The Canon EOS R6 is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a fully articulated screen. It's well-built and comfortable to use, though it can be a bit heavy with its kit lens attached. This versatile camera offers remarkable image quality and an impressive photo autofocus system that can track fast-moving subjects and keep them in focus. If you like to record videos, it also has great video quality in both 4k and FHD. However, it doesn't offer higher frame rate options for generating slow-motion video, which may be disappointing for some users.
Our Verdict
The Canon R6 is good for travel photography. It has incredible image quality, and its impressive photo autofocus system helps track moving subjects and keep them in focus. Its low minimum shutter speed helps you take long-exposure photographs, too. However, though it's well-built and comfortable to use, it can be a bit heavy with its kit lens attached.
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Fantastic image quality.
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Impressive photo autofocus performance.
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Not very portable with kits lens attached.
The Canon R6 is great for landscape photography. This well-built camera is comfortable to use, and its screen is bright enough to be readable even in direct sunlight. It also has incredible image quality, with fantastic dynamic range to capture more highlight and shadow detail in high-contrast landscapes.
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Weather-sealed.
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Fantastic image quality.
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Not very portable with kits lens attached.
The Canon R6 is great for sport and wildlife photography. It has a fantastic image quality, and its great autofocus system helps track fast-moving subjects and keep them in focus. If you like to take burst photography, it has a remarkable high continuous shooting speed of 18 frames per second in silent mode. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to clear its buffer, which can be inconvenient.
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Fantastic image quality.
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Impressive photo autofocus performance.
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Long buffer empty time.
The Canon R6 is okay for vlogging. Thanks to its fully articulated screen, you're able to see yourself while you record. It has impressive 4k and FHD video quality, and it does a great job smoothing out camera shake if you record while walking or running. Unfortunately, it's a bit heavy with its kit lens attached, which can be a bit inconvenient. Shooting in 4k also incurs a very slight crop.
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Impressive video quality in 4k and FHD.
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Fully articulated screen.
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Not very portable with kits lens attached.
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Slight crop when shooting in 4k.
The Canon R6 is great for studio video. It records high-quality video in both 4k and FHD, and its autofocus system helps track moving subjects and keep them in focus in video. It also has a lot of inputs for accessories like headphones and a microphone. That said, shooting in 4k incurs a very slight crop.
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Impressive video quality in 4k and FHD.
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Lots of inputs for accessories.
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Slight crop when shooting in 4k.
The Canon R6 isn't designed for action video. With its kit lens, it's quite heavy and not very portable, and it can't really be strapped on a helmet. It doesn't support higher frame rates for slow-motion video of high-speed action. That said, it has impressive video quality in both 4k and FHD, and its video stabilization feature does a good job smoothing out camera shake if you record while moving.
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Impressive video quality in 4k and FHD.
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Weather-sealed.
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Not very portable with kits lens attached.
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Limited frame rate options for action video.
- 7.7 Travel Photography
- 8.3 Landscape Photography
- 8.2 Sport & Wildlife Photography
- 6.7 Vlogging
- 8.0 Studio Video
- 5.5 Action Video
- 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.
- Updated Feb 08, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Canon EOS R6 is available in 'Black'. We tested it with the RF24-105mm F4-7.1 is STM lens, and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
You can also purchase this camera with an RF 24-105mm F4 L is USM lens, or without a lens at all. However, we haven't the performance of these variants.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Cameras
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, but they use 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. You'll also get a bit more focal reach thanks to the crop factor, so the R7 may be a better fit for wildlife and sports unless you need full-frame image quality and low-light capability. The R6, meanwhile, delivers better overall image quality and is better suited to low-light situations because of its full-frame sensor.
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.
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
- Magnesium alloy and plastic body
- Buttons and command wheels offer good physical feedback
- Screen can rotate to be seen from the front
- SD card and battery covered by hinged door
- Screen mechanism feels sturdy
- No hot shoe protection cover
- Rubber flaps cover output connections
- Canon EOS R6 camera body
- Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM lens
- Lens cap and lens cover
- Instruction manual
- Shoulder strap
- Battery charger
- Battery
- Sensor cap
- Textured handgrip is grippy and big enough for most hand sizes
- Rubber pad on the viewfinder for improved comfort compared to the Canon EOS R
- All frequently-used functions available in the Quick Menu on the screen
- Easy to adjust aperture and shutter speed while looking through the viewfinder
If you're looking for something with a higher-resolution EVF, check out the Canon EOS R6 Mark II.
- Touch screen functionality makes it easy to navigate the menu
- Guide Mode can offer more information about settings and functions
- Autofocus menu is separate from the general shooting menu
Update 01/12/2022: Corrected input error that showed 'Yes' instead of 'Yes, with a Crop'. The score has been updated accordingly.
