Camera Reviews / Canon Cameras / Canon EOS i Now Shooting!

20.10 Megapixels	Canon RF	35mm size sensor

Canon EOS R6 Preview - Now Shooting!

by Jeremy Gray
Preview posted: 07/09/2020

Updates:
07/24/2020: First Shots added
08/31/2020: Field Test and Gallery Images added

Click here to jump down to our in-depth Canon R6 Product Overview.

 

 

Canon EOS R6 Field Test

The EOS R6 delivers great all-around performance

by Jeremy Gray | Posted 08/31/2020

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 24mm, f/8, 3.2s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

This summer, Canon announced a pair of new full-frame mirrorless cameras, the high-resolution EOS R5 and a more affordable EOS R6. Although not a perfect comparison, the EOS R5 is sort of like a Nikon Z7 or Sony A7R IV, whereas the EOS R6 is like the Nikon Z6 or Sony A7 III. The EOS R6 opts for fewer megapixels and eschews some of the bells and whistles of the EOS R5 in terms of design and video features. As a result, the R6 costs $1,400 less than the R5, which is a considerable amount of money.

Having spent time with the EOS R6 out in the field, I can't shake the feeling that this new camera is what I wish the original EOS R camera had been when it launched in late 2018. The EOS R6 gets back to the basics by avoiding the Touch Bar control while also making major strides forward in terms of autofocus performance, speed and image stabilization. It's a great camera and very enjoyable to use. There's a lot more to say about the R6, of course, so let's dive in.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4, 1/500s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Canon EOS R6 Key Features and Specs

• Full-frame mirrorless camera
• OLED electronic viewfinder with 3.69 million dots and 120fps refresh rate
• 3-inch Vari-angle LCD touchscreen
• Dual UHS-II SD card slots
• New 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor
• Native ISO range of 100-102,400
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF with approximately 100 percent coverage and 1,053 autofocus areas
• Subject tracking and eye-detect autofocus
• DIGIC X image processor
• Up to 12 frames per second continuous shooting with the mechanical shutter
• Up to 20fps shooting using the electronic shutter
• In-body image stabilization with up to 8 stops of shake correction
• 4K (DCI and UHD) video at up to 60 frames per second
• Full HD (1080p) video at up to 120fps
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
• $2,500 for the body only, also available as a kit

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 24mm, f/8, 1/10s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Camera Body and Handling: The EOS R6 is a well-designed camera

The EOS R6's design will be immediately familiar to anyone who has used other Canon EOS R series cameras or Canon's more recent enthusiast-oriented DSLR cameras. This is a good thing for numerous reasons, not the least of which is that Canon designs good cameras.

The EOS R6 shares a similar design with other Canon mirrorless and even DSLR cameras. The front grip is comfortable and provides a good hold on the camera while capturing images.

There are three command/control dials in total, two on the top deck -- one behind the shutter release and one for your thumb near the rear edge -- and another large control dial on the rear of the camera. The mode dial and the top-deck command dials all have a diamond-knurled texture which is excellent. I also like the location of the mode dial, which is a traditional mode dial with P, Tv, Av, M, B, C1, C2, C3, Video, Auto and Fv modes. The mode dial, which doesn't lock, can be turned by my right thumb while shooting. It's great to be able to quickly go from Av to Tv depending on the situation, for example, without needing to use my left hand or pull my eye away from the viewfinder.

The viewfinder is another pleasing aspect of the camera. The OLED electronic viewfinder has 3.69 million dots and an impressive 120 frames per second refresh rat e. The text around the frame is easy to read, and the viewfinder image is very sharp and smooth. When shooting in Continuous High+ and regular High drive modes, the freeze frames when you shoot can be slightly jarring, but due to the fast shooting speeds of the EOS R6, it's not too difficult to track action in the EVF.

The back of the R6 is well designed. The design of the tilt/swivel touchscreen is excellent as well, and the display is really useful when shooting.

