REVIEW: Canon R6 Mark II & RF 24-105 f/4L IS USM
Phenomenal autofocus, outstanding in-camera JPEGs at high ISOs, and great support for legacy EF lenses and flashes makes this a nice upgrade for those sitting on the fence.
✅ Pros
- ✅Excellent in-camera JPEG quality especially at high ISO (up to ISO 20,000+ with impressive detail retention)
- ✅Fast, reliable autofocus that rarely hunts—even with legacy EF lenses—and outperforms older pro bodies like the 1DX Mark II
- ✅Pivoting LCD is very handy for macros in difficult shots, great for screen protection, and perfect for awkward angles
- ✅Strong IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) + lens stabilization for sharp handheld low-light shots
⛔ Cons
- ⛔In 2026, it trails newer bodies (e.g., Nikon Z6 III, Sony a7 V, Canon R6 Mark III) in buffer depth, rolling shutter, and burst rates for fast action
- ⛔Even at street prices around $1,999 body-only new (or $1,800 used/refurb), it's pricey compared to aggressive competition in a shrinking market
- ⛔DPP 4 is painfully slow for raw processing, despite being optimized for Canon files
- ⛔Limited 4K 60p recording time due to potential overheating in extended clips (common for the model; external fan helps if video is priority)
- ⚖️RAW shadow recovery / dynamic range isn’t class-leading if you push files hard (vs. some Sony a7 and Nikon Z bodies)
TL;DR ⚡
For dedicated Canon shooters, the R6 Mark II delivers outstanding high ISO performance. Combined with IBIS and lens stabilization, it enables slower shutter speeds for still subjects, reducing ISO for cleaner images. See my full review for more info on how it compares to the new Mark III.
Table of Contents
Test Context
- Main lens: RF 24–105mm f/4L IS USM
- Legacy EF lenses used: EF 70–200mm f/2.8L IS II, EF 11–24mm f/4L, EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
- Adapter: Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF–EOS R (circular polarizer)
- Scenes Reviewed: Everyday life, macro + close focus, long exposures, low-light indoor, and a "distraction torture test”
- Files: JPEG + RAW (CR3) + HEIF (.HIF) & MOV
- Firmware Version: 1.5.0 (Lens 2.0.6)
- Lightroom Classic Version (for triaging RAW): 15.1 (Camera Raw 18.1)
- Digital Photo Professional: 4.20.11.0
- Photos Taken: 1770 (3549 files)
Who it’s for
- Parents looking to get great shots of their kids in difficult sports conditions
- Events photographers who often have lots of low-light handheld shots
- Canon EF lens owners looking to upgrade to a newer camera body (while keeping their existing glass)
Who should skip
- Those who have to have the latest and greatest gear
- Studio and landscape photographers who prioritize pixels over autofocus performance
- If you already invested in Sony, Fujifilm or Nikon, there's not enough here to warrant a platform switch
Video Review 🎥
Real World Shots 📷
The photos below are real-world samples. Click any photo to open the original size.
Click here to view the entire gallery of images taken for this review.
The 24-105 minimum focus distance was quite usable.
However, I found myself wishing this was a f/2.8 lens quite often to get more bokeh in the background. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Manual focus peaking was needed to get sharp focus for this shot, but it worked great.
The wind really gave the autofocus its only fits during my testing, so the focus peaking made it easy to see when the wind was calm enough to take the shot. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
The Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with Circular Polarizer Filter worked great with my legacy Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens.
I rotated the circular polarizer to eliminate the reflections on the leaves and stump to make a more vibrant image. I quickly became a fan of having filters on the camera side of the lens instead of on the end of the lens. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
The in-camera JPEG processing of ISO 20,000 is awesome
I quickly fell in love with the fact that I don't need to worry about hitting high ISOs with this camera. The noise reduction is impressive while still maintaining plenty of details as shown in this low-light shot. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
My very old EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens worked great with the Canon Drop-In Filter Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with Circular Polarizer Filter
I had no issues with both auto and manual focus with this super sharp but very outdated lens Click the photo to open the original size 👆
I was happy to see my legacy Canon EF11-24mm f/4L USM, one of my most expensive lenses, worked great with the R6 Mark II's autofocus system!
