Introduction

Ease of Use

Front of the Canon EOS R6

Despite the Canon R6 utilising a polycarbonate body rather than the EOS R5's more robust magnesium-alloy body, impressively it still offers the same level of weather-proofing as the EOS 6D Mark II and the 5D Mark IV DSLR cameras.

Therefore it benefits from being both lightweight - 598g body-only or 680g with both a battery and memory card fitted - and fully weather-sealed.

It measures 138.4 x 97.5 x 88.4 mm, making it slightly bigger than both the EOS R and especially the tiny RP, no doubt in order to accommodate the new IBIS unit.

The Canon R6 benefits from having a very deep handgrip that comfortably accommodates four fingers, something that can't be said of a lot of mirrorless cameras that suffer from having too small a grip.

The minimalist front plate sports just a single control - the classic Depth of Field preview button, which helps you determine what your photos will look like before the image is taken.

There's also a porthole for the AF assist light and a lozenge shaped button for releasing the lens.

At the heart of the EOS R6 is a 20 megapixel sensor that's very similar to the one found in the flagship EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR camera, but with a different, less sophisticated low-pass filter.

Our only real concern with the sensor inside the Canon R6 is whether or not it's of high enough resolution for its general enthusiast target market, especially if you like to heavily crop your images in post-production.

Rear of the Canon EOS R6

The ISO range runs from 100-102,400, which is actually one stop more than the flagship EOS R5. This can be further expanded up to ISO 204,800 and down to ISO 50.

For the first time ever in the EOS series (alongside the EOS R5), the Canon R6 finally incorporates 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS). The EOS R and RP both eschewed this much-requested feature,

It has been designed to work collaboratively with the IS system that's built into many RF-mount lenses, with the lens and the sensor working together to correct pitch and yaw and the sensor correcting the X-Y and roll movements.

This intelligent stabilisation system provides a frankly incredible 8-stops of stabilisation with some lenses, allowing you to hand-hold the camera for up to 4 seconds and still get critically sharp results.

Even some non-stabilised lenses such as the RF 85mm F1.2L USM or RF 28-70mm F2L USM offer 8 stops of stabilisation when they're mounted on the EOS R6, thanks to the large 54mm diameter of the of the RF Mount.

The EOS R6 can also stabilise older, non-IS lenses including any EF lens that is fitted to the R6 via the Canon EF-EOS R mount adapter.

The stabilisation system will also work with lenses from other manufacturers – you just need to input the focal length into the camera's menu system.

In practice, the Canon EOS R6 and the RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM lens that we were sent for testing provided up to the headline grabbing 8-stops of stabilisation - it really is possible to hand-hold this combination at previously impossibly slow shutter speeds and still maintain critical sharpness.

Top of the Canon EOS R6

The fact that this can be achieved using the affordable and versatile 24-105mm kit lens instantly makes it our top recommendation if you're buying the EOS R6 and you don't already have any Canon lenses.

Another very impressive headline feature is the Canon EOS R6's ability to continuously shooting at up to 20fps using its silent electronic shutter, or 12fps with the mechanical shutter, both with full auto exposure (AE) and auto focus (AF) tracking.

There's a tiny amount of viewfinder and LCD blackout between each frame when shooting at 20fps, but it's barely discernible to the naked eye.

Incredibly the Canon R6 can record 1,000 or more compressed raw images at 12fps before its buffer becomes full, almost three times as many images as the flagship EOS R5.

The size of your memory card effectively becomes the limiting factor on how many images the EOS R6 can take in one continuous sequence.

Obviously there's a big difference in the megapixel count, but for sheer shooting speed and buffer depth, the EOS R6 clearly wins out.

Along with the EOS R5, the R6 is the first Canon camera to feature the next generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF II focusing system.

Billed as the world’s fastest AF, the camera is capable of focusing in as little as 0.05 seconds.

Tilting LCD Screen

It has 6,072 selectable AF points, which is slightly more than the EOS R5, with 100% frame coverage.

Impressively the Canon R6 can also focus in light levels as low as -6.5EV (when used with an F1.2 lens), which is 0.5-stop better than the EOS R5.

Thanks to its brand new Digic X processor, the EOS R6 offers the same deep-learning based automatic face, eye and animal AF tracking modes as the R5.