Live View photography and recording video is an enjoyable experience with the EOS R6 due to the camera's nice Vari-angle 3-inch touchscreen. The display has 1.62 million dots and is plenty sharp in use. It includes Clear View LCD II anti-smudge and anti-reflection coating. This helps make the display easy to use outdoors, even in bright light.

Overall, I really like the design of the EOS R6. It has a good control layout and incorporates intelligent design choices.

Personally, I like the traditional mode dial on the R6. Although, I'm sure some users will prefer the EOS R-inspired "mode button" on the EOS R5.

Image Quality: The EOS R6 captures quality images

With its new 20-megapixel full-frame image sensor, the EOS R6 captures good-looking images in many situations. While it doesn't have nearly the same resolving power as the EOS R5, the R6's sensor, even with an anti-aliasing filter, manages to capture detailed images, particularly at lower ISO settings. The native ISO range of 100-102,400 is impressive and the R6 can capture good images in low light as well.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/8, 1/160s, ISO 500. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

In addition to producing detailed images, the EOS R6, in typical Canon fashion, captures images with very nice colors. I am particularly impressed by how the camera handles reds. It is hard to explain the shade of red of the wildflowers in the image below, but take my word for it, they're a very vibrant shade of red. It's not unusual for a camera to present this shade of red as either overly saturated or too bright, but the R6 did a great job of maintaining the natural saturation and luminance of the flowers. The R6 also does well with greens and blues, although I do find that sometimes the greens appear a bit too blue.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 65mm, f/8, 0.8s, ISO 100. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Returning to how the EOS R6 captures fine details, let's consider an image shot at low ISO with an accompanying 100 percent crop. With its 20MP image sensor, the EOS R6 will never blow you away with its resolving power. That said, the camera produces sharp images and allows for some cropping without hurting image quality too much.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4, 1/400s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4, 1/400s, ISO 100. 100 percent crop of the above image. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

At higher ISO settings, we can expect less detail, of course, but the EOS R6 still does a nice job of capturing much of the detail in a scene at high ISO settings. The quality of visible noise also matters. In the case of the EOS R6, visible noise is mostly uniform and easy to deal with during post-processing.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/1250s, ISO 16,000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/1250s, ISO 16,000. 100 percent crop of the above image. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/1250s, ISO 16,000. 100 percent crop of the original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

As you can see above, the EOS R6 can be heavy-handed when it comes to reducing noise in JPEG images straight out of the camera. I much prefer being able to work with a noisy raw file, as I don't mind a bit of grain in my images. The camera basically eliminates all grain in JPEG images during in-camera processing, which results in an artificially smooth overall appearance.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 87mm, f/5, 1/800s, ISO 100. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The EOS R6 produces flexible raw image files. Consider the image below, which was shot at ISO 100. It's obviously a challenging lighting scenario, with the flower in deep shadow as the sun rises. The camera missed the mark a little bit with white balance, but that's no big deal when shooting raw. Exposure metering did a good job of minimizing the number of blown highlights, although given the dynamic range of the scene, there are still some details in the sky that are too overexposed. My primary goal when processing this raw file is to recover some detail in the foreground, darken the sky a bit, adjust white balance and try to pull some detail out of the grass in the middle ground.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 25mm, f/6.3, 1/200s, ISO 100. Original JPEG image. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 25mm, f/6.3, 1/200s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Even after extensive editing, the integrity of the file held up fairly well. I wanted to push the foreground recovery a bit further, but I ran into some issues with excessive visible noise and banding, so I had to dial it back slightly. You cannot do whatever you please with raw files from the EOS R6, but the raw files are ample enough to deal with many challenging scenarios.

Overall, the Canon EOS R6 offers a lot in terms of image quality. Resolving capability is fine, color rendering is great and the R6 allows you to capture nice images in a wide variety of situations.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 81mm, f/8, 0.8s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

In the Field with the Canon EOS R6

Autofocus: The R6's autofocus system excels in many areas

The Canon EOS R6 delivers very good autofocus performance. The camera relies upon Canon's tried-and-true Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. However, as the system does include some neat upgrades that help make it very good. The autofocus area now covers nearly the entire image area, which is excellent. The EOS R6 also includes improved tracking and continuous autofocus performance. Plus, low light AF is impressive.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/3200s, ISO 800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

For the curious reader, this plane is the Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane. This is the world's heaviest airplane and only one has ever been built. It was designed and constructed in the 1980s in the Ukrainian SSR.

