Choosing between Canon’s newer R bodies is not a spec-sheet game. It changes how you shoot wildlife, action, and low light work day to day. The way the EOS R5, R5 Mark II, R6 Mark II, and R6 Mark III handle speed, autofocus, and files can either lift your keeper rate or quietly hold you back when things move fast.
Coming to you from Jan Wegener, this detailed video compares the Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Canon EOS R6 Mark II, and Canon EOS R6 Mark III, focusing on how they behave in real shooting rather than just listing features. You see how the familiar Canon control layout makes it easy to jump between bodies, but also where the R5 series viewfinders and larger rear screens give a clearer, more natural look while tracking moving subjects. Wegener explains why the stacked sensor in the R5 Mark II changes the experience, with blackout free shooting and almost no rolling shutter when you use the electronic shutter at high frame rates. At the same time, you get a sense of the tradeoffs with the non-stacked sensors in the R6 models, which still offer fast readout but show more wobble if you pan quickly or shoot fast action. The video spends time showing what that looks like through the viewfinder so you can decide whether the smoother feel of the stacked body really matters to your style.
Wegener also compares how each camera handles drive speed, buffer depth, and card performance, which is where the differences start to affect real bursts. Both R6 bodies can fire at up to 40 frames per second with the electronic shutter, while the original R5 tops out lower and the R5 Mark II splits the difference with 30 frames per second but a cleaner image thanks to that stacked design. You see why the R6 Mark III’s improved buffer and CFexpress/SD combo slot make a big difference if you track birds or sports in long bursts, where older bodies hit the wall and lock you out right when the action peaks. Precapture is another area where Wegener draws a clear line between generations, with the R6 Mark III and R5 Mark II offering far more usable implementations than the older models. He backs this up with real sequences, not just menu screens, which is where you start to notice how often precapture quietly saves moments you would have missed.
Autofocus and image stabilization are treated as core tools, not marketing features, and Wegener ranks the four cameras without sugarcoating it. The original R5 and R6 Mark II still track subjects well, but the newer R6 Mark III and R5 Mark II are clearly stickier on fast, erratic movement and more confident in low light tracking. Combined with stronger stabilization in those newer bodies, you get more freedom to work at slower shutter speeds or handhold video in conditions where older bodies feel nervous. Image quality is not just about megapixels in the video, even though the 45-megapixel R5 and R5 Mark II files look stunning when you crop hard or plan large prints. Wegener shows side by side crops from different megapixel counts so you can see where extra resolution matters and where it barely shows once you post or share, which is useful if you are trying to justify the jump to a 45-megapixel sensor.
Later in the video, Wegener steps into low-light and video work, where the story shifts again and some unexpected winners appear. The original R5 still shines for high-ISO image quality among the 45-megapixel options, while the R5 Mark II gives up a bit of dynamic range in exchange for speed and stacked performance. The R6 Mark III comes across as a very balanced hybrid tool with strong 7K and oversampled 4K options, improved autofocus in video, and fast readout that keeps focus locked even when you move around the frame. Wegener also touches on where bodies like the Canon EOS R3 and Canon EOS R1 fit into this picture on price and handling, which matters if you are thinking about stretching your budget into those ranges. You get a clear sense of why Wegener personally leans toward the R6 Mark III and R5 Mark II as standout choices, but the reasoning depends on many small field examples that are easier to grasp when you watch them play out. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Wegener.
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