Canon EOS R6 long run assessment

Because the market-leader in DSLR cameras, it was no shock that Canon took its time committing to full-frame mirrorless. However as soon as it did, its dedication was whole and we haven’t seen a brand new Canon DSLR because the EOS-1D X was introduced in early 2020 and it has been wall to wall mirrorless cameras and lenses ever since.

The EOS R6 was introduced similtaneously the EOS R5, Canon’s mirrorless flagship on the time. With its 45MP sensor, 20fps taking pictures and 8K video recording, it was the EOS R5 that grabbed many of the headlines. However its premium price-tag ($3899/£3899 at time of launch) meant that the majority full-frame Canon shooters, together with myself, plumped for the 20MP EOS R6 all-rounder which was priced physique solely at $2499£/£2599 at launch – it’s now $1,999/£1,900 physique solely. For comparability’s sake, the not too long ago launched Canon EOS R6 Mark II is $2,499/£2,779 physique solely.
So, how has my time with this digicam gone?

Canon EOS R6 at a look

• New $1,999/£1,900 physique solely
• New $2,299/ £2,399 with RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens
• Used $1,800-1,900/£1,749-1,899 physique solely
• 20MP full-frame sensor
• ISO 50-102,400 (native), 204,800 (prolonged)
• 20fps steady taking pictures
• 3.69m-dot EVF, 0.76x magnification
• 3in totally articulated touchscreen
• 5-axis in-body picture stabilisation
• 4K 60p video

Canon EOS R6: First impressions

Over time, I’ve owned an enormous variety of Canon EOS cameras; far too many to depend however the listing contains each 5D, each 7Ds, a 6D and plenty of cameras from the XXD line, such because the 40D, 80D and 90D. Every time I’ve taken on a brand new physique, the change in dealing with has been seamless, however I’ve to confess that the R6 took just a little relearning.

The smaller, slimmer physique has much less area for controls and has too few buttons for my liking. Not like the EOS R and R5, it additionally lacks a high plate LCD. I didn’t realise how a lot I used this till I discovered myself glancing down on the EOS R6, solely to remind myself that it sadly misses this characteristic.

What’s extra, I needed to get used to the lighter and extra compact physique. The EOS R6 physique at 680g is over 200g lighter than the 890g EOS 5D Mark IV. It’s smaller within the palms too, with the R6 measuring 138x98x88mm in comparison with the bigger EOS 5D Mark IV (151x116x76mm). Alternatively, solely two out of the 9 lenses I personal are RF mount, and the additional weight and size of including the EF-RF Mount Adapter to accommodate my EF lenses takes some getting used to.

 
I should be trustworthy and say that I discover the precise really feel of the digicam considerably underwhelming, as the feel and floor of the physique supplies feels much less premium than what I used to be used to with the EOS 5D Mark IV. It simply feels much less pro-spec and sure elements just like the battery compartment flap bother me.

Then once more, I freely admit that having used the digicam intensely from new, nothing on the EOS R6 has gone unsuitable regardless of it being within the odd bathe.

Canon EOS R6: Loads of deal-makers

The benefits that the mirrorless EOS R6 boasts over Canon’s DSLRs are primarily to do with focusing and velocity.

Nevertheless, the vari-angle LCD can also be an absolute game-changer for me and permits me to compose low viewpoint pictures in a thrice while not having to lie down on the bottom and attempting to squint by means of a viewfinder.

The touch-focus perform on the delicate LCD is a dream to make use of and I discovered the accuracy of tapping on a topic, with the main target system then selecting up precisely what I meant, was critically dependable.

Canon EOS R6, RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM, at 105mm, 1/160sec at f/7.1, ISO 200

The truth is, the main target system as a complete is an enormous leap ahead. For sports activities images, I depart the Face Detection mode on and my hit price of sharp photographs is ridiculously excessive. It’s not fully infallible and darkish scenes do make issues more durable, however in all my images, it delivered a success price of greater than 9 out of ten.

