The Canon EOS R6 Mark II has ended speculation that it might have the same sensor as Canon’s flagship sports camera, but the new, unparalleled full-frame beast is still a good all-rounder. (Looking to jump right into our early judgment? Head to the hands-on Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review).
The EOS R6 Mark II is a follow-up to the original 2020 EOS R6 and the main upgrade is a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor. This new Canon model gives a 20% higher resolution over its 20MP predecessor, which will delight photographers looking for more detail or cropping capability.
Previous rumors had optimistically speculated that the EOS R6 Mark II could feature the same “stacked” 24.1MP sensor seen in Canon EOS R3. The stacked sensors have incredibly fast readout speeds for fast continuous shooting and professional video quality, but they also come at an excellent price.
However, the new sensor on the EOS R6 Mark II doesn’t just provide an extra help with accuracy. It’s also fast enough to shoot bursts at 40 fps with autofocus in raw or JPEG format, with no cropping at all. Granted, it can’t sustain these speeds for very long (just under two seconds when shooting raw files), but that’s still twice as fast as the EOS R6 and a potential bonus for action or sports shooters.
Another helping hand in this department is the upgraded EOS R6 Mark II with Dual Pixel CMOS AF II. Thanks to some improved deep learning, it can now recognize and track planes, trains, and a wider variety of animals than before (including horses and zebras). Maybe it’s a little convenient, but the AF system is more confident when photographing people as well, as we found out in our early preview.
The new camera sensor also supports some improved video skills. You can shoot uncut 4K/60p video, which is also over-sampled from the camera’s native 6K resolution. This is a recipe for some high-quality videos, although unfortunately there is still no 4K / 120p mode for fans of slow motion.
The EOS R6 Mark II is very similar to its predecessor, which is not without anything. It features a soon-to-be-matched material design with great handling and a new multifunctional boot on the upper to pair with accessories like Canon’s new Speedlite EL-5. In the US and Australia, it also has a similar price tag to the original EOS R6, costing $2,499 / £2,779 / AU$4,499 (body only), with the UK price increasing by about 11%.
You can also pre-order the camera now with the RF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens for $3,599 / £3,999 / AU$6,399. In the US and UK you can also get the EOS R6 Mark II with the cheaper RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM zoom lens for $2,799 / £3,129, with sales expected to start from late November.
Analysis: Not stacked, but definitely torn
picture 1 From two
Speculation that the Canon EOS R6 Mark II might have a stacked sensor has become wishful thinking, and that’s no big surprise. Only a few full-frame cameras have this modern sensor design and they’re all well priced north of Canon’s new hybrid shooter.
But that doesn’t mean the EOS R6 Mark II is disappointing or underpowered. The new 24.2MP sensor may not be stacked or even backlit, but it clearly has some very fast readout speeds of its own, as evidenced by its 40fps burst speeds and its ability to shoot sample-packed 4K/60p without cropping.
In other words, mirrorless cameras don’t necessarily need stacked sensors to be considered high-quality or high-quality. The EOS R6 Mark II may be a relatively modest upgrade in other areas, but it fixes most of the weaknesses of its predecessor. And as our hands-on review notes note, “some cameras at this price can match their hybrid skills” at capturing still images and video.
It will definitely be an interesting struggle with Sony A7IV And the Nikon Z6II Although, stay tuned for all we have Canon EOS R6 Mark II Review very soon. And if your budget doesn’t quite extend to those cameras for understandable reasons, check out our guide to black friday camera deals For some tips on how to get this month’s deal.