canon r6 travel photography

Canon R6 review: The 2024 Ultimate Travel Camera?

Portability

• 20-megapixel full-frame sensor
• 4K video recording capabilities
• Fast and accurate autofocus system
• In-body image stabilization
• Average battery life
• No built-in flash
• Limited dynamic range in high ISO settings

If you love to travel and create content, you know the importance of having a reliable and versatile camera that can capture your experiences in stunning detail. That’s where the Canon R6 comes in. This full-frame mirrorless camera is a powerhouse of features and performance, making it an ideal choice for anyone who wants to push the boundaries of their photography or videography.

Whether exploring a new city, hiking through rugged terrain, or documenting your everyday life, the Canon R6 has much to offer. Its fast and accurate autofocus system, in-body image stabilization, and 20-megapixel full-frame sensor combine to deliver sharp and vibrant images in a wide range of shooting scenarios. Plus, with 4K video capabilities, dual card slots, and a weather-sealed body, the Canon R6 is a versatile tool that can handle whatever challenges you throw its way.

In this review, we’ll closely examine the Canon R6 and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. We’ll consider factors like image quality, autofocus performance, battery life, and more to help you decide whether this camera is right for your travel and content creation needs. So if you’re in the market for a new camera that can take your photography or videography to the next level, read on to find out if the Canon R6 is the one for you.

Page Contents

Unique Features of the Canon R6

The Canon R6 is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a few unique features that make it an excellent choice for photography and video. One of its most significant selling points is its advanced autofocus system , powered by Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology. This system provides fast and accurate autofocus across the entire frame, making capturing sharp images and video easy even in challenging lighting conditions. The R6 also features eye-detection AF , particularly useful for portrait photography, and animal-detection AF, which can help you capture stunning wildlife images.

The Canon R6 ‘s 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor is another unique feature differentiating it from its competitors; the sensor has a low-pass filter that reduces moiré and false color, making it ideal for capturing images with high levels of detail and sharpness. The R6 also has an ISO range of 100-102400, allowing you to shoot in low-light conditions without worrying about excessive noise.

When it comes to video, the Canon R6 is a top-performing camera that can shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second . This is thanks to the camera’s powerful DIGIC X image processor, which provides excellent image quality and color accuracy. The R6 also features Canon Log (C-Log) and HDR PQ video formats, which are essential tools for professional videographers looking to achieve high-quality footage with extended dynamic range.

Another unique feature of the Canon R6 is its dual card slots, which allow you to shoot with two memory cards simultaneously. This provides peace of mind, as you can simultaneously set the camera to record to both cards, ensuring that you always have a backup copy of your footage or images.

Canon R6 Video

The Canon EOS R6 is a powerful camera for video, with a range of features that make it a popular choice among content creators and filmmakers; one of the most important video functions of the R6 is its ability to record 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. This means it can capture high-resolution footage with excellent detail and clarity while allowing for slow-motion effects. The R6 also supports the All-I and IPB compression formats , allowing users to choose between higher quality or smaller file sizes, depending on their needs.

Another significant feature of the R6 is its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system, which is one of the best in the market. This system has 6,072 selectable AF points covering almost 100% of the frame and can track the faces and eyes of humans, animals, and birds. When recording video, this autofocus system can track moving subjects with impressive accuracy and speed, making it easier for users to keep their subjects in focus while filming. The R6’s autofocus system also allows setting specific focus areas, adjusting the tracking sensitivity, and using touch-to-focus, which can be incredibly helpful in different video shooting scenarios.

In addition to its autofocus capabilities, the R6 also features a 5-axis in-body image stabilization system that provides up to 8 stops of compensation when used with certain lenses. This stabilization system is highly effective in reducing camera shake and helping to produce smoother, more stable footage. It also makes the R6 more versatile and suitable for handheld shooting, especially in challenging shooting conditions.

Finally, the R6 features Canon Log (C-Log) support, which is a highly desirable feature for video production. C-Log is a flat color profile that allows for greater dynamic range and more flexibility in post-production color grading. This means that users can adjust their footage’s color, brightness, and contrast without losing any detail or quality. The R6 also supports HDR PQ and Canon’s own HDR-PQ format, allowing users to capture high dynamic range footage with improved brightness and contrast.

Canon R6 vs Sony A7III

The Canon EOS R6 and Sony Alpha 7 III are full-frame mirrorless cameras offering excellent still photography and video capabilities. The R6 has a 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, while the Sony A7III has a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, which gives the Sony A7III a slight advantage in resolution. However, the R6 offers faster autofocus performance thanks to its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system, which provides 6,072 selectable AF points and can track moving subjects with speed and accuracy. The Sony A7III ‘s autofocus system is also excellent, but it has fewer AF points than the R6.

When it comes to video, both cameras can shoot 4K video, but the R6 can shoot up to 60 frames per second, while the A7III can shoot up to 30 frames per second. This means that the R6 can capture more frames per second, resulting in a much smoother and more detailed video output than the A7III . In situations involving fast-moving subjects, such as sports or action scenes, the R6 could capture more detailed and smooth footage with less blur and stuttering. 

However, it’s worth noting that shooting at a higher frame rate can also have some downsides. For example, it can require more storage space and processing power, which can be considered when choosing between the two cameras. Additionally, higher frame rates can result in a more “cinematic” look, which may or may not be desired depending on the creative goals of the video.

The R6 also supports Canon Log (C-Log) and HDR PQ formats, which can be useful for professional video production. Additionally, the R6 has a higher burst shooting rate, at 12 frames per second, compared to the A7III ‘s 10 frames per second.

The R6 has a slightly better grip and weather-sealing design, making it more comfortable and durable in adverse conditions. The A7III , on the other hand, has a slightly larger viewfinder and a longer battery life.

Canon R6 vs Nikon Z6 II

The Canon EOS R6 and Nikon Z6 II are full-frame mirrorless cameras offering high-end performance and features. The R6 has a 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, while the Z6 II has a 24.5-megapixel CMOS sensor, giving the Z6 II a slight advantage in resolution. However, the R6 offers faster autofocus performance thanks to its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system, which can track moving subjects with speed and accuracy. The Z6 II ‘s autofocus system is also excellent but has fewer AF points than the R6.

When it comes to video, both cameras can shoot 4K video, but the R6 can shoot up to 60 frames per second, while the Nikon Z6 II can shoot up to 30 frames per second. 

In terms of design, the R6 is slightly smaller and lighter than the Z6 II , making it more portable and easier to carry around. The R6 also has a more advanced LCD display, with higher resolution and touch sensitivity, making it easier to use for both still photography and video. The Z6 II , on the other hand, has a higher-resolution electronic viewfinder and two memory card slots, which can be useful for professional photographers.

Canon R6 vs Panasonic Lumix S5

The Canon R6 and Panasonic Lumix S5 are both high-performance full-frame mirrorless cameras. While the S5 has a slightly higher resolution with a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, the R6 boasts faster autofocus performance due to its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system. Both cameras can shoot 4K video, but the R6 can shoot at a faster frame rate of up to 60 frames per second and supports additional video formats like Canon Log (C-Log) and HDR PQ. 

In terms of burst shooting, the R6 offers a faster rate of 12 frames per second, while the S5 offers seven frames per second. The Lumix S5 ‘s autofocus system is also excellent but has fewer AF points than the R6. Overall, the R6’s faster autofocus and higher burst shooting rate make it a better choice for capturing fast-paced action and sports, while the S5 ‘s higher resolution sensor may appeal more to photographers who prioritize image detail.

Travel photography with the Canon R6

If you are a photography enthusiast who loves to travel, the Canon R6 could be the perfect camera for you. With its advanced features and lightweight design, the R6 is an excellent choice for capturing stunning photos and videos while on the go.

One of the key advantages of the Canon R6 is its portability. This camera is much lighter and more compact than many other high-end cameras, making it easy to carry with you wherever you go. Whether you’re walking through a bustling city or trekking through the wilderness, the R6 won’t weigh you down or take up too much space in your backpack.

In addition to its lightweight design, the Canon R6 is packed with features that make it a great choice for travel photography. For example, the R6 boasts an advanced autofocus system that can precisely track moving subjects, making capturing sharp, clear photos of wildlife, athletes, and other fast-moving subjects easier.

City Photography

In bustling cities, the R6’s fast autofocus system is a huge advantage, allowing you to quickly capture candid moments on the street. Its compact size also makes it easy to carry around, so you can be ready to shoot at a moment’s notice. The camera’s image stabilization system is also useful when shooting in low light, reducing camera shake and producing sharp, clear images. The Canon R6 ‘s Dual Pixel CMOS AF system also excels at tracking moving subjects, which is especially helpful when capturing action in crowded environments.

Landscape Photography

For landscape photography, the R6’s full-frame CMOS sensor, and high-resolution image quality are major assets. The camera captures stunning, detailed images that showcase the beauty of the natural world. The R6’s dynamic range is also impressive, allowing you to capture both bright highlights and shadow detail in your images. The camera’s image stabilization system is also helpful when shooting handheld in windy conditions, which is often the case when photographing landscapes.

Best Canon EOS R6 Lenses to travel with

When it comes to lenses, the Canon R6 is compatible with a wide range of high-quality Canon lenses. For travel photography, we recommend bringing the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens for capturing wide-angle cityscapes and sweeping landscapes. The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens is also an excellent choice for travel, offering a versatile zoom range that can handle a variety of shooting situations. You can find more lens recommendations in our guide highlighting Canon Lenses to Travel With .

In Summary: Is the Canon R6 worth buying in 2024?

The Canon R6 is a highly capable and versatile camera that offers a lot of value for its price. It boasts a 20-megapixel full-frame sensor, fast and accurate autofocus, 4K video capabilities, and a robust image stabilization system. Its weather-sealed body, ergonomic design, and intuitive user interface make it a joy to use for both amateurs and professionals.

If you’re a photographer or videographer who’s looking for a camera that can handle a wide range of shooting scenarios, from landscapes and portraits to sports and action, the Canon R6 is definitely worth considering. Its autofocus system, in particular, is one of the best in the market, allowing you to easily capture sharp and detailed images of moving subjects. The camera’s video features, including high-resolution recording, 10-bit color depth, and dual-pixel autofocus, also make it a great choice for content creators who want to produce high-quality footage.

Of course, no camera is perfect, and the Canon R6 does have some drawbacks. Its battery life is only average, and its high-speed shooting modes come with some limitations in terms of autofocus and image quality. Additionally, the camera’s price point may be out of reach for some budget-conscious buyers, especially if they already have a collection of EF-mount lenses that require an adapter to work with the R6.

• In-body image stabilization (IBIS)
• Dual card slots (SD and CFexpress)
• Weather-sealed body
• Intuitive user interface and ergonomic design
• Excellent low-light performance
• Wide range of compatible lenses
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
• Some compatibility issues with EF-mount lenses (requires adapter)
• Relatively high price point compared to some other cameras
• Some users may find the control layout unintuitive or confusing.

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Hey there! I'm Elliot Clennam, a passionate photographer based in Brussels, Belgium. My love for capturing the essence of my surroundings has led me on countless adventures, from exciting road trips to bustling city escapes.

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A Look at the Canon EOS R6 Mark II for Wedding and Travel Photography

The Canon EOS R6 was one of the most well-balanced cameras of the past few years, offering a range of the advanced features found on the EOS R5 without the more extreme specs that most photographers do not need, making it a practical and well-priced option for a huge range of users. The EOS R6 Mark II follows up on the original with a range of improvements and new features, and this great video review takes a look at how it holds up for wedding and travel photography.

Coming to you from Taylor Jackson , this excellent video review takes a look at the  Canon EOS R6 Mark II  mirrorless camera for wedding and travel photography. While the EOS R5 remains one of the most impressive and capable cameras on the market, it is bit of overkill for a lot of users, as many people do not need features like a 45-megapixel sensor or 8K raw video. Thankfully, the EOS R6 Mark II keeps most the important features of the EOS R5, like its advanced autofocus system, and reduces both the sensor resolution and price to much more practical levels, making it an excellent all-around camera for many applications. Check out the video above for Jackson's full thoughts. 

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Man these cameras are so good now it makes it even harder to know what camera might be good for you if you are just getting started off. I'm personally a little less excited for all these features since I've been content with my own cameras bought 3-5 years ago (except video, that's always the area I desire more). Glad to see Canon pushing it ever so slightly close to building the perfect camera!

Yea....a person would have to try to take a bad picture with today's cameras. Doesn't matter the brand, they all have the ability to take great shots. As for the R6II, seems to me that it fits the mold as a good events type camera. Wedding shooters don't need 40+MP sensors, but a good focusing system and fast frame rate make for a good event shooter. If I were a wedding photographer and had the budget, I'd grab the R3. But I like the larger size. I use and R5 with a grip.

True. For me it's all down to usability now. I like small cameras, I don't really care about EVF, but I want a flip up screen instead of those swively boys, and then a nice selection of compact primes to stick in pocket. Give me like 2 dials and an Fn button for ISO, White Balance, and AE-L and I'm happy.

Fingers crossed on the M6II getting an RF mount. That would be ideal. 🤞

I've been watching reviews of the R5 and R6 II over the past couple of weeks and I'm still on the fence about which camera to buy. I've been shooting with a 5D MK IV for the past 4 years (mainly family portraits and 2nd shooting weddings) and its been a great camera but I shot with the R5 a couple of months ago and the AF systems absolutely blows the 5D out of the water. As a second shooter, having a rock solid AF system is probably the most important feature to me. I'm leaning towards the R6 II because I hear the AF system is exactly the same as the R3.

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Canon EOS R6 Mark II review – sure-fire Canon, knock-down price

Canon’s updated full-frame mirrorless model gets even better, with a 24MP sensor and improved AI subject detection autofocus - and is available at great discounts right now. Andy Westlake gives his detailed assessment

Amateur photographer verdict.

• Superb design and handling
• Rapid continuous shooting
• Highly effective subject detection AF
• Impressive image quality in JPEG and raw
• Excellent viewfinder and fully articulated screen
• No third-party RF-mount autofocus lenses available
• Electronic shutter brings visible rolling shutter distortion
• Still/video switch is easy to knock accidentally

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is available at some remarkable discounts just now. Get one while it’s hot!

Canon gave the EOS R6 Mark II  a major update with its brand-new 24MP sensor in place of the previous 20MP chip. There’s also an array of feature updates, plus a few small but significant design and and interface tweaks. But is it still one of the best Canon mirrorless cameras ? Find out in our review.

It’s over three years since Canon introduced its original enthusiast-focused EOS R6 , alongside the 45MP EOS R5 . While its high-resolution sibling grabbed all the headlines, the more affordable model set about establishing itself as the realistic choice for most photographers, winning our Product of the Year award in 2021 .

Canon EOS R6 Mark II at a glance:

• $1,999 / £1,999 body only
• $3,099 / £3,019 with RF 24-105mm STM lens
• 24.2MP full-frame sensor
• ISO 100-102,400 (standard)
• Up to 40fps shooting
• 4K 60p video recording
• 3.69m-dot, 0.76x OLED EVF
• 3in, 1.62m-dot vari-angle screen

Currently retailing at $1,999 / £1,999 body-only , the EOS R6 Mark II is terrific value compared with its now-discontinued predecessor, (£2500 at launch, now available secondhand market for approx. £1,370 / $1,700 in excellent condition). This places it up against some strong competitors that cost rather less, perhaps most notably the excellent 33MP Sony Alpha A7 IV ($3050 / £2,399) and the  Panasonic Lumix S5 II ($2288 / £1799). Canon will no doubt be hoping that its impressive headline specs, including 40fps shooting and a sophisticated subject recognition autofocus system, will be sufficient to keep its existing DSLR users loyal and buy into the R system. But does the EOS R6 Mark II really offer enough to justify its price tag?

Firstly, let’s consider the 24.2MP Dual Pixel CMOS AF II sensor. While it has the same resolution as the one in the high-end EOS R3 , it doesn’t employ the same stacked architecture for ultra-fast readout. However, Canon claims that it delivers low-light performance to match the EOS R6’s 20MP chip, with a standard sensitivity range that runs all the way from ISO 100 up to ISO 102,400 and is extendable to ISO 204,800.

On the subject of autofocus, the EOS R6 Mark II builds on the subject detection AF system previously seen in the EOS R3 . The camera can now recognise aircraft, trains and horses (including, rather wonderfully, zebras), as well as humans, cars, animals and birds . AF tracking is available in all focus modes, and Canon says autofocus continues to function in light levels as low as -6.5EV .

40fps shooting with electronic shutter

  This is also the quickest-shooting camera in its class, being capable of 12 frames per second in full-resolution raw using its mechanical shutter, and a remarkable 40fps with the electronic shutter (20fps and 5fps settings are also available if you don’t need to shoot quite so fast). Select raw burst mode, and the camera can shoot at 30fps with up to 15 frames buffered before the shutter button is fully depressed. This can allow you to capture fleeting moments when you wouldn’t otherwise have time to react.

The buffer is impressively deep too, at 190 JPEG or 140 CRAW files in a single burst. On this note, Canon’s CRAW format produces unusually small raw files without any apparent loss of quality, which means you can fit more onto a card. It’s a seemingly minor feature but is of real practical benefit.

Another boon for low-light shooting is the camera’s in-body image stabilisation , which is now rated for up to 8 stops shake correction. Many of Canon’s RF lenses are optically stabilised, too, with the in-lens and in-body systems working together to deliver the best possible effect. In principle the system also works with adapted manual-focus lenses, such as Canon’s old FD-mount optics. But as with the original EOS R6, the process of entering the lens’s focal length to make the system work properly is unnecessarily long-winded and clunky.

Video specs

Another area where the specs impress is with regards to video. The EOS R6 Mark II offers 4K recording at 60 fps from the full sensor width, with 6K oversampling for increased detail. It can also output 6K 60p ProRes raw to an external recorder over HDMI, while Full HD slow motion recording is available at 180fps. Canon has also included its new multi-function shoe, which accepts various digital audio accessories, along with the firm’s EL-5 flash .

Interesting new video features include focus breathing compensation to correct for any change in the angle of view when pulling focus between different distances – and ‘face only AF’ where the camera won’t attempt to refocus when a human subject walks out of shot. There’s even a movie pre-recording option, where either 3 or 5 seconds of footage can be continuously buffered before you start filming, so you don’t miss a key moment of action.

