PRODUCT OF THE MONTH 2: CANON EOS R6 II

Feels like Canon is going hell for leather with EOS R mirrorless launches to replace slowing DSLR business. Will twinning a 24.MP resolution with a generous 40fps capture speed see sales of this second-generation unit rocket?

If there’s an ‘R’ in the month it must be another EOS R – see News this month for the arrival also of the EOS R8 and R50 cameras. It certainly seems like Canon is throwing the full weight of its R&D department behind plugging any possible gaps in its rapidly expanding mirrorless ‘R’ camera range and providing something for each audience, skill set and price point, as it once did with its now seemingly side-lined EOS DSLRs.

In the case of the EOS R6 II, which we’re examining here, the tweaks to its second iteration ensure that it will continue to appeal to the advanced amateur, while its 40fps top shooting speed in electronic shutter mode (or 12fps using mechanical shutter) and up to 6K-video resolution nudge it further towards professional users; albeit those for whom a 24.2 MP native stills resolution from a full frame chip is still plenty. Reviewers including ourselves and photo trade alike have noted that its specification and performance nudges up against Canon’s own R3 flagship, and in that sense the R6 Mark II could be regarded as a more affordable – if still reassuringly pricey – alternative. Mirrorless system it may be, but it still outwardly resembles a Canon DSLR of course, albeit one that’s been slightly shrunk in the wash, at a combined weight of a manageable 670g with battery and compatible SD card inserted. There are sufficient dimensions to the grip to allow us to curl three fingers around it, while our forefinger naturally comes to rest against the forward-angled shutter release button, and our thumb is positioned against the indented pad on the backplate. The buttons at the rear encompass the variety we’d expect to find on any DSLR, while the only thing missing perhaps is a top plate LCD window that would allow users to review chosen settings in play, without having to refer to the LCD monitor on the back. That said, the flip out LCD’s a real boon for achieving tricky low angle shots, where getting our eye flush against the viewfinder would otherwise be tricky. For example we were able to point the lens at our subject and twist the screen so that we were looking down on it, in a similar style to a medium format camera.

Flip For It

With Canon seeking to ensnare content creators of every description, a dedicated on-body switch lets us flip between stills and video capture. Here we get the ability to shoot 4K video in-camera at up to 60fps, or shoot 6K Raw video to an external recorder over HDMI connection; thus providing a degree of built-in future proofing. While two slots for regular SD cards suits us just fine, there will be some doubtless surprised that Canon hasn’t included support for the speedy alternative of CFexpress, more commonly found in high-end cameras offering high resolution video. Look to

Canon’s EOS R3 higher up its range if you’re seeking CFexpress support, which that camera offers alongside SD.

In terms of the images themselves, results straight out of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II benefit from a modest application of levels and contrast tweaks, while colours are faithfully and reassuringly rendered and in tandem with the sensor the 24-105mm zoom lens we were using on test managed to maintain a shedload of detail right into the corners of each frame. While we’re not getting the beautiful retro styling of a Nikon Z fc, Olympus OM or Fujifilm X series camera, we believe this Canon’s operation and end results will satisfy all but the most demanding of photographers.

For more, direct your browser at www.canon.co.uk

R6 of the best? This second generation unit nudges up against the EOS R3 in terms of specification Berry good show: the EOS R6 II maintains sharp detail right into the corners of each frame when twinned with quality ‘glass’