforms, and more.
This is just a sampling of features that make the Canon EOS R5 Mark II an excellent pick for weddings and portraiture. It is one of the most versatile cameras around, so be sure to check out our landing page to learn how the R5 Mark II can excel in other photography disciplines as well.
