Canon’s latest camera, the EOS R6 Mark II, can shoot still photos at up to 40 frames per second, making it the company’s fastest full-frame mirrorless camera.
A successor to the 2020 R6, the EOS R6 Mark II uses the same RF lens mount featured on the content creator-focused R7 and R10 cameras, alongside the higher-end R5 and R5 C cinema cameras. It packs in an upgraded 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, including support for the intelligent Dual Pixel CMOS AF II tracking technology. This means it recognises subjects via deep learning AI technology, auto-focusing on them as they’re moving. You can even set which person’s (or animal’s) eye to track for focus preference.
Ideal for various photography scenarios, whether it be sport, wildlife or children, the EOS R6 Mark II shoots up to 40 frames per second using its electronic shutter, and up to 12 frames via the mechanical shutter. For photographers who shoot in RAW format for maximum editing control, the camera offers 0.5-second pre-shooting in RAW Burst mode, giving you every chance of capturing that blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment.
Although Canon places more emphasis on the EOS R6 Mark II’s photography chops than some of the company’s recent hybrid filming cameras, that’s not to say it can’t handle video. This starts with a new dedicated photo/video switch on the body of the camera. Flipping to video will switch to video mode including an updated menu with easier-to-find video settings. However, this isn’t a complete menu transformation like it is with Canon’s R5 C hybrid shooter.
The R6 Mark II can now shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second, and the image is generated by oversampling the sensor’s 6K output. There’s also a full 6K recording mode, however, it’s only supported when saving to an external drive such as an Atmos Ninja, and not the two internal SD cards.
When recording to the twin SD card slots, continuous recording is supported at 4K 30fps for up to 6 hours and 6K 30fps for a maximum of 40 minutes.
For stability, there’s a 5-stop in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) system and up to 8 stops while using external lens stabilisation. Videographers will also benefit from the AI-driven autofocus technology to help keep subjects in focus. Similar to the pre-shoot buffer for stills, you can tap into a movie pre-recording mode to capture up to five seconds of footage before hitting record. Slow-motion filmmakers can also record in up to 180 frames per second when filming at 1080p.
With Bluetooth 5 and 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, the EOS R6 Mark II enables fast file sharing to phones and other network-connected devices. There’s also remote control capacity via the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps while hooked up to a PC, Mac or phone using either Wi-Fi or USB-C connection. You can even use the camera as your computer’s webcam as a plug-and-play option, which could be handy if you’re unable to take advantage of the new iPhone-to-Mac camera connectivity. One benefit of upgrading to the new camera from the original R6 is that it uses the same LP-E6NH batteries and BG-R10 battery grip, plus an approximate 50% battery life boost.
Plus, a new lens and flash for portrait photography
Alongside the latest camera announcement, Canon also unveiled a new telephoto prime lens and flash attachment. Canon bills the lens, RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM, as one suited for portraits due to its longer fixed focal length and wide f/1.8 aperture. It contains in-built image stabilisation, helpful for shooting in handheld at its further range. Additionally, the lens taps into the EOS R6 Mark II’s autofocus tech to ensure you specifically capture the subject in focus, softly blurring everything else.
Canon’s newest flash, the Speedlite EL-5 is billed as the perfect companion for photographing weddings and events. For when you need to light up your subjects, the Speedlite EL-5 regenerates flashes quickly, with waiting times tested as being between 0.1-1.2 seconds. It’s multi-function foot – the first of its kind on a Speedlite – is compatible with EOS R series cameras including the new R6 Mark II, allowing for quick communication between camera and flash.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II price and release date
For the camera body alone, the EOS R6 Mark II has an RRP of $4,499, which increases to $6,399 when bundled with an RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. It will launch in Australia from late November onwards. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for the new lens and flash, however. Both will be out early next year, with the RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM selling for an RRP of $3,969, reflecting its status as some serious glass. Meanwhile, the price for the Speedlite EL-5 is to be confirmed. Keep an eye on the Canon website for more details.
