Canon has brought the EOS R8 Mark II to the Indian market, giving its full-frame mirrorless range a smaller and lighter option. The camera uses a 24.2MP sensor and costs Rs 1,78,995 for the body. Although it occupies the same basic position as the EOS R8, Canon has made some substantial changes.
The new model gets in-body image stabilisation, a dedicated joystick for autofocus and electronic burst shooting at up to 40 frames per second, features that have generally been associated with the company’s higher-priced EOS R cameras.
The dimensions have changed as well. Once the battery and memory card are installed, the camera weighs roughly 546g. Its body measures 131.4 x 90.0 x 79.7mm. Those figures make it Canon’s smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless camera equipped with IBIS.
The overall shape will still be familiar to anyone who has used a Canon camera. There is the usual raised section on top, resembling a pentaprism, while the rest of the body mixes fairly straight surfaces with rounded edges.
Canon EOS R8 Mark II Gets Major Stabilisation and Autofocus Upgrades
The stabilisation system uses five-axis IBIS and can work together with compatible stabilised RF lenses. Canon calls this arrangement Coordinated Control IS. When the two systems operate together, correction can reach 7.5 stops around the centre of the frame and 7 stops near the edges.
For focusing, Canon has used its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system, with the DIGIC X processor supporting its operation. There is also a 40fps electronic shutter for situations where a subject moves too quickly for conventional burst shooting. Another addition is Pre-Continuous Shooting.
Instead of waiting until the shutter button is completely pressed, the camera can retain images from the moments immediately beforehand. In practical terms, this means a photographer has a better chance of keeping a fleeting action that began just before the shot was taken. The camera also has a new Register People Priority setting.
It gives priority to faces that the photographer has registered beforehand. That could prove useful at a crowded wedding or a school event, where the autofocus has many faces to choose from. The stills ISO range runs from 100 to 102,400. Users can push it to 204,800 when necessary.
4K Video, Canon Log 3 and More Features for Content Creators
The EOS R8 Mark II can produce 4K footage at 60p after oversampling from 6K. Full HD recording goes as high as 180p. That gives users more room for slow-motion footage without moving to a separate video camera.
Canon has brought several tools from its cinema range as well. The camera supports Canon Log 3, custom LUTs and the Custom Picture function found on Cinema EOS models. Recording times can reach about six hours for clips below 100fps. The body also provides a 3.5mm microphone jack and micro HDMI. Wireless connections include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
Film-Inspired Filters and Creative Shooting Modes
Canon has added two new colour filters with a film-like character: NegativeFilmtone and PositiveFilmtone. They bring the total number of filters to 16. The Creative AUTO mode also makes its debut on a Canon full-frame EOS camera.
Canon EOS R8 Mark II Storage, Battery and India Price
Storage comes through one SD card slot, with support for UHS-II cards. The camera uses an LP-E17 battery, which users can recharge through USB. Canon EOS R8 Mark II price in India starts at Rs 1,78,995.
Canon also offers an Extension Grip EG-E2 for Rs 9,995. It provides a more secure grip and includes a tripod mount. The Tripod Grip HG-1000TBR costs Rs 11,495. Canon includes the BR-E2 Bluetooth remote with it.
Final Words
The Canon EOS R8 Mark II seems to be a compact full-frame camera that has quietly decided to play in the big league. Its 24.2MP resolution, five-axis IBIS, 40fps burst shooting and advanced autofocus features are some of the improvements that were previously found only in higher-priced EOS models.
It also has 4K 60p video, along with support for Canon Log 3 and custom LUTs, making it a strong choice for users who require advanced video capabilities without the need for a cinema camera. The R8 Mark II is not an impulse buy at Rs 1,78,995 in India, but its size, stabilisation and speed have much to discuss.
If you add the optional grips, this lightweight camera can be quite serious in the hands. Canon has come up with a pretty ingenious solution to make “small” sound anything but small, for photographers and hybrid creators, that is.