The Canon R6 can now recognise and track eyes from much further away than previous models, and subject tracking works for humans and also dogs, cats and birds, the latter even in flight.

In practice we found both the new eye AF and animal subject tracking system to be on par with that found in Sony Alpha cameras, which have long been the leader in this area, so kudos to Canon for catching up so quickly.

In terms of its exterior design, the new Canon EOS R6 brings together the rear panel from the EOS R5 and the top plate from the EOS RP.

So instead of the LCD status panel and Mode button found on the top-right of the EOS R5, the R6 has a much more conventional shooting mode dial in place of the LCD panel, which we actually prefer, and which we think a lot of photographers will prefer.

It's undeniably quicker to change the shooting mode using an external dial, rather than having to press a button and navigate through an electronic menu.

Memory Card Slots

The main downside is not being able to see the current camera settings by simply glancing down at the top-plate LCD.

Both a shooting mode dial and a top-plate LCD screen would be ideal, but EOS R camera bodies are simply too small to accommodate them together.

Most of the other controls on top of the EOS R6 are identical or very similar to those found on the entry-level EOS RP.

So there's a small On/Off switch over on the top-left, with the camera leaping into life almost instantly.

In addition to the shooting mode dial on the top-right are the same six controls found on the EOS RP.

There's a small but responsive shutter release button at the top of the handgrip, with the tiny M-Fn behind it. This provides quick access to some of the camera's key controls, including ISO, continuous shooting, AF, white balance and exposure compensation.

Behind that is the front control dial for principally setting the aperture or shutter speed, with a small, red one-touch movie record button sitting proud of the camera body.

The Lock switch on the EOS RP has now become a Lock button on the new Canon EOS R6. As its name suggests, this locks the two control dials on top of the camera and the rear control wheel so that you can't accidentally change the camera's key settings.

Front of the Canon EOS R6

Completing the top of the camera is the rear control dial that's ideally placed for thumb operation.

Overall, the Canon EOS R6's top-plate is a successful continuation of the design philosophy that Canon have implemented on the previous EOS RP and EOS R cameras, with the main differences being a shooting mode dial rather than an LCD screen, and a Lock button rather than a Lock switch.

Turning to the rear of the Canon R6, it offers an array of controls that will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used an EOS 5-series DSLR camera before, including the classic Canon control wheel. There's also a very welcome joystick instead of the controversial Mfn bar found on the EOS R.

Joining the Menu bottom on the far left is a new Rate button, which allows you to assign star ratings to your images during playback (Off, 1-5 stars).

Although not quite as highly specced as the one on the EOS R5, the 0.5inch 3.69 million dot EVF on the EOS R6 is still impressive to look through, working up to 120fps for minimal lag when shooting fast-moving subjects.

To the right of the electronic viewfinder is the new thumb operated joystick.

This means that the innovative / controversial (delete as appropriate) Mfn bar that made its debut on the EOS R is conspicuous by its complete absence on the new EOS R6, and indeed on the new EOS R5 too.

We'd be very surprised if the Mfn bar ever appears again on a Canon camera, so if you're a fan, the EOS R is the only camera for you.

Bottom of the Canon EOS R6

While the inclusion of the joystick is very welcome, we were struck by just how high the joystick is positioned. It's almost inline with the centre of the viewfinder, rather than where the Magnification button is, which at least initially seems rather too high to find easily, especially compared with most other cameras that have this key control.

We eventually got used to it higher position, but still can't help feeling that it was lower down.

The other main control innovation on the EOS R6 is the return of the classic Canon control wheel with the SET button at its heart, something that the previous EOS R and RP models both lacked.

This will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used a Canon EOS 5-series DSLR camera before.

The one on the EOS R6 actually serves less purpose than the one on the EOS 5-series, though, simply because there are already two control dials on top of the camera for setting the aperture and shutter speed, and one on the RF lenses which can be usefully configured to control the ISO speed, amongst other things.

So the classic Canon control wheel is mainly used for quickly scrolling through the menu system and during image playback instead.

As the camera also has a touch-screen, both of these functions can be more quickly and intuitively controlled via touch, which does beg the question as to why Canon decided to include the control wheel at all. Nostalgia, perhaps?

The EOS R6 has a pretty well-specced 3-inch, 1.62 million dot, vari-angle LCD screen which tilts out to the side and faces forwards for more convenient vlogging and selfies.