The R6 includes a 92 x 66 area autofocus grid. Within this grid, users can select from a total of 6,072 autofocus points. There are some caveats, however, as this total autofocus area isn't available with all lenses nor in all autofocus modes. For example, when capturing still images using automatic autofocus area selection, the R6 selects from 1,053 AF zones across a smaller 39 x 27 grid. When recording video with this same AF mode, the grid is even smaller at 819 zones.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/400s, ISO 200. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Available autofocus area options include Face+Tracking AF, Spot AF, 1-point AF, Expand AF area, 'Around expansion (8 points)', Zone AF and Large Zone AF. I use Spot AF and 1-point AF frequently, and these both work well. You can utilize the touchscreen to quickly move the AF area throughout the frame. However, you can also use the joystick near the thumb rest on the back of the camera to move the autofocus point after enabling this functionality in the camera's menus, something I highly recommend you do.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 77mm, f/4.5, 1/640s, ISO 3200. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

The EOS R6 includes eye-detection autofocus for both human and some non-human animals. When testing the feature with my border collie, Eevee, the EOS R6 excelled. Eevee is an energetic, quick dog and a particularly challenging subject with her dark eyes set against black fur. However, even when running in different directions, the EOS R6 was able to quickly lock onto her eyes and if her eyes left the frame, just as quick to pick them right back up. The EOS R6's continuous autofocus performance is very impressive, and the eye-detect feature could be a game changer for some photographers.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/1250s, ISO 12,800. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Low light autofocus performance is a strong area for the EOS R6. It's rated to focus down to -6.5 EV when recording still images and a still very impressive -5 EV when recording video. In real world performance, the R6 did well in challenging situations and when acquiring focus in low light.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4, 1/125s, ISO 3200. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Overall, the EOS R6 has excellent autofocus performance. The camera has many autofocus area modes, all of which work as advertised, and the R6 focuses quickly and accurately, even when tracking fast-moving subjects. Further, it's a noticeable improvement when compared to the Canon EOS R.

Performance: DIGIC X processor results in very good performance

The EOS R6 can capture images at up to 20 frames per second, although there's a slight catch. To achieve the maximum speeds, which are undoubtedly impressive, you must utilize the electronic shutter. This introduces the risk of rolling shutter. If you want to utilize the mechanical shutter, speeds decrease to 12fps, which is still really good.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/640s, ISO 125. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Buffer depths depend upon the card you're using and the image format you select. To maximize buffer depth, you must use a UHS-II compatible SD card and select the compressed raw .CR3 image format. In this scenario, you can capture more than 1,000 consecutive images. If you'd prefer uncompressed raw image capture, the buffer depth drops considerably to 240 total consecutive images at maximum capture speed. Granted, 240 images is still a large burst and will likely prove sufficient for many.

The Canon EOS R6 includes in-body image stabilization, something that the EOS R doesn't. The IBIS is rated for a very impressive 8(!) stops of stabilization. The stabilization also works in concert with the image stabilization of native RF lenses and adapted EF lenses.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/4.5, 1/500s, ISO 1000. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

In real world use, the EOS R6 is an agile camera. Yes, it captures images quickly, but more than that, the camera just feels snappy when performing regular tasks, such as changing settings. With that said, you cannot access the Quick Menu while the camera is buffering images. If you capture a large burst of raw images, buffering can take a while, so not being able to access the Quick Menu is frustrating. Overall, the Canon R6 delivers good all-around performance thanks in large part to its good continuous shooting speeds and excellent IBIS.

Video: Improved video features and performance make the EOS R6 a good video camera

If you are more serious about video, Canon's EOS R5 is the camera for you. However, the EOS R6 is no slouch when it comes to recording high-quality video.