Connectivity

Updated connectivity includes Bluetooth 5 and 5GHz Wi-Fi , which can be used to connect the camera wirelessly to a smartphone, tablet or computer. Canon’s free Camera Remote app for Android and iOS offers all the usual features, including the ability to operate the camera remotely over Wi-Fi, with a live view feed and extensive control over settings. You can also copy photos across to your phone for sharing, even when the camera is powered off and packed away in your bag. Other useful options that you don’t always get elsewhere include a quick and easy Bluetooth remote control , and the ability to update the camera’s firmware via your phone.

It’s possible to connect the camera to a mobile device via its USB-C port for a more stable connection and use Camera Remote that way, which in effect allows a phone or tablet to be used as an external monitor. It’s a mystery why more cameras don’t allow this. Like most other recent models, the EOS R6 Mark II can be used as a 4K webcam for video calls, without any need to install additional software on your computer.

Key features

Canon has taken the excellent EOS R6 and added a number of welcome improvements.

• Lenses:  Canon’s RF lens range now includes 29 full-frame optics, covering everything from budget-friendly zooms to pro ultra-telephoto primes. EF lenses can also be used via an adapter.
• Connectors:  Canon has included 3.5mm stereo microphone and headphone sockets and a 2.5mm E3-type remote release connector, all placed so as not to block the articulating screen. There are also Micro HDMI and USB-C ports. However, infrared remote release is no longer supported.
• Power:  Canon’s standard LP-E6N battery is rated for 450 shots when using the viewfinder, or 760 with the LCD. It can be charged in-camera, and an external mains charger comes in the box.
• Storage:  Files are recorded to two SD UHS-II card slots. It’s possible to use them either simultaneously or sequentially, or to record different file types to each.
• Multi-function shoe:  Canon’s new multi-function shoe is compatible with a range of digital audio accessories and the firm’s latest flash units including the Speedlite EL-5.
• Vertical grip:  The Mark II is compatible with the same BG-R10 battery grip as the EOS R5 and the original R6, which costs $299 / £379.

Build and handling

Externally, the EOS R6 Mark III is very much like its predecessor. This is a good thing, as the R6 handled exceptionally well. In terms of build, we get the same magnesium alloy chassis and glass fibre-reinforced polycarbonate shell. This may not have quite the same bullet-proof feel as Canon EOS 5D-series DSLRs used to, but it makes the camera considerably lighter. Thanks to the tall, deep grip , the camera gives a secure hold and feels well balanced in the hand, even with relatively large lenses such as the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM . As we’d expect, the body is weather-sealed .

The control layout is derived from Canon’s EOS DSLRs, but with various significant updates. Along with the familiar front and rear control dials for changing exposure settings, there’s an additional thumb dial on the top plate dedicated to ISO. Uniquely to Canon – and extremely usefully – this can be used to shift the ISO setting temporarily in Auto ISO mode.

Control dials on RF lenses

There’s also a conventional exposure mode dial (complete with three custom positions), and an AF multi-controller joystick , which at long last is enabled by default. Canon’s higher-end RF lenses also all have separate lens control dials that can be configured to change exposure settings. However on the cheaper RF lenses, this function is provided by the manual focus ring, which doesn’t work as well.

Compared to the original EOS R6 , there are a couple of updates. Most notably, what was previously the on/off switch on the top left is now a stills/video mode selector . This has the advantage of giving easy access to all the exposure modes for video recording, including the C positions. It also brings up a video-optimised interface with a 16:9 preview and separately saved settings. However, I found this switch was a bit too easy to knock accidentally when removing the camera from my bag, and wish it were either firmer or had an interlock button.

Power switch lock – is it really needed?

The power switch has moved onto the right side of the top plate, where it’s easier to reach, although still not quite as convenient as one around the shutter button like on most other brands. It now has a central lock position similar to many older Canon DSLRs, replacing the R6’s separate lock button. This can be used to disable any combination of the camera’s control dials, joystick, and touchscreen, or the lens control ring. Personally, I don’t really understand why you’d have a setting whose sole function is to stop the camera from working properly – other manufacturers don’t feel the need to inflict this on us – but thankfully you can disable it altogether.

Canon has updated its useful Dial Function option, so that pressing the tiny M-Fn button beside the shutter release now allows you to change pairs of settings at a time using the front and rear dials. Meanwhile, rotating the top dial chooses between the available pairs of functions.

By default, this gives quick access to white balance and metering; drive and focus modes; flash exposure compensation and ISO; and picture style and AF area. You can reconfigure this to suit your preferences, but the only other option you can add is exposure compensation. It’s a real shame you can’t use it to scroll through the subject detection modes.

Other key settings can be changed using the onscreen quick menu , activated by pressing the Q button on the back. This button sits in the middle of a dense cluster of ten controls, all of which are operated by one’s right thumb. In practice, this isn’t as bad as it might sound, as you’re unlikely to be using many of them at any given time. However, I found it almost impossible to distinguish the trio of Magnify, Q and Info buttons with the camera up to your eye.

Most of the controls can be customised, but I saw little need to do so, as all the buttons do useful things, and the default control layout works very well. One option, though, is to re-purpose the video record button to another function for stills shooting. Or depending on how you shoot, you may prefer to customise the depth of field preview button on the front.

As usual, Canon provides a touchscreen interface that covers every aspect of the camera’s operation, complementing rather than replacing physical controls. Canon’s menus are clearly labelled and relatively logically laid out, and there’s a user-configurable My Menu where you can group your most-used settings. This is handy, as certain useful options, such as the mechanical/electronic shutter selection and raw burst mode, are otherwise only selectable from the main menu. Aside from this, the EOS R6 Mark II offers one of the finest shooting experiences of any camera around.

Viewfinder and screen

When it comes to composing and viewing your images, Canon has used the same 3.69m-dot EVF and 3in, 1.62m-dot fully articulated touchscreen as on the original R6. With 0.76x magnification and a 120fps refresh rate, the viewfinder is very good indeed, although it can be a little difficult to see in very bright light.

Canon previews colour, white balance and exposure compensation by default, making it easy to visualise how your images will come out. You can also overlay grid lines, neatly designed electronic levels and an RGB live histogram for judging exposure. Pressing the info button allows you to switch to a clean, uncluttered view for easier composition.  

Move your eye away from the viewfinder and the camera will automatically switch to the LCD below. Again, this gives an accurate preview, while its side-hinged, fully articulated design aids shooting from a tripod, or at unusual angles in either portrait or landscape formats. It can also be set facing forwards for selfies or vlogging.

Compared to the original R6, there are a couple of small but useful updates. Firstly, the EOS R6 Mark II gains the OVF View Assist mode that debuted on the EOS R3, which brightens shadows and reproduces colours neutrally to give a more SLR-like viewing experience. This can be particularly useful in high contrast conditions, or when you need to apply negative exposure compensation to retain highlight detail. This can be assigned to a function button to toggle easily between the two viewing modes; I used the video record button.

Full-time DOF preview

Depth-of-field preview is preset, via a button on the camera’s front, much like a traditional DSLR. However, Canon has added a menu setting to enable full-time DOF preview , with the lens always stopped down to the selected aperture. I’d be tempted to use this mode in daylight, but when light levels fall, it can reduce the viewfinder’s refresh rate excessively, giving a disconcertingly choppy view.

Another useful update comes in video mode. When the camera is recording, a flashing red outline appears around the display, both in the viewfinder and on the LCD. This partially makes up for the fact that there’s no tally light on the camera’s front to indicate that it’s recording.

Like Canon’s other cameras, autofocus is provided by the firm’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology, which allows every sensor pixel to be used for phase detection autofocus. There are 4897 user-selectable points arranged across practically the entire frame, and you can choose between multiple sizes of focus area. This includes three custom options that allow you to specify the height and width of the focus zone, which is especially handy if you know your subjects will appear in a particular region of the image, for example cars on a racetrack. It’s particularly easy to cycle through area modes, by pressing the AF Area button followed by M-Fn.

Single-shot AF

As we’d expect, for single-shot AF on static subjects, the EOS R6 Mark II is essentially flawless, focusing quickly, silently and reliably. Its conventional tracking mode also works well, and is especially easy to activate just by pressing the SET button on the back. Sony could learn a thing or two from Canon in this regard.

AI-based subject recognition

However, the latest AF systems are all about AI-based subject recognition and tracking, particularly with continuous AF. On the EOS R6 Mark II, Canon has deployed what is, on paper, its most advanced system to date , going beyond even the flagship EOS R3 . So while the R6 offered eye detection and tracking for humans and animals, the Mark II gains the ability to recognise a wider range of animals, along with vehicles such as cars, trains and planes . There’s even a spot recognition setting, in which the camera will home in on the most important part of the subject – for example the front windscreen of a vehicle. What you don’t get, though, is the EOS R3’s brilliant eye control focus, or the readout speed of its stacked sensor (which generally translates to better AF tracking accuracy).

Click on any sample image to see a full resolution version

Quick and easy setup

You can pre-select the subject type you’re expecting to shoot via the Q Menu, with the available options of humans, animals, and vehicles being refreshingly straightforward compared to the over-complicated setup menus used by some other brands (looking at you again, Sony). But you can also leave the camera to detect automatically what it’s looking at, which is useful in situations of switching rapidly between different kinds of subjects. It’s also possible to set a function button to cycle through the various options (again, using the movie record button could be an option here).

Real-world use

In my experience, the subject detection system works extraordinarily well , allowing for concentration on composition and timing while the camera follows the subject and keeps it sharp. With large, predictably moving subjects such as vehicles, it’ll get things right pretty much all the time. However, when shooting small, erratic subjects such as birds with high-speed bursts, I found that it occasionally lost track, drifting onto foreground or background detail instead. It’s possible that spending a bit of time tweaking and fine-tuning the AF system would give more reliable results.

Auto subject selection isn’t foolproof, either. For example, when I was photographing birds perched in trees, it decided more than once to outline and concentrate on branches instead (it’s not obvious what kind of subject the camera thought it was focusing on). But despite these occasional flaws, the autofocus is still far beyond that offered by any DSLR, making it easier than ever to get sharp images of moving subjects. However, the EOS R6 Mark II is, understandably, not quite a mini EOS R3.

Performance

As befits a camera aimed at serious enthusiasts, the EOS R6 Mark II is extremely quick and responsive . It’s worth knowing, though, that having Bluetooth enabled can slow down its otherwise instantaneous start-up. It’s important to update to the latest firmware and, if you continue to have problems, consider disabling Bluetooth. Operationally, the camera is very quiet and discreet, with the shutter firing with just a quiet snick. Switch to electronic shutter mode and it’s completely silent, but this does come with a risk of rolling shutter distortion.

Metering, auto white balance and colour are all very typically Canon – in other words, predictably reliable. The standard evaluative metering mode is closely linked to the focus point , which means that if you focus on a dark area of the scene, you’ll risk clipping highlight detail irrecoverably. But this is easy to see in the viewfinder, so you can apply the requisite exposure compensation when necessary (note though that it’s not visible in OVF View Assist mode).

White Balance

Auto white balance is generally well judged, meaning that out-of-camera JPEGs are usually good for sharing directly from the camera, with just a little tweaking. You will, however, get best results shooting raw, especially when you want to make significant tonal adjustments after shooting.

Dynamic Range

In this regard, the EOS R6 Mark II’s 24MP sensor offers a good degree of dynamic range, allowing you to pull up shadow detail by at least three stops with no problem. Go much further, though, and you’ll run into visible artefacts, where Canon appears to be applying noise reduction to the darkest tones in the raw file. This means that you don’t get quite the malleability of the very best full-frame sensors; but it’s still plenty enough for most real-world situations.

Burst Shooting

Continuous shooting performance is impressive, but as usual, the devil is in the detail. Using the mechanical shutter at its highest 12fps frame rate, you don’t get live view between frames (just a quick review of your recorded images), which makes it difficult to track moving subjects. If you want live view between frames, you’re reduced to shooting at 7fps , although with a vast 230-shot buffer.

The camera’s headline 40fps top speed requires switching to the electronic shutte r, which means a trip into the menus – annoyingly you can’t just access it as a drive mode setting. As the sensor isn’t stacked, there’s an appreciable rolling shutter effect. While this isn’t bad enough to make your subject obviously distorted, it can make vertical lines in the background appear slanted when you’re panning, which could be problematic with subjects such as motorsport.

There are also 20fps and 5fps electronic shutter modes, but while the two faster options display a flickering outline around the image to indicate when the camera is shooting, at 5fps the entire display flashes on and off – an effect that I found disconcerting to the point of being unusable.

Raw Burst Mode

Raw burst mode is also accessed via the menu. Here the camera shoots at 30fps, with up to 15 frames buffered before you fully depress the shutter button. Bursts are captured as a single file, from which you can then extract individual frames in playback, as either raw or JPEG files. It works, but it’s very clunky compared to OM System’s Pro Capture mode.

The in-body image stabilisation is, as it was on the EOS R6, very effective. Using the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM towards its wide and, I found I could get consistently sharp shots at shutter speeds close to a second , and I even got the occasional usable frame at longer speeds. This can be really useful for shooting hand-held in low light, or for experimenting with long shutter speeds for creative effect. However, it’s no help with moving subjects.

Use with EF lenses

Current Canon DSLR users will find that the EOS R6 Mark II works seamlessly with their existing EF-mount lenses via the EF-EOS R mount adapter (or indeed cheaper clones from the likes of Viltrox). I tested it with my EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM and EF 100mm f/2 USM with good results. Both image stabilisation and autofocus continue to operate perfectly; indeed with fast primes, chances are it’ll deliver a rather higher percentage of properly focused shots. This means you can use your exisitng EF mount lenses and you don’t have to buy a whole new set of RF lenses straight away.

Canon’s full-frame RF lens line-up now covers most bases, with a good range of affordable options alongside premium L-series lenses including some unique and clever designs. But on the other hand, Canon is the only company that’s still blocking third-party lens makers from using its full-frame mirrorless mount. This means there’s a vastly better choice of native lenses available for Sony E-mount in particular.

ISO and noise

With its 24MP sensor, the EOS R6 gains a 10% increase in linear resolution over its predecessor. While this isn’t in any way unwelcome, it’s not a massive upgrade. The sensor delivers very clean images at low ISOs, and extremely usable results a moderately high settings, too: I’d have absolutely no hesitation in using ISO 3200 .

Beyond this, noise starts to have a more obvious impact on fine detail and colour, and each photographer will have their own cut-off point of unacceptability. Personally, I was happy with the images I shot at ISO 25,600 and would consider ISO 51,200 usable at a pinch. But I’d steer clear of the higher settings.

Below are 100% crops at each ISO setting from our standard studio scene, shot in raw and processed using Adobe Camera Raw. Click on any to see the full resolution version.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Our Verdict

After a couple of weeks shooting with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, my overriding impression is of a camera that’ll do pretty much anything you ask of it. It takes the already excellent EOS R6 and makes it even better, with faster shooting and impressive subject detection AF. It’s difficult to appreciate just how useful this type of autofocus system can be for tracking moving subjects. Once you’ve tried it, you may be reluctant to go back to a conventional setup again.

An impressive all-rounder

Like its predecessor, the Mark II also handles extremely well. It’s not quite as small as its rivals from Nikon, Panasonic or Sony, but this provides space for a large, deep handgrip and extensive external controls. Add to this its excellent image quality, and you have a seriously impressive all-rounder. You’d have to pay much more to get much higher performance in any given area, without compromising elsewhere.

For current Canon DSLR users, the EOS R6 Mark II represents an extremely tempting option for switching to mirrorless while maintaining use of their existing EF lenses. Those using the original EOS R will find it a considerable upgrade, too, despite its slightly lower resolution. There’s rather less incentive for EOS R6 users to update, though, unless they need a specific feature it offers. For brand-agnostic buyers it’s an extremely strong alternative to the likes of the Sony Alpha 7 IV, with the main gripe being the lack of third-party RF lenses. But this is the only real blot on the copy book of a superb camera that’s an excellent update to its illustrious predecessor.

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Full Specifications

Specifications

$2,499 / £2,779 body only

24.2MP Dual Pixel CMOS II sensor, 35.9 x 25.9mm

Output size

6000 x 4000

Focal length magnification

Shutter speeds.

30-1/8000 sec (mechanical), 30-1/16,000sec (electronic)

Sensitivity

ISO 100-102,400 (standard), ISO 50-204,800 (expanded)

Exposure modes

PASM, Fv, B, Scene, 3x Custom

Evaluative, partial, spot, centre-weighted

Exposure comp

+/-3 EV in 0.3EV steps

Continuous shooting

12fps (mechanical shutter), 40fps (electronic shutter)

3in, 1.62m-dot fully articulated touchscreen

3.69m-dot OLED, 120fps, 0.76x magnification

4K up to 60fps; Full HD up to 180 fps

External mic

3.5mm stereo or via multi-function shoe

Memory card

2x UHS-II SD

LP-E6N Li-ion

Battery life

450 (EVF), 760 (LCD)

138.4 × 98.4 × 88.4 mm

670g with battery and card

Andy has been Amateur Photographer's Technical Editor since 2014, responsible for reviewing everything from cameras and lenses to accessories and software. Prior to that, he was DPReview's Technical Editor, and introduced lens reviews to that website in 2008. Along the way, he's shot extensively with cameras and lenses of almost every imaginable type, brand and format.

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Canon EOS R6 review: A superb mirrorless camera that never misses a shot

The canon eos r6 offers incredible autofocus, image stabilization and low-light abilities — for a price.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Canon EOS R6 full-frame mirrorless camera offers incredible autofocus, class-leading image stabilization and excellent low-light abilities. It's not cheap and its video skills fall short of the very best, but as an enthusiast stills camera it's easy to recommend.

Magical autofocus

Class-leading image stabilization

Superior low-light abilities

Crisp and detailed stills

Handles well

Overheats for 4K video

Resolution lower than rivals

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Sensor: 20.1MP full-frame CMOS Image processor: Digic X Image stabilization: 5-axis, up to 8 stops AF points: 6,072 Dual Pixel CMOS AF II Viewfinder: 0.5-inch OLED EVF, 3,690k dots, 100% coverage, 0.76x magnification, 120fps refresh rate Display: 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 1,620k dots ISO: 100-102,400 (expandable to 50-204,800) Max video resolution: 4K at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p Ports: USB-C, micro HDMI, mic, headphone, E3 remote, 2x UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC Wireless/Bluetooth: Yes Shooting speed: 12fps mechanical, 20fps electronic Battery life (CIPA): 510 Size/weight (body): 5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5 inches; 21 ounces

It took Canon a while to find its feet with mirrorless cameras, but the Canon EOS R6 is proof that those faltering days are well and truly over.