Tilting LCD Screen

It can also be usefully folded flat against the back of the camera to protect it when in transit in a camera bag.

A proximity sensor is located directly beneath the viewfinder, which automatically switches between the EVF and LCD screen. When the LCD screen is swung outwards, the EVF is cleverly turned off automatically.

A tilting LCD screen always helps to encourage shooting from creative angles and it also helps make the EOS R6 ideally suited to movie-shooting.

As mentioned above, the LCD screen is touch-sensitive, allowing you to control everything from setting the AF point and firing the shutter, navigating the menu systems and browsing your images during playback. It's a very precise, responsive system that's a veritable joy to use.

Alongside the rear joystick are three classic Canon controls - the AF-On button for people who prefer back-button focusing, the Auto-exposure Lock button (denoted by a star) and the AF area selection button which makes it easier to switch the autofocus point when holding the camera to your eye.

Underneath the AF-On button are a cluster of three buttons - the Magnification button, Info Button and the Quick button which opens the Quick Control screen, which provides instant access to 10 key camera controls.

Completing the rear of the EOS R6 are the self-explanatory Playback and Delete buttons located underneath the rear control wheel.

On the right hand-side of the camera is the memory card compartment. The EOS R6 supports two SD UHS II cards via dual slots, which instantly promotes it above the EOS R, which only has a single slot, and you can choose to record to both cards simultaneously.

Front of the Canon EOS R6

On the left hand-side of the camera are three rubber flaps housing five different connections.

The Canon EOS R6 has a microphone port, headphone jack, remote control port, USB-3 port and a HDMI connection - all the things that any enthusiast photographer or videographer would need from a connectivity point of view.

The Canon R6 benefits from using the LP-E6NH, a new longer life battery that is supplied with both the EOS R6 and EOS R5 cameras.

The LP-E6NH effectively replaces the existing LP-E6N, reaching 2130mAh and offering an increased capacity of 14%. In reality this translates into 380 shots when using the EVF and 510 when using the LCD screen.

Thankfully it's also backwards compatible with all existing cameras that use the LP-E6 series batteries,so you can use an older LP-E6N in the EOS R6, and the new LP-E6NH in an older EOS camera that uses the LP-E6N. All of the various chargers are cross-compatible too.

If one battery isn't enough for you, the EOS R6 is compatible with the brand new BG-R10 Battery Grip.

This is exactly the same battery grip that the new EOS R5 also uses.

It gives users the ability to power the EOS R6 using two batteries (LP-E6/N/NH) and also offers duplicate controls for easier vertical shooting. Note that the batteries have to be charged whilst the grip is fitted on-camera.

Front of the Canon EOS R6

With built-in Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi, the EOS R6 can be easily connected to a smartphone and networks allowing high-speed file sharing and FTP/FTPS transfer. Note that the R6 doesn't offer support for the faster 5Ghz Wi-fi standard that the EOS R5 does.

The R6 can also be remotely controlled using Canon's Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps and tethered to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or high-speed USB 3.1.

While video isn't the primary focus of the EOS R6, unlike the 8K RAW recording EOS R5, it still offers the impressive ability to record uncropped 4K UHD / 60p / 10-bit footage internally with dual-pixel auto-focus and auto-exposure for up to 30 minutes.

Full 1080 slow-motion recording at up to 120p with autofocus is also available (but no sound), which is actually something that the flagship EOS R5 doesn't offer.

Canon Log gamma is available to provide extra flexibility for colour grading in post-production.

Canon have also added zebra display during movie shooting, which can be used as a guide to exposure adjustment, especially for highlights.

For many videographers this headline specification will be more than enough for their uses, and it represents a big leap forwards from the video recording capabilities of the EOS R and RP cameras.

Overall, the new Canon EOS R6 successfully incorporates a lot of the "classic" Canon handling that DSLR owners know and love, with a well-balanced specification that improves exponentially on the EOS R. The EOS R5 may be grabbing all the headlines at the moment, but the R6 delivers nearly all of the features that most photographers want at a much more affordable price point.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20.1 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.

The Canon EOS R6 produced still images of outstanding quality during the review period.

