In my previous blog, I shared my process of finding a new high-end full-frame camera by going beyond just the specifications. Spending such an amount on something that isn’t a source of income is always challenging—it can feel worthless at times, and your brain keeps telling you it’s just another gadget. That’s why investing in such things is always an emotional decision. But just because it’s emotional doesn’t mean you have to be blind or foolish when making that purchase.
So in this blog, I’ll cover the technical aspects behind choosing Canon and reveal which camera I finally picked.
I like keeping things extremely simple, so even though this article will discuss technical specifications, I’ll focus only on what truly matters to us as photographers. So, without further delay, let me first reveal which camera I’ve bought—followed by why.
Lights on the center stage, please. Drum roll. Curtains up. And with a huge round of applause, help me introduce my dream camera—the beast, the powerhouse, the performance master—my friends, please welcome Canon R5 Mark II!
Alright, now that the moment is here, let’s get into the technical details.
As Canon says: "Power. Action. Performance."
Power
Sensor
Just as our solar system is powered by the giant ball of fire called the Sun, this camera is powered by a completely new 45-megapixel sensor with a redesigned architecture. This new full-frame sensor is stacked and back-illuminated, making the electronic shutter faster—an advantage for wildlife and sports photography.
To support this new 45MP sensor, Canon has worked extremely hard on its DIGIC X image processor. This processor is now even smarter than all its predecessors, with more advanced AI image processing capabilities.
Processor
Many companies today use AI in image processing to enhance quality. But Canon, learning from Sony, has gone a step further—not just enhancing image quality but also enabling photographers with powerful features like:
Dual Pixel Intelligent AF Subject Tracking, which maintains focus on a subject even if it is briefly obscured.
Powerful Continuous and Pre-Continuous Shooting, a game-changer for wildlife, sports, and street photography.
Battery
The R5 lineup had some serious issues with overheating and limited recording times (less than 45 minutes). With the Mark II, Canon has introduced the new LP-E6P battery, which is 15% more powerful than the older versions.
The best part? These batteries are backward compatible—meaning you can still use older batteries in the new body. Of course, there will be some power output limitations.
Action
Autofocus
Autofocus is one of the greatest features that evolved as camera technology improved. Canon ruled this space for a long time in the DSLR era. However, with the rise of mirrorless cameras, Sony took the lead. Over time, Canon has significantly improved, and now its autofocus system is just as reliable as in the DSLR days.
With the R5 Mark II, Canon has taken autofocus to the next level:
Memory Focus Tracking: The camera now remembers where it last focused. It shares subject-tracking technology from Canon’s flagship model R1. It also offers 2 modes:
People Detection Mode: Detects eyes, face, head, upper torso, or full body.
Animal Detection Mode: Recognizes eyes, face, or full body of cats, dogs, birds, and horses—a game-changer for wildlife and pet photography.
Advanced Eye Control AF
This is one of the craziest features I’ve never tried or even heard of before. To push AF performance even further, Canon has introduced Eye Control AF—an even more advanced version of the system found in the EOS R3.
Once you calibrate the viewfinder to your eye, you simply look where you want to focus. Then, when you press the AF activation button, the focus will move to that area. The best part? It works even if you’re wearing glasses. Not sure exactly how it works yet, but I’m excited to try it!
Focus Preset
When shooting birds, it’s incredibly challenging to pick a focus point using a single-point metering mode. Predicting where to focus is difficult, often resulting in out of focus shots of moving subjects.
With Focus Preset, you can pre-register a focus position—even when a subject isn’t detected. By pressing an assigned button, the camera locks focus at that position, preventing it from shifting to obstacles in the foreground or background.
Shutter Modes & Drive Speeds
As mentioned earlier, the EOS R5 Mark II features a stacked, back-illuminated image sensor capable of:
30fps capture of 14-bit RAW images in Electronic Shutter mode.
Multiple drive speeds (H+, H, and L modes).
Programmable drive speed adjustment via customized buttons—allowing for real-time control over burst speed.
Mechanical and electronic first curtain shutter for up to 12fps continuous shooting.
Powerful Continuous & Pre-Continuous Shooting
The R5 Mark II shoots at 30fps in all image formats, off-course you change this in settings.
With Pre-Continuous Shooting enabled, pressing the shutter button halfway starts pre-shooting. When you fully press it, the camera saves the last 0.5 seconds of images—perfect for capturing unpredictable wildlife moments.
Performance
With cutting-edge technology packed into this camera, there’s no doubt about its performance. However, the real test is how all these features work together in real-world scenarios. That’s something you can only judge by actually using it.
One of the key factors photographers should consider is the environment in which the camera will be used. However, looking at Canon’s track record with the DIGIC X image processor, and now with the additional DIGIC Accelerator chip, we can expect enhanced performance in both photography and videography, even in challenging conditions.
Final Thoughts
I can’t wait to take the Canon R5 Mark II out for a real-world test and see how it performs in the field. With its new sensor, AI-driven autofocus, advanced shooting modes, and improved battery life, it looks like a powerhouse of a camera.
Let me know in the comments—what do you think of the R5 Mark II? Would you consider switching to Canon? Or if you already use Canon, are you planning to upgrade?
Stay tuned for more!
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