Is the EOS R6 Mark II the way to go?

[odhuk]

Hey fellow photographers.

I've been shooting for 11 years now and had two cameras so far. It's been my hobby forever though. I started with Canon 1000D and stuck to it until I was finding its limits. Then I moved to Canon 80D and that's where I am right now, for 6 years. I am again starting to find its limits and am fully ready to move on (and keep the 80D as a second camera).

I am mainly shooting motorsports and car events. A good auto-focus is a must, and seeing what mirrorless cameras can achieve is mind-blowing. Auto-focus is exactly the main thing that I started noticing with 80D that is holding me back and that makes me miss shots. Combined with the not-so-good ISO range, the 80D is no longer making me happy.

It's clear that I'm moving to mirrorless. I'm just very unsure with which model I should start. I am also ready to invest into RF lenses, although I can adapt my EF lenses - I would rather keep using those on my 80D.

Currently, I researched a bunch and I found a great deal on new R6 Mark II. Would that be a way to go? Or do you have a different recommendations?

[Peter]

Go for R6 II. It will be a great upgrade from 80D. Especially when talking about AF and low light situations.

[p4pictures]

I have used the EOS R6 Mark II for a lot of motorsport events in the last couple of years, it is a real step up over your EOS 80D, and has LP-E6 type batteries and the same charger. I've also used my camera predominantly with EF lenses on the mount adapter and had no problems, apart from too many sharp, in focus pictures to select from 😁 RF lenses are great, often smaller and lighter than similar ones in the EF line-up. 

One important thing is to learn how the new AF works properly in mirrorless cameras, it's quite a change in not only operation, but also your own way of working compared to your EOS 80D.

[March411]

The R6 MkII would make an outstanding upgrade to your 80D. I own a 90D that has been collecting a lot of dust since I added the R6 MkII to my equipment. The focus system alone, speed and accuracy is outstanding, you will add IBIS and a little over 1000 focus points with the new body. Right now the price on this body is great, you can't go wrong!

And EF glass with the Canon $129 adapter perform outstanding. Like Brian I still use EF glass and have captured some great images. This one is on the R6 MkII and a EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM hand held. Even with the R6 MkII going into crop it produced outstanding images on this night shoot. The front ring light built into the lens was an added bonus.

Canon R6 II vs Canon 80D Comparison 

[justadude]

I owned the 80D from 2016 to 2019, and really loved it back in the day.  The colors I got from that camera are still some of the best.  But I get what you are saying about the not so good ISO range.  

With the R6 Mk ll there is a very nice improvement not only in ISO, but in dynamic range as well.  

I'm attaching two images below.  I had to reduce the size to upload, but I hope there is enough resolution to still see the noise and dynamic range differences.  

The image in landscape orientation was taken with the 80D.  The one in portrait mode was with the R6 Mk ll (Ignore the red band... this is a SAR arc. The Northern Lights were out behind me, and sometimes the SAR appears across the sky during an event like this.  I simply don't want you to think it was a problem with the camera.  It's not.)

Both of these images were shot at ISO 2000.  Both of these images were taken with the same lens, a Rokinon EF 14mm f/2.8.  The R6m2 was using the basic Canon EF/RF adapter.  Both of these images have the same amount of noise reduction applied in Lightroom.  I hope this helps with what you are asking.

[March411]

Beautiful frames Gary!

[justadude]

Thanks, Marc!  I hope these help odhuk out on seeing the difference on the things he was concerned with.