Canon EOS R6 Mark II evaluation
Key specs
Kind: Mirrorless
Sensor: 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor
Lens mount: RF/RF-S
ISO vary: 100-102,400
Viewfinder decision: 3.69m dot OLED
Video functionality: 4K as much as 60 FPS, 4K/FHD Timelapse as much as 30 FPS, FHD as much as 180 FPS
Weight: 1.48 lbs / 670 g with card and battery
Measurement: 5.44×3.87×3.48 in / 138.4×98.4×88.4 mm
Reminiscence card kind: 2x SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
Feeling just about like a extra enthusiast-friendly model of the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II presents related hybrid photograph and video capabilities alongside being appropriate for capturing all photographic topics. After all, it presents decreased options and performance, however it’s a far more inexpensive fanatic digicam with clear potential for use professionally.
At $1999 / £1999, and contemplating the options on provide, this 24.2MP digicam is undoubtedly one of many finest cameras for astrophotography. Not least due to its unimaginable ISO dealing with that’s excellent for capturing the night time sky. There’s additionally 4K video seize in-camera, as much as 6K video seize obtainable with an exterior recorder, wonderful autofocus and as much as 8 stops of In-Physique Picture Stabilization to call however just a few options.
This can be a pretty compact and light-weight full-frame digicam with a mud and moisture-sealed physique that additionally presents twin SD card slots. These options are simply the tip of the iceberg, nevertheless it’s already clear that this digicam has an enormous quantity of potential for capturing a variety of photographic topics.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Design
- Articulating LCD display
- Pretty light-weight
- Strong construct
The R6 Mark II is a light-weight full-frame digicam at simply 1.48 lbs / 670 g with card and battery, with dimensions of 5.44×3.87×3.48 in / 138.4×98.4×88.4 mm. It is definitely not considerably lighter than different Canon full-frame cameras, however for outside photographers, together with astrophotographers, who typically have to stroll to areas, shaving off just a few ounces right here and there could make a distinction.
The digicam feels good within the hand with a snug grip and many direct entry controls for quick entry to generally used settings. One in all these is a photograph/video swap, which takes you seamlessly from one mode to the opposite, with the digicam consumer interface switching between being optimised for capturing whichever is chosen.
One design characteristic that will be helpful for astrophotography is illuminated buttons, however it is a characteristic usually solely seen on flagship skilled fashions. The direct entry controls are massive and clear, nevertheless, however at midnight, a headtorch set to crimson mild is crucial to have the ability to see the controls with out throwing mild into the scene you are capturing.
The chassis is fabricated from Magnesium Alloy, whereas the outer panels are polycarbonate resin with glass fiber. Construct high quality general is superb and presents mud and moisture resistance, which is unbelievable for outside photographers capturing within the components. Many settings are additionally accessed by way of the menu, nevertheless it’s intuitive to navigate and presents many options and customisation choices.
The OLED digital viewfinder is obvious and sharp with its 3.69m-dot decision and 100% protection. Plus, the refresh price may be set at as much as 120 FPS. On the again of the digicam, you may additionally discover the three.0 in Clear View LCD II with 1.62m dots and touchscreen performance.
It is not as high-resolution as extra superior Canon cameras, nevertheless it nonetheless produces a transparent picture when navigating menus, viewing pictures and utilizing Dwell View. That is additionally an articulating display, so it may be turned to cover and defend the display or positioned to the facet of the digicam at a wide range of angles.
The LCD display and the viewfinder and very best for specializing in stars, relying in your desire. Since digital viewfinders are increased decision than LCD screens, utilizing the EVF for focusing supplies the clearest and most dependable option to guide focus.
