Canon has announced a new frontrunner for the highly competitive hybrid camera market, the EOS R6 Mark III. It’s essentially the stills version of the recently revealed C50 video camera. Canon also announced a RF 45mm f/1.2 STM prime lens, more on that later. Although positioned as a mid-range travel camera, in the right hands, the R6 Mark III is easily pro level.
The C50 is Canon’s equivalent to the Sony FX3. The ‘twin’ of the FX3 is the A7S III. So does that make the R6 M3 the equivalent of the A7S III? Hell no. The A7S III is not worth using for photography whereas the R6 M3 is sold as a stills first camera with awesome video capabilities. Given its powerful specs in both categories, the R6 M3 is definitely a hybrid camera.
EOS R6 MARK III KEY FEATURES
- 32.5 megapixel resolution
- 40fps electronic shutter
- Up to 8.5-stop IS
- Wi-Fi5 and Bluetooth
- CFexpress and UHS-II SD card slots
- Up to 7K RAW video
- Open Gate
PERFORMANCE
The EOS R6 Mark III features a newly developed 32.5 megapixel full frame sensor, used in the C50, and Canon’s newest DIGIC X processor. It’s not a stacked sensor so rolling shutter can be an issue for high speed sports or very fast moving wildlife but most shooters won’t experience it. The advantage of this sensor is better low light performance. I’d expect very nice detail in dark subjects but this can’t be guaranteed.
The mechanical shutter will give you 12fps and 40fps of continuous shooting using electronic shutter. An expanded buffer is now capable of handling up to 150 RAW images in a single burst (when using CFexpress cards). You’ll get up to 8.5 stops of combined image stabilisation which should keep you long lens shots sharp.
I’ve seen a few testers record until the battery is flat without having any heat issues but I’ve also seen an example of a pretty short recording time due to heat. Unlike the C50, the R6 M3 doesn’t have a cooling vent.
MEDIA
To keep up with the rapid-fire capabilities of the R6 M3, Canon has included a CFExpress Type B slot and a SD UHS-II slot. The CFExpress card is vital for sports or action shooting.
TRACKING
Improved tracking algorithms lock onto moving subjects – including trains, airplanes, and horses – with greater ease, while the Register People Priority function allows users to pre-select 10 faces for priority tracking. For even more peace of mind, pre-continuous shooting records 20 frames in H+ mode before the shutter is pressed, in full RAW, JPEG, or HEIF.
VIDEO
When it comes to video, pros will love the R6 M3. It captures 7K RAW Light footage up to 60p, oversampled 4K 60p and supports 4K 120p. Full HD 180fps recording is also available for creative slow-motion effects. The range of codecs and formats are excellent with the inclusion of Canon Log 2 a huge plus.
Open Gate gives you the ability to capture the entire sensor’s output. This mean creators can shoot vertical and landscape video at the same time without compromising on resolution. It also enables more flexibility in stabilisation and post-processing.
The Mark III also supports pro-level tools like waveform monitor, proxies, metadata tagging, and full-size HDMI.
AUDIO
The Mark III also supports 4-channel audio.
RF 45MM F/1.2 STM PRIME LENS
The other big announcement was the RF 45mm f/1.2 STM, Canon’s lightest f/1.2 RF lens at less than 350 grams. The lens introduces Canon’s widest aperture to the enthusiast range for the first time.
RF 45MM F/1.2 STM KEY FEATURES
- Lightweight at less than 350 grams
- 45mm standard focal length
- Super-fast f/1.2 aperture
- STM autofocus motor
- Dedicated control ring
- 9-blade aperture
- Super Spectra coating
- Focus breathing correction compatibility
The RF 45mm f/1.2 STM is highly versatile with a constant length, with separate focus and control rings making it a good option for hybrid storytellers. The RF 45mm f/1.2 STM also has a 67mm filter size and a minimum focusing distance of 45cm. new lens also features a durable metal mount, 9-blade aperture, and compatibility with Canon’s focus breathing correction technology.
I expect this lens to sell like hotcakes.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
- EOS R6 Mark III has an RRP of A$4,299.
- RF 45mm f/1.2 STM A$699.
- EOS R6 Mark III and RF 24-105mm f4/L IS USM kit RRP of A$6149.
Available late November.
