Canon EOS R6 Mark II Coming Soon

2022.11.03

Canon took the wrap off the first of their Full-Frame Mirrorless Digital Camera to starts its second generation in the RF-platform. This platform launched just over four years ago around a new all-electronic wide-diameter lens mount that allows for brighter optics than previous Canon mounts. Two years later, Canon leaped ahead of the competition by adding a class-leading IBIS system with 8-stop of efficiency and much improved ergonomics.

The new Canon EOS R6 Mark II appears nearly identical to its predecessor and most recent R-series, keeping their outstanding triple control-dial interface and streamlined design. Virtually all controls remain the same which is a good thing. The imaging pipeline has been substantially upgraded into a more competitive offering.

A new 24 Megapixels Dual-Pixel AF II CMOS sensor appears in the Canon EOS R6 Mark II. This provides a 20% increase in resolution and, more importantly, significantly faster output. This new sensor combines with a hybrid shutter that can drive the R6 Mark II to capture 24 MP images at 40 FPS, twice faster than the original R6. Even with double the speed, this latest mirrorless camera can record over 1000 JPEG images or 110 RAW per burst! In mechanical mode, the shutter handles a brisk 12 FPS.

The still class-leading 5-axis IBIS system in the R6 Mark II compensates up to 8-stops of camera shake, allowing photographers to hand-hold fairly slow exposures. The Dual-Pixel sensor in the R6 Mark II measures phase at every pixel, as do all such Canon sensors, and now combines with the new processor to generate a virtual 4897-point Phase-Detect AF system. This sophisticated autofocus system is extremely versatile.

Probably the most substantial gain in performance comes to its video capabilities. In addition to capturing 4K Ultra-HD video at 60 FPS, it also recording Full HD video at 180 FPS. The camera can also process its native 6K sensor to output 6K RAW externally via HDMI. The same video gets encoded internally as Ultra-HD. Recording can be stored in 10-bit H.265 or 8-bit H.264 MPEG-4 format.

Canon Full-Frame mirrorless digital cameras have a comprehensive feature-set which includes Full-Manual controls with choice of 4 metering-modes, custom white-balance with fine-tuning and limited bracketing modes. Drive modes include HDR, an Interval-Timer and Multiple-Exposure. There is a now typical 3.7 MP 0.5" EVF with an essential Eye-Start Sensor that shows 100% coverage at 0.76X magnification. The rear LCD is mounted on a cumbersome rotating hindge and has 1.6 megapixels of resolution.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is scheduled to become available late this month for $2500 USD or $ 3200 CAD. Preorders are expected to start soon.

A new RF-mount lens with Full-Frame coverage was also announced with the R6 Mark II, taking the total of native Canon lenses with Full-Frame coverage for the mount to 29. A number of extra lenses are available from third-party vendors.

The Canon RF 135mm F/1.8L IS USM is an extremely bright short telephoto lens which is ideal for portraits and detail shots such as close-ups but not macro. With its ultra-bright F/1.8 maximum aperture, it one of the brightest Canon RF-series lenses. By combining a long focal-length and wide aperture controlled by a 9-blade aperture, the RF 135mm F/1.8L can take photographs with a very shallow depth-of-field.

This is an L-series lens and so it comes with premium features and ultra-high-quality optics. The barrel of the lens is weatherproof and offers both a focus-ring and customizable control-ring, in addition to two customizable function buttons. The high-end barrel remains a fixed 13cm long due to its internal focus system. A builtin image stabilization system with 5½-stops of efficiency is offers for cases when the lens is mounted on a camera without IBIS. On recent models, such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark II though, the camera can compensate for 8 stops of shake anyway and these systems are not additive, meaning the limit remains an impressive 8-stops.

Canon expects to ship the lens in January 2023 for $2100 USD or $2600 CAD. Preordering options to come.

• Digital Camera
• Lens