The circular polarizer came in handy on this long exposure shot as did the articulating LCD which kept me from having to get into funny positions. I just rotated the LCD so I could see it easily no matter what position my camera was in! Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Another long-exposure shot that highlights the sharpness of this lens even at f/14
I currently own a legacy 24-70 and two variants of the 24-105 lens, but this new RF made me want to get rid of all of them as it performed very well with super crisp images worthy of the L designation. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Cigar lounges are a visual treat in person, but they give cameras fits
I was pleased that the autofocus never had any problems and didn't hunt for something to lock onto. The in-camera JPG was great and the off colors accurately reflect what I saw in person as well, so it nailed the color even with the AWB setting. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
In-camera color accuracy was fantastic
I might be sounding like a broken record, but Canon's strength has always been its in-camera color quality and this was no different. It's an exact replica of what my eyes were seeing at the time. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Even at ISO 8000, the textures of the cigars were excellent.
I've been so happy with my iPhone over the past few years that I'm not breaking out the big camera anymore, but the resolution and crispness especially at high ISO with this camera has me rethinking that decision. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
This was my token f/22 shot that is more about having a lot of things to look at than it is photography. Overall, the wind hurt this shot quite a bit but I also believe diffraction was the bigger enemy here. There's no substitute for more megapixels for stuff like this as I've shown in my 50 and 100 megapixel Fujifilm reviews.
For this shot I was using my legacy EF11-24mm lens and the light conditions were constantly changing, but in the Northwest this was about as much sun as I could get so I was happy to capture it! Click the photo to open the original size 👆
f/16 looks great as long as you don't pixel peep at unrealistic zoom levels
I focused on the sign and again was using my sharpest lens in my bag for this shot Click the photo to open the original size 👆
I used the right eye autofocus and despite my daughter's hair partially obscuring it, and it did great.
For those new to this feature, the right and left eye refer to the subject's right and left eye - not photographers right or left. This is something that you need to think about when using that feature as it's easy to get it confused. That said, auto eye priority works great most of the time too. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
This was a hard shot to capture and the result is nothing to write home about, but what impressed me was that the autofocus never hunted around trying to lock onto the inscription - despite the fact that I struggled to see it!
Autofocus in difficult conditions that used to trip up the best of cameras is no longer a thing, so I never dealt with focus hunting even when using my older lenses. What's more, I almost never needed manual autofocus, and when I did it was for creative reasons. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Another tricky one just above
In both cases, the autofocus just worked like it was any other subject - which was great! Click the photo to open the original size 👆
I had the wrong white balance settings for this shot, but I was pleased with the exposure of the blackberries at 0 EV against the bright pineapple in Canon's Evaluate metering (aka pattern) mode.
A better white balance and partial metering would have been a better choice, but the CR3 raw file leaves plenty to work with after the fact. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
It's the winter in the Northwest, so there's little light to speak of. As a result, I was pleased to see how much detail was still left in the top of this hat even at ISO 8000.
Yet another example of why I loved the 24-105mm so much - super sharp images and great image stabilization for handheld shots. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
ISO 8000 was so good on that last shot, I decided to push things and give ISO 10,000 a shot
Once again, the in-camera JPEG didn't disappoint. However, I can still leverage the raw and Imagenomic Noiseware to get it even more sharp if I wanted to edit this image. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Photographs on your typical ice rink are always terrible due to the poor lighting conditions and distractions in the background, but I was super impressed with the eye autofocus and AI Servo performance with my legacy 70-200mm during this torture test.
Lots of distractions in the foreground and background kept showing up, but the AF almost never missed a shot and stayed in sharp focus of my daughter's eyes even when I struggled to see where she was. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
I've got countless distractions shots like this where the AF did a great job tracking my intended subject and never getting tripped up.
I was extremely pleased with the performance, even though people were ruining any chances of a getting a good photograph! Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Another distraction example and there's more in the review gallery, but the AF never lost sight of my intended subject.
I can say with confidence that the R6 outperforms my Canon 1DX Mark II in terms of AF performance in every way. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
This is a horrible photo, but what's impressive is that the eye autofocus actually stayed on the eye of the moving and partially obscured subject
I threw a lot at this AF system and it passed with flying colors. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Yes, its true, auto eye AF even works on closed eyes!