Thanks to its modest 20 megapixel sensor, this camera produces noise-free JPEG images from ISO 50 all the way up to ISO 12800, with noise first appearing at ISO 25600. The faster settings of 51200 and 102400 display quite a lot of noise, but they're still fine to use for making smaller prints and web images. Even the fastest expanded setting of ISO 204800 can be used at a push.

The EOS R6 proved to very capable in low-light, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and the Bulb mode allowing you to capture enough light in all situations and the camera's -6.5EV rating successfully auto-focusing even in near-dark conditions.

The different Picture Styles and the ability to create your own are a real benefit, as are the HDR settings and multiple exposure mode, all of which can be previewed before you take the shot. Support for the new HEIF 10-bit file format is a little thin on the ground, but should offer a degree of future-proofing.

Noise

ISO sensitivity can be set between ISO 50 and ISO 204800 in full-stop increments. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting, with JPEG on the left and RAW on the right.

JPEG	RAW
ISO 50 (100% Crop)	ISO 50 (100% Crop)
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)
ISO 25600 (100% Crop)	ISO 25600 (100% Crop)
ISO 51200 (100% Crop)	ISO 51200 (100% Crop)
ISO 102400 (100% Crop)	ISO 102400 (100% Crop)
ISO 204800 (100% Crop)	ISO 204800 (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Canon EOS R6 has three different file quality settings - Raw, Fine and Normal. Here are some 100% crops which show the difference.

Fine (13.7Mb) (100% Crop)	Normal (8.37Mb) (100% Crop)
RAW (55.7Mb) (100% Crop)

JPEG vs HEIF

Compared with the 8 bits (256-level greyscale) of the JPEG format, HEIF is capable of storing image data at 10 bits (1024-level greyscale) or higher, and also supports the Rec. 2020 standard, which boasts an extremely wide color gamut.

What’s more, HEIF is compatible with the HEVC (H.265) codec, which offers a higher compression efficiency in storage compared with JPEG files of the same image quality.

JPEG

HEIF

Night

The Canon EOS R6's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there's a Bulb mode for even longer exposures, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in low light photography.

HDR

The Canon EOS R6's HDR Mode captures three different exposures and combines them into one, retaining more shadow and highlight detail, with an Auto mode, three different strengths and several types of HDR style available.

Off

1EV

2EV

3EV

Multiple Exposure

The EOS R6's multiple exposure mode allows you to take between two and nine images and merge them into a single photo in-camera.

Picture Styles

Canon's Picture Controls are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone settings. The EOS R6's seven available Picture Controls are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. There are also three User Defined styes so that you can create your own look.

Standard

Portrait

Landscape

Fine Detail

Faithful

Neutral

Monochrome

Sample Images

As of February 2025, we are no longer providing full size sample images or videos for download.

Please contact us if you have any feedback on our new policy.

Product Images

Conclusion

The new EOS R6 is the best full-frame mirrorless Canon camera to date, and unless you really need 8K video, the camera that mid-range DSLR owners should buy if they're looking to switch to mirrorless.

While the flagship R5 is currently getting all the plaudits (and some criticism) for its world-beating video specs, the Canon R6 is a much more affordable proposition that still delivers almost everything that an enthusiast photographer or videographer could possibly want.

And while the first generation EOS R and RP represented a marked and ultimately flawed departure from Canon's proven handling and ease of use, the new EOS R6 thankfully marks a return to form, mixing together the best of its DSLR and mirrorless user interfaces into one mostly coherent whole.

Sporting no less than three control dials and wheels, a joystick and touch-screen LCD, not to mention the control ring found on RF lenses, it's clear that the Canon R6 is one of the most customisable cameras that we've ever reviewed.

With the handling well and truly nailed, the EOS R6's feature-set is likewise well thought out - more than good enough to take on the competition, but not so overblown as to be out of reach financially for most would-be buyers.

Thankfully the Canon R6 achieves its full potential in most areas, with the new AF, IBIS and continuous shooting systems in particular being worthy of praise. This model really has taken a giant stride forwards for Canon cameras as a whole, moving beyond what 5-series DSLRs and previous mirrorless cameras have been able to both offer and achieve.

That isn't to say that the EOS R6 is the perfect camera. Some photographers may feel that 20 megapixels doesn't offer quite enough resolution for their needs, whilst videographers may bemoan the need to let their camera cool down after shooting a long 4K UHD 60p clip. The plethora of controls on offer can at first seem overwhelming, whilst the camera is undeniably bigger than its main rivals.

