Canon EOS R6 Mark II – Here are some more specifications

[Sigurd2]

Wait what!? Just turn the button and look here (number 4, from the R6 manual)

Yes, you can see what shooting mode is currently selected in the viewfinder. But you don’t get any indication of how many clicks or witch direction to turn the dial to get to the shooting mode you want to activate. That you will have to guess (or memorize). Or to take your eye away from viewfinder and look at the top of the mode dial (with risk of scaring wildlife in some situations.).

With mode button, you can get an array of all shooting modes in the viewfinder, and can move the «cursor» up/down, left/right, and select the mode you want.

I can see that the mode dial is easier and faster when using the LCD screen for shooting. But for me that’s typically shooting landscape photos, tripod, no hurry, and when the time it takes to make a few extra button clicks doesn’t matter at all.


I have the R6 and are doing fine with the mode dial. So it’s not an make or breake deal, but I would prefer a camera with top LCD and mode button

 

[koenkooi]

Yes, you can see what shooting mode is currently selected in the viewfinder. But you don’t get any indication of how many clicks or witch direction to turn the dial to get to the shooting mode you want to activate. That you will have to guess (or memorize). Or to take your eye away from viewfinder and look at the top of the mode dial (with risk of scaring wildlife in some situations.).

With mode button, you can get an array of all shooting modes in the viewfinder, and can move the «cursor» up/down, left/right, and select the mode you want.[..]

And when you're using the back LCD: you can even use the touchscreen to select the mode you want. I've found that useful when using the camera on a tripod, while keeping an eye on the subject using the LCD.

 

[Gonzaga Lopes]

Genuine question from a non-video guy. Why would you want to record audio in slow motion video?

Hi
Mainly for the sake of versatility. If other machines have it why canon not?
Of course, you will never always record at 120p.
But in my own case I liked it because as I make weddings at certain points that came in handy, such as:
At the exit of the church with rice flying, you will hear the original sound of people clapping; In the bridal session I usually use 120p and at one time or another there is a laugh or something else that could be interesting to take advantage of. In the dance situation, being able to keep the sound of the party but having the possibility of having the slowmotion in it.
Sony/Lumix, when recording at 120p, maintains the normal clip, only in post production can we do the slowmotion and I believe that this way is the most beneficial for video editors.

 

[Michael Clark]

If R6 II is getting close, I would assume the R5 II is getting close too. The high end EOS cameras has typically had a four year cycle. This would mean a 2024 release. DIGIC X is also due for an update, which will likely come along the R6II and R5II cameras.

DiG!C X isn't a chip, it's an architecture. Canon explained this when it was first introduced. Not all DiG!C X cameras use the same actual chips, so there's a lot of room for improvements within the framework of DiG!C X.

 

[Ozarker]

It seems it was just last week when the original was released. I'll be sticking with my classic, an OG R, for a while longer.

 

[Michael Clark]

What about GPS ?

(Somewhat shorter battery life like 50% is OK - but 300 images from one battery is rather little ...)

Leaving GPS turned on drains the batteries in my 5D Mark IV at a much faster rate than when GPS is turned off. This is true even when the camera's power switch is in the 'Off' position.

 

[Michael Clark]

The 1DX III was only out a year before the R6.
I thought that the 1DX III used a new sensor.

Yes, and every Canon APS-C camera that had an 18 MP sensor had a "new" sensor, too.

If Canon changed anything between the sensor in the 1D X Mark II and 1D X Mark III it was something like the exact colors used in the CFA, or a slight change to the micro-lenses, or a less strong anti-aliasing filter. It wasn't a new sensor chip.

 

[Michael Clark]

Low megapixels mean greater loss of resolution during digital distortion correction.

This is most significant at the edge of the image. The difference at the center of the frame is much less severe. For landscape or flat test chart shooters it may be important, but for portraitists or sports/action shooters where the edges of the frame are usually out of focus, it's no big deal.