In the past you'd have a sharp focus of a basketball and blurry subject, but not with the R6 Mark II. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
I didn't get enough time with the amazing Canon EL (Version 2) Flash, but this was all that flash with no third party modifiers.
It's heavy, and its expensive, but the battery makes it a always ready when you need it super performing flash. If I was shooting event photography, I'd definitely buy this flash. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
After taking a photo with my iPhone, I decided to see if I could improve upon it by getting a shot that the iPhone would never get - a sharp focus on the brush as paint is applied.
Spot autofocus saved the day and I got the shot that I was hoping to get. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Unhappy with the darkness of the last shot, I tried again and once again spot AF had no problems getting my desired result.
In retrospect I wish I would have tried this shot at f/9 to get both the brush and hand in better focus together, but that's all on me not the camera. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
Notice how in-camera HEIF (.HIF) files render in Lightroom versus the CR3 thumbnail/default rendering.
I’m not sure if this is a Lightroom issue or a camera firmware issue from not being on the latest version. Leave a comment if you have more details on this issue. Click the photo to open the original size 👆
4K Video Example - Northwest Stream
1080p 120fps Slomo Video Example - Northwest Stream
Observations
Battery Life & Ergonomics
In mixed stills shooting (with occasional bursts and LCD use), I got about 2000 images (about 1000 shots) per LP-E6NH charge—solid for a mirrorless body. Grip is comfortable for long sessions, weather-sealing held up in light rain/Northwest drizzle, and the EVF is bright and clear. IBIS makes handheld low-light easy.
Still Worth It in 2026?
Launched in 2022, the R6 Mark II now often sells new for ~$1,999 body-only (or less refurbished/used around $1,800). It’s a fantastic value for EF lens owners avoiding a full system switch. If you want the absolute latest (better buffer, sensor readout, video endurance), the R6 Mark III is the step-up—but this one still punches way above its age for sports, events, and family action.
Difference between the Mark II and Mark III (AI Generated)
Image Quality & Resolution
The most notable difference is the sensor. The Mark III offers a 32.5MP sensor compared to the Mark II's 24.2MP, providing greater flexibility for cropping and larger prints. This extra resolution, however, can result in slightly more noise in high ISO scenarios compared to the Mark II's clean low-light performance.
Video Enhancements
The Mark III is a significant upgrade for videographers. It introduces internal 7K RAW recording and Open Gate recording, which uses the entire sensor area for flexible aspect ratio cropping in post-production (e.g., for social media vertical video). It also adds a full-size HDMI port, Canon Log 2, and professional tools like waveform monitoring. The Mark II is a capable everyday video camera with crop-free 4K 60p, but lacks these advanced features.
Speed & Buffer
Both cameras shoot at an impressive 40fps with the electronic shutter. The Mark III pulls ahead with its CFexpress card slot (alongside an SD slot), which allows for a much larger buffer capacity (around 150 RAW shots vs. 75 on the Mark II) for extended burst shooting. It also has a more robust implementation of the Pre-continuous shooting feature.
Autofocus & Stabilization
Both use Canon's effective Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system. The Mark III benefits from an enhanced AF algorithm and the "Register People Priority" feature, which allows you to prioritize focus on specific registered faces. It also offers a slight bump in in-body image stabilization, up to 8.5 stops.
Recommended Products
Closing Thoughts
I’ll admit I was late to the game reviewing this one—it originally launched in 2022—but it’s still a very relevant camera today, especially if you’re coming from older Canon DSLRs with EF glass and have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade. If you’ve already moved to the R series, the gains here are more incremental and may not justify the cost.
That said, if you value Canon’s ergonomics and its consistently excellent in-camera JPEGs, this camera earns its keep. Autofocus stayed locked on even in ugly, low-contrast situations, and high-ISO performance was strong enough that I rarely felt forced into shooting RAW. When I did, RAW + Imagenomic Noiseware produced results that easily meet 2026-level expectations.
If you still find yourself wanting more—faster everything, more headroom, and the newest refinements—then stepping up to the Canon R6 Mark III makes sense. Either way, the Canon RF 24–105mm f/4L IS USM remains a rock-solid everyday pairing that fits this body perfectly.
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