The EOS R6 records 4K video in DCI and UHD resolutions at up to 60 frames per second and 1080p video at up to 120 fps. 4K video quality is impressive at low and high ISO settings, delivering strong detail across the frame. The EOS R6 captures a lot of data when recording 4K/60p video too with its up to 340Mbps bit rate. One downside is that the EOS R6 does not record 4K UHD video using the full width of the image sensor. 4K can be shot in an APS-C crop mode or an "almost-full-width" mode using approximately a 1.06x crop factor.

Canon EOS R6 Sample Video #1: 4K UHD, 30p Download Original (471.8 MB .MP4 File)

 

Canon EOS R6 Sample Video #2: 4K UHD, 30p, High ISO Download Original (394.3 MB .MP4 File)

Full HD video can be recorded at up to 120fps using the High Frame Mode. This feature works as advertised.

Canon EOS R6 Sample Video #3: Full HD, 120fps capture Download Original (27.3 MB .MP4 File)

The EOS R6's autofocus when recording video performs quite well. I am impressed by how quickly and smoothly the camera can adjust autofocus. Consider the sample videos below. In both cases, I used the touchscreen to silently adjust the autofocus position while recording, and I thought the R6 did a good job of quickly picking up the new subject and adjusting focus.

Canon EOS R6 Sample Video #4: 4K UHD, 30p, Autofocus Test Download Original (404.3 MB .MP4 File)

 

Canon EOS R6 Sample Video #5: 4K UHD, 30p, Autofocus Test Download Original (159.3 MB .MP4 File)

Canon EOS R6 Field Test Summary

A really good full-frame mirrorless camera

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 42mm, f/8, 20s, ISO 400. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

What I like most about the Canon EOS R6:

• Intelligent design with nice controls and a good electronic viewfinder
• Impressive image quality in many situations
• Very good autofocus performance
• Good all-around video

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/8, 1/10s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

What I dislike about the Canon EOS R6:

• Despite a good design, the EOS R6's top panel underwhelms without a display
• I wish the camera had just a bit more resolving power
• Good performance is hampered by lack of menu accessibility when the camera is buffering images

The Canon EOS R6 may be Canon's best all-around mirrorless camera to date. While the EOS R5 is certainly seems better on paper, it is also considerably more expensive and overkill for many enthusiasts. The EOS R6, on the other hand, ticks many of the same boxes at a lower price point.

With a good body design, intuitive menu system and strong automatic shooting modes, the EOS R6 makes it easy to capture good images and videos. It strikes a strong balance between accessibility and performance, ensuring that no matter what you want to do with the EOS R6, it will be up to the task.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 40mm, f/8, 20s, ISO 320. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 105mm, f/10, 6s, ISO 100. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens at 33mm, f/8, 1/60s, ISO 400. This image has been converted and processed to taste in Adobe Camera Raw. Click for the full-size image. Click here for the RAW file.

 

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Canon EOS R6 Preview - Product Overview

by Jeremy Gray

Canon looks to combine familiarity with new technology in the intriguing EOS R6 mirrorless camera

Canon has announced a pair of new EOS R series mirrorless cameras, the EOS R5 and EOS R6. The EOS R6 features a new 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor and a bevy of interesting features for both still photography and video. Let's take a closer look at the new EOS R6, learn about what it offers and finally, see what separates the new EOS R6 from the higher-megapixel EOS R5.

Canon EOS R6 key features and specs

• Full-frame mirrorless camera
• OLED electronic viewfinder with 3.69 million dots and 120fps refresh rate
• Vari-angle LCD touchscreen
• Dual UHS-II SD card slots
• Canon EOS R mount
• New 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor
• Native ISO range of 100-102,400
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF with approximately 100 percent coverage and 1,053 autofocus areas
• Subject tracking and eye-detect autofocus
• DIGIC X image processor
• Up to 12 frames per second continuous shooting with the mechanical shutter
• Up to 20fps shooting using the electronic shutter
• In-body image stabilization with up to 8 stops of shake correction
• 4K (DCI and UHD) video at up to 60 frames per second
• Full HD (1080p) video at up to 120fps
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity

Camera design: A familiar design, now without the EOS R's Touch Bar

The Canon EOS R6 shares a similar design to the EOS R5 and the original EOS R camera. Looking first at the back of the camera, the EOS R6 includes a 3-inch Vari-angle touchscreen. The LCD includes approximately 1.62 million dots and includes Clear View LCD II anti-smudge and anti-reflection coating.

