Canon have today announced the brand new Canon EOS R6 Mark II. Just last week Olivia and Alex were invited to try out the camera ahead of launch. You can check out their results and find out all about this new Canon full frame mirrorless camera over on our YouTube channel.

 

 

Canon are promising new and improved features compared to the original Canon EOS R6 camera, but without compromising on the areas in which it excels – after all, the EOS R6 is a great hybrid camera for creators looking for a full frame mirrorless camera which balances size, features and price when compared with others in the EOS R lineup. Canon told us that they’ve listened to existing R6 and Canon users and taken the best bits of the EOS R6 and made them better. It’s aimed at content creators, enthusiasts, semi professionals and professionals.

 

Canon EOS R6 Key Features & Specifications:

  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF II: Intelligent subject detection and tracking, including Auto mode that detects the subject
  • 40fps electronic shutter: Capture microscopic moments in time at up to 40fps, with AE and AF tracking.
  • 12fps mechanical shutter
  • 30fps Pre-shooting burst mode with 0.5 sec Pre-shooting
  • Optical IS x In Body IS: Combining lens-based optical IS with in-body IS for up to 8 stops of stabilisation
  • 24.2 megapixel sensor: An ideal balance of resolution, speed and low-light performance
  • Full width oversampled 4K 60p
  • 6K RAW Capture using an external Atomos Ninja V+ recorder, via the camera’s clean HDMI output
  • Full HD at 180p: Capture fast action in smooth slow motion
  • H.264/H.265: 8-bit H.264 or next-generation 10-bit H.265 codecs
  • HDR: HDR PQ and HDR Movie
  • Focus breathing correction: Pull focus like a pro, without distracting optical effects
  • -6.5 EV AF performance: That’s less than the light from a half moon
  • Max ISO 102,400 (extendable to 204,800)
  • 3.69M dot EVF: a high-resolution EVF that refreshes at 120fps
  • Dual UHS-II SD card slots
  • Built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • RAW processing in the cloud

 

Stills Features

  • The EOS R6 Mark II features massively improved continuous shooting at 40fps electronic shutter – compared to 20 on the R6 and 12 mechanical, the same as the R6, with full tracking AF. That’s faster than the EOS R3 – in fact, it’s the fastest continuous shooting in its class. Although it’s worth noting that you can only get relatively small burst in this mode. According to the specifications we have – this is up to 190 Large JPEG / 140 C-RAW / 75 RAW at 40fps.
  • Onto the autofocus, which is brilliant! It’s better than on the original, inheriting some of the “deep learning algorithm” found in the EOS R3. Using Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system, the EOS R6 Mark II has not only fast, but accurate AF with massively enhanced subject detection compared to the previous model.
    Improvements to subject detection, even when tracking, includes the added ability to recognise horses, aircraft, trains as well as the added ability to choose left or right eye when shooting portraits for example. This is as well as animal, human and eye modes as already found on the R6. Tracking is available in all AF modes now as well.
  • The sensor in the EOS R6 Mark II is now 20% bigger at 24.2 MP and has a faster readout speed to reduce rolling shutter. Canon assure us that the Mark II will still perform extremely well in low light. The ISO is up to 102,400 and Autofocus is reliable down to -6.5EV.
  • One thing that certainly will help in low light as well as for video is the revised 5-axis stabilisation – now up to 8 stops.
  • Some improved features include in focus bracketing mode. Essentially this is where you take a series of images at different focal points and stack them together to create a composite image with sharpness front to back. Uses include macro subjects, but also landscape. Anywhere where maybe you need to use a wide aperture, but still have a wider depth of field with more in focus. Focus bracketing isn’t a new feature to Canon cameras, but the EOS R6 Mark II now composites a single jpeg in camera as well as giving you the individual files. This saves time in post production whilst also showing you immediate results.
  • The R6 II also features a new panorama mode, which was first seen on the EOS R7, along with a new new multiple exposure mode with 2-5 images overlaid and various blending options available.

