Connectivity comparison

Canon EOS R5 Mark II vs Sony α1: connectivity and tethering compared

High-resolution flagships for wedding, event and commercial shooters who deliver during the job. This comparison is about one thing: how fast each body gets a finished frame to where it's needed — its USB-C port, Wi-Fi, built-in FTP, Ethernet and card slots, and how it tethers to a phone with CloudTether.

By the CloudTether team · Updated

Canon EOS R5 Mark II cameraCanon EOS R5 Mark IISony α1 cameraSony α1

Side by side

Canon EOS R5 Mark IISony α1
Hardware (maker's specs)
Sensor formatFull-frameFull-frame
RAW filesCR3ARW
USB portUSB-C, SuperSpeed Plus USB (USB 3.2 Gen 2)USB-C, SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps (USB 3.2), plus a Micro USB (USB 2.0) port
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax); 6 GHz only in some regionsIEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 + 5 GHz (some regional models are 2.4 GHz only)
Built-in FTPBuilt-in FTP transferBuilt-in (FTP Transfer Func.)
Wired Ethernet2.5GBASE-T via the optional BG-R20EP gripBuilt-in LAN terminal
Card slotsCFexpress Type B + SD (UHS-II)Two slots, each CFexpress Type A or SD (UHS-II)
Tethering to a phone with CloudTether
CloudTether over USBVerified by usSupported by the protocol, not yet tested by us (same code as our verified Sony body)
CloudTether over Wi-FiVerified (Canon)Supported by the camera, not yet tested by us
Rated sendYes — only shots you rate in cameraNo — every frame is sent
Camera setting for a USB tetherNone — turn the camera's Wi-Fi off before USBUSB Connection Mode → Remote Shooting, plus PC Remote Function On
Cable to a USB-C phoneUSB-C to USB-C data cableUSB-C to USB-C data cable

“Not stated” means the maker's spec page doesn't list it — we don't fill gaps with guesses. Wi-Fi bands can vary by region.

Verdict: which delivers faster?

Both have a 10 Gbps USB-C port, built-in FTP and two card slots, so on paper either can move files as fast as anything on this site. The difference for phone delivery is what's been proven: the EOS R5 Mark II is one of the bodies we've verified CloudTether on in field use, including rated send end to end, and Canon Wi-Fi tethering is verified. The α1 runs the same Sony code as our verified ZV-E10 over USB, but we haven't tested this exact body, and its wireless PC Remote is untested by us.

Wired networking differs: the α1 has a LAN terminal in the body, while the R5 Mark II needs the optional BG-R20EP grip for 2.5GBASE-T Ethernet. And on Sony every frame is sent — rated send works on Canon (and Nikon) only — so on the α1 use JPEG only or a smaller delivery resolution to keep uploads light.

Pick the EOS R5 Mark II if…

…you want a body we've verified end to end, rated send to cull in camera, or a Wi-Fi tether you can rely on.

Pick the α1 if…

…you want Ethernet in the body without a grip, and you're happy tethering over USB with every frame sent.

Setting each one up for tethering

Canon EOS R5 Mark II

Sony α1

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Canon EOS R5 Mark II vs Sony α1: FAQ

Which is faster to tether to a phone, the EOS R5 Mark II or the α1?

Their USB-C ports are the same class on paper (10 Gbps per the makers' specs). To a phone, the phone's own port usually sets the limit — standard USB-C iPhones and many Android phones run at USB 2 — and a JPEG still arrives in a fraction of a second (a median 0.06 s from an EOS R5 Mark II in our logs).

Can both tether to a phone over Wi-Fi with CloudTether?

EOS R5 Mark II: verified (canon); α1: supported by the camera, not yet tested by us. Canon Wi-Fi is the wireless tether we've verified; USB is the dependable path on every body.

Which one can send only the shots I rate?

The EOS R5 Mark II. Rated send works over Canon and Nikon tethering only; over Sony tethering every frame is sent — use JPEG only to keep uploads light.

Do the EOS R5 Mark II and α1 have built-in FTP?

EOS R5 Mark II: built-in FTP transfer; α1: built-in (FTP Transfer Func.). In-camera FTP is a separate path from a phone tether — CloudTether can also deliver to an FTP/SFTP server from the phone, on any body.

Sources

Hardware specs from each maker's own specification page or online manual (checked 2026-11-15). CloudTether status from our own testing — see supported cameras.

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