reel time | Tested
What? Canon EOS R8 Mark II How much? £1730/$1899
More info? canon.co.uk
R8 expectations Classic looks meet modern content creation as Canon’s lightweight EOS R8 Mark II gains image stabilisation and film-style colour
he retro camera movement is definitely still having its moment, despite the craze being around for a relatively
Specs that matter
long time now. Fujifilm has built up a formidable following around traditional styling and its hugely popular Film Simulations, while Nikon has successfully mined its heritage with models such as the Z f. OM System has its OM-D models and the new Pen, while Leica’s stock-in-trade is retro styling. Now Canon has also decided there might be something in looking backwards while moving forwards: enter the EOS R8 Mark II. It’s not an outright retro replica covered in analogue dials. Instead, Canon has moved away from the familiar rounded EOS aesthetic to a flatter, more angular design influenced by cameras from its past, such as the T70. There’s even a mini SLR-style fake pentaprism on the top housing. It’s a subtle approach, but park the Mark II beside the original R8 and you’d struggle to mistake one for the other. Add on the optional extension hand grip and it looks even more retro, while simultaneously improving the handling. More importantly, the transformation goes deeper than styling. At its heart is a 24.2-megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor
What it is: A compact, retro-influenced, 24.2-megapixel, full-frame, mirrorless hybrid
with five-axis IBIS Stills: Up to 40fps electronic shutter
Video: Oversampled full-width 4K/60p, 4K/30p, Full HD/180p, Canon Log 3, HDR PQ, 2.35:1 Cinema View Stabilisation: Five-axis IBIS, up to 7.5 stops at image centre with compatible lenses, Movie Digital IS AF: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection/tracking and Register People Priority Memory: Single UHS-II SD Screen: Articulating 3in, ISO: 100-102,400 stills, expandable to 204,800 1.62-million-dot touchscreen EVF: 2.36-million-dot OLED Weight: 546g/1.2lb, including battery and card
Next level An optional grip (above) makes the Canon EOS R8 easier to hold. The styling isn’t fully retro but harks back to the T-series of the eighties
paired with Canon’s Digic X processor. It’s the same sensor the original R8 inherited from the R6 Mark II, so resolution hasn’t taken a leap. But that’s hardly a problem, as around 24 megapixels remains a sensible sweet spot, providing plenty of resolution for stills without generating unnecessarily enormous files, while full-frame brings the shallow depth-of-field and low-light advantages that creators expect. Moving target Video is where things become really interesting. The R8 Mark II can shoot full-width 4K at up to 60p, oversampled from 6K data, providing the crisp, detailed footage demanded by serious filmmakers, YouTubers and content creators. Full HD can stretch to 180fps when slow motion is required. Canon has also included a 2.35:1 Cinema View mode for anamorphic lenses,
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November/December 2026
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