Quick answer (Canon R8 Mark II vs R6 Mark II): The EOS R8 Mark II (₹1,78,995 body MRP) finally adds IBIS and a fresh body, but the older R6 Mark II gives you stronger IBIS (8 vs 7.5 stops), dual card slots, better weather sealing, a bigger battery and a mechanical shutter, often for a similar or lower street price. If you are staying with Canon, the R6 Mark II is the smarter buy while it is still on sale.
Before the Canon EOS R8 Mark II was announced, I was really excited. I still am, because it is a better camera than the original R8. The problem is the price. Canon has pushed this “entry-level” full-frame body straight into EOS R6 Mark II territory, while the upgrades themselves are fairly marginal. In this opinion piece I explain where the R8 Mark II falls short of the R6 Mark II, and why most Canon buyers in India should think twice before upgrading.
📺 This article is based on our YouTube video. Watch it on The New Camera channel or scroll down for the embedded video and full script.
Key Takeaways
- Canon EOS R8 Mark II India MRP: ₹1,78,995 (body); EOS R6 Mark II MRP ₹2,43,995, from about ₹1,54,990 online.
- R8 Mark II adds IBIS (up to 7.5 stops), a side SD door and a new body, and weighs about 546 g.
- R6 Mark II keeps the advantages: dual card slots, a bigger battery, 8-stop IBIS and a mechanical shutter.
- Sensor and processor are unchanged from the original R8.
- Verdict: buy the R6 Mark II, or wait, unless you need the smallest full-frame Canon with IBIS.
Canon R8 Mark II Price in India vs R6 Mark II
| Camera (body only) | Official MRP | Street price seen (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS R8 Mark II | ₹1,78,995 (Canon India) | Check latest price |
| Canon EOS R6 Mark II | ₹2,43,995 (Canon India) | From about ₹1,54,990 online (check latest price) |
| Canon EOS R8 (original) | ₹1,42,995 (Canon India) | Check latest price |
Prices verified on 23 October 2026. Online prices change often, so always check the latest price before you buy.
Official specifications: Canon EOS R8 Mark II (Canon India) · Canon EOS R6 Mark II (Canon India).
The Real Problem: R8 Mark II Price vs R6 Mark II
Usually I start my videos with specifications. Here I had to start with pricing, because Canon has scaled it up so much that the camera has moved out of the entry-level zone and into the R6 zone. Search online or ask at your nearest store and you will find that the R6 Mark II body costs about the same as, or less than, the R8 Mark II.
Yes, the launch hype may settle. One or two months after retail stock actually arrives, we may see some discounts and offers. For now, though, these numbers are not easy to digest for an entry-level user. And once the price is the same as the R6 Mark II’s, the fair comparison is with the R6 Mark II, not the old R8.
What the R8 Mark II Gets Right
- In-body image stabilisation (IBIS) for the first time in the R8 line
- A new, more angular body design with a more professional, retro feel
- SD card slot moved to the side, like on pro cameras
- Slightly tweaked pre-continuous shooting buffer
Official highlights from Canon India: 24.2MP full-frame sensor, DIGIC X, up to 40fps electronic-shutter bursts, an AF multi-controller (joystick), 4K 60p and Full HD 180p, Canon Log 3, a single UHS-II SD slot, the LP-E17 battery with USB charging, and a weight of about 546 g with battery and card.
IBIS: 7.5 Stops vs 8 Stops on the R6 Mark II
The R8 Mark II finally has IBIS, but it is inferior to the R6 Mark II’s. Canon’s own press release rates the R8 Mark II at up to 7.5 stops. The R6 Mark II is rated at 8 stops under the CIPA standard used to test stabilisation. At this price, that half stop matters.
Body, Card Slot, EVF and Weather Sealing
The new angular body and the side-mounted SD slot make sense. Canon needs the upcoming R8 V to look different, just as the R6 V looks different from the regular R6. But if Canon was upgrading the body anyway, it should have gone all the way:
- Still a single card slot. The R6 Mark II has dual slots, and in this segment even the Nikon Z5 II offers dual slots. We are paying almost the same price, so we should get the same facilities
- Weather sealing is not at the R6 Mark II’s level
- Viewfinder: the R6 Mark II has a 3.69-million-dot EVF with a high refresh rate, while the R8 Mark II uses an entry-level EVF
- No mechanical shutter: in my research you only get electronic first-curtain (EFCS) and electronic shutter. A mechanical shutter really helps photographers shooting at wide apertures in bright daylight or on creative shoots
Battery Life: The Biggest Practical Issue
The R8 Mark II keeps the small entry-level LP-E17 battery. That battery was already weak, and now IBIS adds to the load. If you keep IBIS running continuously, it will drain the battery even faster.
Canon offers an optional EG-E2 extension grip (₹9,995), but it is not a battery grip. The R6 Mark II supports Canon’s BG-series battery grips, which can roughly triple your shooting time. For photography a weak battery is manageable. For video it becomes a real pain.