All of this seems like nit-picking, however, when compared to everything that the EOS R6 does so well. The fact that this is also the first Canon full-frame mirrorless camera to feel like a DSLR, almost certainly a reaction to the criticism levelled at the EOS R, is a great decision.

Overall, the new EOS R6 is the mirrorless camera that the majority of Canon owners have been longing for, for so long.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	4.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Canon EOS R6.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Canon EOS R6 from around the web.

Specifications

News

The Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 are two advanced full frame mirrorless camera additions to the revolutionary EOS R System, built on the future-proof RF Mount.

The pro-level EOS R5 delivers 45 megapixel stills at up to 20fps and is the first full frame mirrorless ever to record 8K RAW up to 29.97fps internally and 4K to 120p.

The EOS R6 is perfect for enthusiasts and professionals moving to mirrorless and looking for greater capabilities, capturing 20.1 megapixel stills at 20fps, 4K video up to 60p and Full HD at up to 120p.

Canon UK Press Release

Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6: unrivalled performance, endless creativity

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 09 July 2020 – Canon today announces EOS R5 and EOS R6, two advanced full frame mirrorless camera additions to the revolutionary EOS R System built on the future-proof RF Mount. The pro-level EOS R5 delivers 45 megapixel stills at up to 20fps1 and is the first full frame mirrorless ever to record 8K RAW up to 29.97fps internally and 4K to 120p. EOS R6 is perfect for enthusiasts and professionals moving to mirrorless and looking for greater capabilities, capturing 20.1 megapixel stills at 20fps1, stunning 4K video up to 60p and Full HD at up to 120p. Nothing comes close to the speed and resolution of EOS R5 and EOS R6.

Redefining professional mirrorless

Next generation CMOS sensor technology combined with high performance RF lenses enable users to capture new levels of detail at industry leading speeds. EOS R5 and EOS R6 can shoot up to 20fps1 with the electronic shutter in complete silence with full auto exposure (AE) and auto focus (AF) tracking. Users can be confident capturing action, both stills and video, in exceptional quality in any location without disturbing subjects. The mechanical and electronic first curtain shutter also delivers high-speed continuous shooting up to 12fps1.

For the first time in the EOS series, EOS R5 and EOS R6 incorporate 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS) providing benefits for users of all types of lenses. Designed to work collaboratively with the IS system of RF lenses, the solution has been engineered so that RF lenses and the sensor work to correct pitch and yaw with the sensor correcting X-Y and roll movements. This intelligent stabilisation system corrects at up to an incredible 8-stops2 – the world’s best image stabilisation2 – for new levels of creativity when shooting handheld at slow shutter speeds or filming without a tripod.

The wide diameter of the RF Mount ensures that light continues to reach the entire sensor all the way to the corners, even with the sensor movement introduced with in-body image stabilisation. The 54mm diameter enables RF lenses to be designed with larger image circles facilitating greater movement of the body IS system, meaning some non-IS RF lenses such as the RF 85mm F1.2L USM or RF 28-70mm F2L USM can also achieve up to 8-stops2 of image stabilisation.

Users of EF lenses will experience enhanced IS performance as in-body IS works with IS enabled EF lenses to provide roll and X-Y correction. Even non-IS EF lenses will benefit from the 5-axis correction provided by EOS R5 and EOS R6 in-body IS.

Keeping it sharp

DIGIC X processor technology at the core of EOS R5 and EOS R6 – the same technology in the coveted EOS-1D X Mark III – supports renowned next generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF II pushing speed and reliability to unmatched levels. The world’s fastest AF focuses in as little as 0.05 seconds3 and EOS R5 can focus in light levels as low as -6EV5 and EOS R6 is the first EOS camera to offer a minimum EV for AF of -6.5EV4,5. The high precision AF is effective in even poorly lit or low contrast shooting conditions.

The iTR AF X AF system has been programmed using deep-learning AI and face/eye detection mode ensures subjects are kept sharp even when moving unpredictably with a shallow depth of field. Even if a person turns away for a moment, their head continues to be tracked.

Advanced tracking enabled by deep learning algorithms recognises faces and eyes of humans, and now includes cats, dogs and birds in both still and movie modes. EOS R5 and EOS R6 maintain high-precision focus and tracking regardless of the subject’s size, posture, orientation or direction of the face helping users to confidently shoot even the most unpredictable subjects.

