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The Canon EOS R6 Mark II has put an end to speculation that it might have the same sensor as Canon’s flagship sports camera, but the new full-frame mirrorless beast is still a fine all-rounder. (Want to jump straight to our early verdict? Head over to our hands-on Canon EOS R6 Mark II review).
The EOS R6 Mark II is the successor to the original 2020 EOS R6 and the most significant upgrade is a new 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor. This gives Canon’s new model a resolution of 20% compared to its 20MP predecessor, which will please photographers looking for a little more detail or cropping options.
Previous rumors had optimistically predicted that the EOS R6 Mark II could feature the same ‘stacked’ 24.1MP sensor found in the Canon EOS R3. Stacked sensors have incredibly fast readout speeds for fast burst shooting and professional video quality, but they also come with a premium price tag.
Yet the new sensor of the EOS R6 Mark II does not only deliver an extra portion of resolution. It’s also fast enough to shoot bursts of 40 fps with autofocus in RAW or JPEG, without any cropping. Admittedly, it can’t hold those speeds for very long (just under two seconds when shooting raw files), but that’s still twice as fast as the EOS R6 and a potential bonus for action or sports photographers.
Another helping hand in that department is the enhanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system of the EOS R6 Mark II. Thanks to enhanced deep learning, it can now recognize and track planes, trains, and a wider variety of animals than before (including horses and zebras). A bit niche perhaps, but the AF system is also more confident when shooting people, as we found in our early preview.
The camera’s new sensor also supports some improved video skills. You can shoot uncropped 4K/60p video, which is also oversampled from the camera’s 6K native resolution. That’s a recipe for high-quality video, although unfortunately there’s still no 4K/120p mode for slow-mo fans.
The EOS R6 Mark II is otherwise very similar to its predecessor, which is not a bad thing. It has an almost identical physical design with great handling and a new multi-function shoe on the top to pair it with accessories like Canon’s new Speedlite EL-5. In the US and Australia, it also carries an identical price tag to the original EOS R6, costing $2,499 / £2,779 / AU$4,499 (body only), with that price in the UK up around 11%.
You can also pre-order the camera now with the RF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens for $3,599 / £3,999 / AU$6,399. In the US and UK you can also get the EOS R6 Mark II with the cheaper RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM zoom for $2,799 / £3,129, with sales expected to start at the end of November.
Analysis: not stacked, but definitely ripped
Speculation that the Canon EOS R6 Mark II may have a stacked sensor has turned out to be wishful thinking, and that’s no big surprise. Only a handful of full-frame cameras have that modern sensor design, and they’re all priced right north of Canon’s new hybrid shooter.
But that doesn’t mean the EOS R6 Mark II is underwhelming or underpowered. The new 24.2MP sensor may not be stacked or even backlit, but it clearly has some pretty high readout speeds of its own, as evidenced by those 40fps burst rates and its ability to shoot oversampled 4K/60p without a crop .
In other words, mirrorless cameras don’t necessarily need stacked sensors to be considered high-end or pro-quality. The EOS R6 Mark II may be a relatively modest upgrade in other areas, but it fixes most of its predecessor’s weaknesses. And as our hands-on review notes, “few cameras at this price point can match its hybrid prowess” for stills and video.
It’s sure to be an interesting battle with the Sony A7 IV and Nikon Z6 II, so stay tuned for our full Canon EOS R6 Mark II review very soon. And if your budget understandably doesn’t stretch all the way to those cameras, check out our guide to the Black Friday camera deals for some tips on how to grab a bargain this month.