Sensor and Performance: No Real Change
The sensor is the same and so is the image processor. There is no image-quality improvement. Canon has tweaked the pre-continuous buffer, because a spec sheet needs something new to sell, but otherwise there is no significant difference. Overall, the R6 Mark II is still the more “pro” camera.
Pros and Cons of the Canon EOS R8 Mark II
Pros
- IBIS finally added
- Fresh angular body and side SD slot
- Compact and light (about 546 g)
- Good upgrade over the original R8
Cons
- Priced at about the same level as the R6 Mark II, or above it
- IBIS rated lower than the R6 Mark II (7.5 vs 8 stops)
- Single card slot and lighter weather sealing
- Entry-level EVF
- Small LP-E17 battery and no battery-grip option
- No mechanical shutter
- Same sensor and processor as the R8
Verdict: Buy the R8 Mark II or the R6 Mark II?
The R8 Mark II is, without a doubt, a good camera and a good upgrade over the original R8. It is an upscaled update, not a revolutionary one. The problem is that Canon has priced it next to the R6 Mark II. If Canon discontinued the R6 Mark II, R8 Mark II sales would make sense. While the R6 Mark II is still on sale at a similar or lower price, sensible Canon buyers should pick the R6 Mark II, or wait and look at other options.
I am not telling you to switch to the Nikon Z5 II or Sony A7C II here. That needs a separate, deep cross-brand comparison. But if you want to stay with Canon, use your brain: don’t pay R6 Mark II money for fewer features. Do your own research too, and don’t rely only on YouTube videos.
Also read: Latest Camera Launches in India 2026 · Best Cameras Under ₹1.5 Lakh
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Frequently Asked Questions
The body has an official MRP of ₹1,78,995 on Canon India. The optional EG-E2 extension grip is ₹9,995.
No. The R6 Mark II has stronger IBIS (8 vs 7.5 stops), dual card slots, better weather sealing, a 3.69M-dot EVF, a bigger battery with battery-grip support and a mechanical shutter. It is often available online for the same price or less.
Only if IBIS, the AF joystick or the new body design really solve a problem for you. The sensor and processor are the same, so image quality does not change.
No. It still uses the LP-E17 battery, and IBIS adds to the drain. Carry spare batteries, especially for video.
According to our research, it offers electronic first-curtain and fully electronic shutter, but no full mechanical shutter like the R6 Mark II.
Watch the Video
Prefer watching? Here is the full video, Canon R8 Mark II: Is Upgrading the Right Choice?, from our YouTube channel:
Want more honest, India-focused camera advice in Hindi and English? Subscribe to The New Camera on YouTube (youtube.com/thenewcamera) for new reviews, camera news and buying guides every week.
Earlier Video: R8 Mark II Pre-Launch Update
Before the launch, I shared what to expect from the R8 Mark II (and Nikon’s rumoured Z70) in this update:
Video Script
Here is the full video script, translated from Hindi into English and arranged in article form for easier reading.
Introduction: The Biggest Issue with the R8 Mark II
It would have been fine if you had announced the R8 Mark II in the R8’s price range. It would have been a very good camera. But you have pushed the price into the R6 Mark II’s zone, and the facilities you are giving are a marginal update, which was expected in the R8 Mark II anyway. You have raised the price a lot and upgraded the features very selectively. And that is the biggest issue with the R8 Mark II.
Look, before Canon announced the R8 Mark II, I was also very excited. I still am. But you know, the pricing of Canon’s R8 Mark II is hurting a lot of people, and it should, because of the level at which Canon has priced it this time.
Pricing: From Entry Level into R6 Territory
I am not talking about specifications yet. Generally, whenever I make a video, I start with the specs. But here they have scaled up the pricing so much that the camera is moving out of the entry-level zone and into the zone of its R6 cameras. That is why, if you search for the price or ask at your nearest store, you will find that the R6 Mark II body price is lower than, or equal to, the R8 Mark II.
Yes, it is possible that there is a special hype at the time of announcement. After one or two months, when retail bodies actually come into stock, we may see some discounts and offers. But for now, the prices and figures we are seeing are, I would say, not at all digestible for an entry-level user. If you are planning to buy a camera, you look at its core specs before you put money into it.
IBIS: Inferior to the R6 Mark II
Right now you can see that they are obviously giving IBIS in the R8 Mark II, but it is inferior to the R6 Mark II. CIPA, the agency that independently tests cameras, found the R6 Mark II gives 8 stops of IBIS, while Canon’s press release for the R8 Mark II says it gives up to 7.5 stops, which is obviously inferior to the R6 Mark II. Given the price we have to pay, we won’t compare it with the R8 any more. We will compare it with the R6 Mark II.
Body Design, Card Slot, Weather Sealing and EVF
The new body and side SD slot
Similarly, look at the body. To show it off, this time they put the SD card slot on the side, so it has a slightly professional, angular body design and a retro feel. All that is fair to a large extent, because next year you have to announce your R8 V. Just as you have kept differences between the R6 V and the original R6 series, you had to create differences in body design here too.