Intelligent connection

With built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the EOS R5 (5Ghz Wi-Fi8) and EOS R6 (2.4Ghz Wi-Fi8) can be easily connected to a smartphone and networks allowing high-speed file sharing and FTP/FTPS transfer. This functionality also allows for the cameras to be remotely controlled using the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps, tethered to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or high-speed USB 3.1 Gen 2. With content delivery just as important as image and video capture, the EOS R5 and EOS R6 support automatic transfer of image files from the device to the image.canon cloud platform to easily share and print images or integrate with Google Photos9 or Adobe Creative Cloud9 workflows.

EOS R5: No compromise

EOS R5 is an unprecedented leap forward in mirrorless technology and offers the highest resolution EOS camera6 ever. The DIGIC X processor, CMOS sensor and RF lenses combine to advance all aspects of image quality to achieve a resolution exceeding 45 megapixels. Up to 100% AF coverage7 with 5,940 selectable AF points and ISO range of 100-51,200 keep subjects razor-sharp even in extreme low light conditions. Dual-card slots support a high-speed CFexpress and SD UHS II card, housed in a weather resistant magnesium body.

Professionals can capture stunning 8K 12-bit RAW video internally using the full width of the sensor for a truly cinematic result with continuous eye and face AF tracking for people and animals. The EOS R5 also sets new standards for videographers shooting in 4K. Capture 4K DCI (full frame) and 4K UHD at frame rates up to 120p (119.88fps) with 4:2:2 10-bit quality, enabling high resolution, smooth slow-motion with full AF performance. Users seeking the very highest 4K quality can use the 4K HQ mode to reproduce incredible detail at frame rates up to 30p by internally oversampling 8K footage.

• 8K RAW internal video recording up to 29.97fps (non-cropped)

• 8K internal video recording up to 29.97fps (non-cropped) in 4:2:2 10-bit Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265)

• 4K internal recording up to 119.88fps (non-cropped) in 4:2:2 10-bit Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265)

• 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ output via HDMI at 4K 59.94fps

User demand sees the return of the multi-controller to EOS R5 in addition to touch and drag AF using the 3.2inch vari-angle touch screen with 2.1 million dot resolution. With Dual Pixel RAW also supported, correction of the focus and contrast in the background and changing the lighting in portraits is possible after capture – enhancing creative possibilities. The 0.5inch electronic viewfinder (EVF) refreshes at 120fps with 5.76 million dot resolution for a staggeringly realistic view of the world comparable to an optical viewfinder.

EOS R6: All-round excellence

EOS R6, like EOS R5, showcases the amazing capabilities of the EOS R System, giving enthusiasts the potential to take pin-sharp images and movies handheld. Providing class-leading speed and full frame quality, EOS R6 is a powerful and versatile camera far exceeding the demands of enthusiasts and semi-professionals across all genres. Sports and wildlife enthusiasts can confidently capture fast moving action utilising the up to 20fps1 speed, flexibility of up to 6,072 selectable AF points and deep learning based automatic face, eye and animal AF tracking modes. The 20.1 megapixel CMOS sensor shares many technologies and performance seen with the EOS-1D X Mark III providing 100-102,400 auto ISO range enabling users to produce clean images in the toughest low light environments such as weddings and indoor events, providing additional flexibility and choice.

Enabling content creators to meet the increasing demand to produce both stunning still and moving image, the innovative EOS R6 can film in 4K UHD resolution at up to 59.94fps achieved through oversampling from 5.1K. Output incredible slow-motion footage with AF support using Full HD at up to 119.88fps. During movie shooting, zebra display can be used as a guide to exposure adjustment, particularly useful in conditions that typically result in overexposed highlights. With the option to record internally in 8-bit H.264 or 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 H.265 and Canon Log, users can experience ultimate post-production flexibility.

The 0.5inch 3.69 million dot EVF working up to 120fps maximum refresh rate supports minimal lag ideal for photographing sports, offering a transparent and responsive view of shooting subjects. The 3-inch vari-angle 1.62 million dot LCD screen encourages shooting from creative angles. Dual card slots allow users to input 2x SD UHS II cards and record to both cards simultaneously, with the ability to record in different formats for safety, security and speed.