 

[TonyG]

I see a lot of people comparing the R6 and R3 product lines and why Canon wouldn’t use the R3 sensor in the R6ii as it competes with the R3, but no one seems to look at Canons real competition, Sony.
I could see Canon using a variation of the R3 sensor to compete with the Sony line up.
The R6 competitor (the A7iv) has a slight one up on the R6 on a lot of features. The only real advantage the R6 has over the A7iv is the lack of a real crop at 4k60. Sony has the A7RV coming out in a few weeks and if Canon doesn’t respond with upgrades to their bodies, I fear they will be stuck in second place. Forget competing in their own line up, or having a 4 year refresh cycle, they need to compete with Sony. The market is getting very competitive between Sony and Canon and I think we’re going to see a lot of body’s refreshing more frequently.

 

[Michael Clark]

Isnt it a bit early? I thought the product cycle of 5er 6er 1er canon cameras is pretty solid around 4 years? The R6 is just 2 years old?
But lets hope
Though I must say, for me the 4 year cycle worked pretty perfectly, starting at the 5D Mark II. =)

Well, rumors do seem to get going over a year before most II or III versions of cameras are released. And the R5 and R6 were a bit "late" from their original planned introduction in early 2020 which got derailed by the pandemic and supply chain issues.

A rumor first appearing in the fall of 2022 that results in an early 2024 release 18 months later would not be not that unusual, would it?

 

[Michael Clark]

It would if it were made by Adobe. I opened PS one day when not connected to the internet and Adobe tried to delete the app as it thought my account had expired.

The main reason why I stopped using Adobe products a long time ago.

 

[Michael Clark]

Cloud RAW processing... hmmm... 5G? WiFi 6E? 5GHz WiFi?

... 1 or 2.5 gigabit ethernet via fiber?

 

[Michael Clark]

Digital Teleconverter? Good for using as a spotting scope, but I do that in software anyway.

a/k/a Digital Zoom? (That is to say, built in cropping.)

 

[Michael Clark]

The 1DX3 sensor is based on tweaks to their mature FSI sensor tech used on all their other cameras. The at the time state of the art OLP filter was the new defining characteristic of that sensor package, which they did not put in R6.

R3 on the other hand, uses their brand new stacked sensor tech with a 5ms readout of the entire sensor. Due to size differences, having a 5ms readout on a full frame is a LOT more technically challenging than say on a type-1, m43 or apsc sensor. Also stacked design means sandwiching 2-3 substrates together of which electronics substrate on the bottom with ADC and logic need finer lithography than the sensor pixels. That means either Canon retooled their sensor production line with a whole bunch of really expensive equipment or they outsourced the bottom substrate, both of which adds to cost per chip.

No doubt Canon will leverage their new stacked sensor tech and trickle it down the line eventually, I just don't see them starting it with R6 when the R1 hasn't even been announced yet as they would lose a big marketing point on a flagship.

Gladly eat my words and buy the mk II if they do include a stacked sensor on it though!

What makes you think this rumor means an R6 Mark II would have to arrive before an R1?

Rumors have been flying for years regarding the R1. I'd expect both to appear sometime around early 2024, which is only 18 months away. Canon usually gets physical prototypes into the field in the hands of their testers about one year before release, so we're almost certainly at least a year away from either camera's introduction.

 

[Michael Clark]

It was done the same way with the last top end camera ... there will be still features only for the R3/1 to let them in their place.

But it was that way because Canon made a strategic decision to use the same sensor on multiple camera models, not because they "accidentally" made too many for the low volume camera model that was introduced first.

If Canon uses essentially the same sensor for the R6 Mark II that they use for the R3, it will be because Canon has made a strategic decision to do so, not because they "accidentally" made way too many sensors for the number of R3 bodies they will eventually sell.

 

[roby17269]

I'm a 5DIII shooter looking to switch to mirrorless. Was looking at the R6 but - illogically and emotionally, I admit - couldn't justify the downgrade, however slight, in MP. I have no problem with resolution of my current camera but felt odd to spend money on a new camera just to go backwards. If they do bump up the R6II to ~24, that probably seals the deal for me. Seems like an awesome stills camera otherwise.

