The Underwater Photography Guide’s editor-in-chief, Nirupam Nigam, reviews the upgrades to Canon’s flagship camera with the 2024 Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Words and pictures by Nirupam Nigam
Released in 2024, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II is a substantial improvement over its predecessor, the groundbreaking EOS R5, and – thanks to its faster readout speeds, enhanced autofocus system, and video recordings of 8K/60p RAW – substantially better than the EOS R1, which was released at the same time.
The Canon R5 Mark II seems to (almost) have it all. Certainly, for underwater photography, the improvements are quite exciting – although it lacks the global shutter system of Sony’s α9 III, the R5 Mark II is the first mirrorless camera that the team here at Bluewater Photo has used to consistently and successfully track fish, sea lions, and everything in between.
Are these improvements significant enough to warrant an upgrade? If you’ve been holding onto your DSLR Canon 5D Mark IV, switching to the Canon R5 Mark II is an obvious decision. If you’re currently shooting underwater with the Canon EOS R5, however, still one of the world’s most popular underwater cameras, you’ll have more to consider before upgrading to the R5 Mark II.
With compatible underwater housings just starting to hit the market, we took the R5 Mark II in an Ikelite housing to Port Hardy in British Columbia, Canada, to see if the ugrades are as remarkable in the field as they appear on paper – and even in subpar diving conditions, the R5 MkII provides some spectacular results.
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Canon EOS R5 Mark II specifications
- New 45-megapixel full-frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor
- RF lens mount
- DIGIC X processor with DIGIC Accelerator co-processor
- 30fps RAW burst shooting in electronic shutter mode
- 1/250 mechanical flash sync speed, 1/160 electronic flash sync speed
- Pre-continuous shooting mode
- New Dual Pixel Intelligent AF and AF modes: Action Priority, improved Canon Eye Control AF
- Improved In-Body Image Stabilization
- 8K/60p and 4K/120p video recording
- RAW and C-Log2 recording capability
- Dual card slots: CFexpress Type B and UHS-II
- 5.76 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder
- LP-E6P battery with improved power output
- Dimensions: 138.5mm x 101.2 mm x 93.5mm
- Weight: 746 grams
Comparing the Canon EOS R5 Mark II vs Canon EOS R5
At first glance, the two Canon EOS R5 cameras are relatively similar in their dimensions, controls and 45MP sensor, although the bodies are different enough that each camera requires a unique underwater housing.
We found the most impressive upgrades of the R5 Mk II over its predecessor include a new autofocus system – possibly the best system in the world today – new eye movement control AF, a new stacked sensor with burst shooting and faster readout speeds.
Those shooting video may want to consider the R5 Mark II’s incredible specs along with its faster 8K video frame rates and C-Log2 recording capability, but we don’t know as yet if new underwater housings for the R5 Mark II will be compatible with its optional battery cooling grip, so Canon EOS R5 C owners may prefer to wait until we do before upgrading
Key features of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II
With a robust set of new features that look good on paper, we’ll break down the Canon EOS R5 Mark II’s essential features, including what they are, what they’re meant to achieve, and whether they are functional improvements in our underwater photography field tests.
Improved readout speeds with a new 45 MP stacked sensor
The latest trend in underwater photography is achieving faster readout speeds, sparked by innovations like Sony’s global shutter with the Sony α9 III. While the R5 Mark II does not feature a global shutter, it compensates with high-speed data transfer from the sensor to the processor, thanks to its DIGIC Accelerator co-processor.
A vital component of R5 MkII’s speed is its new 45MP ‘stacked’ sensor, which reduces the rolling shutter effect, resulting in sharper images of fast-moving subjects using the electronic shutter and minimizing distortion in video footage. In our underwater tests, even handheld video was remarkably stable.
