Canon EOS R6

The Canon EOS R6 is a full-frame mirrorless camera released in 2020, built around the RF mount. With a 20.1 megapixel sensor and the Digic X processor, it leans towards speed rather than sheer resolution.

That makes it a natural fit for anyone photographing things that move: sport, wildlife, events and children. The 20 frames per second maximum burst and in-body stabilisation carry the load, and the weather-sealed body helps when conditions turn poor.

Carrying it involves 680 grams of body before you add a lens, so it is a substantial but not extreme full-frame package. Power comes from an LP-E6NH battery, and both slots accept ordinary SD cards.

Resolution is the main compromise. The sensor's pixel count means heavy cropping costs more image area than it would on a higher-resolution body. For most work, that is a fair trade.

Speed is the stronger story: a 1/8000 maximum shutter and a 20 frames per second maximum burst cover fast action, with the Digic X processor on board. The 20 fps figure is a maximum rather than a sustained rate, so long sequences depend on your card and settings.

The Optics score of 79 is good, placing the R6 in the top 10% of cameras in our database for Optics. The autofocus system offers 1053 points, and the 3.69 million dot electronic viewfinder previews scenes in fine detail.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps when handholding at slower shutter speeds. The ISO range runs from 100 to 102400, giving broad latitude in exposure settings across lighting conditions.

Video is one of the R6's strongest areas, and the very good 91 score reflects that. Recording reaches 4K, which keeps footage detailed enough for most projects and leaves room for mild cropping in the edit.

The maximum frame rate of 120 frames per second makes slow-motion work possible. The supplied figures do not confirm that this rate is available at 4K, so check the combined recording modes and any recording limits before planning a project around 4K slow motion.

Footage records in MP4, a widely used file format for video recording and sharing.

A built-in timelapse mode rounds things off, so interval sequences of clouds, traffic or stars need no external timer.

The features list earns a very good 85, and the screen does much of the work. The 3-inch LCD is a touchscreen with 1.62 million dots, so playback and menus stay crisp, and it flips out for ground-level or overhead work.

Both WiFi and Bluetooth are built in, so the camera offers two wireless connection options.

The body is weather sealed, which helps with dust and moisture in ordinary outdoor use, though sealing is not waterproofing. There is no built-in flash, but external flash support covers you when you need added light.

Live view lets you compose on the screen instead of the viewfinder, which pairs naturally with the flip screen for odd-angle stills and handheld video. GPS is absent, so there is no built-in location tagging.

Two SD card slots, both compatible with fast UHS-II cards, give you double the storage in camera. That suits a camera with a 20 fps maximum burst, where long sequences eat space quickly.

Battery life is the weak point and the main reason the Storage & Battery score of 68 is only good. The LP-E6NH is rated at 360 shots, and real endurance depends on how you shoot; heavy burst or video work can drain a charge sooner.

USB charging lets you top the battery up from a laptop or other USB source between shoots. The supplied data does not confirm charging while shooting, so treat it as a between-shoots convenience and carry a spare for long days.