A quick look at its spec list shows it’s capable of going head-to-head with the best mirrorless cameras from Sony , Nikon and Fujifilm and indeed beating them in some regards. How so? Well it’s a 20.1-megapixel full-frame camera that comes with class-leading image stabilization, a 6,072-point dual-pixel autofocus system, 12fps burst shooting, 4K video and high-res OLED electronic viewfinder.

In short, it has almost everything you could want in an enthusiast mirrorless camera, and with only a couple of minor drawbacks. Chief among them are that it lacks the really high megapixel count enjoyed by its more expensive 45MP sibling, the Canon R5 and the similarly priced 33MP Sony A7 IV, while video falls short of the absolute best.

But make no mistake: the Canon R6 is right at the top end of full-frame mirrorless cameras and I’ve enjoyed every second of my time with it. It's an obvious choice for our best mirrorless cameras list, and indeed our best cameras list overall. Find out what makes it so special in this full Canon EOS R6 review.

Canon EOS R6 review: Price and availability

The Canon EOS R6 came out in July 2020 and costs $2,499 for the body alone. It’s also available with two kit lenses: the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM for $2,799 or with the RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM for $3,599.

I tested it with the excellent RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM lens, which costs $2,399 on its own. But don’t think you’d have to spend that much, as Canon now has a 24-model strong range of RF lenses, all of which are compatible with the R6. These range from the $199 RF 50mm f/1.8 STM to the $12,999 (yes, really) RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM. 

You can also use any of the dozens of older EF lenses by adding a $99 adapter, or there’s a $199 adapter that also gives any EF lens the special control ring function found on all RF lenses. There’s also a battery grip ($349).

To find some discounts, head to our Canon promo codes page.  

Canon EOS R6 review: Design

Some of the best mirrorless cameras have real flair about them, but the Canon R6 is not one of them. There’s no retro charm as on Fujifilm’s or Olympus’ cameras and no real attempt to move away from the look of older Canon DSLRs. That’s clearly a deliberate decision, too; Canon’s own marketing for the camera talks about how anyone who’s used an EOS camera before will find it “reassuringly familiar,” and it is. But while that decision makes a lot of sense, it also makes for a fairly nondescript camera.   

But looks aside, the R6’s design has a lot going for it. The body is mostly crafted from magnesium alloy but Canon added tactile rubber bits where your hands rest, and the grip is big and provides plenty of purchase. It’s quite a large camera — more than 15% bigger and slightly heavier than the Sony A7 IV, for instance — but it’s very well built, offering full dust and moisture resistance so you can shoot in poor conditions without worrying about damage. 

The electronic viewfinder is excellent. It’s a large 0.5-inch OLED EVF with a high resolution of 3,690k dots and a fast 120 fps refresh rate, although its 0.76 magnification is a tiny bit behind its key rivals the Sony A7 IV and Nikon Z7 II. But don’t worry too much about that — it’s big, bright, easy to shoot through and covers 100% of the view.

The LCD screen is similarly impressive. It’s a 3-inch touchscreen LCD panel with a 1,620k dot resolution; while it doesn’t have quite as many pixels as the Sony A7 IV, it beats that rival by being able to flip out and round so you can shoot selfies while seeing what’s on the screen. That’s particularly useful if you use it for video streaming, and it also helps when shooting stills in awkward positions.

One final bonus is that it comes with dual SD card slots; hardly surprising at this price point, but welcome all the same. 

Canon EOS R6 review: Controls

When it comes to controls, the Canon R6 feels very DSLR-like. There are certainly plenty of options: 16 buttons plus three control dials, a mode selector, on/off switch and AF joystick. And of course you get touch controls too. Add to that the fact that all RF lenses have an extra control dial on the lens itself, and you have plenty of ways to control the camera. 

That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll always know what you’re doing, though. In theory, the three control dials give you control over your main shooting options, but because they aren’t labelled and can be customized to your heart’s content, you’ll need to spend some time with the R6 before it all becomes second nature. 

That’s particularly apparent when you’re changing settings in the R6’s menus, with one control dial scrolling through categories, one moving through pages within each section and the third scrolling through the various options on each page. I regularly found myself using the wrong one and jumping to another section when I just wanted to move down a list — though I imagine I’d get used to it in time. Personally, I prefer Fujifilm’s standard practice of a dedicated ISO dial and aperture controls on the lens, but that might just be familiarity.

Most of the buttons are more straightforward, although several serve more than one purpose depending on what else you’re doing at the time. The inclusion of a dedicated button for rating images seems unnecessary, but the fact there’s a ‘Q’ quick menu option is welcome. 

The joystick should be useful, but I found it slightly too shallow for my liking, and my thumb had a tendency to slip off it in use. Then again, autofocus is so special here that you may not use it much anyway.

Canon EOS R6 review: Performance

Autofocus is handled by an incredibly adept dual-pixel CMOS AF II system which offers a scarcely believable 1,053 AF zones and 6,072 AF points. But don’t worry too much about the numbers, because all you really need to know is that it works superbly.

First things first: it’s fast. I would say it’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fast, except that it’s probably faster than that, too. Quick as it is to lock on to subjects, though, its tracking capabilities are probably even more impressive. Not only can the R6 focus on and track people and eyes, but it also works with animals (specifically dogs, cats and birds) and vehicles. 

Fortunately, I have a suitable test subject in the form of a very energetic 15-month old chocolate Labrador that regularly moves too swiftly and unpredictably for most cameras. The R6 couldn’t quite capture every frame of his leaping and bounding, but it came damn close, giving me a far greater percentage of keepers than I could have hoped for. It’s even advanced enough to track an animal’s eye while it’s moving; truly this is witchcraft.

The below shot is cropped in to show just how good it is — the dog is mid-bound but is perfectly captured and in focus.

What’s more, it has amazing light sensitivity: the EOS R6 can go down as low as EV -6.5, making it possible to lock on seamlessly without hunting, even in dim conditions.

If the autofocus is excellent (and it is), the image stabilization is every bit its equal. As well as having 5-axis IS in the camera body, it can work together with any IS-equipped Canon lenses to provide up to an astounding 8 stops of IS. In practice, I could usually get sharp shots at 2 seconds and sometimes even as much as 4 seconds. Great news for photographers, less so for tripod manufacturers. 

The shot below was taken indoors at night, in fairly dim lighting and at f/8 — all conditions which should challenge most cameras. However, the R6 was able to get a super-sharp image at just 1/10 second.

Not all Canon lenses will get the full 8 stops, but even those without lens-based stabilization will get some benefit from the IS and if you’re lucky enough to own one of the five RF lenses that do give you the maximum effect, you’re in for a treat.

Of course sometimes you’ll want a short shutter speed rather than a long one, and here the Canon R6’s burst shooting comes into its own. It’s capable of hitting 12 fps with the mechanical shutter and 20 fps with the electronic one. Almost as importantly, it can do so for absolutely ages; you can take 1,000 JPEGs or 240 RAW images before its buffer fills up, which should be more than enough for anyone. 

Canon EOS R6 review: Image quality

With all of the above in mind, it should be no surprise that the Canon EOS R6 takes lovely stills. In fact, the combination of fast and accurate autofocus and subject tracking, speedy burst shooting and excellent image stabilization means that there are very few areas where the R6 trips up at all.

Some people might feel that 20.1 megapixels isn’t enough for them, particularly given that many of the R6’s direct rivals have more — sometimes a lot more. But the relative lack of pixels does have some obvious benefits. Speed is one of them — it’s why the R6 can shoot so fast for so long without filling its buffer — but the other concerns light sensitivity. With fewer pixels packed on to the sensor, the R6 can make each one bigger — and that in turn gives it serious low-light capabilities. 

That’s apparent with ISO sensitivity, which goes from 100 up to 102,400 (or 50-204,800 in expanded mode), and which is usable all the way across that range. Sure, at 102,400 there’s a fair amount of noise, but not to the extent that much detail is lost and you could confidently shoot at ISO 6400 the whole time and not regret it.

Below, you can see its ISO capabilities in full effect: on the left is a shot taken at ISO 200, on the right one at 102,400. Sure, the left image is sharper, but you can still clearly make out the shutter speeds etched on to the front of the old film camera. 

Though resolution may not be as high as on some cameras, there's still plenty of detail available. In another shot of Rigby the Labrador, you can see individual drops of water on his nose and fine whiskers on his chin. 

Fine details are also apparent in this shot of him meeting another Lab, where veins can be seen on individual leaves around their feet.  

There are a wealth of different settings to delve into if you want to play around with the R6’s images, including several HDR options. The R6 can also output in the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) format that you might be familiar with from iOS devices. This lets you shoot higher-quality images than JPEGs — they can display 10-bit color rather than 8-bit, but without larger file sizes, for instance. Just bear in mind that to use them you’ll need to enable the HDR PQ setting and use the mechanical shutter.

Canon EOS R6 review: Video

Video is not a particular focus of the R6, so I didn't make it a particular focus of my testing. It's certainly good enough to satisfy a stills shooter who wants to take videos occasionally on vacation, but YouTubers will be better looking at one of the best cameras for vlogging . 

As you'd expect, it can shoot 4K video at up to 60fps, albeit with a small crop of 1.07x. There's also 1080p capture at up to 120fps, which could make for some lovely slow-motion videos. Plus, all of the various autofocus modes, and the image stabilization, are available in video as well as with stills.

The quality of the footage isn't the issue here — it's crisp and colorful, while the built-in IS, high sensitivity, full-frame sensor and superb autofocus all help you get smooth, well-exposed and in-focus footage. No, the problem is one of overheating: in 4K mode it gets seriously hot, so Canon limits it to just 30 to 40 minutes of footage if you're shooting at 60 fps. You get more than an hour at slower speeds, and there's no restriction in 1080p mode, but anyone who takes video footage seriously rather than just using it occasionally will probably find it too restrictive. 

Canon EOS R6 review: Verdict

The Canon EOS R6 is a superb full-frame mirrorless camera for advanced amateur photographers, particularly those who spend more time shooting moving objects and portraits than they do landscapes. 

The combination of incredible autofocus — seriously, it works like magic — with class-leading image stabilization and super-clean high ISO settings mean it's a supremely capable performer in almost every situation. It barely tripped up once in my time with it and if I wanted a camera to take on vacation with me tomorrow, I'd be asking Canon to lend me one. 

It's not cheap, but you're getting a lot of camera here and it's no more expensive than its main rival, the Sony A7 IV. 

Landscape photographers might prefer a higher resolution and committed YouTubers will also want to look elsewhere, but for anyone else this is an easy camera to recommend. 

Formerly Editor in Chief (U.K.) on Tom’s Guide, Marc oversaw all gaming, streaming, audio, TV, entertainment, how-to and cameras coverage, and was also responsible for the site’s U.K.-focused output. He is now U.K. Editor in Chief on TechRadar. Marc previously edited the tech website Stuff and has tested and written about phones, tablets, wearables, streaming boxes, smart home devices, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, games, TVs, cameras and much more. He also spent years on a music magazine, where his duties mainly involved spoiling other people’s fun, and on a car magazine. An avid photographer, he likes nothing better than taking pictures of very small things (bugs, his daughters) or very big things (distant galaxies). When he gets time, he also enjoys gaming (console and mobile), cycling and attempting to watch as much sport as any human can. He's also fallen in love with Wordle over the past six months and is the author of our today's Wordle answer column, in which he supplies hints and strategy tips for the mega-popular word game. Given he's completed every single Wordle so far and only lost once , and analyzed every Wordle answer in search of patterns , he's well qualified to help you safeguard your streak.

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Canon EOS R6 Camera Review

The Canon EOS R6 is a full-frame hybrid camera, first released in 2020. As a more affordable alternative to the pro-grade Canon EOS R5, it has a lot to offer for enthusiast photographers and video shooters, with well-rounded features for both mediums, including in-body image stabilization, quick burst shooting, and internal 10-bit video recording. Though its sensor doesn't have the highest resolution among its peers, it's still an incredibly capable camera that can take high-quality photos and videos. That said, it's somewhat held back in the video department by a tendency to overheat during longer recording sessions and a 30-minute recording time limit.

Our Verdict

If you don't mind a bulkier kit, the Canon R6 camera is good for travel photography. While it's more portable than a traditional DSLR, it's still a fairly heavy and large full-frame camera, and full-frame lenses can quickly add bulk. That said, the camera captures very high-quality images and has an impressive autofocus system that does an excellent job of keeping fast subjects in focus, even in busier scenes. The camera also has a great battery life for a mirrorless model.

• Fantastic overall image quality.
• Impressive autofocus performance.
• Weather-sealed.
• Not very portable.

The Canon R6 is impressive for landscape photography. It has remarkable dynamic range to capture a wider array of highlight and shadow detail, which is ideal for landscape photos. It also performs amazingly well in low light, with excellent noise management when shooting in dimly lit conditions. On top of that, the camera is well-built, with weather-sealing for more peace of mind outdoors, and comfortable to handle. That said, it isn't the most portable camera, and it has a lower-resolution sensor than many of its peers, meaning you'll have a bit less leeway to crop in your photos.

• Remarkably wide dynamic range.
• Great noise handling in low light.
• Sensor doesn't have the highest resolution compared to competitors.

The Canon R6 is great for sport and wildlife photography. Its image quality is fantastic, and it has an excellent autofocus system with a very reliable tracking feature for moving human subjects. It also includes subject detection modes for birds and animals. Its mechanical burst rate is very quick, too, and it has an even faster burst rate with its electronic shutter, though you're more likely to see rolling shutter artifacts in e-shutter mode since it has a fairly slow sensor readout. Thankfully, it has a very large photo buffer, so it's unlikely to slow you down when shooting extended bursts.

• Relatively quick burst rate.
• Long buffer empty time.

The Canon R6 captures impressive RAW image quality. It has fantastic dynamic range, so it captures a wide array of detail and is well-suited to high-contrast scenes. Its noise handling is also great, with very clean files even with little available light. While its sensor has a slightly lower resolution than some of its full-frame peers, images still have a good amount of fine detail; you just won't have quite as much leeway to crop in.

The Canon R6 is okay for vlogging, though this isn't its intended use. It's best suited to sit-down or studio vlogging, with excellent video quality, in-body image stabilization, and 4k recording at up to 60 fps. It also has a fully articulated screen that makes it easy to monitor yourself. However, it's too bulky and heavy for on-the-go or walk-and-talk vlogs.

• Impressive video quality.
• Fully articulated screen.
• In-body image stabilization.
• Noticeable rolling shutter effect in 4k.
• Can overheat during longer recording sessions in 4k.

The Canon R6 is great for studio video. It records oversampled 4k video at up to 60 fps, with internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording in C-Log and HDR PQ formats, which is great if you need to preserve a wider range of detail and want more flexibility to color-grade your footage. It includes inputs for accessories like headphones and a microphone. Unfortunately, it has a 30-minute recording time limit and can overheat with longer recording sessions in 4k. There's also a slight crop when shooting in 4k, though it still captures excellent overall video quality.

• Internal 10-bit Log recording.
• 4k at up to 60 fps.
• Slight crop when shooting in 4k.

The Canon R6 isn't designed for action video, though it's suitable for recording action from the sidelines. It isn't meant for action cam mounts and isn't the most portable camera. While it's weather-sealed, it isn't waterproof, something to keep in mind if you're in extreme conditions. It can also overheat with longer recording sessions in 4k. High frame rate options are also somewhat limited, though it can capture 1080p footage at 120 fps in its slow-motion recording mode. On the upside, it captures very high-quality footage, and its in-body image stabilization feature helps smooth out camera shake when recording handheld.

• Not waterproof or designed for action video rigs.
• Limited frame rate options for action video.
• 7.8 Travel Photography
• 8.2 Landscape Photography
• 8.2 Sport & Wildlife Photography
• 8.4 Raw Photo Performance
• 6.7 Vlogging
• 8.0 Studio Video
• 5.5 Action Video
• Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box.
• Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1 .
• Updated Aug 03, 2023: Added full text to review and rewrote existing text for clarity. 'Advertised Max Chroma Sampling Over HDMI' and 'Advertised Max Bit Depth Over HDMI' were also updated to '4:2:2' and '10-bit', respectively.
• Updated Feb 22, 2023: Added a link to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II in the 'Viewfinder' box.
• Updated Dec 14, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.12 .
• Updated Nov 21, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.11 .
• Updated Oct 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10 .
• Updated Aug 16, 2022: After running into issues with RawTherapee during retesting for Test Bench 0.9, we decided to process the 'Photo RAW Dynamic Range' test scene in Lightroom instead. The test scene photo has been reuploaded.
• Updated Jul 29, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9 .
• Updated May 10, 2022: We reuploaded the images for 'Photo Sharpness' and 'JPEG Color Accuracy', as they were previously incorrect. The score hasn't changed.
• Updated Apr 22, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.8 .
• Updated Jan 12, 2022: Corrected input error with 4k frame rates.
• Updated Mar 08, 2021: Corrected the Max Aperture (Full Frame Equivalent) result.
• Updated Feb 10, 2021: Review published.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Canon EOS R6 is available in 'Black'. You can see the label for the model we tested here .

We purchased the camera with the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens, but you can also buy it bundled with an RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens or without a lens at all.

If you come across a different version of this camera, let us know so we can update our review.

Compared To Other Cameras

The Canon EOS R6 is an enthusiast-level hybrid camera. Though it uses a lower-resolution sensor than many of its peers, it still holds its own for photography, with excellent noise handling and plenty of dynamic range. That said, while it's an excellent video camera for its class, it does have a couple of limitations that have improved on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II —namely, some overheating issues when recording for longer durations in 4k and a 30-minute recording time limit.

For other options, check out the  best cameras , the  best full-frame mirrorless cameras , or the  best cameras for photography .

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II  is the mid-cycle refresh of the Canon EOS R6. While the Mark II does offer some notable improvements and quality-of-life upgrades, they're very similarly performing cameras overall. Some of the updates include a higher-resolution sensor with a faster readout speed, an updated autofocus system, and video quality-of-life upgrades like no recording time limits, no 4k crop, and better heat management. While these aren't game-changing updates, they are an improvement that might cinch the deal for you if you're trying to decide between these two cameras. That said, the original EOS R6 is still a fantastic camera, and the Mark II likely isn't worth the upgrade if you already own the older model.  