To fine-tune your focusing system additional, the R6 presents a variety of preset case research that can change the behaviour of the servo mode; for instance, there’s one to trace topics whereas ignoring potential obstacles, and one other that immediately focuses on topics instantly getting into AF level protection. It’s price spending a day attempting out each to see how they work on your model of motion images.

Canon’s newest AF system delivers a hit-rate of over 90% for sports activities. Canon EOS R6, EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM + 1.4x Extender, 1/500sec at f/4, ISO 250

It’s, nevertheless, the burst speeds out there from the R6 that can actually push DSLR photographers to make the leap, because the R6 serves up 12fps in burst mode or a fast 20fps choice when the consumer switches to the silent digital shutter. Some great benefits of such a mode to wildlife photographers are apparent, enabling them to seize quick motion sequences with out distracting or spooking topics.

Taking pictures a number of quick burst sequences can be a draw on battery life; the R6 is rated at 510 photographs utilizing the LCD, or 380 photographs with the viewfinder. However the excellent news is that whereas the R6 ships with the newer LP-E6NH, it might additionally take the older LP-E6N batteries from Canon EOS DSLRs such because the 5D Mark IV and the 90D, so should you’re transitioning throughout to mirrorless you gained’t must rush out and spend large on further batteries.

Canon’s RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM zoom makes for a pleasant light-weight equipment. Canon EOS R6, 24-105mm at 105mm, 1/500sec at f/7.1, ISO 100

Is the EOS R6 quick and correct sufficient to be a real various to Canon’s pro-spec EOS-1D X cameras? I’d say sure and, if the small kind issue bothers you, photographers may also contemplate pairing the digicam with the Canon BG-R10 grip, which retails at round £380 and also will lengthen taking pictures time due to the additional battery.

What’s extra, the ultimate deal-maker and is the lengthy overdue provision from Canon of IBIS (in-body picture stabiliser) and I discovered the five-axis system carried out exceptionally effectively. Pair the EOS R6 with an IS lens and you’ll stand up to eight stops of stabilisation, which is massively helpful when taking pictures with lengthy focal lengths above 200mm, or in low mild. Canon DSLR shooters who’ve been denied IBIS for therefore lengthy may have a while to belief the system as a result of you may seize sharp photographs that had been merely unattainable earlier than.

The sensor’s spectacular dynamic vary is on show on this Rutland Water sundown. Canon E0S R6, NiSi 15mm f/4, 15sec at f/8, ISO 100

Canon EOS R6: Spectacular picture high quality

With regards to sensor decision, 20.1 million pixels doesn’t sound like loads, particularly when the R5 presents 45MP and its successor, the EOS R6 Mark II, has 24.2MP. However the EOS R6 nonetheless delivers a file dimension of 5472×3648 pixels – simply sufficient to create A3 prints or for heavy cropping with small within the body photographs. In actuality, that ought to be sufficient for lovers and professionals alike, and the precise high quality of the imagery is clear and spectacular with that Canon color science we’ve at all times identified and cherished.

With a local ISO vary of 100-102,400, the R6 is effectively set to report pictures in low mild. Whereas few will contemplate taking pictures on the highest finish of the vary, the sensor handles noise extremely effectively, with little signal of degradation even at ISO 40,000. Uncooked recordsdata maintain an enormous quantity of tonal information, enabling shadows to be revealed and highlights recovered.

Canon’s animal eye AF delivers sharp photographs with minimal effort. Canon EOS R6, EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM, 1/250sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

This once more nudges the digicam’s efficiency into the pro-spec area, surpassing what you’d get from an entry-level full-frame digicam. Because the icing on the cake, the EOS R6 presents each commonplace Uncooked and the smaller C-Uncooked recordsdata, which take up much less area in your SD playing cards or arduous drives with no loss in high quality.