Introducing three new EOS accessories

LP-E6NH

A new longer life battery supplied with EOS R5, EOS R6 and compatible with all existing cameras that use the LP-E6 series batteries. LP-E6NH replaces LP-E6N, with an increased capacity of 14% reaching 2130mAh, enabling users to shoot for longer while maintaining compatibility with existing products and accessories.

BG-R10 battery grip

Enables extended, undisturbed shooting with EOS R5 and EOS R6, great for wedding, wildlife and news shooters. The new battery grip gives users the ability to power the bodies using two batteries (LP-E6/N/NH). The grip also offers duplicate controls for easier vertical shooting.

WFT-R10

Battery grip style Wi-Fi transmitter and 2x2 MIMO antennas for faster and longer-range transmission, compatible with EOS R5. WFT-R10 also features enhanced network processing enabling SFTP via Wi-Fi and includes a gigabyte speed via ethernet port.

Pricing & Availability

The EOS R5 will be available on the 30th July 2020, with the following RSPs:

• EOS R5: £4199.99 / €4849.99 / $3899.00
• EOS R5 and RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens kit: $4999.00

The EOS R6 will be available on the 27th August 2020, with the following RSPs:

• EOS R6: £2499.99 / €2899.99 / $2499.99
  
• EOS R6 and RF 24-105 F4-7.1 IS STM lens kit: $2899.00
• EOS R6 and RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens kit: $3599.00

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

First Impressions

We've spent a little hands-on time with the brand new Canon EOS R6 mirrorless camera, so ahead of our full review, check out our first impressions now...

Key Specifications

• 20.1 megapixel full frame sensor
• Up to 20fps/12fps
• In-body IS up to 8-stops
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
• ISO range 100-102,400
• 4K movie 60p 10-bit, Full HD 120fps
• 3.69 million dot EVF
• 3inch 1.62 million dot vari-angle LCD
• Dual card slots (2x SD UHS II)
• AF multi-controller
• Built-in 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and FTP
• Bluetooth
• USB charging and power via PD-E1
• Body only 598g (690g with battery/memory card)

Key Details

• Expanding upon Canon’s existing EOS R camera lineup, the EOS R6 is geared towards advanced amateurs
  
• Features a new 20.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and uncropped 4K video recording up to 59.94 fps, giving users the ability to capture fast-moving objects with impressive accuracy and speed
  
• Along with the EOS R5, it’s the first camera to be outfitted with Canon’s advanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
  
• Offers 8 stops of 5-axis In Body Image Stabilizer, a feature that many creators have long asked for from Canon
  
• Enhanced operating controls such as rear-dial and multi-controller
  
• Impressive durability, including weather, drip and dust sealing on par with the EOS 6D series
  

Pricing

The Canon EOS R6 will be priced at £2499.99 body only in the UK, or £2849.99 with the RF 24-105 STM kit lens.

In the US it will cost $2499.99 body only, $2899.99 with the RF 24-105 STM kit lens, and $3599.99 with the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.

Release Date

The Canon EOS R6 will be available to buy on 27th August 2020.

20 Megapixel Sensor

The EOS R6 has a 20 megapixel sensor that's very similar to the one found in the flagship EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR camera, but with a different low-pass filter construction.

The ISO range runs from 100-102,400, one stop more than the EOS R5. This can be further expanded up to ISO 204,800 and down to ISO 50.

4K Video

The Canon EOS R6 can record 4K video up to 60p in 10-bit, achieved through oversampling from 5.1K.

The camera can record internally in 8-bit H.264 or 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 H.265 and Canon Log.

Slow-motion footage is also available with AF support using Full HD at up to 120fps.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF II

The next generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system on the EOS R6 offers the world’s fastest AF, with the camera capable of focusing in as little as 0.05 seconds. It has 6,072 selectable AF points, slightly more than the EOS R5.

Impressively the EOS R6 can also focus in light levels as low as -6.5EV, which is 0.5-stop better than the EOS R5.

Thanks to its Digic X processor, the EOS R6 offers exactly the same deep learning based automatic face, eye and animal AF tracking modes as the R5.

Handling

The design and ethos is reminiscent of the 60D and 7D DSLR lines being merged into one.