The Canon EOS R6 is a bit better than the Canon EOS R8 . It's a higher-end model with better build quality and a much longer battery life. Though it has a slightly lower resolution sensor, image quality is roughly on par. It also has in-body image stabilization. That said, the R8 is more portable and uses a newer version of Canon's autofocus system. 

The Canon EOS R7 and the Canon EOS R6 perform similarly overall, using different-sized sensors. The R7 has an APS-C sensor, so it's a tad more portable. It also has a slightly longer battery life and a faster max burst rate. The R6, meanwhile, delivers better overall image quality and is better suited to low-light situations because of its full-frame sensor.

The Canon EOS R6 is better overall than the Sony α7 III . Both feature excellent full-frame sensors capable of capturing high-quality images. However, the Canon has a better IBIS system, a more effective autofocus system, and better internal video recording capability.

The Canon EOS R6 is better overall than the Canon EOS R , though both are great full-frame mirrorless models compatible with the same lenses. Still, the R6 has a newer sensor and processor and an improved autofocus system that performs more reliably overall. It also has faster burst shooting and more advanced video features, including more frame rate options and better internal recording specs.

The Canon EOS R6 is better overall than the Canon EOS RP , but the RP may be preferable if you want a more portable camera body. The R6 feels better built and has a better battery life, dual SD card slots, and significantly better video specs.

If you want to shoot like a pro, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR has long been a favorite among professional photographers. However, its formidable size, weight, and tank-like build—while great for putting up with pro-level use—won't be ideal for most people. For that reason, and because it's a newer mirrorless model with advantages in areas like autofocus and video recording, the Canon EOS R6 is the better option for most photographers and hybrid shooters.

The Canon EOS R6 and Canon EOS R10 are both great cameras, but they use different-sized sensors and are aimed at users of different experience levels. The R6 is a more advanced camera with a full-frame sensor and better overall build quality. It's generally better suited to low-light situations and captures a wider dynamic range. It's also a better option for video and hybrid shooters, with Log recording and dual SD card slots. That said, the R10 is a very capable entry-level APS-C camera with a lot to offer for those who don't need the more advanced features of the R6.

The Canon EOS R6 and the Nikon Z 6 are both great full-frame cameras, but the Canon is a bit more well-rounded. It has more advanced video features, like internal 10-bit Log recording and 4k recording at up to 60 fps. The Canon also has a better overall autofocus tracking feature. Otherwise, they're pretty evenly matched, and you might prefer one's ergonomics, user interface, and lens ecosystem over the other's.

The Canon EOS R6 sits above the Canon EOS R50 in Canon's mirrorless R lineup. The R6 is aimed at more advanced hybrid shooters. Therefore, it costs more and offers advantages like a full-frame sensor, better build quality, in-body image stabilization, and dual SD card slots. However, the R50 is still a good portable budget option for beginners who don't necessarily need the more advanced features of the R6.

The Sony α7 IV and the Canon EOS R6 are both excellent full-frame hybrid cameras aimed at enthusiasts. They're similar in size and build, though the Canon has slightly better ergonomics. Both deliver sharp, high-quality photos, but the Sony has a higher resolution sensor that gives you more leeway to crop your photos. On the other hand, the Canon's sensor has better noise handling at higher ISO settings. The Canon can also shoot RAW photos at up to 12 fps, while the Sony is limited to 6 fps in RAW. When it comes to video, both cameras can record 4k 10-bit 4:2:2 video internally for higher-quality video capture. However, the Sony doesn't impose a recording time limit, and it doesn't have issues with overheating the way the Canon sometimes does. While the Canon imposes a slight 1.07x crop on 4k video, the Sony doesn't, except when shooting 4k at 60 fps, which unfortunately incurs a significant 1.5x crop.

In most cases, the Canon EOS R6 outperforms the Canon EOS 6D Mark II , but it's also a higher-end and, therefore, more expensive camera. Because it's a newer, mirrorless model, it offers advantages in areas like autofocus tracking performance, video features, and burst shooting. It also feels better built and features in-body image stabilization and dual SD card slots. That said, the 6D Mark II has a much longer battery life, and it could be a good option for those looking for a cheaper entryway into full-frame photography.

While they use different-sized sensors and different camera technologies, the Canon EOS R6 is better overall than the Canon EOS 90D . It's a more well-rounded model, with a better autofocus system and better video features than the 90D, which is an older mid-range DSLR with a smaller APS-C sensor. The longer battery life, smaller but higher-resolution sensor, and more established lens ecosystem of the 90D do make it a good fit for things like wildlife photography or landscapes. However, we still recommend the more modern R6 for most uses.

The Canon EOS R6 is a bit more versatile than the Nikon Z 6II , but they're both excellent cameras. The R6 is a bit better-suited to video work, with internal 10-bit recording and a fully articulated screen, though it's more prone to overheating during longer sessions. When it comes to photography, the cameras are fairly evenly matched, with effective autofocus systems, quick burst rates, and excellent image quality.   

The Canon EOS R6 is better overall than the OM SYSTEM OM-1 , but they use different-sized sensors and fill different niches. The R6 is the way to go if you're after full-frame image quality and better autofocus performance, while the OM-1 is a more compact camera system, with more portable lenses and a relatively small, more rugged body.

Test Results

The Canon R6 isn't especially portable, although it's still more compact than a typical full-frame DSLR. It's a fairly heavy body, but it'll feel well-balanced with full-frame lenses.

The Canon R6's build quality is great. The body is made of magnesium alloy, with a hard plastic exterior that feels quite solid overall. The screen rotation mechanism feels sturdy, and the buttons and dials offer good physical feedback. The camera's weather-sealed, giving you a bit more peace of mind when shooting outdoors. The battery compartment on the bottom and the SD card compartment on the side of the camera are covered with locking hinged doors, while the other inputs have sealed rubber flaps.

• Canon EOS R6 camera body
• Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens
• Rear lens cover
• Shoulder strap
• 1x Canon LP-E6NH battery
• Battery charger
• User manual and documentation

The Canon R6 has fantastic ergonomics. The handgrip is large and well-suited for most hand sizes, with a grippy texture that makes it easy to hold. With three command dials, it's super easy to adjust exposure settings without using additional buttons or diving into the menus. The buttons are also well-placed.

The viewfinder has a fairly high resolution. You'll still get a sharp image through the viewfinder, but not as crisp as higher-res EVFs, like the one found on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II . The rubber eyecup is also soft and comfortable.

Like most Canons, the R6 has a fully articulated screen that's good for video work or shooting at unusual angles. It has a high resolution, ensuring you get a sharp image when shooting with the screen, and you can use the touchscreen to navigate the menu, select focus points, or as a touch shutter.

As is typical for Canon, the menu system is fantastic and intuitively organized. While the options are extensive, they're not overwhelming. There are also many customization options to tailor the settings to your liking. Pressing the 'Info' button when available brings up the 'Help' function, which explains some of the more complicated features and settings.

For users who want to easily transfer photos to their phone, the Canon Camera Connect app connects the camera to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You can transfer files or control the camera remotely with a Wi-Fi connection. Unlike many other camera apps, you can still use and adjust the settings on the camera itself while using the app for Live View/remote control. That said, the Live View function and even shutter release through the app have a significant lag.

The Canon R6 has a good battery life. It uses the same LP-E6NH battery as the Canon EOS R6 Mark II , which has an excellent CIPA rating of about 580 shots in live view or 320 shots through the viewfinder. You can expect roughly similar performance here, though actual battery performance can vary drastically with real-world usage.

Regarding video, the battery life is decent. We managed just over an hour and a half of continuous video recording in 4k at 30 fps, which is a fairly long time but isn't game-changing. If you want to extend the camera's battery life, it does support external power supply via USB-C. Canon sells its own USB power adapter for this purpose, which you can see here . However, other adapters or power banks can also work to power the camera as long as they support power delivery and have a sufficiently high wattage. For instance, we could power the camera via USB-C with a 65W charger but not a 10W charger.

The Canon R6 can shoot at a quick max burst rate, which is great for sports and other fast action. When using the electronic shutter, the max burst rate is even quicker. However, rolling shutter artifacts are more likely with the e-shutter, especially with very fast-moving subjects or if you're tracking a subject horizontally. When shooting in JPEG with a high-speed SD card, the photo buffer is virtually limitless, so you can shoot bursts indefinitely. Even when shooting RAW files, you can shoot around 250 frames before it slows down, which is substantial. That said, if you manage to fill up the buffer, it takes quite a while to empty.

The Canon R6 uses Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system. Thanks to deep-learning AI technology, it supports human face or eye detection and can track people even with masks or sunglasses or when they turn around or leave the frame. It also includes subject detection for animals like cats, dogs, and birds. The user interface for AF is very intuitive, and you get plenty of area modes and configuration options to choose from, making it easy to tailor the AF exactly to your needs. Canon also advertises that it can focus in lighting conditions as dark as -6.5EV.

In our tracking test, the camera does an amazing job of keeping moving human subjects in focus, even through quicker or more erratic movements. It isn't perfect, but you'll get an incredibly high rate of keepers in most situations.

If you don't want to rely on AF tracking and prefer to use the center point to track a moving subject, the camera is very reliable. Using the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens, the camera can quickly and accurately gauge a subject's distance and maintain focus as they move. You're unlikely to miss focus in scenarios where a subject is moving more predictably.

The Canon R6 includes a five-axis in-body sensor-shift stabilization system, which Canon says offers up to 8 stops of stabilization depending on which lens you pair it with. We tested stabilization with the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1, which includes optical stabilization that works in tandem with the camera's IBIS. Overall, it does an impressive job of steadying handheld shots, allowing you to get clear images at very slow shutter speeds. That said, stabilization can vary depending on many factors, including not just the lens and focal length but also how steady your hands are.

The Canon R6's dynamic range is superb. Its sensor can capture a very wide range of highlight and shadow detail, which is great for high-contrast scenes like landscapes.

The Canon R6 has a good amount of resolving power, but it can't capture as much fine detail as some of its peers, with higher-resolution sensors, like the Sony α7 IV . You can still capture very sharp images, but there's simply less detail when you punch in, giving you a bit less leeway to crop your photos without losing resolution.

The Canon R6's RAW noise handling is great. It performs very well in low light, keeping noise relatively minimal.

The Canon R6 records UHD 4k video, oversampled from 5.1k, which is nearly the full resolution of its sensor. It can output 10-bit 4:2:2 video to a compatible external recorder via HDMI and supports C-Log internally to capture a wider dynamic and tonal range.

The Canon R6 can record 4k at up to 60 fps, and while there's a slight crop, it isn't very noticeable. It's still an improvement over competitors like the Sony α7 IV or the Panasonic LUMIX DC-S5 , which can only record 4k / 60 fps video with a Super 35 crop.

The Canon R6 has good internal recording capability in 4k. The standard movie mode records in 8-bit, but the camera includes two different 10-bit 4:2:2 shooting modes: Canon Log (or C-Log) and HDR PQ. C-Log gives you a flatter image to preserve a wider range of detail and gives you more flexibility to color-grade your footage. The HDR PQ mode also preserves a wider range of detail but is geared specifically for HDR displays.

The camera has a 30-minute recording time, which is plenty of length for most uses, but can still be limiting. Many newer cameras have done away with that kind of time limit, including the Canon EOS R6 Mark II . The camera's biggest downside is heat management. It can overheat fairly quickly when recording for longer periods in 4k, though you'll be fine if you shoot shorter takes with breaks in between. Another thing worth noting: if you're using an SD/SDHC card, the camera can only record files up to 4GB, breaking up recordings into multiple files if they exceed that. With an SDXC card, you'll get one long video file, even if it exceeds 4GB.

The Canon R6 has an excellent autofocus system that works incredibly well in 4k. Its face-tracking feature does a remarkable job of keeping moving subjects in focus and staying with them even if they turn around. It can get slightly thrown off if the subject pops in and out of frame, but overall, it's a very quick and responsive tracking system.

The camera's 4k video quality is excellent. The oversampled 4k video looks sharp and detailed. It does a great job even in low light, with relatively little noise and a lot of detail preserved in the shadows.

Unfortunately, rolling shutter effect is very apparent in 4k. There's noticeable skewing and "wobble" whenever you pan the camera, especially with quicker camera movements.

The Canon R6 can record regular 1080p video at up to 60 fps, with a high frame rate mode that records 1080p at 120 fps with no audio and slow-motion playback. There's no crop in either mode, which is great.

The camera's FHD internal recording capability is great. There's still a 30-minute cap on recording, but the camera is less likely to overheat in 1080p. Once again, you can record 10-bit 4:2:2 video internally with C-Log or HDR PQ.

The Canon R6's AF is as good in 1080p as in 4k. It has little trouble keeping moving human subjects in focus and supports both face and more precise eye tracking. If you manually select a target for it to follow, it still does an impressive job. It's a very responsive and reliable AF system overall.

The camera's 1080p video quality is great. It's relatively detailed and looks great even in low light.

Thankfully, there's significantly less rolling shutter distortion in 1080p. You can still notice some skewing or wobbling with very quick camera pans, but it won't be overly distracting or noticeable in most cases.

The Canon R6 has two SD card slots, both rated for faster UHS-II cards. The memory card compartment is located on the side of the camera, making it easy to switch out cards even when using a tripod.

The Canon R6 uses a USB-C port for charging and file transfer. It includes both a headphone and microphone jack, which is great for monitoring audio in-camera. There's also a Micro HDMI port, which means you'll need an adapter to connect an external recorder, unlike a camera like the Sony α7 IV , which uses a full-sized HDMI port.

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Review: The Excellent Canon EOS R6

November 15, 2022 by Island Miler

I love photography. Hopefully, that shows in my reviews, as I try to take great pictures to go along with my narratives. And, from now on, I’m hoping those photos will only improve as I recently picked up a new camera – the Canon EOS R6. 

In 2018, I decided to make the jump to full frame and purchased the Canon EOS 6D Mark II. It’s an excellent camera that has much better dynamic range and noise control than my old Canon EOS 7D. However, it was a bit lacking in the performance department, with its slower shutter speed and ok autofocus. As a result, despite the short period of time since that purchase, I decided to upgrade.

The 6D Mark II’s performance wasn’t the only reason for my upgrade – progress was a major deciding factor too. You see, Canon is slowly discontinuing its EF line of lenses as they roll out more of their newer RF line, which only works with their mirrorless cameras. Further, all new lenses are coming out at RF only. And since I was in the market for new glass, it made sense to upgrade now. As an added bonus, I can keep using my old lenses with an inexpensive yet excellent adaptor. 

Why the Canon EOS R6

There were just a handful of factors that lead me to my decision to buy the Canon EOS R6. One, I wanted to maintain compatibility with my existing collection of Canon lenses. Two, I wanted to stay with a full-frame body. Three, the camera has to have excellent autofocus, dynamic range, and noise control. And, four, the camera has to be reasonably affordable. 

Now, before I get into reviewing the camera, let’s talk about the alternatives. Aside from the Canon EOS R6, I did consider the R5, the RP, and the EOS R, though I immediately ruled out the EOS R and RP. While cheaper, the R and RP aren’t as capable as the R5 and R6, and the price difference didn’t justify the performance gap. And while I would love an R5, its high price made it unattainable for me. So, the R6 it was! 

By the way, I did briefly consider the Sony A7 R III and IV, but the change in the ecosystem dissuaded me. Sony’s ergonomics aren’t exactly the best either, though their cameras are smaller and perform impressively. 

That said, even after deciding to buy, I had a few concerns. For one, the Canon EOS R6 has the lowest megapixel count of any R-series camera available for sale today at 20.1 megapixels. Also, the camera doesn’t have a top-mounted LCD to show you your current settings. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) was a concern, too, as it’s the one thing people complain about for all mirrorless cameras. After all, electronic displays have limitations, especially when compared to viewing the actual scene in front of you with a traditional SLR. 

How I Like the Canon EOS R6

Despite my reservations, I love the Canon EOS R6. The camera has the best-performing autofocus (AF) system I’ve ever experienced, and that’s something I know many others agree with. It’s not only insanely quick with an enormous number of focus zones, but it’s incredibly accurate too. To match with the camera’s incredible AF system is its ability to shoot at ten frames per second (fps) with the mechanical shutter and up to 20 fps with the digital shutter. That’s at least twice as fast as my old camera. 

Another great feature is the addition of a fourth dial instead of the top LCD. This dial is programmable, so you can specify how it functions. I left it on the default function to control the camera’s ISO. This setup is much more convenient, as it allows me to change the camera’s ISO far faster and without having to take my eye off the viewfinder. Plus, crucial information is always displayed on the rear LCD or the EVF, negating the need for the top LCD. It’s worth noting that all other dials retain the same functions as previous cameras. And, I love having a joystick again! 

The last feature I want to discuss is the image stabilizer (IS) system. Like Canon’s earlier mirrorless cameras, the R6 (and R5) feature in-body image stabilization (IBIS). However, unlike the previous model, the R6 and R5 introduce a new feature – Hybrid IS. This new system combines the function of the IBIS system with the optical image stabilization systems of compatible RF lenses. The result is a combined up to 5.5 stops of stabilization!

Thanks to the Hybrid IS system (when used with my new RF 24-105 f/4 L), I can take hand-held shots at shutter speeds below 0.50-seconds. The best I could do with the EOS 6D Mark II was 0.10-second. 

The noise performance on this camera is incredible too. I can shoot at up to 4,000 ISO without seeing too much impact from noise. This wasn’t the case with my old camera. In fact, with that camera, I could only go up to ISO 2,000 or 2,500. With the IBIS system, this ability makes an enormous difference in my ability to shoot in low-light conditions. Then again, the sensor in this camera comes from the EOS 1D X Mark III, minus the low-pass filter. So this kind of performance shouldn’t be surprising. 

What I Don’t Love About the Canon EOS R6

Shooting with the Canon EOS R6 is revolutionary for me. But I don’t love everything about it. As you can imagine, I’m not in love with the EVF. Initially, the feed in the EVF was horrifically laggy. However, I found and changed the EVF performance settings to high, massively negating this issue. That said, it still isn’t the same as seeing the scene itself through a mirror in a traditional DSLR. However, the EVF does give you a better preview of what the final image will look like, especially in terms of white balance. Of course, without the mirror, the Canon EOS R6’s shutter is so much quieter than my old EOS 6D Mark II, which is a plus. 

