Rumour. Canon has not announced the EOS R8 Mark II. The information below comes from Canon Rumors and retailer reports, and should be treated as speculation until Canon makes it official.
The clearest sign yet that a new Canon camera is imminent has nothing to do with a leaked spec sheet. Canon Rumors reports that two retailers can no longer order new stock of the EOS R8 body. The body-and-kit combination with the RF 24-50mm remains orderable, but only from existing stock. When a manufacturer stops taking body-only orders, a replacement is usually close.
That fits the wider picture. Canon Rumors has said for some time that announcements are planned for around 25 August, with the EOS R8 Mark II expected to be among them. The rumoured specification is a significant step up from the original: the 32.5MP sensor already used in the EOS R6 Mark III, EOS R6 V and Cinema EOS C50, in-body image stabilisation, a second SD card slot, and up to 40fps electronic shooting — with no mechanical shutter, as before.
The persistent claim is that it will be “retro inspired”, which has fuelled speculation given this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Canon AE-1. Canon showed retro concepts at CP+ earlier this year, so the idea is not baseless. There is also a practical theory worth repeating: adding IBIS and a second card slot inevitably adds bulk, and an SLR-style retro body would disguise that extra space rather neatly.
One reported detail is worth noting for anyone getting excited. Just as dual base ISO was reportedly disabled on the two R6 bodies, open gate video is said to be locked out on the R8 Mark II — a reminder that Canon’s segmentation habits have not gone away, even when the underlying sensor is shared.
If the R8 body really is being run down, buyers face a genuine decision. The original R8 remains an excellent camera and will likely see discounting as stock clears, while used examples hold their value strongly. Whether the Mark II is worth waiting for depends entirely on a price Canon has not announced yet — something we have written about at more length in our thoughts on why Canon cannot afford to play it safe with this one.
Canon EOS R8 Mark II: what the rumours say
Expected announcement: around 25 August 2026, per Canon Rumors. Sensor: 32.5MP, as used in the EOS R6 Mark III, EOS R6 V and Cinema EOS C50. Key upgrades over the original R8: in-body image stabilisation and a second SD card slot. Continuous shooting: up to 40fps electronic. Shutter: no mechanical shutter. Design: reported as “retro inspired”, though Canon Rumors is clear it does not know what that means in practice. Reported limitation: open gate video said to be disabled. Supporting signal: two retailers report the EOS R8 body can no longer be ordered as new stock. Note: nothing here is confirmed by Canon, and no pricing has been reported.
