Rumored Canon EOS R6 Mark II could fix its predecessor’s main weakness
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If you’re about to buy a Canon EOS R6, we’d put the brakes on that decision – there are now strong rumors of an EOS R6 Mark II successor on the way.
The full-frame camera — which still ranks high in our guide to the best cameras for photography — launched in July 2020. And according to Canon Rumors (opens in new tab)is about to get an EOS R6 Mark II successor that will give it a much-needed boost in resolution from 20MP to 24MP.
Canon Rumors says the camera’s 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor – which doesn’t appear to be a ‘stacked’ chip like the one in the professional Canon EOS R3 – will be joined by some more minor upgrades, including a Dual Pixel Raw mode. for greater editing flexibility and cloud raw processing. But it looks like the resolution boost will be the biggest upgrade by far.
One of our few complaints about the EOS R6 is that the 20MP resolution is just a bit on the low side for a general purpose camera. The sensor comes from the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III, a specialized professional DSLR that prioritizes shooting speeds.
But it looks like Canon’s follow-up to the EOS R6 will give photographers that extra bit of resolution, which could improve detail and be especially useful for cropping images. That said, an extra 4MP isn’t a huge increase, so it might be worth keeping an eye on pre-owned prices for the current EOS R6 when the sequel arrives.
A much bigger upgrade for the EOS R6 Mark II would be a ‘stacked’ sensor, like the 24.1MP backlit chip in the Canon EOS R3. But so far that seems unlikely – it’s not mentioned in the leaked specs, and Canon Rumors claims the camera’s 4K/60p video mode will be cropped, like on the EOS R6.
If the EOS R6 Mark II had a ‘stacked’ sensor, offering faster readout speeds than traditional sensors, that would likely be reflected in areas such as video performance. It would also raise the price tag of the EOS R6 Mark II significantly, compared to its predecessor – the cheapest stacked sensor camera right now is the Fujifilm X-H2S ($2,499 / £2,499 / AU$4,449), but it has a smaller APS -C sensor.
While it’s possible Canon could rearrange its lineup by making the EOS R6 a premium model – leaving room for the rumored Canon EOS R8 and EOS R9 – that seems unlikely, as the Canon EOS R5 is still around as its top all-rounder model. This means our money is spent on a moderately improved Canon EOS R6, with a similar price tag ($2,499 / £2,499 / AU$4,499), which could make it Canon’s most popular full-frame model.
Analysis: a late flurry of new cameras
If the rumors are true, there will be several major camera announcements at the end of the year, including the Canon EOS R6 Mark II. So if you’re looking for a new photo or video workhorse, we’d hold off for now, if you can.
Recently we have seen Sony Alpha Rumors (opens in new tab) suggest a full-frame Sony A7R V is imminent, complete with a next-generation autofocus system. If so, that camera would probably be more expensive than the EOS R6 Mark II; assuming it’s in the margins of the A7R IV’s launch price of $3,500 / £3,800 / AU$6,800.
However, some more affordable rivals to Canon’s new all-rounder could be the rumored OM System OM-5 and Fujifilm X-T5. According to 43Rumors (opens in new tab)this 20MP Micro Four Thirds camera could launch later this month for a price in the region of $1,599 (about £1,420 / AU$2,545).
And as we discussed recently, the rumors about the Fujifilm X-T5 – which Fuji Rumors (opens in new tab) is pretty sure it will land sometime in November – could be a late contender for the title of the most exciting camera of the year, thanks to its potentially well-rounded combination of features, lens and price tag (expected to be in the neighborhood of $1,699 / £1,549 / AU$2,999, like the X-T4).
If you’re a photographer or a hybrid shooter, it’s going to be an exciting end to the year. Even if you can’t justify buying the latest models, these launches will eventually have knock-on effects on the prices of current cameras – and at the end of November there are always the Black Friday camera deals to look forward to too.