Battery life is another issue with this camera, as it is with many mirrorless cameras. Despite having a higher-capacity battery than older Canon cameras, the EVF, especially in its high-performance setting, zaps energy like crazy, as does the rear LCD. However, I knew this going in, so I bought an extra battery, giving me a total of three batteries. And while I find myself charging more often while on the road, overall, the shortened battery life hasn’t impacted me much. 

My last pain point with this camera is its lack of a built-in GPS receiver. That was, perhaps, one of my favorite features of my EOS 6D Mark II. It’s a great feature to have if for the times in which you forget where you took your picture. Sure, you can buy and connect an external GPS receiver, or you could use your phone, though both solutions are a pain. This is especially true since connecting your camera to a phone is still as painful as it was with my old 6D! 

Sample Shots

Final Thoughts

Overall, I love the Canon EOS R6. As I grow increasingly accustomed to using it, I’ve found it to be far more intuitive and capable than my old camera. That said, I do find myself wanting additional resolution – especially when shooting wildlife . I do also miss having built-in GPS and still prefer traditional viewfinders. However, the positives of the camera far outweigh the negatives – especially given its fantastic ISO, auto-focus, and IS performance, in addition to the quiet shutter operation. 

Yes, I know Canon recently announced the EOS R6 Mark II , but I still think this review is relevant. Most of the camera remains relatively unchanged, with small tweaks to its performance being made here and there. Plus, deals are now more likely to come out for this model. So if you’re looking to buy a new camera and can do without the minor enhancements, then now is a good time to start shopping! Plus, the availability of the new one may not be so great in the near future. 

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Canon R6 Review – Is it Good Enough for Professional Photographers?

In this post, we’re going to spend some time reviewing the Canon EOS R6 – but if you just want to know whether or not it’s a good camera, you should know this – the R6 is an excellent mirrorless camera that brings enough improvements, like eye tracking and improved auto focus, that when compared with high end DSLR cameras, and even other mirrorless cameras on the market, it feels like a steal. Now – onto our Canon R6 review!

This camera is in a very unique position in that it offers so much, while still only maintaining a mid-tier price point. For direct comparison, the Canon R5 is functionally a similar camera, but with some added functionality and higher levels of image quality – but at a price point about $1,500 higher (at least at the time of this writing).

As a result, the R6 camera is very much within the reach of any professional photographer and may even be strongly considered by a hobbyist with a little more of a stretch budget.

But, let’s face it, you probably already know all of this.

What you are really looking to know is whether or not this is a worthwhile camera to invest in that will be able to perform well enough for use in a profession setting as a portrait camera, wedding photography camera, landscape camera, and so on.

About Us and Why We Decided to Buy the Canon R6

If this is your first timing visiting our blog, it’s important that you understand just a couple of things about us before we just lay out our thoughts about the Canon R6:

We’re a husband and wife photography team, and have been working professionally now for 6+ years as a part of our business Hand and Arrow Photography . Because taking photos is literally our profession, it’s crucial for us that we have access to high quality and reliable equipment as we regularly are documenting wedding days and portraits of couples, families, and individuals. Growing up together, we would often enjoy photography as a hobby, taking pictures of landscapes and other little things on old inexpensive cameras with kit lenses; and our passion for photography has only grown with time.

As we started our career, we initially upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark III , then the Canon 5D Mark IV subsequently after it was released. We still have our original Mark III to this day (now used as a camera backup when going to events), and the Mark IV’s have continued to perform really well despite now being “old tech” (which also makes us feel old just writing that!).

The Canon R6 was put on our radar by a lot of buzz in our network of photographer friends. We actually did not intend to buy one, until by happenstance one of our ~6 year old camera bodies had a shutter failure – and we saw the chance to try something new.

If we can sum up why we decided to pull the trigger and buy the Canon R6, it was this:

• The price point was compelling. We got ours for $2,500 – which was a steal compared to the $4,000 we had dropped on several Mark IV’s in the past. Almost half the price, but would it be just as good?
• Friends in the industry were raving about its auto focus system. It was one of those things that sounded too good to be true, but you have to imagine that a new system would be able to outperform now older cameras like the Mark III and Mark IV. In our experience, these cameras were never “bad” at focusing, but over time became increasingly less reliable even when optimized as best as possible.
• The performance in low light was supposedly really good. Given we often have to shoot in low light environments, the idea of “better” performance was definitely appealing. Of course, this is one of the reasons why we bought the Mark IV so many years ago, so we expected it to be even better.
• The image RAW file sizes were smaller. This seems like a minor thing to care about, but when you are taking thousands of photos in a day, then proceeding to store them on some external hard drives – smaller files means you can store more images on those HD’s, before needing to buy new ones.
• We could use our current Canon camera lenses without having to buy an entirely new set of glass. There is a distinct difference between buying a new camera body, and buying a new camera body + $10,000 worth of lenses.

Initial Impressions (And How It Has Altered Our Photography)

Our first impression of the Canon R6 (and the impression you’ll likely read in every review of it online) is…”Wow, this is light!”

That is definitely true and a simple consequence of being a mirrorless camera, as mirrorless options by all of the major camera companies out there like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, etc. all sell the lightweight and easy to transport nature as a big selling point.

For us, this isn’t reason enough to buy a camera. We could even argue that the more hefty DSLR’s are even a little more fun to hold in the hand.

What actually mattered to us was how easy it was to set up, and how it would influence our ability to photograph our clients.

Out of the box, the Canon R6 camera did require some time to configure, but following some step-by-step instructionals found online to set the right auto focus points, set up back button focusing, engage the new eye tracking feature with the click of a button, and make some other more personal modifications was all easy enough.

Once we had it set up, our first test was immediately with some portrait subjects – in this case our cats, who are squirmy little things on their best days. We were immediately impressed by the results, specifically with the auto focus seeming to be a lot more accurate than we were used too.

Over the course of a few weeks, we ended up documenting a number of couple’s portrait sessions and full-blown weddings – and the R6 has been a phenomenal asset.

How the Canon R6 Changed Our Shooting Style

• Eye tracking during key moments. The eye tracking feature is not one we use through an entire wedding day, however during some key shots it is very valuable and incredibly accurate. For example, when a bride and groom are walking down the aisle during a reception, we can just hold a button to track the eyes, and fire away – with great results.
• Higher frame rate for rapid shooting. Starting in 2020, we began incorporating more GIFS (moving pictures – basically) into our work. To produce these, it starts with using the cameras rapid shutter mode – which allows us to take a lot of images in rapid succession. The Canon R6 has a higher frame rate (ie: we can take more images per second) vs. the Canon 5D Mark IV, so this has resulted in GIFs that are higher quality and smoother.
• Electric viewfinder makes visualizing shots easier. The biggest change has been adjusting to the electric viewfinder. On the old DSLR cameras, the viewfinder was essentially a piece of glass (an optical viewfinder). On the R6, the viewfinder is more like looking at a computer screen, and it can more accurately simulate what an image will look like after it is taken. It’s hard to explain, but a significant change. This feature is not always preferable, but at it’s best can be really useful – but more on this detail later in this article.
• We shoot more in low light and dark situations without flash. To our surprise, the low light performance on the Canon R6 is amazing. Not only can it handle higher ISO’s before being impacted by grain, but even the quality of the grain seems less detrimental to the images quality.
• Adjustments to muscle memory for manual adjustments to ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. One aspect of the R6 that made us genuinely nervous to move over from our DSLRs was the changes made to how you actually operate the camera. We had to learn these new adjustments in between gigs during a very busy schedule, and fortunately it only took a couple days of real life shooting to really get it down. Now, it’s 2 nd nature.

How the Canon R6 Made Our Shooting Style Easier

• Better auto focus system. We always thought the Canon 5D Mark IV had pretty good auto focus, but when compared with this (even after 6 months of heavy use), the Canon R6 seems to catch the right focus about 95% of the time (with most of the most shots being user error if we’re honest). The Mark IV on the other hand feels like it comes in more around 75%.
• We can take less photos. A direct result of the better AF system is the simple fact that we don’t have to “spray and pray” as much as we once did, and instead can concentrate, snap a photo, and be happy that it will be in focus and exactly what we want. Full wedding days have been reduce from ~3,000 images (per camera), to ~2,500 (per camera) – saving us about 500 images worth of extra storage on our external hard drives, as well as time culling through those photos.
• Built in image stabilization. The Canon R6 has built in image stabilization, something that was not available on the prior Mark IV model. This helps to retain a crisp and accurate image even at lower shutter speeds, and if we (the photographers) or the subject is moving.

Is the Canon R6 a Good Camera for Wedding, Portrait, Landscape, Real Estate Photographers?

The Canon R6 camera is a good all-rounder for any style of photography with the only caveat being those who are looking for higher resolution images that may be more desirable in certain niche applications (such as images that will be used in large print advertising).

Below is a breakdown of what we think is good about this camera by subject matter:

Wedding Photography

We are comfortable saying that this camera will work well for just about anyone because of our experience using the R6 at weddings (of all different types). Wedding photography is one of the most complex forms because it involves a lot of different styles and subject matters, in a wide range of environments.

Portraits/Headshots

We believe the Canon R6 will actually be the perfect compliment for portrait photographers because they typically have more ability to directly control the environment and more time to set up shots. When doing solo headshots, for example, using the eye tracking feature can be a big saver to guarantee more accuracy (instead of having to set the focus on the eye yourself).

Landscapes/Nature Photography

For landscape photographers, the Canon R6 will work just fine. To be fair, most cameras will handle this style with ease – it just comes down to your specific requirements from image quality. If you are creating landscape images for sale (and not doing much else), the Canon R5 may be a more suitable camera for the increased quality.

At 20 megapixels, this camera is less than the older DSLRs (like the Mark IV), and even current mirrorless competitors like the Nikon Z6 , Panasonic Lumix S1 , and Sony AY III (typically starting around ~24MPs). To the naked eye, this isn’t really all that noticeable, which is why it is still being consistently used by professionals in different photography industries.

Travel Photography

Travel photography typically involves a variety of landscapes and cityscapes, as well as photos of people and animals – sometimes staged, often in a candid way. The R6 is a great choice for this purpose, and like most other mirrorless cameras, the lightweight body also makes it easier for transporting (particularly when you need to meet low weight thresholds for bags when traveling on an airplane). It’s smaller profile also means it may be easier to keep in a smaller storage bag as opposed to needing a dedicated camera bag.

Real Estate/Commercial Photography

This is the only area of photography that you would really want to evaluate what your needs are from your images. Functionally, the Canon R6 will be a good camera for photographing real estate (and similar projects that involve stationary subjects and low image volume returned to the clients), however it’s produced image quality may not be enough for what you are looking for.

As a direct comparison with the Canon R5, one of the major differences is the R6 has a 20.1 MP sensor resolution, while the R5 has a 45.0 MP sensor resolution – more than twice the difference in quality. We could envision some scenarios where the significantly higher image quality could be more desirable, particularly when showcasing luxury real estate where every pixel could matter. Not to mention, some real estate images are also used in large scale print advertisements, so the more the better in this situation.

The Biggest Setback – Canon R6 Hot shoe Issue

Any Canon R6 review you read online that does not mention hot shoe issues should not be trusted. We wanted to dedicate a space in our review to specifically address this.

First – we have not had any issues with our Canon R6’s hot shoe as of yet (~6 months of extensive use as of this writing, ~30 weddings shot with this camera + additional smaller session work). However, from reading online as well as talking with many photographers in our network, it has been a regular occurrence. You can see a couple of examples here on a Reddit thread about the issue.

What is happening to the Canon R6 hot shoe?

There is believed to be a manufacturing issue with the Canon R6 that is causing the hot shoe to be faulty. The failure ranges from no longer making contact with triggers/on camera flashes (which makes it so you cannot use these) to the hot shoe coming loose and even ripping off the camera entirely.

It’s unclear how many cameras have been impacted by this issue. It’s possible it was limited to earlier runs of the R6, however it’s not easy to assess since most conversations about this is anecdotal. Canon has not released any statements regarding this issue.

We were aware of this potential problem before purchasing and weighed the risks and decided the R6 was still right for us. The camera does come with a warranty that would cover repairs, however it’s good to keep in mind before purchasing that this could happen to your camera. With our purchase, we made sure to still have back up camera bodies (our Canon 5D Mark IV cameras) in the event we needed to quickly swap to something else.

Canon R6 Technical Specs

It wouldn’t be a Canon R6 review if we didn’t leave you with the manufacturers key specs, so they are included here for reference. Just remember – specs can be useful in making your decision in whether to buy or not, but how it performs is even more critical.

• 20MP Dual Pixel CMOS Sensor
• In-body stabilization rated at up to 8EV of correction
• Dual Pixel AF II with AI-trained subject tracking and 100% AF coverage
• 20 fps shooting with e-shutter, 12 fps mechanical
• UHD 4K shooting at up to 60p, 1080 at up to 120p
• 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording in either C-Log or HDR PQ
• 10-bit HDR photos in HEIF format
• 3.68M-dot EVF
• 1.62M-dot fully-articulated rear touchscreen
• New battery rated at around 380 shots per charge (EVF)

Image Samples from the Canon R6 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon R6 is a great camera at a great price. What it lacks in image quality compared to older DSLR models, it more than makes up for in performance. Even image quality, to the average viewer, still remains good enough that it would be a suitable choice for a professional photographer, as well as a hobbyist looking for a higher end camera model for their photography.

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My Field Report On The Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless

PROGRAMMING UPDATE: That TV show called “The Great Create” where I compete against another photographer, is now live. You can catch it right here.

On Friday, I gave you my initial field report on the  Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2  lens, which I bought specifically for shooting airshows. After shooting more with it this weekend (as one of the official photographers for the  Sun n’ Fun Aerospace Expo  airshow), I like it even more. Super sharp, responsive, feels great, not too heavy — I’m loving it.

However, the same issue cropped up with the AutoFocus button turning off on the lens again, but outside of that minor nuisance, the lens is just an incredible bargain for the money ( here’s the link  to my post on it from Friday). 

Today I’m sharing my field test on my new camera body, the Canon EOS R6, and I’m going to cut right to what it does for aviation photography (and this would also work for wildlife photography); that just absolutely blew me away. Check this out:

• Your point your lens in the general direction of where you see the jet in the sky (as seen here, where the jet is still WAY far away).

2. It recognizes the moving object, snaps focus, and locks right on to it (as seen here where five focus points all hit right on it), and it now tracks along with the jet as it moves. Come on — that is crazy!!! It locks on pretty darn fast, too!

NOTE: That shot above is not a keeper — the jet is too tiny in the frame, and I don’t want to have to crop in that far to get the jet larger. It’s not going to have the sharpness we’re all looking for if you crop in that much). This is just an example of how far away the jets are when I first start trying to lock focus onto one. Once the focus is locked on and tracking with the jet, then I pan along with the jet as it gets closer and closer. When the jet gets nice and big in the viewfinder, I’m already locked on, and all I have to do is hit the shutter button to start taking shots.

Above: This is an un-cropped shot and where I’m trying to get to as far as filling the frame with the jet. Now, this shot actually does need cropping but not to make it bigger. The front of the jet is too close to the edge of the frame, so trimming the back in some would help it look more balanced). But to get to here and have the jet in razor sharp focus, I start focusing and locking on while the jet is still far away and small in the frame like you saw previously. When it starts getting closer and much larger in the frame — that’s when I start shooting .

Also, to give you those two viewfinder examples above, I had to create those viewfinders myself and put my shots inside them (thank you, Photoshop), so you could get a good idea of what it looks like while you’re actually shooting with it. Otherwise, I’d have to shoot with my iPhone’s camera stuck up to the R6’s viewfinder, and well, that all sounds like a lot more work than I’m willing to do. LOL!

The biggest thing for me was…

…I got the most number of in-focus shots I’ve ever gotten at any airshow, period! It almost felt like cheating. Not enough for me to turn these auto tracking features off, mind you, but still. I showed some other guys from the team how well the tracking worked, and they were as amazed as I was (I probably sold two or three units while I was there. Canon should give me a commission).

This miracle of focus is a simple combination of just four settings on the camera:

(1) High speed continuous shooting mode (burst mode)

(2) Switching from Single Shot focus (for non-moving objects) to Servo AF mode (which is the Continuous Auto Focus Mode)

(3) Using the Large Zone AF Horizontal Auto Focus mode (great for tracking objects that move horizontally across the frame).

(4) Using the “Case 2” Focus mode, which is for tracking moving objects while ignoring obstacles that might get in the way (like another jet passing by).

Note: Tip of the hat to my wonderful techie/nerdy friends Larry Grace (President of the ISAP – International Society of Aviation Photography, and one of the top aviation shootesr out there) and my Grid co-host and serious techie wonderland Erik Kuna , as they helped me with some of my settings on this new set-up, and for aviation photography in general, so a big shoutout to them both.

I will say, when you first start shooting aviation with an Electronic Viewfinder, it’s a little weird because as you crank off a rapid series of shots, each one appears for a moment on screen inside your viewfinder. This is both a blessing and a curse (more on the blessing part in a moment), but it does take a little getting used to, as it feels almost like it’s stuttering, while you’re tracking the jets, but when you stop and review your shots, you’ll see it’s clearly not. Definitely a different experience from shooting with a DSLR, but you get used it quickly.

Something Else I Loved

Another great feature of the R6 (and the blessing I mentioned above) is that you don’t need to pull the camera away from your eye and bring up the images on the screen on the back of your camera. Your images, as you take them, appear right on your viewfinder, and you go back and review your images (basically, you can “chimp”) through your viewfinder, and the images look large and bright and crisp even if it’s incredibly bright and sunny out. You try this a little bit, and you’ll find yourself looking at the back of your camera less and less. It’s really a huge advantage for anybody shooting outdoors in daylight.

I did run into a problem

So I’m up on this 1-story platform out near the taxiway they had set up for the official airshow photographers, and I’m warming up doing some slow shutter speed panning because we’re shooting prop planes, and I’m excited because I haven’t really had a chance to shoot my favorite WW-II prop driven fighter/bomber, the P-51 Mustang, and it’s coming up next. Then this happens:

This is not what you want to see during your shoot, but I quickly followed the instructions because now the P-51 is taking off, and I don’t want to miss it. I missed it. Turning it on/off didn’t do the trick. I reinstalled the battery numerous times — that didn’t do it. There go two or three more passes of the P-51, and I’m still futzing around trying to get the camera to come on. All I get is this screen or a completely black screen (as if the camera is off). While I’m doing this, Erik pulls out his photo and looks up what an Error 70 is, and it says it’s a “data error,” so I pop out each of the memory cards, one by one, using the process of elimination. Finally, it fires up, and I think it’s fixed. I’m wrong. It goes right back out again. I switched cards again. No luck. Finally, I popped in a completely different new fresh battery, and that did the trick. Of course, I completely missed the entire P-51 routine and photo pass and everything, but at least my camera was working again.