Still a single card slot
But when you were upgrading the body, you should have done it properly. You kept a single card slot. You could have given dual slots, just like we have in the R6 Mark II, because, brother, we are paying almost the same price. Understand? If we are paying nearly the same price, we should get the facilities too.
Weather sealing and viewfinder
At the very same time, we don’t get the level of weather sealing that we have in the R6 Mark II. And if we talk about the body, the viewfinder in your R6 Mark II has 3.69 million dots and a fairly high refresh rate. Meanwhile, they have fitted an entry-level EVF in the R8 Mark II.
Entry-level battery
There must also be some fear inside Canon that they are using an entry-level battery, the LP-E17 or whatever they call it. So understand this: on one hand you are introducing IBIS, you are giving a nice body, you are showing that you now put the SD card slot on the side just like pro cameras. Compare it with the Z5 II or anything else: everyone in the entry-level zone gives dual card slots, but you are still on a single card slot.
It would have been fine if you had announced the R8 Mark II in the R8’s price range. It would have been a very good camera. But you pushed it into the R6 Mark II’s zone with a marginal update, raising the price a lot and upgrading features selectively. That is the biggest issue with the R8 Mark II.
A Word Before You Buy
Those who have the money and have made up their mind to buy the R8 Mark II no matter what can skip the video here, close it and go. But those who want to understand the actual differences and buy after understanding them should continue watching, because I am explaining the differences here. If you are going to spend your hard-earned money, at least understand them and find out for yourself. I am only giving you some guidance. Do the rest of the research yourself. Don’t depend too much on online YouTube videos. Do self-research.
Battery Life: The Biggest Issue for Users
I have told you all these differences. Beyond that, the biggest issue R8 Mark II users are going to face is this: the battery is already weak, and you have added the load of IBIS on top. If you use IBIS continuously, it will drain the battery even more. And the extension you have provided this time is not a battery grip, unlike the R6 Mark II, where you get the original BG-series battery grips that triple your shooting time.
The thing is, if you are doing photography, a weak battery is still okay. You can manage. But where you are shooting videos, a weak battery becomes very troublesome.
My Recommendation for Canon Buyers
So understand that there are upgrades. You have made very good upgrades this time. But because the price has been pushed close to the R6 Mark II, I would at least tell my viewers who were planning to buy, or waiting for, the R8 Mark II: either spend a little more and buy the R6 Mark II instead of the R8 Mark II, or wait for something different and look for different solutions.
At this moment I won’t say go for the Z5 II or the A7C II, because that would be a different brand, and that needs a deep comparison. But for those who love to buy a Canon camera, and I know this as a Canon user myself, people who want a Canon only want a Canon. Then they don’t want to hear what they get in the Z5 II, what the A7C II gives, or what the upcoming A7C III will have. So leave all these things apart.
Understand one thing: fine, if you want to stay with Canon, stay. If you want to buy a Canon camera, buy it. But at least use your brain, okay? Use your brain and at least don’t buy a camera that takes that much money from you and gives you far fewer features. Better to buy the R6 Mark II.
Sensor, Buffer and Mechanical Shutter
- Sensor: sensor-wise you get the same sensor. There is no improvement.
- Buffer: they have tweaked the pre-continuous buffer a bit. What else can they do? They have to show something good on the spec sheet to sell it. Other than that, there is no significant difference.
- Mechanical shutter: overall, the R6 Mark II is still a pro camera. In terms of body design, if you look for a mechanical shutter in the R8 Mark II, you will keep searching and won’t find it. You get the EFCS, the electronic first-curtain shutter.
Look, I am not going deep. That is why I said at the beginning of the video: do the research yourself. If, as a photographer, you are working at wide apertures, in bright daylight or on creative photoshoots, a mechanical shutter definitely helps.
Final Verdict
So what you have to understand is that if you are a photographer and videographer, the R6 Mark II at that specific price range is still a pretty good solution. The R8 Mark II is, without doubt, a good camera, and without doubt a very good upgrade compared with the original R8. It is an upscaled update, not a revolutionary upgrade, because the sensor is the same and, all said and done, the image processor is the same. But yes, IBIS has been introduced, they have introduced an angular body design and changed the location of the SD card slot. All of that is fine, right?
But the price: why did you raise it so high? You have to understand that the price should also have gone up only to a certain level, not so far that you enter the R6 Mark II’s zone. You could, of course, discontinue production of the R6 Mark II. If you discontinue it, you will see R8 Mark II sales become fruitful and grow. But as long as the R6 Mark II exists in the market at its price, all sensible Canon users, or those about to become Canon users, will give first preference to the R6 Mark II.
So this was my opinion about the R8 Mark II. I hope you liked it. You can put any questions in the comment section and I will definitely try to answer. Thank you very, very much for being a part of this video.