EOS R5 Mark II: "HDR Mode" menu option from R5 went missing

[PerryO]

The R5 (mark I) had an "HDR Mode" item on the Red Camera 5 menu. An HDR Mode (for stills, I can find the Movie one) seems to have gone missing in the R5 Mark II.

Anyone know what's up?

I've gone through the complete menu and manual without finding it or any mention of a replacement.

[jrhoffman75]

Maybe it has a new name to differentiate it from the HDR/PQ mode for displays. It might be a scene mode. 

[PerryO]

Any idea what that new name is? Or what menu its hiding on? How about a page reference in the manual... I went back and looked through all the menus again and I'm still clueless.

[jrhoffman75]

I don't have an R5MkII.

You could give Canon a call at 1-800-OK-CANON.

[p4pictures · Accepted solution]

I have also looked and it's definitely gone missing, and there is no similar mode that captures three images and makes a composite from them. You can capture three images in sequence using auto exposure bracketing, but will need to create the HDR version from those in some software later. The HDR PQ mode captures a single image with extended dynamic range suitable to HDR displays, and images will be saved as HEIF or RAW format.

[Roger_Barnett]

I am definitely not happy with this exclusion. The PQ mode doesn't do enough for most of the high dynamic range shooting that I do.... landscapes etc. And, realistic or not, HDR vivid works very well for me much of the time. Using HDR in all my Canon's since the 5D II has been very welcomed.

I added the below shot later, but in the wrong spot. I like it better, as it's zoomed out to 70mm, so has less of the slightly overexposed snow, and the splash of color that the two aspen provide (2 of thousands if not millions that graced my images, shot over 12 days, mostly in BC and Alberta)-sadly, the larch had lost all their needles.. but I got them just in the last week at Mt Hood, coming down from Rainier, and in the Leavenworth area!

 

Why? I shoot high volumes, often with multiple cameras, and HDR allows me to usually get high enough quality from the in camera produced HDR to be able to present the images. It saves hours of shooting bracketed shots and editing them. Of course, all three raw files are there and available to use as needed. Yes, often a single raw is all that is needed to edit into a usable image and save as a .tiff, which isn't possible with the in camera produced jpeg. My experience with the PQ mode is "meh"' Here is a slightly overexposed one, taken north of Lake Louise, the morning before the amazing KP9- aurora which I captured at Peyto Lake, along with 20-40 other shooters. 

Attached is the unedited PQ raw original, as a jpeg, and an edited version. I like it, but do feel that an HDR vivid shot, @+3, processed by  my R5, would have better detail in the brightest snow Details RF70-200 f/2.8@124mm, 1/500 f/9, ISO 200

  

[Blueberry_Lover]

I have a Canon R5 (Mark I) which definitely has both HDR modes as you indicated. Of late, I've been experimenting with HDR PQ on a Mac mini M2 running Sequoia (15.1).  If this could be of interest, have a look at this post. I'm using the macOS Photos for editing which is adequate even for HDR but is far from being as sophisticated as Lightroom or other third-party editors.

- Pie Lover

[Schadirji]

Hello Brian, I have wrote to Canon the following message, and I hope many will send similar requests regarding the missing HDR mode in the R5 Mark II. The HDR PQ is not the same! 

"Hello Canon support team,

I have purchased the R5 II in August 2024, and have the R5.

One incredible feature that the R5 has, is missing in the R5 II. This is the HDR mode that automatically merges three images of different exposures into a single JPEG image. This is different than the HDR PQ  mode, that both cameras have.  The advantages are many; I do not need to post process the HDR PQ image later in the computer, also, your Camera Connect App does not allow to import those images, meaning, I can’t even edit this HDR image on my phone!

Also, the beauty of this mode, that I keep the three images, but have a nice JPEG that I can use instantly. Also, when the camera shoots three images, and the there are people moving, it create this abstract effect with intense colours, that will be hard to do in multiple exposure mode, since the HDR is disabled for one. Many people are asking for this mode, and I do not see why Canon can’t add this this in a firmware.

I hope that this mode will be added eventually to the R5 II."

[izzetkulaksiz]

I recently purchased the Canon R5 Mark II and I am honestly very disappointed. After comparing the new HDR PQ with the classic HDR photo mode, it’s clear they are not the same at all. HDR PQ lacks sharpness, color depth, and detail—it’s unusable for my workflow.

As an architectural photographer, I’ve relied on Canon’s HDR photo mode for years. My clients love the results, and I could produce great images quickly with minimal effort. Now, that feature is gone—and if there are no plans to bring it back, I won’t be using this camera.

To make things worse, you’ve also removed Touch & Drag AF while using the viewfinder, another feature I valued deeply.

Frankly, I don’t know who thought removing these essential tools was a good idea. It feels like Canon is pushing users toward other brands. I’ve been a loyal Canon user my whole life, but the R5 Mark II—despite costing nearly twice as much—is a step backward, not forward. It does not justify its price, and I’m seriously considering returning it and going back to the original R5.

Very disappointed.

[p4pictures]

EOS R5 Mark II still has Touch and Drag AF, it has been moved from the AF menus to the control customisation menu. 

https://cam.start.canon/en/C017/manual/html/UG-08_Customize_0030.html#Customize_0030_2-1 

HDR mode is not included though.