Canon R6 MkII Review for Weddings

There are so many technical reviews of the Canon R6 MkII online. Most are done by professional gear reviewers. I am not a professional gear tester, or review blogger. But I am a very busy wedding and portrait photographer with over two decades of experience. I wanted to write some thoughts on my practical experience with this awesome camera so here is my Canon R6 MkII Review, with a focus mainly on weddings.

I’m about to start a very busy 2024 wedding season and I have chosen to shoot with two R6 MkII cameras as my main cameras. I will take an R5 for some of the formals where I want more resolution, but I really believe the R6 MkII camera is the best all around wedding photography choice for me and I could certainly leave the R5 at home.

I have included the technical specs for each photo under the photos. I hope this helps everyone as they look at the photos.

 

Why I upgraded from the Original Canon R6

I was extremely satisfied with my two Canon R6 cameras when the R6 Mark II was announced. However, there were two main reasons why I decided to pre-order and switch to the R6 Mark II.

Firstly, the increase in resolution was a significant factor for me. While shooting weddings with my Canon R5, I appreciated the high-resolution files for formal shots of the bride and group photos taken outdoors. However, I found that a 45-megapixel reception photo was unnecessary, and the R5’s low-light performance was not as good as that of the 20-megapixel R6. To compensate, I used two R6 bodies and accepted the limitation of not being able to crop as much. The 20-megapixel sensor allowed for better low-light images and faster editing. With the upgrade to 24 megapixels, I now have a bit more flexibility for cropping while still maintaining excellent low-light performance and fast editing and loading times. This level of resolution is more than sufficient for canvas and metal wall art.

Secondly, the new autofocus capabilities of the R6 Mark II convinced me to make the switch. I particularly loved the improvements made to eye detection and the ability to adjust spot focus and enable or disable eye detection. These enhancements greatly benefit me when photographing fast-moving children at weddings and capturing candid moments.

The features I love about the Canon R6 Mark II:

– It maintains the familiar Canon feel in terms of its ergonomic design. Having used Canon digital cameras since 2005, starting with the D60 and later the 20D, I have become accustomed to the button layout and dials. The continuity in design is much appreciated.

– The auto focus is fast and accurate. I used to be hesitant to shoot below f2.8 during ceremonies for fear of missing focus slightly, but now I often shoot at f1.4. (I’m giving away my age here, but I remember using the original 5D and only trusting the centre point for decent autofocus on moving subjects. We have come so far haha) The Canon R6 Mark II consistently nails the focus on the eyes. Even in low-light conditions, capturing the first dance is no longer a challenge. This camera can achieve sharp focus on the bride’s eyes, even at f1.2.

– It performs well in low-light situations. I prefer not to exceed ISO 640 for most portraits, and when covering the bride’s preparation, I find that ISO 1600 or even 3200 is necessary if I want to avoid using flash excessively. Being able to shoot the hair and makeup manually with auto ISO, ensuring the desired aperture and shutter speed, is invaluable. There have been Catholic ceremonies where ISO 3200 was needed throughout, and with minimal adjustments in Lightroom, the resulting photos are still excellent.

– The battery life is better than that of my R6 Mark I. Although I have not conducted a full test, I find that I can shoot an entire wedding with just two batteries in one camera and one in the other. Of course, I still bring six spare batteries as a precaution.

– The inclusion of two card slots, even though card failures are less common nowadays, is something I truly appreciate. I had concerns when using the original EOS R and would back up my cards multiple times during each wedding.

– Compactness is another advantage. While having a pair of R3 bodies would be great, carrying two cameras throughout the day can be burdensome due to the added weight of their large grips. I primarily use the 28-70 f2L lens, which is already heavy on any body. Therefore, having a smaller and lighter camera body is highly beneficial. I could go even smaller with an R8, but its battery life is not as good, and it lacks a joystick for quick changes in focus points. The R6 Mark II strikes a satisfying balance.

– The resolution of 24.2 megapixels is a good compromise between the 45-megapixel R5 and the 20-megapixel Mark I. Wedding reception photos do not require such high resolution, and I rarely encounter buffer issues with decent memory cards in the camera.

– The R6 Mark II is reasonably priced for someone like me, a full-time professional. I prefer using two cameras at weddings, not only for backup purposes but also for seamless switching between shots. Investing in two R5 or R3 bodies would be much more costly, and the R6 Mark II handles everything I need for weddings. Thus, I can save money for top-of-the-line Canon L series lenses. Additionally, I find the Money Maker Camera Harness ideal for weddings, enabling me to carry two cameras comfortably for most of the day.

– The Screen rocks. I must admit that I used to consider a flip-out screen as a gimmick when I was shooting with my old 5D Mark III and when the first mirrorless cameras started appearing. I was proven wrong, and I am grateful for it. No longer do I need to lie on the ground for low-angle shots or resort to “pray and spray” techniques for overhead shots. The flip-out screen of the R6 Mark II, as well as most current Canon mirrorless cameras, has become a lifesaver for my aging knees when photographing children and for capturing low-angle shots during wedding ceremonies.

– The Multi function joystick – I have gotten so used to this little joystick and how fast it is to select focus points manually from the 5D mkII and all the cameras I have used since that camera. I know eye detection etc has come a long way, but at receptions when you have thirty people dancing, not camera is gonna automatically get the person you want in focus in that crowd all the time. I tend to shoot with a manually selected point and turn off eye focus in low light receptions after the first dances. This joystick is perfect ofr fast selections with the camera up to my eye. This joystick is probably the main reason why I would probably never use an R8 at weddings. The R8 has a similar sensor but lacks this joystick, has way less battery capacity and one card slot.

– The on/off switch is on the right – Ok I know this was a pain to get used to. I kept turning the camera to video for s few weeks, but no

 

 

Canon R6 MkII Review –  Basic Specs

24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor

Dual Pixel CMOS AF II

12 fps Mech. Shutter, 40 fps E. Shutter

Sensor-Shift 5-Axis Image Stabilization

3.69m-Dot OLED EVF

3″ 1.62m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD

Dual UHS-II Memory Card Slots

Multi-Function Shoe, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Higher ISO Samples – Canon R6 MkII Review

 

I had no time to get a flash out after this couple exited the church. They raced out after the ceremony with not much warning. So I cranked up the ISO to maintain a decent shutter speed of 1/320 and opened my aperture to f2 and still got the shot. Probably should have aimed for a little faster shutter, but I got a few keepers at 1/320

 

I hope you found this Canon R6 MkII Review helpful.

The plan is to do a few more reviews of the gear I use as I get time.

I do not want to be a profession gear reviewer, but I do want to put out some thoughts on the gear I use.

You can see more of my work Here.