Compare · 2 products compared
Canon EOS R5 Mark IIvsSony a7 IV: Which to Buy?
Both are full-frame mirrorless bodies with in-body stabilization, dual card slots, a fully articulated screen and 10-bit log video. The Canon shoots faster at higher resolution and records 8K; the Sony is smaller, lighter and priced at $2,499, which decides it for many buyers.
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- MOST WINS
CanonBest for Action, wildlife and professional video shooters who need 8K, raw and 30 fps
11of 16 specs better - Sony
Best for Hybrid shooters and travelers who want a compact full-frame body at a lower price
5of 16 specs better
Biggest differences
Continuous shooting (electronic)
Canon EOS R5 Mark II leads
3×
higher is better
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II30 fps
- Sony a7 IV10 fps
Viewfinder resolution
Canon EOS R5 Mark II leads
+56%
higher is better
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II5.76 M dots
- Sony a7 IV3.69 M dots
In-body image stabilization
Canon EOS R5 Mark II leads
+55%
higher is better
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II8.5 stops
- Sony a7 IV5.5 stops
Rear screen resolution
Canon EOS R5 Mark II leads
2.02×
higher is better
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II2.1 M dots
- Sony a7 IV1.04 M dots
Where each one wins
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Effective pixels
- In-body image stabilization
- Sensor type
- Continuous shooting (mechanical)
- Continuous shooting (electronic)
- Max video resolution
- 4K max frame rate (full width)
- Raw video recording
- Viewfinder resolution
- Rear screen resolution
- Battery life
Sony a7 IV
- Viewfinder magnification
- Weight
- Width
- Height
- Depth
What both have
- Sensor formatFull-frame
- Max mechanical shutter speed8,000 1/s
- Video bit depth10 bit
- Log profile support✓
- Screen articulationFully articulated
- Memory card slots2 slots
- Weather sealingDust and drip resistant
- USB charging & power delivery✓
- Minimum operating temperature0 °C
- Headphone port✓
- HDMI port typeFull-size
Every spec
Red marks the better value in each row.
| Spec | Canon EOS R5 Mark II | Sony a7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Release date | 2024-08 | 2021-10 |
| Launch price | Not published | 2,499.99 USD |
| Lens mount | Canon RF | Sony E |
| High resolution pixel-shift mode | Not published | No |
| Sensor & Image | ||
| Effective pixels | 45 MP | 33 MP |
| Sensor format | Full-frame | Full-frame |
| Native ISO maximum | Not published | 51,200 ISO1 |
| In-body image stabilization | 8.5 stops | 5.5 stops2 |
| Sensor readout speed | Not published | Not published |
| Sensor type | Stacked CMOS | CMOS |
| Aspect ratios | 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9 | 3:2 |
| Lens & Autofocus | ||
| Continuous shooting (mechanical) | 12 fps | 10 fps3 |
| Continuous shooting (electronic) | 30 fps | 10 fps |
| Max mechanical shutter speed | 8,000 1/s | 8,000 1/s |
| Pre-burst capture duration | 0.5 s4 | Not published |
| AF subject detection | Human, animal, bird, car, train, airplane, motorcycle | Human, animal, bird |
| Video | ||
| Max video resolution | 8K | 4K |
| 4K max frame rate | — | 60 fps5 |
| Video codecs | HEVC, ProRes RAW, Cinema RAW Light, XF-AVC6 | H.264, HEVC |
| 4K max frame rate (full width) | 59.94 fps | 30 fps7 |
| Raw video recording | Internal | None8 |
| Video bit depth | 10 bit | 10 bit |
| Log profile support | Yes | Yes |
| Video dynamic range (log) | Not published | 15 stops9 |
| Viewfinder & Screen | ||
| Viewfinder resolution | 5.76 M dots | 3.69 M dots |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.76 x | 0.78 x |
| Screen size | Not published | 2.95 in10 |
| Screen articulation | Fully articulated | Fully articulated |
| Rear screen resolution | 2.1 M dots | 1.04 M dots11 |
| Handling & Power | ||
| Battery life | 630 shots | 580 shots12 |
| Memory card slots | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Weather sealing | Dust and drip resistant | Dust and drip resistant13 |
| Weight | 746 g | 658 g |
| Width | 138.5 mm | 131.3 mm |
| Height | 101.2 mm | 96.4 mm |
| Depth | 93.5 mm | 69.7 mm14 |
| USB charging & power delivery | Yes | Yes15 |
| Minimum operating temperature | 0 °C | 0 °C |
| Headphone port | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI port type | Full-size | Full-size |
Notes on 15 values — test conditions and caveats
- 1Sony a7 IV, Native ISO maximum: Native range tops out at ISO 51200; 50-204800 requires expanded ISO settings.
- 2Sony a7 IV, In-body image stabilization: CIPA rating measured with the 50mm F1.4 ZA test lens attached.
- 3Sony a7 IV, Continuous shooting (mechanical): 10 fps applies to compressed RAW/JPEG/HEIF; drops to 6 fps for lossless or uncompressed RAW.
- 4Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Pre-burst capture duration: Up to 15 shots can be buffered before you fully press the shutter, which is about half a second at 30 fps.
- 5Sony a7 IV, 4K max frame rate: 4K 60p is only available in Super35mm crop; full-frame 4K tops out at 30p.
- 6Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Video codecs: Internal codecs are XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S and H.264 MP4; ProRes RAW is recorded via HDMI to an external recorder.
