If you're about to buy a Canon EOS R6, we'd make an emergency decision: There are now strong rumors that a successor to the EOS R6 Mark II is just around the corner.
The full-frame camera, which always ranks high in our guide to the best cameras for photography, was released in July 2020. And according to rumors from Canon (opens in a new tab), it's going to launch for a successor to the EOS R6 Mark II. that will give you a much-needed boost in resolution from 20MP to 24MP.
Canon Rumors says the camera's 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor, which doesn't appear to be a "stacked" chip like the one in the professional-grade Canon EOS R3, will be joined by other minor improvements, including a Dual Pixel Raw mode for greater flexibility of editing and raw processing in the cloud. But it looks like the resolution bump will be its biggest upgrade by far.
One of our few complaints about the EOS R6 is that its 20MP resolution is a bit low for a general-purpose camera. Its sensor is taken from the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III, which is a specialized professional SLR that favors shooting speeds.
But it looks like Canon's follow-up to the EOS R6 will give photographers a bit more resolution, which could increase detail and prove particularly useful for cropping images. That said, an extra 4MP isn't a massive boost, so it might be worth keeping an eye out for bargain prices for the current EOS R6 when its sequel arrives.
A much bigger upgrade for the EOS R6 Mark II would be a 'stacked' sensor, like the 24,1-megapixel back-illuminated chip in Canon's EOS R3. But so far that seems unlikely: it wasn't mentioned in the leaked specs, and Canon Rumors claims the camera's 4K/60p video mode will still be cropped, like on the EOS R6.
If the EOS R6 Mark II had a 'stacked' sensor, offering faster readout speeds than traditional sensors, that would likely reflect in areas like video performance. It would also significantly increase the price of the EOS R6 Mark II over its predecessor: the currently cheapest stacked-sensor camera is the Fujifilm X-H2S (€2,499 / €2,499 / AU$4,449), but it has an APS-C sensor. smaller.
While it's possible Canon could overhaul its range by making the EOS R6 a more premium model, leaving room for the rumored Canon EOS R8 and EOS R9, that seems unlikely as the Canon EOS R5 is still there as its best all-rounder. . That means our money is on a moderately upgraded Canon EOS R6, priced similarly ($2,499 / £2,499 / AU$4,499), which could make it Canon's most popular full-frame model.
Analysis: A late wave of new cameras
(Photo credit: Sony)
If the rumors are correct, the end of the year will see several major camera announcements, including the Canon EOS R6 Mark II. So if you're looking for a new photo or video workhorse, we'll definitely be waiting for you now, if you can.
We recently saw rumors of Sony Alpha (opens in a new tab) suggesting that a full-frame Sony A7R V is imminent, complete with a next-generation autofocus system. If so, this camera is probably more expensive than the EOS R6 Mark II; assuming you're within the $7/£3500/AU$3800 A6800R IV launch price range.
However, some more affordable rivals to Canon's new all-rounder could be the rumored OM System OM-5 and Fujifilm X-T5. According to 43Rumors (opens in a new tab), this 20 MP Micro Four Thirds camera could arrive later this month for a price of around €1,599 (about £1,420 / AU$2,545).
And as we recently discussed, the rumored Fujifilm X-T5, which Fuji Rumors (opens in a new tab) is pretty sure is coming in November, could be a late contender for the title of most exciting camera of the year, thanks to its potentially well-balanced mix of features, lens, and price (which should be around $1,699 / £1,549 / AU$2,999, like the X-T4).
If you're a hybrid photographer or shooter, then this is shaping up to be an exciting end to the year. Even if you can't justify buying the latest models, these releases will ultimately affect today's camera prices, and there are always Black Friday camera deals to look forward to at the end of November.
