The Canon EOS R6 is a 20-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera aimed at the enthusiast photographers and videographers. It ranks below the R5, similar to the EOS 6Ds among the 5D DSLRs, and offers well-rounded combination of the features for both disciplines. It is also one of the first enthusiast cameras to shoot stills and video and to take advantage of the capabilities of the latest high dynamic range displays.
However, its tendency to reach temperature limits affects its video capabilities. When paired with a suitable RF or EF lens and the appropriate EOS R adapter, the R6 combines the camera body’s image stabilization with that of the lens to achieve up to eight stops of stabilization, perfect for shooting in low light and slow shutter speeds, or for smooth video shooting. It is no secret that the announcement of Canon’s first full-size mirrorless camera, the EOS R, has been met with mixed reactions.
While it offered excellent image quality when paired with the new RF-mount lenses, the camera lacked standout features, especially when compared to Sony’s higher-end models: a single SD card slot, no in-camera image stabilization, and a touch bar that many people didn’t like, the Canon EOS R was a full-blown With the introduction of the EOS R5 and R6, that changed dramatically. Canon has returned to the classic ergonomic design, added a wealth of new features, greatly improved autofocus performance, and fixed all the problems of the original EOS R.
Canon EOS R6 review: Design
Some of the best mirrorless cameras have a real flair, but the Canon R6 is not one of them. It doesn’t have the retro appeal of a Fujifilm or Olympus camera, and there is no real attempt to move away from the old Canon DSLR look. This is clearly another conscious decision. Canon has said in marketing this camera that anyone who has used an EOS camera will find it “reassuringly familiar,” and that’s exactly what it is.
This decision makes a lot of sense, but the result is a rather unimpressive camera. But looks aside, the R6’s design has much to offer. The body is mostly magnesium alloy, but there are some tactile rubber parts added where you place your hand, and the grip is large enough to provide a good grip. The camera is quite large – 15% larger and slightly heavier than the Sony A7 IV, for example – but it is very well made and is fully dust and splash proof, so you can shoot in adverse conditions without worrying about damage.
Canon EOS R6 review: Features
The Canon R6’s full-frame sensor has 20.1 megapixels, which is enough for most normal situations, but perhaps a bit low. There’s less room for subsequent cropping, but it helps keep file sizes manageable. Of course, it also helps keep the price lower than the R5. Canon now has three different lens mounts in circulation, which can be a bit confusing. As an R camera, it uses the full-frame R mount, but if you have EF lenses in your collection, you can use them via an adapter, which works just fine. However, you can’t switch your lenses between Canon’s mirrorless APS-C lenses (EF-M), which is a bit annoying for switchers.
This model can be purchased with a 24-105mm f/4 – f/7.1 “kit” lens. This lens is adequate for starters and works well as a “walk around” lens thanks to its good focal range, but there are certainly sharper and more impressive lenses out there. The autofocus specs are particularly enticing on the R5. It uses dual-pixel CMOS AF-II focus on the sensor, giving you 6,072 AF points – covering most of the frame. Eye AF is available for both people and animals (dogs, cats and birds).
Canon EOS R6 review: Image quality
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that the Canon EOS R6 takes great pictures. The combination of fast and accurate autofocus and subject tracking, fast continuous shooting, and excellent image stabilization means that the R6 has few areas where it stumbles; some may feel that 20.1 megapixels is not enough, and that the R6’s high resolution is not enough for the photographer. Especially since many of the R6’s direct competitors have more, and sometimes more, pixels. But the relative lack of pixels also has some obvious advantages. One is speed, which is why the R6 can shoot fast for long periods of time without filling up its buffer.
By having fewer pixels on the sensor, the R6 can make each one larger and that, in turn, gives it serious low-light capabilities. This is evident in the ISO sensitivity, which ranges from 100 to 102,400 (or 50-204,800 in extended mode) and is usable over that entire range. Sure, there’s a certain amount of noise at 102,400, but not to the extent that much detail is lost, and you could confidently shoot at ISO 6400 all the time and not regret it.
Canon EOS R6 review: Video Quality
In addition to still images, the 20MP sensor can capture UHD 4K video at up to 60 frames per second and slow motion playback at 120 frames per second in Full HD. Both formats can record internally in 4:2:2 10-bit and are compatible with both Canon Log and HDR-PQ for color reproduction control and high dynamic range. Dual Pixel CMOS AF is supported in all recording settings, and external recording via HDMI port allows 4K clean output to optional external recording.
Canon EOS R6 review: Performance
Images taken with the Canon EOS R6 are very clean. The colors are good on the rear touch panel, and the exposure preview on the rear screen/EVF makes it easy to compose a scene. However, when we imported the photos into Lightroom Classic, we found that the colors were a bit dull and image noise was noticeable.
This is to be expected when processing RAW files, but we compared JPEGs back and forth between the cheap studio monitor and the camera’s rear touch panel. This change in color reproduction is likely due to the difference in screen quality between the camera itself and the high-end monitor we used for testing, but we had never seen such a difference between devices on such a modern mirrorless camera.
Despite this apparent difference in appearance, the noise at higher ISO values is noticeable; even when shooting astros at ISO 2500, the noise is not noticeable and is evenly distributed throughout the image. While the noise is not completely eliminated, this uniform and subtle reproduction is perfect because the program can easily remove the noise without affecting nearby stars and objects that can be swallowed up in the noise reduction process if noise reduction software is used.
Canon EOS R6 review: Battery Life
The Canon R6 camera has two shooting options, and both options have their own rating for shooting with a full charge. If you shoot with the LCD screen, you can take up to 360 shots, and if you use the electronic viewfinder (EVF), you can take up to 250 shots. When it comes to video recording, this camera can record for up to 30 minutes.
In practice, battery life varies greatly depending on shooting style, files saved, display brightness, and a number of other factors. However, the number of shots you take will likely be higher than the CIPA figure. For example, we recently used my EOS R6 for a mix of vacation and birding shots. The battery was a few months old, the camera was in continuous shooting mode, and we had it set to save RAW and JPEG image files. We only used the EVF and only occasionally the rear display.
Canon EOS R6 review: Price and Availability
Although Canon announced the EOS R6 (and the EOS R5) in early July, the camera did not begin shipping until late August. Even then, there were – and still are – very limited stocks reaching dealers worldwide as the current pandemic affects supply chains. You can reserve the EOS R6 at authorized Canon dealers, who can then let you know when your unit will ship.
The R6 costs $2,499 / £2,499 / AU$4,499, which is not cheap by any means. That’s an upper-midrange price for a camera that Canon has classified as “enthusiast,” but it costs about the same as other high-end contenders for the best mirrorless camera crown, like the Nikon Z7 or Sony A7R III, both of which have high-resolution sensors. Considering the R6’s feature set, that’s a competitive price, only slightly higher than the EOS R’s introductory price of €2,299.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to like about the Canon EOS R6, and it’s nice to see that Canon is really hitting its stride when it comes to full-frame mirrorless options. After a somewhat lackluster start with the Canon EOS R, it feels like the system has finally come into its own with the R5 and R6. It produces great images and is extremely impressive when it comes to fast frame rates, super fast autofocus and Eye AF.
The hit rate for wildlife photography is fantastic, and for those who frequently shoot these types of subjects, investing in an R5 certainly makes sense. Of course, as with anything, there are some drawbacks to consider. It is undoubtedly a great camera, but primarily for still photographers. If you’re into videography, the R5 is a much better option especially because of the overheating issues when shooting longer 4K video clips.