The stacked sensor also enables the R5 Mark II to handle up to 30 frames per second when burst shooting in RAW – seriously impressive for a 45MP camera. Although underwater photographers using strobes may not always need such high speeds, the R5 Mark II can sync with strobes up to 1/160s, even in electronic shutter mode.
Using fast-recycling strobes such as the Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo or the Marelux Apollo III makes capturing fast subjects in dark water more achievable with the R5 Mark II, even at lower strobe power.
However, as with other stacked-sensor cameras like the Nikon Z8 or Nikon Z6 III, there may be a slight trade-off in dynamic range for the added speed. Petapixel’s initial tests suggest the R5 Mark II shows slightly more noise than the original R5, but the difference was barely noticeable during our underwater tests.
The extra noise won’t be a concern for most photographers, but those frequently shooting scenes with high dynamic range (such as wide-angle shots with sunbursts) may prefer to stick with the original R5. That said, the R5 Mark II holds its own among other top models like the Nikon Z8, Sony α9 III, and Nikon Z6 III, even for sunballs.
The world’s best autofocus system
Canon’s EOS R5 Mark II has arguably introduced the best autofocus system to the market. While Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus is already highly rated – often compared to Sony’s subject-detection autofocus tracking – this new iteration brings even more innovation.
The most significant improvement for underwater photographers is the R5 Mark II’s ability to ignore objects that pass in front of a tracked subject. This is incredibly helpful when photographing multiple fish or moving subjects.
During our dives in the murky waters of the Pacific Northwest, where particles were abundant, the camera consistently stayed locked on the intended subject without issue. Moreover, when we put the camera in autofocus servo with a wide autofocus area, the camera had no problems identifying and tracking fish and sea lions!
The Canon eye control autofocus, which first appeared in the Canon R3, is also present in the R5 Mark II. This feature enables you to move the focus point simply by looking at your subject. Unfortunately, this technology doesn’t perform well enough when using a dive mask or magnified viewfinder to be useful to underwater photographers.
8K video improvements and new recording capability
Canon introduced 8K video recording in a mirrorless camera with the release of the original R5. Now, Canon has built on the technology by offering 8K video at up to 60 frames per second on the R5 Mark II, putting it on par with models like the Nikon Z8 and Z9.
The R5 Mark II also offers improved in-body image stabilization, making handheld underwater video much smoother, as demonstrated in the videos captured during our testing.
Shooting video in 8K resolution provides extra flexibility, particularly for those shooting macro, who can now crop down to 4K for tighter framing or additional b-roll. The R5 Mark III can also record at up to 120 frames per second in 4K, which is perfect for slow-motion shots and added stabilisation.
Moreover, the R5 Mark II supports RAW video recording and a new C-Log2 profile. Log profiles capture more detail in highlights and shadows, offering greater dynamic range and editing flexibility. While RAW video is typically reserved for high-end production shoots, the C-Log2 profile will be a valuable tool for many videographers.
Overheating concerns
Concerns were raised over the original Canon R5’s tendency to overheat when recording at high resolutions and frame rates. In our initial tests, the R5 could only last about 20 minutes when recording 8K or 4K/120p video. A firmware update later improved this, and the Canon R5C was designed with enhanced cooling to eliminate these issues.
The R5 Mark II has an optional cooling accessory grip, though it’s unclear if underwater housings will support it. While we didn’t perform a full overheating test during this review, the R5 Mark II did not overheat while filming 4K/60p video on any of our dives.
Underwater housings for the Canon EOS R5 Mark II
As expected with the release of such a popular camera, the top manufacturers are already offering underwater housings for the Canon R5 Mark II, with Nauticam’s anodized aluminium housing, and Marleux and Ikelite’s R5 Mark II polycarbonate housings among the most highly recommended.
Underwater lenses for the Canon R5 MkII
Underwater photography subjects are as varied as the photographers who shoot them, requiring a selection of lenses. Whether you are into macro and super-macro, prefer to capture larger animals and landscapes, or like to give your images more artistic flair, you’ll find the perfect lens to pair with your EOS R5 Mark II.