The Canon EOS R6 has a familiar shape and overall style to the Canon EOS R and new EOS R5. The R6 is shown here with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM kit lens.

In addition to the rear display, the EOS R6 also includes an electronic viewfinder. The 0.5-inch OLED EVF offers 100 percent coverage and includes a 120fps refresh rate. The EVF has an impressive 3.69 million dots and offers 0.76x magnification.

To the left and above the rear display are 'Rate' and 'Menu' buttons. To the right of the display are many more controls, including a traditional multi-selector joystick and a rotating control dial with a central 'Set' button. In addition, there are zoom, info, Q, playback and delete buttons. Finally, beneath the rear command dial are AF-ON, exposure lock and autofocus area select buttons.

You may have noticed that we have yet to mention the Touch Bar which is found on the EOS R camera. That's because it is absent on the EOS R6 (and EOS R5, for that matter). In our view, the lack of a Touch Bar is not a glaring omission, although it is likely some users will lament the loss.

The top of the EOS R6 is quite like many other Canon EOS cameras. On the left of the viewfinder area is the ON/OFF switch. To the right, there is a traditional mode dial with M, Av, Tv, P, FV, automatic, video, custom 1-3 and bulb modes. There are M-Fn, Lock and dedicated Movie Record buttons as well. Finally, there are a pair of command dials and the shutter release.

The top of the EOS R6 includes a notable difference when compared to the EOS R5: A traditional mode dial. The R5 instead opts for a similar mode selection input as the EOS R.

The front of the camera is dominated by the Canon EOS R lens mount. It also includes revised styling, a function button and the lens release button.

In terms of dimensions, the EOS R6 is 5.45 inches (138 millimeters) wide, 3.84 in. (97.5mm) tall and has a maximum depth of 3.84 in. (88.4mm). The camera weighs 1.5 pounds (680 grams) with its battery and an SD card inserted.

Overall, the Canon EOS R6 looks to be a well-designed addition to the Canon EOS R mirrorless camera lineup, and we are certainly looking forward to going hands-on with the camera.

Image sensor: New 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor offers a wide native ISO range

The Canon EOS R6 camera includes a new 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor. In front of the image sensor is a non-detachable low pass filter. The sensor includes Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF and includes standard self-cleaning functionality.

In terms of ISO sensitivity, the R6's native ISO range is 100-102,400. The ISO can be expanded further to a range of ISO 50-204,800.

The Canon EOS R6 utilizes a new 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor.

We look forward to putting the new sensor in the R6 through its paces, so stay tuned to Imaging Resource for test images and our evaluation.

Autofocus and performance: Dual Pixel CMOS AF offers full image area coverage

The EOS R6 uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF, an inclusion in many Canon cameras over the past few years. The autofocus points cover approximately 100 percent of the image area, which is impressive. It is worth noting that there are some exceptions to the autofocus area coverage, as it does depend upon the lens used. You can learn more about this in our coverage of the new Canon RF lenses.

Considering selectable autofocus points, the maximum selectable number is 6,072, which cover a 92 x 66 area grid. When shooting stills and using automatic autofocus area selection, the camera can select from 1,053 zones across a 39 x 27 grid. When shooting video, the automatic autofocus area selection grid is further reduced to 819 zones, although the user can select from up to 4,968 focus area positions.