It happened the next day again. It happened again on Sunday during the Warbirds demo. It happened just now as I’m writing this article (I had to double-check something in the viewfinder). I popped a different battery in, and now for whatever reason, it’s working again.

So, at this point, I feel like either:

a) Something is wrong with a number of my Canon-brand batteries (these weren’t knock-offs, except for one Erik gave me Friday afternoon but that one worked fine), or

b) There’s something wrong with my R6.

Either way, the last thing you want is your camera going down in the middle of the shoot, and just putting “Error 70” on the back of the camera, and not at least saying what the issue might be, is just this side of useless. It wouldn’t haven’t cost Canon anything extra to put “Error 70: Data Error,” or “Battery error” so at least I could also check my memory cards or battery issue, which they could have said on screen as well. That’s just straight-up lousy User Interface design.

Anyway, I’ll be spending some time this week trying to figure this Error 70 problem out. I’ll search for Firmware updates and the such, but that was pretty aggravating, to say the least, and obviously, I’m still dealing with this issue. After searching online, I see a few other people have had this same error, but not a ton of folks, so the quick answer isn’t easily found out there.

Back to Good Stuff

I used both super-fast UHS-II SD Lexar memory cards in the R6 and some of my older slower Lexar cards as well (not crazy slow, but not nearly as fast as those newer UHS-II cards), and I never “filled the buffer” or got any stuttering, which was great. I felt I could fire as long as I wanted without hiccuping, and I was shooting in Raw the whole time. Maybe I just didn’t hold the shutter button down long enough (LOL!), but I never had a single buffer issue the entire two days I was there.

There are lots of other great features about the Canon R6 (dual card slots, built-in focus stacking, super incredible high ISO performance, in-body stabilization, etc.), but for what I was doing (shooting jets and prop planes streaking across the sky), I only used a minimal amount of what the R6 can do. I never even swiveled out the LCD screen, for goodness sake (my single favorite feature for shooting landscape and travel and automotive). So, this wasn’t’t a full review of the camera and all its features — by now you’ve probably read and memorized all the specs — but I wanted to give you a real-world look at what it’s like shooting aviation with it out in the field.

More to come on this new rig as I get a chance to shoot with it a bit more with different genres and shooting situations. Still, I can tell you, at this point, I am absolutely in love with the combination of that Tamron 150-600mm paired with the Canon EOS R6 for aviation photography. For the killer prices of the two, their smaller sizes and weights, it’s a tough combo to beat. I’ve just got to get that Error 70 issue addressed (and I will, one way or another).

The Sun n’ Fun Aerospace Expo Rocks!

The Sun n’ Fun Aerospace Expo is one of America’s largest airshows, and it’s so well run from top to bottom and just so much fun for everybody. If you haven’t been, it’s worth the trip down (and there’s LOTS of on-site camping right in the middle of it all).

A special thanks to the awesome folks at Sun n’ Fun for having me on their official photography team this year, with a special thanks to the wonderful Joe Caccioppo and the great crew he put together. Such a great guy and team leader. So organized and helpful (he really knows this stuff inside and out). Also, the folks at Sun n’ Fun fly-in set up the photographers for success, providing a fantastic home base and lots of ways to make great shots, and I can tell you, all the show photographers sure appreciated it big time. It was a treat!

Anyway, I hope you found that field report, helpful. If you have any questions, you can hit me up here on the comments, or bop over to my Facebook page where I’ll be answering questions over there as well. Here’s to a great week — hope yours is a safe and happy one!

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Field Report on The Tamron 150-600mm Lens Shooting The US Navy’s “Blue Angels”

From epic landscapes to urban street scenes: the best Canon kit for travel photography

Canon Ambassador and adventure photographer Ulla Lohmann always travels with the Canon EOS R6 in her kitbag because its groundbreaking In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS) and exceptional AF enable her to shoot handheld from unusual locations. "I can find different angles that wouldn't usually be possible without a tripod," she says. Taken with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 24mm, 1/40 sec, f/18 and ISO320. © Ulla Lohmann

The temptation might be to pack everything, but when it comes to choosing the right cameras and lenses for travel photography, you have to be a little selective. Space and weight are always at a premium, but with the ever-growing Canon EOS R System, you get more versatility than ever before.

Thanks to their full-frame sensors, intuitive handling and compact size, Canon EOS R System cameras are a natural choice for the travel photographer. Add Canon's growing range of outstanding RF lenses to the mix, both zoom and prime, and you've got an incredibly capable camera setup. But the question is, which are the best Canon cameras and lenses for travel photography? Here, we speak with two Canon Ambassadors, German adventure photographer Ulla Lohmann and documentary photographer Jérôme Gence , who detail which kit is essential to them when they're exploring. We also talk to John Maurice, European Product Marketing Manager at Canon Europe, who provides expert insight.

Do you own Canon kit?

Ulla loves the Canon EOS R6 for its speed, image quality, flexibility and compact size. "When travelling, you can shoot in situations that others wouldn't think possible," she says. Taken with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 24mm, 1/8 sec, f/11 and ISO100. © Ulla Lohmann

The Canon EOS R6 provides up to 8-stops of protection against camera shake – a game-changer for travel photographers for whom setting up a tripod often isn't an option. "I frequently shoot two-second exposures but thanks to the IS that's not a problem," says Ulla. Taken with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens at 35mm, 1/80 sec, f/14 and ISO100. © Ulla Lohmann

Best mirrorless camera for travel: Canon EOS R6

With its 20.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor, a sensitivity range up to ISO102,400, up to 8-stops of image stabilisation1 and up to 20fps burst shooting, the Canon EOS R6 is an incredibly versatile camera that's perfect for travel. "The EOS R6 is an indispensable tool for travel photography," says Ulla. "The high ISO sensitivity means I can be more flexible and react to situations much more quickly. I can also hand-hold it." Jérôme has recently switched from his trusted Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR to the Canon EOS R5 with its 45MP full-frame CMOS sensor and groundbreaking intelligent AF. "It's an amazing camera… I really love it," he says. "People won't wait for you to take a photograph, so you have to be really quick." Jérôme continues, "When you photograph a portrait, the face can change so quickly, so I love really fast autofocus. The speed of the EOS R5's AF is just crazy."

Canon EOS R6

For some situations, such as a city break, John points to the more affordable EOS RP as a perfect travel camera: "The EOS RP will satisfy lots of people's requirements because it's a full-frame camera," explains John. "The body has a similar weight compared to an APS-C DSLR yet offers the step up to full-frame quality, and we now have a range of lightweight and affordable travel lenses: the Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM , the RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM, the RF 50mm F1.8 STM and the RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM ."

In this image taken by documentary photographer Jérôme Gence, a Chinese vlogger protects herself from the sun while waiting for the bus. "You don't need a big setup with the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II , and the quality is unbelievable," says Jérôme. "It's also so small, so you can photograph everything." Taken on a Canon PowerShot G5 X (now succeeded by the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II ) at 12mm, 1/640 sec, f/4 and ISO125. © Jérôme Gence

Best compact camera for travel: Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II

When you want to travel even lighter, an advanced compact camera is ideal. With a design inspired by EOS cameras and an excellent 20.1MP 1-inch stacked sensor, the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II offers a brilliant blend of performance and portability. "When I want to take a break from a project and just go out and take some photos, I bring this camera," explains Jérôme. "It delivers such great quality photographs. You can shoot RAW, which is a priority for me. For video it's also really great."

Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II

John fully supports the PowerShot G5 X Mark II's travel credentials: "It provides many of the same manual controls as EOS cameras. So it features a lens control ring, it's got dials and buttons on the body, and it will shoot RAW. It has a very versatile focal range of 24-105mm and it's got a very bright lens (f/1.8-2.8). With those specifications you can cover a wide variety of subjects indoors and outdoors and into the evening whilst traveling. Its compact size means you can carry it with you all the time too."

Jérôme took this image at a popular co-working space in Lisbon, Portugal. "The main reason I use the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM lens is that it means I'm able to include as much detail in the frame as possible," he says. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 16mm, 1/40 sec, f/4 and ISO400. © Jérôme Gence - Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award 2020 sponsored by La SCAM

A young French taxi driver trades online while waiting for customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the low light, a common challenge for travel photographers, the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM lens enabled Jérôme to brilliantly capture both the scene in the cab and the driving rain outside. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 15mm, 1/40 sec, f/4 and ISO3200. © Jérôme Gence - Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award 2020 sponsored by La SCAM

Best wide-angle zoom lens for travel: Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM

Canon's ultra-wide RF zoom is an impressive lens that opens up a range of creative possibilities. "It's incredibly sharp," says UIla. "It is just the right lens to use for travel photography when capturing landscapes." "The RF 15-35MM F2.8L IS USM will be more dedicated to vast landscapes or interiors," adds John. "If you want to capture the magnificence of buildings at close range, for example, you want an ultra wide lens such as this one."

Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM

Ulla uses the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens when she wants both herself and her subject to stand out from the crowd. "It's a really, really cool lens," she says. "It really allows you to put the focus on specific things." Taken on a Canon EOS R6 at 50mm, 1/320 sec, f/1.2 and ISO100. © Ulla Lohmann

Best prime lens for travel: Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM

"I'm always looking to stand out from other photographers, and this lens helps me do just that," enthuses Ulla. "It's a fairly heavy lens, so it's not necessarily the everyday lens you put in your camera bag, but the weight is worth it for the image quality it delivers." Travel photographers will want to pack this lens if they want that extra bit of quality, especially if they're shooting people or working in poor light. "It has this really beautiful bokeh. It's hard to describe as you don't see it very often – but it's kind of a unique bokeh effect," continues Ulla.

Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM

John agrees that it's a stunning lens for portraiture. "When you're travelling, you're also interested in where you are, so it enables you to add a bit of context. Together with the nice depth of field control, it's going to help you capture amazing environmental portraiture." If you want a more compact version of this aspirational lens, the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM is a lighter weight, more affordable option and an excellent choice if you want to carry a compact and light lens that's also very high quality. The 50mm focal length offers a similar perspective to human vision, so your shots will appear very natural. The wider aperture will also allow you to be more artistic and blur busy backgrounds – which can be useful in crowded locations, such as a market place or street.

Best standard zoom lens for travel: Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM

If you're restricted to one lens or need to travel light, then this lens should be the one you take. With a very versatile focus range, it also sports Canon's Nano USM autofocus for quiet and fast focusing, while the 5-stop Image Stabilizer increases to 8-stops when the lens is mounted on a Canon EOS R6 or EOS R5 . "The RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM is probably the lens you're going to use most of the time," says John. "It will give you speed and a good range – you'll be able to capture both portraits and landscapes very well. It's also a lens that offers good video performance with quiet and smooth autofocus. Many enthusiasts and professionals choose this lens because it's versatile and belongs to the prestigious L-series – so you have a useful and high quality lens in one for landscape, portrait and everyday use."

Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM

The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM lens is one of Ulla's go-to lenses when she travels because of its incredible focal length range. She used a long exposure to blur the wild seas below this lone fisherman. Taken on a Canon EOS R6 at 135mm, 1 sec, f/32 and ISO50. © Ulla Lohmann

Best super-telephoto wildlife zoom for travel: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM

The 100-500mm focal length range that the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM offers makes it ideal for bringing distant scenes closer, and is particularly useful if you're planning to photograph wildlife on your travels. I hesitated before buying this lens, because I wanted the RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM," explains Ulla. "But for photographing from a distance, whether that's animals, birds or people, the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is much, much better. I don't mind that it's only f/7.1 at 500mm, as you automatically have a fairly blurred background." The IBIS in the EOS R6 combined with the IS in the lens makes it possible to use slower shutter speeds for more creative imagery, such as Ulla's photograph of the sea (above). The ISO range also enables you to use higher shutter speeds for fast action shots.

Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM

Best binoculars for travel: Canon 10x30 IS II

"Binoculars are often how you find things before you photograph them," explains John. "They're essential for wildlife, travel or even revealing stuff in the landscape that you can't quite pick out otherwise. "The Canon 10x30 IS II binoculars are bright enough for most conditions and have a good magnification," he adds. But it's not just about those qualities, as these binoculars also feature Canon's optical Image Stabilizer technology. "That really improves the resolution," John says. "Your eyes don't have to correct for the movement that would normally occur with other binoculars, which can be very fatiguing and reduces your apparent resolution – or in other words, it improves your ability to clearly identify subjects."

Canon 10x30 IS II

1 8-stops based on the CIPA standard with Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM lens at a focal length of 105mm.

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The best lenses for the Canon EOS R6 and EOS R6 Mark II in 2024

We think the best lenses for the EOS R6 and R6 Mark II are those that reflect their strengths – speed, low light, sports and events

The Quick List

• Best everyday lens
• Best telephoto zoom
• Best 50mm lens
• Best ultra-wide zoom
• Best super-telephoto
• Best macro lens
• Best for portraits
• Best for the streets
• Best for architecture
• Best ultra-wide prime
• Best for video
• How to choose
• How we test

The Quick List ↩ 1. Best everyday lens 2. Best telephoto zoom 3. Best 50mm lens 4. Best ultra-wide zoom 5. Best super-telephoto 6. Best macro lens 7. Best for portraits 8. Best for the streets 9. Best for architecture 10.   Best ultra-wide prime 11. Best for video How to choose How we test

Choosing the best lenses for the Canon EOS R6 or the more recent Canon EOS R6 Mark II means weighing up the abilities of these two mirrorless cameras, and the kind of photographers and videographers they appeal to. Resolution nuts will bypass it completely in favor of the EOS R5 , but the R6 cameras do have advantages of their own.

For a start, the resolutions are modest by today’s standards, especially amongst full-frame mirrorless cameras , but still perfectly adequate for sports and wildlife, wedding, social and event photography. The Canon EOS R6 has a resolution of 20MP, while the R6 Mark II has a 24MP sensor. You can see all the differences between the two in our R6 vs R6 Mark II guide .

The lower pixel count means improve burst speeds and buffer capacity for sports and wildlife, improved image quality at higher ISOs in indoor venues, night-time events, and other challenging situations – and let’s not forget that it’s a lot cheaper than the R5!

So here we’ve picked a selection of lenses that suit this camera and the things it’s good at doing. We do have a bigger list of the best Canon RF lenses , but this is more selective, and aimed at this particular model.

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has over 20 years’ experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). He has a wealth of knowledge about cameras of all makes, but Canon is one of his preferred systems for everyday shooting, which means he’s always keen to try out new Canon lenses.

A 24-70mm zoom is a must-have for many photographers, and this option is sharp and snappy, with first-rate image quality. Read more below…

The R6 is great for fast-moving subjects like sports and wildlife, and this zoom is the perfect partner for getting closer to the action. Read more below…

It’s big for a 50mm prime, and it packs some heft too – but once you see the quality of its images, all will be forgiven. Read more below…

Tailor-made for landscapes and interiors, this ultra-wide zoom is a good choice for sport photography as well, thanks to speedy autofocus. Read more below…

We love this zoom for sports and wildlife, where you need to shoot from a distance: it’s one of the best Canon zooms we’ve tried. Read more below…

This is one of the best macro lenses we’ve used on any camera, with better than full-size magnification and gorgeous detail. Read more below…

View the full list ⤵

This is one of the best portrait lenses money can buy, with fantastic subject separation – but you’ll need some muscle to use it. Read more below…

We love this prime lens in grab-and-go situations like street photography or events – and it’s got a macro option too. Read more below…

This ultra-wide zoom is just the job for high buildings and epic interiors, especially if shooting space is tight. Read more below…

This prime is ideal for astrophotography, thanks to its wide field of view and a maximum aperture that copes with low light. Read more below…

This isn’t just a stills lens that’s handy for video: it’s a pro-grade hybrid, both stills and cine, with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Read more below…

Best lenses for the Canon R6 & R6 Mark II in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Best everyday lens for the R6

1. Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The 24-70mm f/2.8 has become the standard 'pro' lens for every full-frame camera system, offering a constant maximum aperture and first-rate image quality. We'll admit it's not quite perfect with somewhat average edge sharpness, though this might be a lot less obvious on the 20MP EOS R6. 

Otherwise, it’s snappy, it’s sharp, it’s stabilized and it even suppresses focus breathing, so this makes it an especially capable lens for videographers too. It also has image stabilization, and while this is perhaps less important with the R6, which has IBIS, every little helps, as they say.

The alternatives to this lens are the monster-sized Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM , but that lacks stabilization and only goes to a 28mm wide-angle view rather than 24mm. Or there's the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM , but that's quite big too, and one f-stop slower.

Read more: Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM review  

• Back to the top ⤴

Best telephoto zoom for the R6

2. Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

A 70-200mm f/2.8 is the third 'trinity' lens at the heart of most pro camera systems, especially a camera like the EOS R6, which is perfect for sports, wildlife, and event photography. And while Canon’s RF lenses are often criticized for feeling big and heavy on mirrorless bodies, this one remains reasonably slim and svelte. Compared with the latest EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens for Canon's D-SLRs, it’s significantly smaller and only about two thirds of the weight – mostly because this RF edition has an extending inner barrel rather than a fixed physical length. 

Autofocus is amazingly rapid, based on dual Nano USM actuators, and three switchable modes are on offer for static and panning shots, plus a third option that applies stabilization only during exposures. This makes it easier to track erratically moving objects in the viewfinder, or via the camera’s rear screen.

Read more: Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM review

Best 50mm lens for the R6

3. Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

This lens is big, and this lens is heavy, but man is the quality worth it. This is one of the sharpest prime lenses money can buy, but you better have a lot of money as this lens is also eye-wateringly expensive. 

The EF version of this Canon 50mm L series was the go-to prime lens for an entire generation of professional photographers due to its incredible optical rendering. The RF version has become a little more clinical, with incredible sharpness and clarity, but still keeps that beautiful background blur and subject isolation with its huge f/1.2 aperture. The 50mm focal length is also perfect for a range of subjects, as a versatile creative tool, this lens is almost unrivaled by any other Canon lens.