 

 

Video Features:

  • There’s a a new switch on the top of the camera which allows you to quickly switch between video and stills mode.
  • You now have up to 4K 60p in-camera with no record limit. This uses the full width of the sensor and is oversampled from 6K for really gorgeous, defined 4K footage. You can also output 6K 60p ProRes RAW via HDMI to a compatible recorder, like the Atomos Nina V+.
  • You can record up to 180fps Full HD for slow-motion footage, both in C-Log and normal picture modes.
  • There’s full tracking in all video modes, just like in stills, so you can choose face only AF, subject detect AF and it will track throughout the video.
  • The brilliant in-body stabilisation, up to 8 stops, works in video just as well as it does in stills. On top of this you can add digital stabilisation as well for even smoother video.
  • A new feature to the EOS R6 Mark II is false colour. We’ve previously seen this in Canon Cinema EOS cameras and video cameras and it allows you to see how your image is exposed in order to help you get it perfect. You can set this up for white clipping, 18% grey, black clipping and some in between so you can expose the scene exactly as desired. It’s another tool for videographers along with zebras - videographers are going to love this.
  • There’s NO record limit, the 30 min max here has been lifted so you can record for as long as you like… or at least as long as your storage of power supply allow.
  • There’s a new multifunction shoe, which allows you to use accessories like the Tascam XLR2d adapter for professional sound recording options as well.
  • The EOS R6 II features C-LOG3 for to retain as much dynamic range as possible in your video footage, which allows you to colour grade with ease.
  • A new feature is focus breathing correction in video mode. Lots of new lens designs are being designed with videographers in mind, so we are seeing focus breathing issues reduced from a hardware front, but now also electronically as well. This has been seen in the EOS R5C and Cinema EOS C70 previously and will allow you to make your focus transitions smooth and clean with digital compensation on the effect on focus breathing. This will allow you to easily make more professional looking video.
  • Finally, another Professional feature we can see in the R6 Mark II is a Canon Cinema EOS style menu on the Q menu when in video mode.

 

 

Ergonomics

  • Design changes to the buttons and button layout include a new on/off/lock button switch below the mod dial and a new movie/stills switch where the old on/off switch was so you can easily switch between stills and video. We first saw this in the EOS R5C. It’s a great feature and it allows you to set your video settings exactly as you’d want them and your stills setting… and easily flick between the two.The mode dial itself has also been updated with auto and special scene modes
  • On the side of the camera you’ll find a micro HDMI port and 3.5mm mic input. This can also be used for headphones if you’re using the multifunction shoe for a supported mic.
    The multi-function show is a new feature to the R6 Mark II, but we’ve seen this already on Canon EOS R3 and EOS R7 and it looks like this will be the new standard hotshoe for Canon going forward. Your existing accessories will still fit this, so don't worry... but you will want to use the AD-E1 adapter if you need to maintain weatherproofing.
  • There’s a USB C port for both data transfer, tethered shooting and USB charging and a remote control terminal for a wired remote. On the other side we have Dual card slots taking UHS-II SD cards. You’re also getting the same Canon LP-E6 type battery, so again existing EOS R6, EOS R5, EOS R, and 5D Mark IV users will be pleased that they can take their spares with them. Remember though, that while this battery type has been around for a while, the latest LP-E6 NH does offer more capacity than the models before it and you are going to want that in a mirrorless camera like this.
  • New to the R6 Mark II, but previously seen in the EOS R3 is Optical viewfinder or OVF simulation. This is designed to replicate a traditional viewfinder and uses an HDR mode to do this.
  • Canon has included both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – both of these have been improved from the original R6, with 5 gigahertz Wi-Fi and version 5 Bluetooth which uses less power and covers longer distances. All the usual features are available via the free Canon Camera Connect app, which has just got an upgrade as well. You can use it for remote shooting, with live view as well as for transferring photos to your smart device… amongst other things, so go and check that out. You can even connect to a smartphone or tablet via a wired connection, with an appropriate adapter, using the USB C port. And just like the R6, you can use it as webcam with either EOS Webcam Utility alongside your chosen streaming or conferencing software.

 

Pre-Order and Price Information:

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is focussed on independent content creators looking for a hybrid camera as well as semi-pros ad enthusiast. This will appeal to a wide range of users from landscape, wedding, portait and action thanks to AF and speed, whilst still balancing budget, low light performance and size… and it does just that.

 

Pre-order in-store or online now: