First Impressions: Meet the Canon EOS R1 & R5 II

The arrival of a new full-frame Canon EOS R model is always met with tremendous fanfare. The announcement of two in one day is cause for celebration. Let's get to the bottom of these two new releases from Canon, the EOS R1 and the EOS R5 II, and find out which one you should add to your watchlist.

Are you looking for a professional quality mirrorless camera to capture fast-paced sports photography, candid documentary photography or even videography? You'll struggle to find a mirrorless camera that does a better job than the Canon EOS R1.

The Canon EOS R1 includes a brand new 24MP full-frame image sensor, as well as a DIGIC processor with accelerator. This combination provides brilliant image quality in all scenarios, even in extremely dim lighting. With lightning-fast readout speeds, this mirrorless camera features reduced rolling shutter, and its performance is on par with the top-tier Canon EOS 1DX Mark III DSLR camera.

The EOS R1 never ceases to amaze with its next-gen AF performance. This camera can track moving subjects as they perform at their maximum, with precision and ease, while in a first for an EOS R camera, the EOS R1 includes cross-type AF - this means it is more successful for focusing on tricky objects, such as low contrast subjects or those with a lot of horizontal lines.

The Olympics are just around the corner and sports photography enthusiasts are keen to try their hand at freezing the action with their camera. There is no camera more suitable for tackling the sidelines than the EOS R1, with up to 40 frames continuous RAW shooting with AF/AE tracking, a maximum shutter speed of up to 1/64000th of a second using the electronic shutter and pre-shooting. It can be tricky to cart around tripods and support devices during sporting events, so you will pleased to find an excellent stabilisation system on the EOS R1 - this provides up to 8.5 stops of stabilisation when used with compatible stabilised lenses.

As you would expect from a top-of-the-line model, the Canon EOS R1 is a rugged workhorse, with excellent weather-sealing. As well as dual CF Express slots for managing large workloads, this camera is compatible with the high-capacity LP-E19 battery, which provides enough power for about 1300 shots using the LCD screen.

Like the Canon EOS R1, the EOS R5 II comes with an updated image sensor - this one is a super high-resolution 45MP variant. Being a back-illuminated image sensor, the EOS R5 II can produce stunning image quality with incredible detail and low noise.

Another sports-friendly offering, the Canon EOS R5 II provides up to 30 frames per second of continuous shooting, as well as pre-continuous shooting which can even capture crucial moments that take place before you have time to press the shutter. Importantly, this pre-shooting function is also available during video recording.

Video is an area the Canon EOS R5 II excels in, with up to 8K60p RAW Light video on offer, as well as a host of options usually associated with EOS cinema offers, such as Canon Log 2 and Log 3, as well as proxy recording. Looking to explore slow-motion video? Check out the 4K120p and Full HD 240p video recording modes.

You will find some similar features in the EOS R5 II that we discussed in the EOS R1 above, including advanced subject tracking with deep learning technology, up to 8.5 stops of co-ordinated control Image Stabilisation, and improved Eye AF - this means the camera adjusts its focal point based on where you are looking in the EVF, using specialised sensors.