Read more: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM review

Best ultra-wide zoom for the R6

4. Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM

The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 is perfect for landscape, architectural and travel photography – as well as close-up sporting action, thanks to its super-fast Nano USM autofocus system. You can really exaggerate the perspective between background and foreground areas when shooting at the wide end of the zoom range, although it's worth noting corner sharpness does drop off a bit. 

An ultra-wide zoom might not be an essential buy for all Canon EOS R6 owners, but this is the third and final part of the 'trinity' lenses that practically every pro will have on their list. The constant f/2.8 maximum with a 5-stop image stabilizer enables great handheld performance under low lighting conditions. Unlike with some ultra-wide-angle lenses, another bonus is that the hood is removable, so filters can be easily fitted via the 82mm attachment ring.

Read more: Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM review

Best super-telephoto lens for the R6

5. Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM

The Canon EOS R6 is perfectly equipped for sports and wildlife, with sophisticated AI subject recognition and a super-fast burst rate. But very often your subjects are some way off, and you need a more powerful telephoto. The Canon RF 100-500mm is a superb addition to the rapidly expanding range of RF-mount lenses for Canon's EOS R-series cameras.

It combines Canon's legendary L-series build quality with premium optical performance that's up there with the very best Canon zoom lenses we've tested. Its autofocus is also optimized to match the AF and in-body stabilization of the EOS R6, and while this is a big lens with a comparative mode f/4.5-7.1 aperture range, it does offer an impressive 5x zoom range for quickly adapting to different subject distances out in the field.

Read more: Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM review

Best macro lens for the R6

6. Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM

This is truly a unique macro lens, no matter what camera system you’re considering. It takes its heritage from the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, but builds on it enormously for the RF range. Up to eight stops of hybrid image stabilization steady the frame, while a bright f/2.8 aperture lets light soak into the image sensor.

It has better magnification with a reproduction ratio of 1.4:1 (1:1 is required for genuine macro performance) which means more detail in macro subject capture. And there’s even a spherical aberration control ring on the lens to control a soft focus effect, adding flattering bokeh to images. It also doubles as a standard lens as it can focus to infinity.

Read more: Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM review  

Best portrait photography lens for the R6

7. Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM

Switching away from sports and wildlife for the moment and back to commercial and events photography, the EOS R6's other great strength, there's this – perhaps the best portrait lens in the world. It's the pièce de résistance of the Canon RF lenses and possibly one of the finest portrait lenses we've ever used. It's fiercely sharp, even when shooting at f/1.2, and when shooting wide open, it delivers sublime subject separation and a beautifully blurred background. 

However, it's a beast of a lens weighing almost 1.2kg with dimensions of 103.2x117.3mm. As it's so heavy it's especially well suited to the Canon EOS R6 as it has in-body stabilization which will help to steady the setup while you're shooting. It's also probably not the best lens to invest in if you plan on taking it traveling or hiking as it's bound to weigh you down. 

Chances are if you're a pro you could justify the cost of this lens but if not, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 will still deliver beautiful images only at a fraction of the weight and price and has a handy 'macro' capability too. 

Read more: Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM review

Best street photography lens for the R6

8. Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM

The 35mm focal length has long been associated with street photography, but we reckon this great little prime lens would be equally useful for wedding, social or event photography, as a quick grab-and-go lens, maybe on a second body. The semi-wide 35mm focal length is versatile, the f/1.8 maximum aperture will give you decent shutter speeds in low light and good background blur, and while the macro facility only offers 0.5x magnification rather than true 1x macro, it still gets you close enough for frame-filling shots of the rings, wedding invites, cake decorations and all the other atmospheric details of social events. 

It’s wonderfully compact and lightweight, as well as only costing about a fifth of the price of Canon’s bulky f/1.2 lenses. Indeed, the relatively small and inexpensive build enabled by the more modest aperture rating makes you wonder why Canon hasn’t made more f/1.8 RF primes yet. 

Read more: Canon 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM review

Best architectural photography lens for the R6

9. Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM

Until now the widest RF-mount lens you could buy was the RF 15-35mm f/4L IS USM, but now Canon has really upped the ante with this 10-20mm offering. It provides much-improved potential for landscape and architectural shots, especially for interiors when you’re cramped for space. 

The optical image stabilizer is a nice bonus when capturing night-time cityscapes without a tripod, while the really short minimum focus distance is ideal for giving a fresh perspective to close-ups. Our only gripes are, like many ultra-wide-angle lenses, the hood isn’t removable, which is a potential issue if you want to use filters.

Read more: Canon RF 10-20mm f/4L IS STM review

Best ultra-wide prime for the R6

10. Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D

Listed as the fastest wide-angle prime RF lens you can buy right now, this manual-focus prime is an excellent addition to any kit bag for the Canon EOS R5 owner. Relatively lightweight considering the wide field of view and perfect for astro or other low light situations thanks to the bright f/2 aperture. It’s equally adept at shooting in the day, providing next to no image distortion.

There’s no autofocus in this 15mm though, so it might be best for subjects such as landscape and architectural photography where autofocusing on moving subjects isn’t important. 

Read more: Laowa 15mm f/2 Zero-D review  

Best videography lens for the R6

11. Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z

This is a 24-105mm lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture: a dream lens of so many photographers for so long. But this lens comes with a bit of a twist; instead of being a photography lens that is also good for video, Canon has decided to make a true hybrid lens that walks the line between cine lens and stills lens.

The new addition of the 'Z' ( Nikon 's trademark lawyers must be watching closely!) in the lens name stands for ‘zoom’, or rather ‘power zoom’, but not to be confused with other PZ or PTZ cameras, Canon seems to have just stuck with the single Z. But in reality, the lens doesn’t have actually power zoom built into it, instead requiring an additional Power Zoom Adapter for any assisted zooming functions.

This lens is considerably bigger than the RF 24-70mm f/2.8, but image quality is sublime, with sharp results throughout the zoom range in our testing. The lens unfortunately is prohibitively expensive for most who aren’t dedicated professionals in both stills and video, but if you intend to use your R6 or R6 II in this role, then the outlay could well be worth it.

Read more: Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z review

How to choose the best lens for the Canon EOS R6

Do all canon lenses fit the eos r6.

The R6 uses the Canon RF mount, which means it works with all RF and RF-S lenses. RF lenses are designed for use with full-frame Canon camera such as the R6, and there are lots to choose from. RF-S lenses are made with APS-C Canon cameras such as the R10 in mind: on the R6, they produce a cropped image compared with an RF lens at the same focal length.

The R6 can also use Canon's older EF and EF-S lenses for DLSRs, but you have to buy a Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapter to fit the lenses.

The R6 can’t use EF-M lenses, which are made for the Canon EOS M series of cameras. No adaptor has been released for EF-M lenses. 

How do I know which lens to get for my R6?

The reason there are so many types of lens in the first place is that different scenes demand different lens designs, particularly when it comes to focal length and aperture rating.

Usually, you will decide what you want to photograph, then get a lens with the focal length that suits the situation. For example, to shoot landscapes you will need a wide-angle lens, while for sports and wildlife you will need a telephoto.

You can watch this video that explains focal length : it helps you work out what kind of lenses you need for different genres of photography. 

How we test lenses

The lens experts in our testing lab run a range of tests under controlled conditions, using the Imatest Master testing suite. Photos of test charts are taken across the range of apertures and zooms (where available), then analyzed for sharpness, distortion and chromatic aberrations.

We use Imatest SFR (spatial frequency response) charts and analysis software to plot lens resolution at the centre of the image frame, corners and mid-point distances, across the range of aperture settings and, with zoom lenses, at four different focal lengths.

There's more to it than just the technical side, though! Beyond the lab, our reviewers test lenses in real-world environments – and sometimes on professional shoots! We work with lenses both indoors and outdoors, in studio conditions and in natural light, with as many different subjects as is possible (or appropriate – there's no point testing a landscape lens' ability to shoot a portrait!). 

We take into account everything from handling and ease of use to speed of autofocus and the overall quality of the images produced. 

Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World

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The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine ,  PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine ,  N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine ,  Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show . He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.

• Rod Lawton Contributor

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Three Canon EOS R6 Lenses for Any Budget

Photo by recep-bg via iStock

For owners of the powerful Canon EOS R6 , one of the hardest questions to answer is: which lenses should I buy? This is because Canon’s advanced new RF lens lineup for Canon R mirrorless cameras is so stuffed with award-winning lenses that it can be nearly impossible to decide which ones to buy.

 That’s where we come in! This article shares three Canon EOS R6 lenses that are perfect for every budget. So, regardless of your budget or skill level, your ideal lens is waiting for you below!

 One fantastic resource with tons of used Canon EOS R6 lenses in stock and a place I have bought and sold countless camera gear over the years is MPB . They are a trustworthy and reliable online platform selling used photo and video kit at unbeatable prices. 

 Moreover, all their cameras and lenses are methodically hand-inspected by knowledgeable product specialists and backed by warranties, allowing you to make your purchases confidently and worry-free. Another wonderful feature of MPB is that you can trade in and sell your old camera equipment to help offset the cost of new-to-you gear you want and need.

 With that said, let’s dive in and discover three amazing Canon R6 lenses that will help take your photo and video skills to the next level!

Table of Contents

Budget canon eos r6 lenses, mid-range canon eos r6 lenses, high-end canon eos r6 lenses, final thoughts on canon eos r6 lenses.

If you are on a budget, one of the best Canon EOS R6 lenses is the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM . It’s the cheapest lens in the RF lens lineup , but you would never know it based on its performance. Image and video quality are excellent, and most people will never be able to tell the difference between images shot with this lens and the luxury Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM .

Its ultra-portable, lightweight design makes it a good choice for everyday use, travel, and street photography. Also, its smooth and quiet autofocus motor is super responsive and ideal for videographers and nature photographers.

A few more awesome features of the Canon RF 50mm worth mentioning are the f/1.8 maximum aperture, customizable control ring, and close minimum focusing distance. Best of all, it can be yours for the low price of just over $100!

Here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM:

• Lens Type: Normal-Length Prime Lens
• Camera System: Full-Frame
• Lens Mount: Canon RF Lens Mount
• Focal Length: 50 mm
• Maximum Aperture : f/1.8
• Minimum Aperture: f/22
• Minimum Focusing Distance: 30 cm
• Filter Size: 43 mm
• Focusing system: Autofocus & Manual Focus
• Maximum Magnification : 0.25x
• Size/Weight: 69 x 40 mm / 160 grams
• Optical Image Stabilization: No

Check out the video above by Peter McKinnon to learn more about this 50mm lens and why it’s a must-have lens for everyone shooting with a Canon R camera. 

Next, let’s take a closer look at the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM . It’s a do-it-all zoom lens capable of capturing stunning images and videos across all types of photography. Because of its unmatched focal length versatility, this is our top recommendation if you can only own one Canon EOS R6 lens.

Another killer feature that makes this one of the best Canon EOS R6 lenses on the market is its built-in image stabilization. It adds up to five stops of exposure, increases the low-light performance of your camera, and significantly reduces camera shake when recording handheld video footage.

More highlight-worthy features of the Canon RF 24-105mm include its constant f/4 maximum aperture, Nano USM Autofocus system, and robust weather-proof design. This makes it a go-to lens for travel, adventure, wildlife, and landscape photography. You can get your hands on one of these bad boys for under $1000 at MPB !

Here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM:

• Lens Type: Standard Zoom Lens
• Focal Length: 24-105 mm
• Maximum Aperture: f/4
• Minimum Focusing Distance: 45 cm
• Filter Size: 77 mm
• Maximum Magnification: 0.24x
• Size/Weight: 83.5 x 107.3 mm / 700 grams
• Optical Image Stabilization: Yes

Check out the video above by Dan Yosua to learn more about this 24-105mm lens and why it's a terrific option for travel photography.

Learn More:

• Why the Canon EOS R is a Great First Full Frame Camera
• Three Budget-Friendly Canon EOS R Lens Options for 2023

Lastly, if you are a professional photographer or videographer, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM DS is unquestionably one of the best Canon EOS R6 lenses. It’s an absolute beast designed specifically for portrait and product photography thanks to its extraordinary shallow depth of field.  

The industry-leading f/1.2 maximum aperture creates gorgeous bokeh effects guaranteed to blow both you and your clients away. The low maximum aperture also makes this lens a great choice for working in low light and astrophotography.

Other professional features of the Canon RF 85mm are the Defocus Smoothing technology to soften bokeh effects, a Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics element to counter chromatic aberrations, and an Ultrasonic (USM) autofocus motor. This high-end lens checks in at around $2,500. 

Here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM DS:

• Lens Type : Portrait-Length Prime Lens
• Camera System : Full-Frame
• Focal Length : 85 mm
• Maximum Aperture : f/1.2
• Minimum Aperture : f/16
• Minimum Focusing Distance : 85 cm
• Filter Size : 82 mm
• Focusing system : Autofocus & Manual Focus
• Maximum Magnification : 0.12x
• Size/Weight : 103.2 x 117.3 mm / 1195 grams
• Optical Image Stabilization : No

Check out the video above by Christopher Frost to learn more about this 85mm lens and how it stacks up against other best portrait lenses.

While those are three great used Canon EOS R6 lenses for any budget, they aren’t the only ones out there. With that in mind, here are some more of my favorite Canon RF lenses currently on sale for unbeatable prices at MPB :

• Canon RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
• Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM
• Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM
• Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
• 4 Things to Look for When Buying a Used Camera Lens
• Four Used Canon RF Lenses to Consider

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The Only Three Lenses You Need for Travel Photography

A Post By: Phillip Van Nostrand

The only three lenses you need for travel photography anywhere   in the world are a fisheye lens, a 50mm, and a 135mm (or similar telephoto).

You can agree and finish this article right here, or you can read on to see exactly why I would choose only these three lenses to take with me anywhere in the world.

• The Three Key Travel Photography Lenses

Before I say anything else, the fisheye I have in mind has an aperture of f/2.8, the 50mm has an aperture of f/1.4, and the 135 has an aperture of f/2.0. Popular, cheaper variations on these lenses would be the 24mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, and the 100mm f/2.8 Macro. I’d also like to address what I imagine a popular response to this article might be: “What about the 24-105mm?” This lens is weak for a couple of reasons. The maximum aperture on this lens is f/4, which ends up being very limiting if you are trying to travel light (and going without an off camera flash).  Also, prime lenses are always superior in quality to zoom lenses. There are less moving parts and the image quality is cleaner. If you think having just one lens to cover a greater range is easier, just remember what you gain in convenience (by having one lens) you lose in quality, weight, and ability to “see” in the dark.

Each of these lenses are used for very specific reasons. Just as we wear different shoes for different purposes throughout our week, such as; sneakers for exercise, dress shoes for work, and slippers around the house – we use different lenses to convey different feelings, emotions, and to use as different tools to capture our experiences. Some lenses really are better than others for certain things. For example, portraits are best taken with lenses between 85mm and 135mm . The distortion to the face/ears is minimized and the truest proportions are found in this range.

On the other hand, you wouldn’t normally reach for a lens like this when shooting a landscape scene (there are always exceptions to every rule, and it’s fun to see what happens when you break the general guidelines). Great lenses for landscapes tend to be a bit wider , somewhere between 15mm and 50mm. I recently took only these three lenses with me on the Trans Siberian Railway from Russia through Mongolia into China. Here are MY reasons for bringing the 15mm Fisheye, 50mm f/1.4, and the Canon 135mm f/2.0 with me on this trip of a lifetime.

• The Canon Fisheye 15mm f/2.8

The Canon 15mm lens is my antidote to boring building pictures. When traveling abroad (or around your own town/city/village), interesting buildings are inevitably photographed. Oh, that old bridge with locks attached to it? Better take a picture. Oh, look at that old cathedral in the Kremlin, better take a picture. If it’s there, it must be important. Well, you can add your photo to 1.5 million other photographs right there on Flickr or Google images that look  exactly like the one you just took.

What will you do to differentiate yourself? How can you take a picture that will make someone pause for more than half a second?  Ad companies are excited when someone spends 4-8 seconds looking at a photo. Can you get someone to look at one photo for that long? What would it take? For me, I decided I would never take boring, straight photos of buildings ever again. I’d either edit them in unusual ways (like creating an HDR image , or process it in very contrasted black and white), at unusual times of day, or I would attempt to photograph it differently than every other tourist before me.

Shooting with a fisheye lens can be really fun, actually. Hold your camera up to your eye with a fisheye lens on, move the camera upwards and watch the horizon bend down sharply at the sides, creating a “globe” feel to your image. Tilt the camera down and watch the earth curve up like a big “U”. Buildings become warped and distorted in unusual ways, like a piece of Gaudi’s architecture . Stand in the middle of the street and point the camera straight upwards and watch the buildings on the side loom over you, like in a Dr. Seuss book.

Fisheye lenses can capture an entire room, cabin of a train, or a bathroom easily. They make selfies on your DSLR incredibly easy. You can take incredible photos of the stars at night. And best of all, they are great for doing the Camera Toss . (I suppose I should recommend NOT trying this ever, anywhere). Fisheye lenses add an element of fun and whimsy to travel photos, which I find otherwise a bit boring and predictable. It’s also an incredibly light and compact lens to travel with, which is why I always bring it along on my trips now.

• The 50mm f/1.4

The 50mm lens is a standard, go-to, all-around lens. And while the Fisheye lens brings a lot of whimsy and fun to my travel pictures, some scenes just don’t call for that. I’ve heard it said that the 50mm is the closest representation to what we see naturally with our eyes. This lens is my best choice of the three options for Canon 50mm lenses. For only about $300, this lens has fantastic optics and a powerful aperture. It’s made of real glass lenses unlike the cheaper, lower quality 50mm f/1.8 . And it focuses fast, unlike the much more expensive 50mm f/1.2 , which happens to be twice as heavy.

This is a great, inconspicuous lens on a camera body because it doesn’t stick out too much like a 70-200mm would, and the quality is just superb, as I’ve already said. It is extremely lightweight, and you could honestly walk around the entire day with just this lens. What I associate most with the 50mm f/1.4 lens is  street photography . I love to take that lens and get lost down side streets and alleyways. I like to take photos of strangers on the street with this lens. The focal length is just right, so it feels as though the viewer is standing there by him or herself. It captures just enough of a scene to convey what is there.

The 50mm f/1.4 is also a great lens for portraits (though I prefer the 135mm f/2.0). It produces lovely bokeh . It forces you to get up close to your subject, making the portrait more intimate. You can’t hide behind a telephoto like the 135mm or a 70-200mm. You are an arm’s distance away, and being that close sometimes shows up on the subject’s face in interesting ways.

