Canon is announcing the EOS R6 Mark III camera, its latest jack-of-all-trades full-frame mirrorless model for both stills and video. The new camera features a 32.5-megapixel sensor, improved autofocus, 7K video recording, and a new dual-card arrangement with a high-speed CFExpress Type B slot. It’s set to launch on November 25 and will sell for $2,799 physically only, as well as in kits with the RF 24-105mm STM lens or the RF 24-105mm L lens for $3,149 and $4,049, respectively.
The R6 line is aimed at a broader set of users who may not need the 45 megapixels of the pricier EOS R5 Mark II or want to spend more than $4,000 just for the body. But the R6 Mark III no longer feels lacking, upping the ante from 24 megapixels in the last-gen model to 32.5 megapixels. The Mark III can also capture high-quality video up to 4K/120P and 7K/60P RAW, including support for full corner-to-corner OpenGate filming for added crop flexibility.
There are also more gamma settings on offer, along with Canon’s Log2 mode and custom look. But some helpful functional changes for video shooters could be the inclusion of a telelamp when you’re filming and the transition from a micro HDMI port to a full-size Type A HDMI. As for the new camera’s autofocus system, you can now register a person’s face to ensure it consistently prioritizes them when tracking.
One change that could polarize some is Canon’s move from dual SD card slots on the R6 Mark II to an asymmetrical setup on the Mark III, with one CFExpress type B and one SD. CF Express can achieve high shutter speeds, and is likely responsible for the R6 Mark III’s ability to shoot long bursts of images while maintaining the shooting speed of the last-gen model (12 fps with a mechanical shutter or 40 fps electronic), even at its higher resolution. But CF Express cards typically cost more, and managing multiple card formats is more cumbersome. Unlike the CF Express Type A, the Type B card slots can’t be configured to take an SD card – like you find in Sony cameras with their combo slots.
Launching alongside the EOS R6 Mark III, Canon has an exciting new lens: the RF 45mm F/1.2 STM. It’s a compact standard prime lens with a very bright maximum aperture for capturing low-light shots and a very shallow depth of field. It’s also one of the most affordable f/1.2 lenses I’ve ever heard of, priced at $469.99 and estimated to ship in early December. Full-frame compatible autofocus lenses with an f/1.2 aperture typically run well north of $1,500, even from third parties like Sigma, so it’s pretty wild to see one from Canon for under $500.
It’s not an L lens, though, so it’s not weather-sealed, and you need extra for a lens hood. 59.99 will have to be paid. And while being briefed on it, Canon USA representative Drew McCallum explained the lens isn’t the most complex of Pixel papers, relying on some in-camera improvements to support its image rendering and help compensate for its low price. Regardless, as someone whose favorite lens is a Sony f/50mm f/1.2, I’d love to see affordable f/1.2 lenses become a trend.