In terms of autofocus area options, the EOS R6 offers Face+Tracking AF, Spot AF, 1-point AF, Expand AF area (4-point expansion), 'Around expansion (8 points)', Zone AF and Large Zone AF (vertical and horizontal options are available). The camera includes Eye Detection AF, which offers automatic and manual selection modes. By default, the camera will select the closest eye to focus on or the eye closest to the center of the frame. Manually, you can select the eye you wish the camera to focus on by using the touchscreen or the camera's multi-controller (joystick).

You can select the eye you wish to focus on by using either the 3-inch touchscreen or the multi-controller joystick on the back of the Canon EOS R6.

Subject tracking autofocus includes eye detection and tracking technology for not only people, but also for dogs, cats and birds. The subject tracking technology utilizes Canon's Deep Learning Technology.

For low-light autofocus, Canon states that the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system can focus down to -6.5 EV when shooting still images. When recording video, the camera can focus down to a reported -5 EV, which is still very impressive.

The Canon EOS R6 is powered by Canon's DIGIC X image processor, the same processor found in the professional Canon EOS 1DX Mark III DSLR camera. With this processor, the EOS R6 can capture images at up to 20 frames per second, although with minor caveats.

When using the mechanical shutter, the R6 can capture images at up to 12 frames per second in High Speed Continuous+ drive mode. In regular High Speed Continuous mode, the speed falls to 6 fps with the mechanical shutter and 8 fps when using the electronic first curtain shutter mode. In order to achieve 20fps continuous shooting, you must use the electronic shutter.

While we will need to test performance, including top speeds and buffer depths, Canon's documentation describes impressive performance indeed. Maximum burst depth is 1,000 or more when capturing JPEG images and when using a UHS-II SD card alongside Canon's compressed C-RAW (.CR3) image format. When shooting traditional .CR2 raw images, the stated buffer depth is 240 images.

Additional features

In terms of shooting features, the EOS R6 has many interesting inclusions. Starting with capturing sharp images, the R6 includes in-body image stabilization. While this is not a few feature, its performance has been improved. The R6's IBIS is rated for up to 8 stops of image stabilization (which we can't wait to test for you!).

When capturing images, the EOS R6 records in JPEG, HEIF, RAW and C-RAW image formats. The following Picture Styles are available: Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Fine Detail, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome. There are three additional user defined Picture Style slots as well. In terms of white balance, the typical suite is available, although it is worth noting that automatic white balance is available in ambience priority and white priority modes.

The EOS R6 uses an electronically controlled focal-plane shutter and includes electronic first curtain, mechanical and electronic shutter options. When using the mechanical shutter, the shutter speed range is 30s-1/8000s. The flash sync speed is 1/200s with the mechanical shutter and 1/250s when using the electronic first curtain shutter release mode.

The EOS R6 will be available alongside an optional battery grip which will not only increase overall battery life but will offer a vertical grip for increased comfort when capturing portrait images.

The EOS R6 includes additional shooting features such as anti-flicker shooting, HDR, multiple exposure shooting, multi-shot noise reduction, Dual Pixel RAW shooting and more.

Metering is provided via the image sensor and uses 384 metering zones. Metering modes include evaluative metering, partial metering, spot metering and center-weighted average metering. The evaluative metering mode is linked to the autofocus point, whereas the spot metering mode uses the 2.9 percent centermost area of the image area. The metering range is -3 to 20 EV.

Video features: 4K UHD video at up to 60 frames per second and Full HD video at up 120 fps

The Canon EOS R6 can record 4K UHD video at up to 60 frames per second. 4K video is compressed using standard IPB compression and can be recorded in H.264 and H.265 codec, with the latter option offering bit rates up to 340 Mbps at 59.94 fps and 170 Mbps at 29.97 and 23.98 fps. Not all recording settings may be available unless you use a UHS-II SD card. 4K UHD video recording does not utilize precisely the full width of the image sensor (~1.06x crop), akin to the Canon EOS 1DX III.

Full HD video can be recorded at 24, 30, 60 and 120fps frame rates. 120fps High Frame Rate movies are recorded using ALL-I compression and are recorded at a maximum bit rate of 180 Mbps.