Ports/connections on the digicam embody USB Kind-C, Wi-Fi, Wi-fi LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, micro HDMI out, Exterior Microphone In (Stereo mini jack), Headphone socket (Stereo mini jack), E3-type terminal (distant management terminal) and a Multi-Perform hotshoe. There are additionally 2x SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) card slots that may be configured in a number of methods for recording pictures and movies. It is a disgrace one slot is not CF-Specific, nevertheless it’s not a difficulty as a result of it isn’t the speediest digicam.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Performance
- Nice autofocus
- Spectacular battery life
- Helpful options
The R6 Mark II sports activities a 24.2MP dual-pixel sensor backed up with the DIGIC X processor. That is alongside as much as 8 stops of In-Physique Picture Stabilization, which is nice for capturing handheld in low mild situations or with lengthy telephoto lenses. It is also claimed that the autofocus stays efficient at as much as -6.5 EV, which is spectacular, though not examined in an astrophotography context the place guide focus is crucial.
Autofocus can be quick and correct in use and consists of topic detection of people, animals (Canines, Cats, Birds and horses) or autos (automobiles or motorbikes, plane and trains). When these are mixed with Servo AF (monitoring AF), the flexibility to seize transferring topics successfully is drastically improved. There are additionally 4897 user-selectable AF factors for pictures and 4067 for video.
The digicam can shoot at as much as 12 FPS in full-resolution Uncooked utilizing the mechanical shutter, and as much as 40 FPS with the digital shutter. Plus, with Uncooked burst mode, you’ll be able to shoot at 30 FPS with as much as 15 frames buffered with the shutter midway depressed. These are captured on the level when the shutter button is absolutely depressed, making it simpler to seize tough fleeting moments. There’s additionally a five-second pre-record characteristic for video seize.
For video seize, you’ll be able to document for over half-hour, which is a normal cut-off time with many cameras. Then there’s FHD sluggish movement 180 FPS seize obtainable alongside facet ratio markers to make capturing video to export in a wide range of codecs extremely straightforward.
Additionally, with the Detect solely AF possibility enabled, if a topic strikes out of the body, the digicam will not robotically concentrate on the background when utilizing autofocus for capturing movies. Astrophotography would not depend on AF in any respect, however there’s a information body that may be positioned over a vivid star and can flip inexperienced when in focus. That is helpful, however zooming in to be 100% certain stays important.
The brand new LP-E6NH battery presents a 50% enchancment on the EOS R6, with the flexibility to supply as much as 760 photographs per cost. You should utilize the USB-C port to attach a smartphone or pill to make use of as an exterior monitor, which might be helpful for specializing in stars. The digicam will also be used as a high-quality webcam.
Battery life is superb general, however with round 760 photographs per cost, you are going to both want extra batteries for a full night time of capturing the night time sky, or a USB powerbank. You may energy the R6 Mark II by way of USB-C whereas capturing, which is extraordinarily helpful for time-lapse seize and when capturing a number of photographs with a star tracker.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Efficiency
- 24.2MP sensor
- Nice picture high quality
- Wonderful excessive ISO dealing with
Picture high quality from the R6 Mark II is superb and similar to different Canon cameras, the JPEGs produced are nice straight out of the digicam, whereas Auto white stability is dependable sufficient to make use of in most conditions when capturing JPEGs. After all, for astrophotography, photographers will wish to reap the benefits of capturing Uncooked information for elevated flexibility throughout modifying.
The R6 Mark II incorporates a 24.2 MP CMOS sensor, which can sound comparatively low-resolution nowadays, however the benefit of that is bigger pixels and usually higher excessive ISO noise dealing with than increased decision sensors. Plus, if you happen to use Adobe Digicam Uncooked or Lightroom, you need to use the Tremendous Decision characteristic to double the size of your Uncooked information, that are saved as a brand new DNG file.
Shifting again to ISO, ISO may be set in 1/3 or one-stop increments, and the usual ISO vary of the digicam is 100-102,400, with an Auto setting obtainable that covers this native vary. There’s additionally an expanded vary that features L:50 and H1:204801. Expanded ranges by no means produce the dynamic vary of the usual/native vary, plus the H1 setting is arguably unusable.