The last thing that I think the 50mm f/1.4 does best, is capture images in low light situations. Trying to capture dinner in a restaurant at night using candlelight only? Totally possible. That light reflecting across the river at night? 50mm does it best! Sleeping in yurts for four nights in a row? Getting that delicious yurt light from the top of the tent is easy with the 50mm.

Fun fact: of my top 200 images from the trip, 112 of them were taken with the 50mm.

• The 135mm f/2.0

The granddaddy of all these lenses, the 135mm f/2.0 has a special POW feel to it. Because it is a telephoto, it pulls the background in for a nice compact feel to the images. It is a great portrait lens as it completely obliterates the background in a sea of dreamy bokeh. And one special fact about the Canon 135mm f/2.0: it has the ability to focus at a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), which makes it almost like a macro lens.

This lens is fun for me because it has similar properties to the 70-200mm, but it weighs nearly half as much, which will save your back and shoulders after a long day of walking around. This is a fun lens to spy on people from afar, if you are afraid of the straight-on street style encounters you get with the 50mm. This is actually a really interesting lens to do landscapes with if you have enough room. Look at this side-by-side comparison of basically the two same scenes, and look what the 135mm does to the mountains and landscape in the background. It really pulls them towards you, the viewer and truly implies the scope of the scene.

• The Three Essential Travel Photography Lenses: Conclusion

I hope these images and words have inspired you. It’s really fun to limit yourself to prime lenses and feel how they work (and don’t work) in various situations. Being that close to just a few lenses over a month of travel really allows you to get to know the equipment well. So now let’s see some travel photos you’ve taken with prime lenses!

Table of contents

Travel photography.

• 8 Ideas of What To Do With Your Vacation Photos
• What Skills do You Need to be a Travel Photographer?
• How to Capture the Essence of a Place – Travel Photography Tips
• 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again
• Avoid These 5 Major Mistakes Made By Travel Photographers
• Travel Photography – Do You Ask Permission Before, After Or Not At All?
• Travel Photographers Workflow – At Home and on the Road
• The Photo Critique: Travel Photo Edition
• 6 Reasons Why Your Travel Photos Don’t Look Like the Ones in Magazines
• The Fine Line Between Travel Photography and Having a family Vacation
• 10 Ways to Improve your Vacation Photos
• What is Your Biggest Travel Photography Challenge?
• 7 Travel Photography Hacks to Get You Going Places
• How to Use a Travel Photography Shot List to Come Home with Better Photos
• Why You Need To Be A Guerrilla Travel Photographer – And How To Become One
• How to Get the Most Out of a Travel Photography Location
• Travel Photography, Backpacking and Packing Light
• 6 of the Best Smartphone Apps for Travel and Landscape Photography
• How To Keep Camera Gear Safe While Traveling
• 5 Ways to Find Great Locations for Travel Photography
• 15 Tips for Protecting Your Images While Traveling
• Safety Tips for Travel Photographers (Particularly Women)
• Off Camera Flash for Your Travel Photography
• How to Use Natural Light in Travel Photography
• Photo Composition Tips from Bob Holmes – Composition in Travel Photos
• The Importance of People in your Travel Photos
• Create More Unique Travel Photos by Adding a Model
• 5 Lessons Learned Switching from DSLR to Mirrorless for Travel Photography
• How To Keep Your Batteries Charged While Traveling – Remote Location Edition
• 5 Tips For Travel With Only One Lens
• 5 Lessons Learned While Using a Kit Lens for Travel Photography
• 7 Tips for Using a Tripod in Landscape and Travel Photography
• The Best Fujifilm X-Series Kits for Travel Photography
• The First 10 Things You Need to Buy After Your Camera for Travel Photography
• Tiniest Interchangable Lens Micro Four Thirds Cameras for Travel with Amazing Quality
• Must Have Gear for Travel Photography Newbies
• Why Olympus Mirrorless Cameras are Top Notch for Travel Photography
• The Best Travel Photography Lenses: Our Top 12 Picks
• 5 Camera Bags That Every Travel Photographer Needs At Some Point
• A Travel Tripod that can Also Act as a Light Stand
• The iPad as a Photographer’s Travel Helper [a Review]
• 7 Non-Photography Items Which No Travel Photographer Should Leave Home Without
• 7 Reasons Why a Tripod is a Travel Photographer’s Best Friend
• Travel Photography Equipment – What To Pack?
• 10 Ways to Improve Your Travel Photography Portraits
• How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation
• Tips for Photographing Local Parks
• How to Find the Best Kinds of People to Photograph While Traveling
• 4 Ways To Make Better Street Portraits While Traveling
• How to Photograph People When Traveling
• How To Take More Creative Environmental Travel Portraits
• Photographing Signs – Travel Photography Tip
• Tips for Creating Better Documentary Travel Photos
• 6 Tips for How to be a Culturally Sensitive Travel Photographer
• Travel Photography Subjects: Old People
• How to Put the Fine Art into Travel Photography
• Travel Photography without the Travel – Going Local
• How to Tell Better Visual Stories with Travel Photography
• Create a Theme to Step Up Your Travel Photography
• Travel Photography ~ Think Outside The Postcard When Photographing Famous Landmarks
• Photographing Festivals and Events – Tips for Travel Photographers
• Video: Travel Photography Tips – Shoot with a Purpose
• 7 Reasons Why You Should Art Direct Your Travel Photography
• Buy Less Gear: Travel and Experience More
• Editorial Travel Photography – Telling the Story of a Location
• Travel Photography Subjects: Religion
• Travel Photography Subjects: Views
• Travel Photography Tips – Photographing the Coast
• Taking Photos in Busy Tourist Destinations with no People in the Shot
• How to Backup and Manage Your Photos When Traveling Without a Computer
• Tips for Creating a Killer Vacation Photo Book
• Photo Editing Workflow for Travel Photography
• How to Build a Travel Photography Portfolio
• How to Become a Professional Travel Photographer – Two Paths
• 11 Tips for Shooting Travel Stock Photography to Make Money
• How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels
• 7 Realities That Hit Once You Become a Professional Travel Photographer
• Is a Career in Travel Photography Right for You?
• Travel Inspiration: Bali
• Canadian Travelogue – Introduction
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: South Africa
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Thailand
• Canadian Travelogue – Newfoundland – Gros Morne National Park
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: India
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Japan
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Kenya
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Morocco
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Vietnam
• An Interview With World Traveler Gary Arndt
• Interview: Oded Wagenstein – Author of Snapn Travel Guide and dPS Writer

Read more from our Cameras & Equipment category

built his photography business in Santa Barbara, CA and New York City, where he has shot over 140 weddings, countless head shots, and events for the past 9 years. Currently living in NY, he manages to travel abroad at least once a year and is up to 30 countries traveled. Published in the New York Times, Huffington Post, New York Times Magazine, featured in Santa Barbara Dining and Destinations Magazine, Cretus Mag, and San Diego Style Weddings magazine. You can connect with him on his blog and on instagram.

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Best cameras in 2024

Quick links, best all-around: canon r6 mark ii, best mirrorless for beginners: canon eos r10, best entry-level full-frame: nikon z5, best for travel: fujifilm x-s20, best for vlogging: sony zv-e1, the bottom line: best camera, how we chose the best cameras.

Shopping for a new camera can be an overwhelming experience. Digital photography as a medium is riddled with technical jargon that is confusing to understand if you are new to it. Adding to the complexity is the fact that modern cameras are frequently advertised with fancy marketing language. It can be challenging to know what actually matters when choosing a camera and what is just fluff.

Luckily, we live in a time when there are very few bad cameras. But cameras are also not one-size-fits-all devices. For example, a wildlife photographer will have different needs than a street photographer, and a pro will certainly have different requirements for a camera than a beginner. Your individual needs, goals, and how you want to use the camera will determine which one is best for you. To aid in your search for the best cameras, though, we've highlighted some of our favorite options for a range of situations and needs.

How we test and review products at Pocket-lint

We don't do arm-chair research. We buy and test our own products, and we only publish buyer's guides with products we've actually reviewed.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II

The Canon R6 Mark II is a true hybrid camera with impressive specs and features for both video and photography. It's capable of 4K 60p internal recording or 6K RAW external recording and up to 40 fps burst shooting with the electronic shutter. Plus, it offers advanced and responsive autofocus to keep up with just about any situation.

• Impressive video capabilities
• Very fast burst rate for shooting action
• Superb autofocus
• Excellent handling
• Very limited third-party lenses

If you dabble in a bit of everything and want superb quality across the board, the R6 Mark II is the way to go. This hybrid camera features Canon's typical excellent image quality and excellent video specs. The camera is very comfortable to hold and is easy and intuitive to use. It's the ideal choice for those upgrading from a DSLR, beginning their professional photography career, or experienced pros looking for another camera body.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Jack of all trades

Canon's second-gen R6 brings with it some welcome improvements, including improved autofocus, increased resolution and no more recording limits.

In terms of video, it's capable of 4K60 10-bit internal video with Canon Log 3 or external 6K ProRes RAW recording. For slow-motion needs, the R6 Mark II can record up to 1080p at Full HD resolution. There are no recording limits, making it possible to get long takes in one go. Plus, there's a mic and headphone port along with a micro-HDMI port.

For photography, the R6 Mark II can shoot 12 fps with the mechanical shutter and up to 40 fps with the electronic shutter. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system is incredibly responsive and accurate, making it easy to get focused shots even when capturing high-speed action. It also performs very well in low-light situations, adding to its versatility.

Canon EOS R10

The Canon EOS R10 is one of Canon's entry-level models that is built for beginners. It is a compact body, making it easier to travel with, but it still packs plenty of useful and impressive features. It's capable of 4K30p video and produces quality JPEG files, so beginners don't have to jump right into RAW files if they don't want to.

• Compact and lightweight
• Impressive autofocus abilities
• Fast burst shooting
• High-quality JPEG files
• Viewfinder is rather small
• No in-body image stabilization

Canon's EOS R10 is an ideal camera for beginners partly because of its approachable price and compact size. Despite the small size, Canon packed a lot of features and quality into the camera, so you won't have to make many compromises to get started.

The best digital cameras for beginners

Ease your way into the world of photography with one of these user-friendly but capable models.

The 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor produces plenty of resolution for beginners and most people in general as well. The image quality is excellent, even when shooting JPEG files. In fact, those JPEGs produce a surprising amount of dynamic range, so you don't have to jump into shooting raw files to get flexibility when editing if you don't want to. It's also capable of bursts up to 23 fps with the electronic shutter, making it possible to capture action.

The R10 isn't just for stills, either. It can record 4K30p video that's oversampled from 6K, resulting in sharp, clear video. Oversampling like that is really impressive on an APS-C camera, especially at this price point. Should you want to record slow motion, you can also record 120p video at full HD resolution.

The Nikon Z5 is a beginner-friendly full-frame mirrorless camera. It features a 24.3-megapixel sensor with the best electronic viewfinder in its class. The 5-axis in-body image stabilization helps achieve sharp images at slower shutter speeds, and it's capable of up to 4K video, though with a crop. The autofocus is highly capable, so you'll get more images in focus.

The Nikon Z5 is a great choice for those looking to upgrade from an APS-C or anyone wanting to dive into full-frame right off the bat. It features a 24.3-megapixel full-frame sensor with a powerful EXPEED 6 image processor. The Z5 also offers the best electronic viewfinder (EVF) of its class, making it easier to frame your shots when using the EVF.

Nikon Z5: Mirrorless marvel

Nikon's more affordable full-frame mirrorless camera has a host of impressive features. But how does it stack up in use? Read our review for more...

The Z5 produces Nikon's typically excellent image quality, so you'll get strong images with plenty of room for editing should you want it. It features 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with five stops of stabilization, making it easier to get sharp images at slower shutter speeds.

For video use, the Z5 is capable of 4K video, although that's with a 1.7x crop. As a result, it's not the best choice for serious videographers. But you can shoot Full HD at 60 fps with no crop and time-lapses right in camera. The autofocus is fast and accurate and very easy to use, meaning you won't have to fuss with settings to get the best results. Finally, the body is weather-sealed to protect it against the elements.

Fujifilm X-S20

Thanks to its compact size, the Fujifilm X-S20 is perfect for travel. It also provides access to Fujifilm's attractive built-in Film Simulation modes, so you can have polished-looking photos right out of the camera for faster sharing.

• Durable but compact body
• Excellent battery life
• 7 stops of stabilization
• Attractive built-in film simulations
• EVF is a bit small

Traveling with a big, bulky camera is no fun (speaking from experience). The Fujifilm X-S20 packs a lot into a really compact package, making it much easier and more fun to take on your journeys. It also punches above its weight regarding what you get for the price. Plus, the magnesium body is highly durable, so you won't have to baby it even on rugged adventures.

Fujifilm X-S20: Hybrid performance at a friendlier price

Is this the hybrid camera to beat?

One of the best parts of the X-S20 is the seven-stops of stabilization. You'll be able to crush low-light situations without bringing along a tripod. It features a 26.1-megapixel X Trans CMOS 4 sensor with a powerful X-Processor 5 imaging engine, resulting in truly impressive performance across the board.

The subject recognition autofocus system is accurate and responsive, resulting in sharper shots. It can record up to 6K 30p or 240p Full HD for ultra-slow-motion footage. For burst shooting, you'll get 20 fps uncropped or 30 fps with a crop. Also useful for traveling is the standard Fujifilm Film Simulation modes, which offer attractive in-camera presets so you can share right away without editing.

Sony's flagship ZV camera combines the power and capabilities of a full-frame Alpha camera with the portability and features from its creator range to great effect. It features advanced autofocus with plenty of vlogging specific tools to help you create high-quality videos no matter what the content.

• Very compact and lightweight
• Advanced autofocus
• Plenty of vlogging-specific tools
• Superb video quality
• Can overheat at highest video resolution

Vloggers and content creators have a unique set of needs, and the Sony ZV-E1 easily meets those. It is compact and lightweight, making it feasible to shoot handheld, even for a full day. The rear display flips around, so you can record yourself with far less fuss.

Sony ZV-E1: An impossibly small full-frame camera

The latest full-frame camera from Sony joins its vlogging ZV range, but features interchangeable lenses and lots of power.

The ZV-E1 can record 4K video up to 120p, giving you lots of flexibility. There are no recording limits, meaning you can record long, single takes when necessary. Plus, there are plenty of useful modes like cinematic bokeh, AI-based auto-framing, and a Product Showcase Setting, making it much easier to get high-quality vlogs.

This vlogging camera provides 15 stops of dynamic range for greater control when editing, and you can even import and apply your own LUTs right in camera. The 5-axis image stabilization allows you to get smooth footage without a gimbal. You'll also have access to Sony's highly impressive autofocus system, which features a Multiple Face Recognition setting to track multiple subjects within the frame. Overall, it's an impressive little camera that is purpose-built for vloggers.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), there truly isn't one best camera overall, as different situations and needs call for different cameras. However, the Canon R6 Mark II is an extremely well-rounded device that is ideal for most people. It produces fantastic photos and videos, offers super autofocus abilities, and is compact enough to be a travel camera for those who want an interchangeable lens camera on their trips.

The writers and editors have decades of experience reviewing tech products and cameras specifically. We have had on experience with just about every major camera available, including the options included in this guide. When selecting the cameras here, I aimed to select options for various experience levels and budgets, as well as cameras for different shooting scenarios. Image and video quality were primary considerations, as were autofocus abilities, battery life, user-friendliness, and build quality.

Q: Is full-frame or crop sensor better?

Which sensor size is best truly depends on your needs and preferences. Full-frame cameras are ideal for professional photographers or anyone who wants larger file sizes to capture more detail. That extra detail is necessary for printing large and giving you more flexibility when cropping images in post. Full-frame cameras also allow for wider angle lenses, which makes them the preferred choice for landscapes or anything requiring a broad view, and they are capable of a more shallow depth of field.

The downside to full-frame cameras is that they are larger than crop sensor cameras (APS-C cameras) and more expensive as well. APS-C cameras are ideal for travel because of their more compact size. Also, because of the crop inherent to APS-C cameras, you get more reach from telephoto lenses (roughly 1.5x, depending on your camera system). As a result, you can opt for a smaller, cheaper telephoto lens and still be able to get epic sports and wildlife photos.

Q: Are mirrorless cameras better than DSLRs?

Mirrorless cameras certainly have advantages over DSLRs, mostly because they feature all the latest technologies. They have remarkably advanced autofocus, mind-boggling dynamic range, and impressive video specs.

Most companies have either ceased production of DSLRs or at least haven't released any new models for years. Resources simply aren't going to DSLR cameras at this point. Likewise, companies are focusing their attention on mirrorless lenses as opposed to options designed for DSLRs, so you won't find newly released lenses for the older technology, either.

DSLRs are still highly capable devices with fantastic image quality and worthy specs. But if you want the latest and greatest features, you should be investing in mirrorless. If you're also looking to build out a lens kit that grows with you well into the future, mirrorless would be the way to go.

Q: What camera is best for beginners?

Every brand makes some fantastic cameras for beginners. When choosing your first camera, it's important to consider what system you'd like to stick with, as you will likely also be investing in lenses, and switching systems down the line can be very expensive. While we like options from each major brand, Canon's EOS R10 is one of our favorite options for beginners because of its compact size, excellent autofocus, and well-rounded specs.

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.

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07/01/2024: New firmware updates are available.

CR-N700 - Version 1.4.0

CR-N500 - Version 1.5.0

CR-N300 - Version 1.5.0

CR-N100 - Version 1.1.0

CR-X300 - Version 1.3.0

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06/06/2024: New firmware updates are available.

EOS R6 Mark II - Version 1.4.0

EOS R7 - Version 1.5.0

EOS R8 - Version 1.3.0

EOS R10 - Version 1.5.0

EOS R50 - Version 1.2.0

Speedlite EL-5 - Version 1.1.0

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E10 - Version 1.1.0

04/16/2024: New firmware updates are available.

RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6

RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6

RF600mm F4 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6

RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4

RF1200mm F8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4

03/26/2024: New firmware updates are available.

EOS R3 - Version 1.7.1

EOS R5 - Version 2.0.0

EOS R6 - Version 1.8.4

EOS 1DX Mark III - Version 1.9.0

WFT-R10 - Version 1.3.1

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• R6 Mk ll - Odd night sky image problem in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras 07-07-2024
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• EFS 18-135mm nano USM "double image" out of focus at wide apertures? in EF & RF Lenses 07-02-2024
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