The R6 also records time-lapse video at 4K UHD resolution. In this case, the videos are recorded at 30fps and utilize ALL-I compression.

Additionally, the EOS R6 can record using Canon Log and includes HDR PQ recording options.

Ports and Power: The EOS R6 has several connectivity features

The Canon EOS R6 records images and video to a pair of UHS-II compatible SD card slots. The camera includes Hi-Speed USB (USB 3.1 Gen 2) via a USB Type-C port, HDMI micro out (Type D), 3.5mm stereo mini jack (microphone) and 3.5mm stereo mini-plug (headphone) ports.

The EOS R6 includes a pair of SD card slots, both of which are UHS-II compatible.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the EOS R6 includes built-in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n with 2.4 GHz wireless band) and Bluetooth 4.2 (Bluetooth low energy). Via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth, you can remotely capture, view, edit and send images between the camera and your smartphone using free Canon applications.

The EOS R6 uses a Canon LP-E6NH battery pack, and can also be charged internally via USB Power Adapter PD-E1. The R6 is CIPA-rated for 360 shots per charge using the LCD, or 250 shots per charge with the EVF. Using the camera's Power Saving mode will increase the battery life to 510 (LCD) or 380 (EVF).

Canon EOS R6 versus the new EOS R5

Image sensor: The Canon EOS R5 features a new Canon-designed 45-megapixel full-frame image sensor. The R6, on the other hand, features a lower megapixel sensor. The 20-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor of the R6 may not have the resolving power of the new sensor in the R5, but the R6 does have a higher native ISO ceiling: 204,800 versus 102,400.

Autofocus: Both the R5 and R6 feature Canon's latest Dual Pixel CMOS AF II. The AF system delivers 100 percent area coverage via 1,053 zones. In addition to this impressive coverage area, each camera includes eye, head and face tracking for people, dogs, cat and birds.

Performance: Despite the differences in image sensors, the R5 and R6 can both shoot at up to 12 frames per second using their mechanical shutters and 20 fps with the electronic shutter via silent photography mode. Where the R6 separates itself from the R5 in terms of performance is with respect to buffer depths. The EOS R6 can record 1,000 or more compressed raw (C-RAW) images, while the EOS R5's buffer depths top out at 260 C-RAW images when recording to either a UHS-II SD card or a CFexpress card. For regular raw images, the EOS R6 can record up to 240 images before the buffer is full, whereas the EOS R5 slows down after 180 raw images. Both cameras are powered by a DIGIC X processor.

Image stabilization: Both the EOS R5 and R6 promise up to 8 stops of image stabilization via built-in image stabilization.

Design: The Canon EOS R5 and R6 are similar in overall design, but there are a few important differences. The R6 doesn't include a top LCD panel, something included on the R5. The R6 also includes a different dial for selecting modes. The R5 has the same mode dial design as the EOS R, whereas the R6 opts for a more traditional mode dial.

Card slots: As mentioned earlier, the Canon EOS R6 has two SD card slots, both compatible with UHS-II. Rather than two SD card slots, the EOS R5 instead includes a CFexpress slot and an SD card slot (UHS-II).

Video: Thanks in part to its 45-megapixel image sensor, the EOS R5 can record 8K video at up to 30p in addition to 4K video at up to 120p. The EOS R6, on the other hand, records slower 4K/60p video and no 8K video (there simply aren't enough pixels). Further, the EOS R6 does not record 4K video using the full width of the image sensor, something the EOS R5 can do.

Price: The EOS R6 will cost around $2,500 USD, whereas the EOS R5 will be much more expensive, launching with a suggested retail price of around $3,900.

Canon EOS R6 pricing and availability

As just mentioned, the Canon EOS R6 has a suggested retail price of $2,499 USD for the body only. The EOS R6 will also be sold in two kits, one with the RF 24-105mm STM lens for $2,899 and the other with a 24-105mm L lens at $3,599. The Canon EOS R6 will be available by the end of August.

If you'd like to learn more about the Canon EOS R5, head to our preview.