Canon EOS R6: A real hybrid?

Most of the creatives who handed over the money for his or her EOS R6 when it was launched may have been simply as within the digicam’s video specs as its stills know-how. This can be a real hybrid machine that can match neatly right into a film-makers equipment set-up.

The vari-angle display screen is ideal for taking pictures from low viewpoints. Canon EOS R6, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM, 1/3200sec at f/3.2, ISO 100

Providing 4K video at 60p allows videographers to make use of this footage at half-speed, opening up the choice of ultra-high-quality slow-motion sequences. After all, you can too reap the benefits of the Full HD 120p for even slower footage. Make no mistake, the light-weight construct makes the R6 a superb ‘run and gun’ choice for filmmakers trying to shoot mild.

At launch, the digicam shipped with Canon’s C-Log 1 profile, however a firmware replace added the Canon C-Log 3 choice, enabling extra artistic choices when grading footage. The mix of ports for headphones and exterior mic, the vari-angle LCD to the touch and deal with a topic, and the high-resolution footage mix to make this a improbable video choice. What’s extra, the twin SD card slots allows simultaneous recording to each playing cards.

Eye AF delivers tack-sharp outcomes when taking pictures with quick primes large open. Canon EOS R6, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM, 1/4000sec at f/1.4, ISO 100

It’s potential to seize 8.3MP JPEGs from 4K footage should you want to, however for me the best advantage of the R6 comes again to the Twin Pixel AF, which proves insanely correct and speedy throughout video seize, even with fast-moving topics within the body or when the Face Detection AF is activated by a topic within the scene. The R6 is so good at video, I discover I’m utilizing it as a lot, if no more, than my C70 cinema digicam. On a giant manufacturing, it’s straightforward to make use of the 2 cameras in conjunction, each of which I preserve set to the C-Log 1 profile.

Canon EOS R6: Long run verdict

A photographer’s opinion of the EOS R6 will depend upon which earlier digicam they measure it towards. Do I choose it over my outdated EOS 5D Mark IV? Sure, completely. Regardless of the drop in megapixels, the enhancements such because the vari-angle display screen, burst velocity and video options tick most of the packing containers I used to be trying to fill.

One of many few third-party RF optics is NiSi’s 15mm f/4 Asph ‘Sunstar’. Canon EOS R6, NiSi 15mm f/4, 1/200sec at f/11, ISO 100

But there are nonetheless niggles that make me want Canon had simply pushed just a little more durable with the R6, though its value has fallen from its launch value to $1,999/£1,900 physique solely. Mainly amongst my grumbles is the standard of the physique supplies, however this argument is well countered by the advantages of its low weight. This can be a full-frame digicam, however I may even apply it to my Ronin SC gimbal to shoot super-steady footage.

The EOS R6 has highly effective rivals lined up towards it. The Nikon Z6 II and Panasonic Lumix S5 II promote at $1,697/£2,099 and $1,998/£1,999 respectively. Each supply extra decision – 24.2MP – and spectacular video abilities, and that applies particularly to the Lumix S5 II.

Canon EOS R6, 50mm, 1/640sec at f/1.8, ISO 100

Amongst diehard Canon customers, many photographers (together with professionals) will nonetheless be priced out from selecting up the EOS R5, which prices £3,899 physique solely, however the EOS R6 Mark II is a aggressive $2,499/£2,779 physique solely.

Briefly, the EOS R6 is a improbable digicam, full of options that make a tangible distinction out within the area. It could possibly lower the mustard for lovers and professionals alike, and for stills in addition to video. However if you’re a long-term Canon EOS 5D-series DSLR consumer, it’d presumably depart you wanting just a bit extra.

Learn our full Canon EOS R6 assessment

Discover extra nice cameras in our information to the most effective Canon mirrorless cameras, the most effective full-frame mirrorless cameras. Additionally, be sure you take a look at the most effective Canon RF-mount lenses.