The EOS R6's back panel is exactly the same as on the EOS R5, but the top-plate is a little different.

Instead of the LCD status panel and Mode button found on top of the EOS R5, the R6 has a more conventional shooting mode dial on the right in place of the LCD panel, which we suspect some users will actually prefer.

The rear offers an array of controls that will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used an EOS 5-series camera before, including the classic Canon control wheel.

This means that the innovative / controversial (delete as appropriate) Mfn bar that made its debut on the EOS R is only conspicuous by its complete absence on the new EOS R6, with Canon explaining that a thumb-operated joystick was more appropriate for the new model's target audience.

While this may be true, we were struck by how high the joystick is positioned on the rear of the Canon R6 - almost inline with the centre of the viewfinder, rather than where the Info button is - which seems rather too high to find easily, especially compared with most other cameras that have this key control.

The Canon R6 also benefits from both a tilting LCD screen and dual memory card slots for the first time in Canon's fledging full-frame mirrrorless system (along with the R5).

Weight

The Canon EOS R6 weighs 1.50 lb / 680 g body only with a battery and memory card fitted.

LCD Screen

The EOS R6 has a pretty good 3-inch 1.62 million dot vari-angle LCD screen which encourages shooting from creative angles and makes the EOS R6 ideally suited to movie-shooting.

EVF

Although not quite as highly specced as the EOS R5, the 0.5inch 3.69 million dot EVF on the EOS R6 is still impressive to look through, working up to 120fps.

Build Quality

Despite the EOS R6 having a polycarbonate body rather than the EOS R5's magnesium alloy body, impressively it still offers the same level of weather-proofing as the EOS 6D Mark II DSLR.

8-stops Image Stabilisation

For the first time ever in the EOS series, the Canon EOS R6 incorporates 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS), which has been designed to work collaboratively with the IS system of RF lenses.

The solution has been engineered so that RF lenses and the sensor work to correct pitch and yaw with the sensor correcting X-Y and roll movements.

This intelligent stabilisation system corrects at up to an incredible 8-stops – the world’s best image stabilisation – allowing you to hand-hold the camera for up to 4 seconds and still get sharp results.

Even better, the 54mm diameter of the of the RF Mount enables some non-IS RF lenses such as the RF 85mm F1.2L USM or RF 28-70mm F2L USM to also achieve up to 8-stops of image stabilisation.

The EOS R6 can also stabilise older, non-IS lenses including any EF lens that is fitted to the R6 via the Canon EF-EOS R mount adapter. Just think of all that vintage EF glass which will instantly be stabilized when mounted on the new EOS R6!

The stabilisation system will also work with lenses from other manufacturers – you just need to input the focal length into the camera's menu system.

20fps Burst Shooting

The EOS R6 offers continuous shooting at up to 20fps with the silent electronic shutter or 12fps with the mechanical shutter, both with full auto exposure (AE) and auto focus (AF) tracking.

Dual-card Slots

The EOS R6 supports two SD UHS II cards via dual slots.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

With built-in Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi (slower than the EOS R5), the EOS R6 can be easily connected to a smartphone and networks allowing high-speed file sharing and FTP/FTPS transfer.

It can also be remotely controlled using the Camera Connect and EOS Utility apps and tethered to a PC or Mac via Wi-Fi or high-speed USB 3.1.

LP-E6NH Battery

The LP-E6NH is a new longer life battery supplied with both the EOS R6 and EOS R5. It's backwards compatible with all existing cameras that use the LP-E6 series batteries. LP-E6NH replaces LP-E6N, with an increased capacity of 14% reaching 2130mAh.

BG-R10 Battery Grip

The same BG-R10 battery grip that the EOS R5 uses also gives users the ability to power the EOS R6 using two batteries (LP-E6/N/NH) and also offers duplicate controls for easier vertical shooting. Note that the batteries have to be charged whilst the grip is fitted on-camera.

Note that the new WFT-R10 Wi-Fi transmitter pictured above only works with the EOS R5, and not the EOS R6.

Early Verdict

Somewhat inevitably the EOS R6 will be overshadowed at launch by the flagship EOS R5, but if you don't actually need 8K video, the R6 is a still very capable and much more affordable proposition that's a big step-up from the EOS R.

What do you think - does the EOS R6 set your pulse racing, or is it playing it too safe? Leave a comment below!

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