- 7Sony a7 IV, 4K max frame rate (full width): 4K 60p requires the Super35mm crop; full-width 4K is limited to 30p.
- 8Sony a7 IV, Raw video recording: No internal or external raw recording; HDMI output tops out at 10-bit 4:2:2.
- 9Sony a7 IV, Video dynamic range (log): Sony's claim for S-Log3 per internal tests; stated as 15+ stops.
- 10Sony a7 IV, Screen size: Sony rates the panel at 2.95in (3.0-type); most sources round to 3in.
- 11Sony a7 IV, Rear screen resolution: 1,036,800 dots; Sony's retail pages round this to 1.03 megadots.
- 12Sony a7 IV, Battery life: 580 shots per charge with the rear LCD; 520 with the EVF.
- 13Sony a7 IV, Weather sealing: Dust and moisture resistant but not IP-rated; Sony does not guarantee 100% sealing.
- 14Sony a7 IV, Depth: Sony lists 79.8mm total depth; 69.7mm is measured from front grip to rear monitor.
- 15Sony a7 IV, USB charging & power delivery: Charging and USB power delivery work only through the USB Type-C port.
Sensor and detail
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II resolves 45 MP against the Sony a7 IV's 33 MP, and its stacked sensor design reads out faster. That headroom shows up as more room to crop a bird or a distant athlete and still print large, and as less rolling-shutter skew when panning.
Canon rates stabilization at 8.5 stops versus Sony's 5.5, which helps handheld work in dim rooms and long-lens shooting. The Sony's figure applies with a specific test lens attached, so treat it as a comparison point rather than a promise. Neither maker publishes a readout-speed figure, so judge the stacked design on behavior, not on a number.
Speed and autofocus
The Canon shoots 12 fps mechanically and 30 fps electronically; the Sony manages 10 fps either way. The Sony's mechanical figure also drops for lossless or uncompressed RAW, so plan on compressed files to hit its top rate.
Subject detection is the bigger practical gap. The Canon recognizes humans, animals, birds, cars, trains, airplanes and motorcycles. The Sony sticks to humans, animals and birds. If you shoot motorsport or aviation, that difference saves you from fighting the camera. The Canon also buffers roughly half a second of frames before you press the shutter, which is the kind of feature that rescues a missed moment.
Video
The Canon records 8K internally and offers ProRes RAW, Cinema RAW Light and XF-AVC alongside its compressed codecs. It also holds full-frame 4K at 59.94 fps. For anyone delivering in 4K or grading raw footage, that is a working advantage rather than a spec-sheet trophy.
The Sony tops out at 4K, and its 60 fps mode only works in a Super35mm crop — full-width 4K stops at 30p. Both record 10-bit with a log profile, and the Sony claims 15 stops of dynamic range in S-Log3 per its own testing. The Sony has no internal or external raw path, so the Canon is the clear pick for paid video work.
Viewfinder and screen
The Canon's electronic viewfinder is the sharper of the two at 5.76 M dots versus 3.69 M dots, and its rear panel doubles the Sony's dot count. Higher dot counts make manual focus and detail checking easier, especially when you shoot without peaking.
The Sony's viewfinder magnifies slightly more at 0.78x against 0.76x, a small edge for eyeglass wearers and composition. Both screens are fully articulated, so neither is better for vlogging or low-angle work.
Battery and size
The Canon gets 630 shots per charge against the Sony's 580, and the gap widens to 520 if you prefer the Sony's finder over its rear screen. A day of event shooting usually means one battery instead of two.
The Sony is the travel-friendly body: 658 g versus 746 g, and noticeably slimmer through the grip. Canon's depth measurement also includes a deeper grip, which matters less than the weight once the camera is in a bag for hours. Both charge over USB and both are sealed against dust and drips, though Sony does not IP-rate its sealing.
The Verdict
Buy the Canon EOS R5 Mark II if you shoot fast action, crop heavily, or need 8K and raw video on a paid job. Buy the Sony a7 IV if you want a lighter full-frame body with the same mount and sealing, and 4K 30p is enough for your work. Neither needs a tiebreaker on image quality — the deciding factors are resolution, burst rate and video ceiling.
Where to buy
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Best for Action, wildlife and professional video shooters who need 8K, raw and 30 fps
Sony a7 IV
Best for Hybrid shooters and travelers who want a compact full-frame body at a lower price
FAQ
Does the Canon EOS R5 Mark II cost more than the Sony a7 IV?
Canon has not published a launch price for the R5 Mark II, so no direct comparison is possible. The Sony launched at $2,499, which sets the budget benchmark you should measure the Canon against.
Can either camera shoot 4K at 60 fps in full frame?
Yes — the Canon. It records full-width 4K at 59.94 fps, while the Sony's 4K 60p only works in a Super35mm crop and its full-width 4K is limited to 30p.
Which has better in-body stabilization?
The Canon, rated at 8.5 stops against the Sony's 5.5. Sony's number was measured with a specific 50mm test lens attached, so it reflects that setup rather than every lens you own.
Do both cameras have two memory card slots?
Yes, both offer two slots. That gives you simultaneous backup or a split between stills and video on either body.
Which viewfinder is better for manual focus?
The Canon's, at 5.76 M dots versus 3.69 M dots on the Sony. More dots make it easier to confirm focus without magnification aids.
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