Master of stills and motion

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II sets a new benchmark for hybrid camera performance. It is a camera designed for action, enabling you to capture motion in thrilling new ways – whether that's powering through 24.2MP full-frame stills at 40fps or shooting 6K RAW video at 60p.

Canon listened to feedback from users of the EOS R6 and took that camera's great feature set to the next level. Building on the strengths of its predecessor, the EOS R6 Mark II introduces more than 70 upgrades, which include an In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS) and intelligent subject detection.

Here's your guide to the camera's key features, with insight from Mike Burnhill, Canon Europe Senior Product Marketing Specialist.

Delivering a blistering burst rate of up to 40fps with its silent electronic shutter, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II doubles the 20fps burst rate of the EOS R6, with full autofocus and autoexposure capability. The communication speed and data bandwidth of the RF mount allows the EOS R6 Mark II to adjust the focus at these eye-watering frame rates.

Being able to shoot at 40fps with full AF tracking opens up new creative possibilities, particularly in the world of sports and wildlife photography. Paris-based photographer and videographer Teddy Morellec was one of the first people to put the EOS R6 Mark II's shooting performance to the test, photographing speed flyers at Lake Montriond in the French Alps.

"I used to be happy with 7fps!" Teddy says. "Even 30fps on the EOS R3 is mind-blowing. But 40fps was perfect for capturing the speed flyers landing on the lake. Having so many successful shots can make it more challenging to choose the right image, but it's better to have that than miss the perfect shot."

This can seem almost magical because, as Mike explains, "sometimes the peak of the action occurs between frames." When shooting extreme sports or sighting rare animals out in the wild, there are times where you don't know exactly what's going to happen until it happens. The pre-shooting option in the EOS R6 Mark II makes it possible to capture the action half a second before you fully press the shutter button.

"You might be able to anticipate an event, but there will always be a lag between seeing it, pressing the button and the camera's systems being activated," says Mike. "Pre-shooting makes it much easier to capture the decisive moment, whether it's a bird leaving a branch or a crocodile surging out of a river to grab a wildebeest."

For assured autofocus at fast frame rates, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is equipped with the most sophisticated implementation of Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with deep learning.

"We've used a new AI algorithm, so the tracking is more accurate and sticks to the subject better," Mike reveals. "It can also detect more subjects than ever before. So we can now track trains and aircraft, including planes and helicopters. When you're shooting trains or planes you can select Spot detection, which basically tells the camera to focus on the cockpit or cabin rather than the wing of a plane or the nose of a train.

"The EOS R6 Mark II can recognise a greater variety of animals too. The system can now detect horses and zebras, and the data for birds, cats and dogs has also been refreshed." The camera additionally gains an Auto option for subject detection, which analyses what's in the frame and then selects an appropriate tracking algorithm. "Manually selecting the subject to detect can make the system more responsive," Mike points out, "but for day-to-day shooting you can leave it on Auto.

"You're also able to customise a button to bring up a menu that allows you to select the type of subject you want to track. So, you can quickly go from Auto to Animals or People, for example. You can also turn off the ones that you don't want to use, making the process of jumping between the settings even easier."

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II inherits its predecessor the EOS R6's class-leading In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS). Capable of providing up to 8-stops of image stabilisation, it counteracts the effects of camera shake to produce sharper images. It works in a coordinated way with lenses that have built-in optical IS, and brings the benefits of stabilisation to lenses that don't have optical IS.

The IBIS can help achieve sharper images through improved AF accuracy too. Having a more stable image makes it easier to keep the active AF point locked on the subject – particularly at the high frame rates that the EOS R6 Mark II hits.

At first glance, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and EOS R6 have similar video capabilities. Both can record at up to 4K 60p, for instance, and they offer Canon Log and HDR PQ to capture more dynamic range. Dive a bit deeper, however, and it's clear the new camera's video recording options are significantly upgraded.

In contrast to the EOS R6, the EOS R6 Mark II uses the full width of the full-frame sensor to record 4K 60p, which is oversampled from the sensor's 6K output to give superb clarity and reduced noise compared with native 4K. You're also able to record 6K 60p ProRes RAW on an Atomos Ninja V+ via HDMI and, should you need to go faster, you can capture Full HD at 180fps for 6x slow-motion playback.

"We’ve improved the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II focusing for video, so it reproduces more closely what a professional focus puller would do," Mike points out. "The EOS R6 Mark II introduces a new 'Detect only' AF option, which allows you to select the subject to focus on. The camera will then only track that object and won't suddenly refocus on the background if the subject leaves the frame.

"Electronic focus-breathing correction makes it even easier to achieve professional-looking results," he continues. "Typically, when you change the focus, the magnification changes as the optics move inside the lens. This creates a distracting 'pulsing' effect, where the background appears to change size. But with the EOS R6 Mark II, we're able to correct that electronically. It means that you can use the cheapest zoom lens and make it look as if you shot with a high-end Cine Prime."

Filmmakers will also be pleased to see that false colour warnings are available on the Canon EOS R6 Mark II. This technology will be familiar to users of Canon's Cinema EOS cameras. It provides an easy way to gauge exposure while recording video, with six colours indicating different luminance levels being overlaid on the image. "An 18% midtone will be indicated by green," says Mike, "so as long as your most important skin tones are green, you're good to go."

Beyond the key shooting functions, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II has a vast range of small but significant improvements.

Although EOS R6 users will feel instantly at home with the new camera, handling has been streamlined. The on/off switch is now next to the shutter button, so it's easier to activate the camera single-handed. For added convenience, the photo and video mode selector has been moved to the left side of the camera, similar to its position on the EOS R5 C.

"This means the mode dial can be used when shooting video," explains Mike. "So, you now get a choice of Manual, Av, Tv, Program and three custom modes when you're filming as well as taking photos.

"One of my favourite features is the way that you can connect the camera to a phone via a USB cable. The latest version of the Canon Camera Connect app introduces USB remote control with iOS and Android alongside Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Using a cable means that you get very little lag, so you can smoothly switch between stills and video, adjust the camera settings and play back files.

"The EOS R6 Mark II also has faster Wi-Fi and the latest version of Bluetooth for a better connection over longer distances. We've made the interface easier for networking as well, splitting off the FTP options into a separate menu. If you're a pro, you don't have to deal with the everyday network settings such as connecting to your phone or computer, you can go straight to the professional menu."

Mike believes this combination of big and small changes will make a huge difference to camera users. "As well as all the headline performance improvements – with the frame rate, the focusing and the great video," he says, "we've taken the opportunity to add these little touches that will make a real difference to how Canon EOS R6 Mark II users are going to use the camera day in, day out."

Teddy enthusiastically agrees. "What is great is that with all the functionality in both photo and video, all you have to worry about is having a good story to tell. The camera will handle 99% of the situation. You just need to go out and create."