Macro lenses
Capturing images of small – or even microscopic – creatures underwater requires a macro lens. Canon enthusiasts heading to one of the top macro photography destinations will want to pack one of Canon’s compatible macro lenses with their R5 Mark II:
- Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM: Best for shooting shy critters by allowing a longer working distance. You can also add a macro diopter to shoot super-macro images. Magnification is greater with the RF when compared with the EF, enabling you to capture photos at an impressive ratio of 1.4:1. Note that the Canon RF 100mm’s spherical aberration control ring is not recommended for underwater photography.
- Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS (with EF-EOS R Adapter): Another great option for capturing small, shy subjects using a greater working distance. When combined with a macro diopter, it’s an essential tool for super-macro photography.
- Canon RF 85mm f/2.8 Macro Lens: While it may seem like a good option at a great price point, its autofocus is practically unusable underwater due to its slow-moving focusing barrel.
Recommended wet diopters
- Nauticam Super Macro Converter: One of the sharpest and strongest diopters on the market, this will help you capture sharp macro and super-macro photos. For super-macro, use it with the Canon 100 mm f/2.8 macro lens.
- Kraken +13 Diopter and Weefine +13 Diopter: Excellent options with spectacular magnification, the Kraken and Weefine offer the same quality as the Nauticam at a more affordable price.
- Bluewater +7 Diopter: Recommended for beginners, the Bluewater +7 may have less magnification than the others. Still, it is suitable for use with mid-range lenses and provides additional magnification to the Canon 100mm macro lens.
Read Bluewater Photo’s full guide to underwater macro wet lenses
Wide-angle fisheye lenses
Capture ultra-wide fields of view using a wide-angle fisheye lens, perfect for photographing the world’s most stunning coral reefs. Images taken with a fisheye lens are often associated with distortion around the corners of the photos; however, this distortion is naturally reduced underwater due to light refraction.
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L circular fisheye (with EF-EOS R Adapter): The best option for a full-frame fisheye lens with optional vignettes. Expect cool, artistic vignettes at 8mm and images free of vignettes when zoomed to 15mm.
Rectilinear wide-angle lenses
Choose a rectilinear wide-angle lens for capturing fascinating topography or large animals without the distortion created with a fisheye. Rectilinear wide-angle lenses are perfect for diving with sharks, swimming with whales, or capturing subjects at a distance.
- Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM: This is our top pick for pairing a wide-angle lens with the EOS R5 due to its incredible corner sharpness. It does produce vignettes at 14mm, so you should use it as you would a 16-35mm.
- Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8 III Ultra-Wide Zoom lens (with EF-EOS R Adapter): If you’re not on a budget, this is an excellent choice.
- Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II Wide-Angle Lens (with EF-EOS R Adapter): A top-seller for Canon full frames for years, this lens offers corner sharpness, speed, and a reasonable price.
- Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L Ultra Wide-Angle Lens (with EF-EOS R Adapter): If you’re looking for the widest lens on the market, look no further. While heftier and pricier, the Cannon 11-24mm provides the perspective to shoot enormous wrecks and expansive reefs.
Is the Canon R5 Mark II right for you?
If your photography will benefit from a top-of-the-line autofocus tracking system, the Canon R5 Mark II is the best on the market, enabling you to shoot your subject while ignoring any interference with your view.
Videographers looking for spectacular resolution with 8k video and 60fps will find the EOS R5 Mark II the perfect fit (assuming it stands up to overheating tests).
The bottom line? If you’re looking for the best Canon camera you can buy for underwater photography, this is it.
We thank Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and UB Diving for supporting this review!
MSRP Canon EOS R5 Mark II: $4299
www.bluewaterphotostore.com
Nirupam Nigam is an underwater photographer and fisheries scientist, Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the President of Bluewater Photo. Check out Nirupam’s photography at www.photosfromthesea.com.