Years ago I went 5D mkII -> 1D X, meaning 21mp -> 18mp
I was hesitant for the same reason, but in the end the better AF, better OVF, faster speed, better body and longer lasting battery more than made up for the loss of 3mp. And 3mp are barely noticeable.

To be honest, 1 of the reasons I went for the R5 from the 1D X was resolution, but in this case the difference was significant (+ 27mp), coupled with an amazing AF and access to new RF lenses. I am a very happy camper right now (apart from c'mon Canon release the new 35L already! ) and what I can tell you that 18mp or 21mp wouldn't have made a difference, I'd still have made the jump.

It is up to you ultimately, but I'd be confident that the advantages of the R6 (AF, access to RF lenses, speed) would more than compensate the loss of 2mp

 

[Michael Clark]

When the R6ii is on the market, priced at the R6's current $2500'ish, a year from now, you don't think R6 refurb bodies direct from canon will drop below the current $2250? I would think in time for the '23-24 holiday season, the R6 refurb will be around $1800. You disagree?

I've bought several refurb bodies and refurb lenses direct from Canon USA over the years. I've never noticed a significant drop in the long-term price of refurb gear unless Canon also significantly reduced the "permanent" price of the same models sold as new via authorized dealers. Once a model is replaced with a successor, the refurb price rarely drops significantly from where it already was when that model was discontinued. The rare exceptions seem to be when they have a large stock of refurbed units to sell, and that tends to happen most with the lowest cost lenses. Even when Canon has a "refurb sale" where many models are temporarily reduced in price for a very limited time period, not all refurb lenses or bodies get the deep temporary discount. There have even been times when new camera bodies offered via dealers had deep discounts and the same models at the refurb store were priced higher than the new ones with the deep discount.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Years ago I went 5D mkII -> 1D X, meaning 21mp -> 18mp

I also went 5DII -> 1D X, then added the 30 MP R, then the 24 MP R3.

It’s worth noting that not all megapixels are created equal. Canon has claimed that the R3 with its differently-designed AA filter outresolves the R (which reused the 5DIV sensor), despite having 6 fewer MPs. In practice with the lenses I typically use (the least sharp of which is the RF 24-105/4L), I have found that to be true.

 

[Michael Clark]

Do people change mode a lot? Genuine question.

I shot an outdoor concert with a very well lit stage last night. For shots of the stage I was in manual mode at ISO800, f/3.2, 1/200 (give or take depending on the brighter and dimmer spots on the stage where each performer was standing/sitting). For shots of the large crowd on the ground in front of the stage, after it got dark I needed ISO6400, f/2.2, 1/60 and I'll have to push it in raw development. I recorded the settings for the crowd to C1 and used the mode dial on my 5D Mark IV to switch between M for the stage and C1 for a few crowd shots.

It's similar when I shoot high school football or other field sports. The players on the field are illuminated significantly brighter than the fans in the stands. The best fan shots are reactions immediately after a great play on the field. Being able to go from one set of settings to another quickly using C1 - C2 - C3 on the mode dial is very helpful in those situations. Only needing to press a button, as some of the R models allow, would be even more helpful.

 

[Michael Clark]

amazing AF doesn't equate with 80% keepers. If its that great, shouldn't it be at least 90%

It somewhat depends on one's "pickiness factor" as well as one's shooting technique.

Beyond that, sometimes a perfectly in-focus shot is not a keeper for other reasons. It can also depend upon the scene contents.

A well-focused football shot of the ball carrier being tackled can be ruined by the way rear ends of other players are positioned, especially if one of them has a "crack problem".

At a staged concert or theatrical production, the brightness of the lighting can vary significantly from one frame to the next, even within a high speed burst. So maybe the shot is perfectly focused but half the frame is blown out by one of the rotating spots on the back of the stage pointing straight into the camera.