Canon has announced the launch of the EOS R6 Mark II, which they are touting as being their fastest advanced full-frame mirrorless camera to date. The R6 Mark II is the follow-up to the original R6 that was announced in July 2020.
The R6 Mark II can shoot 4K UHD movies and 6K RAW to an external device. It can capture 40fps in stills mode and good low-light AF.
The camera uses the same DIGIC X processor technology as the EOS R5, EOS R6, and EOS-1D X Mark III. It features a new 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, and it supports Dual Pixel CMOS AF II.
Video Capabilities
According to canon, the EOS R6 Mark II is the only camera in its class that can use the full width of the sensor to shoot 4K 60p UHD, with simultaneous Dual Pixel CMOS AF II focusing. All 4K footage is created by oversampling the sensor’s 6K output. The EOS R6 Mark II is also capable of outputting 6K RAW via its HDMI output, which can be recorded on an Atomos Ninja V+ recorder in ProRes RAW.
Users can also activate a movie pre-recording mode of 3 or 5 seconds, which when on, enables video to be continuously streamed through the camera in standby enabling the capture of action even before you press record.
The EOS R6 Mark II features an improved circuit design allowing longer recording times. According to Canon, you can capture over 40 minutes of oversampled 4K 60p recording or up to 6 hours of 4K 30p. The previous 29 minute 59 second maximum individual clip recording time has been removed.
The camera can also capture Full HD at up to 180fps with full AF support. Something that is also new is the ability to bring up and use False colors for exposure adjustment.
The EOS R6 Mark II features HDR support via PQ, as well as Canon Log 3. When used with supported lenses, the EOS R6 Mark II also uses focus-breathing correction to compensate for the effects of focus breathing.
There is also now a dedicated video/photo switch.
AF
The EOS R6 Mark II can track subjects using an improved deep-learning artificial intelligence, and it can recognize people, vehicles (which now include aircraft and trains in addition to cars and motorbikes), and animals. Animals AF has been updated to recognize horses and zebras as well as dogs, cats, and birds. The type of subject to be detected can be chosen in the menu or using the new Auto option. With advanced eye tracking, users can specify which eye (left or right) should be given focus priority, and when the eyes can’t be detected, the EOS R6 Mark II focuses on the face in shot instead. Even if a person turns away for a moment, their head continues to be tracked, and if the head isn’t visible the camera will go on to track the body.
IS
The EOS R6 Mark II is claimed to boast the world’s most effective IS performance, with up to 8-stops of co-ordinated control image stabilization. Using the combined IS, optical and in-body, the camera can shoot long exposures, handheld with clarity and sharpness. Photographers can also capture images in very low light conditions, focusing in light levels as low as -6.5EV, and the ability to shoot up to ISO 102,400.
40fps in stills mode
The EOS R6 Mark II is Canon’s fastest EOS to date. It can shoot continuously at up to 40fps – with 20fps and 5fps options with electronic shutter, and up to 12fps mechanically. According to Canon, compared to the EOS R6, the new sensor has reduced rolling shutter.
The EOS R6 Mark II can also record action before shooting starts, with 0.5 seconds pre-shooting in RAW Burst mode. The RAW Burst mode shoots continuously at 30fps for up to 191 frames, recording every image in a single CR3 file; all with AF tracking. Individual images can be extracted from this roll using Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software, or in camera, and saved as individual JPEG, HEIF or RAW files.
Other Features
The camera features dust and weather sealing on all external doors and inputs. It also utilizes a 3.69M dot EVF with a refresh rate of 120fps. The EOS R6 Mark II has inherited the Optical View Finder view assist feature from the EOS R3. The camera is also compatible with the same LP-E6NH batteries and BG-R10 battery grip as the EOS R6, but with the benefit of battery life being increased by approximately 50% when using the LCD screen.
Unfortunately, the camera features a Micro-HDMI Output.
Connectivity
The camera features updated Bluetooth v.5 and Wi-Fi (5GHz), so that it can be easily connected to a smartphone and networks allowing high-speed file sharing and FTP/FTPS/SFTP transfer. The camera can also be remotely controlled using the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps, tethered to a PC, Mac or smartphone via Wi-Fi or high-speed USB-C. The EOS R6 Mark II also supports the automatic transfer of image files from the device to the image.canon cloud platform so users can easily share and print images.
The EOS R6 Mark II can be used as a webcam on PC and Mac computers running video-call apps such as Skype, Zoom and Teams, without having to install additional software. This plug-and-play capability is powered by industry-standard USB Video Class (UVC) and USB Audio Class (UAC) drivers that are built into Windows and MacOS operating systems.
Multi-function shoe
The EOS R6 Mark II. Featuring a multi-function shoe with a next-generation interface, the EOS R6 Mark II enables a new series of Canon accessories to be used including the newly launched SPEEDLITE EL-5. These accessories can be used without the need for cables, and in some cases without batteries.
Canon Camera Connect App
Alongside the EOS R6 Mark II, Canon has also announced an update to its Camera Connect App which now has a new look and feel, as well as enhanced connectivity and a simple user experience. The v.3 update makes the app a central portal, enabling users to easily access other Canon software and services, such as the Print app or image.canon cloud service. From the app, Canon users can connect their camera to a smartphone or tablet to act as a remote control, or fine-tune images, download or share them while on the move and even download firmware updates for their camera.
Price & Availability
The EOS R6 Mark II reatils for $2,499 USD.
You can also buy it with with a 24-105mm f/4-7.1 Lens for $2,799 USD.
Another optoion is to buy it with the 24-105mm f/4 Lens for $3,599 USD.
The EOS R6 Mark II will be supported by Canon Australia’s 5-year warranty when purchased from an authorized Canon Australia reseller. Pricing will be set at dealers’ discretion, with an RRP of $4,499 (incl. GST) for the EOS R6 Mark II. For the body and lens kit, RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, the RRP is $6,399 (incl. GST). Available in Australia from late November 2022,
Thoughts
This looks like a decent enough camera, but there isn’t anything that really jumps off the page. However, specifications almost never tell you the true worth of a camera. With so much competition in the full-frame mirrorless hybrid space, it will be interesting to see how well the R6 Mark II sells.
It is interesting to see Canon release a new model of a camera so soon, but I guess they have to with the increased competition and rapid rate at which their biggest competitor Sony is releasing new models.
