Canon Launches EOS R6 Mark III With 33MP Sensor and 7K Open Gate

The new Canon EOS R6 Mark III full-frame camera is pitched as a hybrid workhorse and joined by an equally new RF 45mm F1.2 STM prime lens.

Canon says that the widely teased and now just launched Canon EOS R6 Mark III is a powerful stills camera with advanced filmmaking features, and positions it in the Canon ecosystem between the existing EOS R5 and the EOS R6 Mark II.

It features the same newly developed 32.5-megapixel full-frame sensor that debuted in the EOS C50 cinema camera, alongside the latest DIGIC X processor and can capture images at up to 40 frames per second (electronic shutter — manual shutter peaks at 12 fps) with an expanded buffer of 150 RAW frames when using CFexpress cards.

Key Specifications

• 32.5 MP full-frame sensor

• 40 fps electronic shutter

• Up to 8.5-stop IS (in-body + lens)

• Up to 7K RAW video recording

• Dual CFexpress and UHS-II SD slots

• Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1

• Weather-resistant body

Video Capabilities

For filmmakers, the R6 Mark III has enough of the C50 in it to be an interesting proposition. It records 7K RAW Light up to 60 fps, oversampled 4Kp60, and 4Kp120 for slow-motion capture. It also supports Open Gate 7K recording, Full HD 180fps for creative slo-mo, Canon Log 2, waveform monitoring, proxy recording, metadata tagging, and 4-channel audio. Which is, all in all, an impressive list.

Canon Log 2 provides up to 15+ stops of exposure latitude. Users can also apply a LUT in-camera directly while recording. A new Custom Picture menu brings access to Canon 709, BT.709, PQ, and color filter settings, letting creators match footage across Cinema EOS workflows.

A new Slow and Fast (S & F) Mode on the mode dial offers new UI control over resolution, frame rate, playback speed, and compression.

Automatic SCN (Special Scene) shooting modes for photos and videos, include Movie for close-up demos, Smooth skin movie, Movie IS, and HDR Movie. 14 different SCN modes for still images, include Smooth skin portraits, Group Photo, Panoramic Shot, Panning mode and more.

Connectivity options include dual card slots (CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD), Wi-Fi 5 (5 GHz), and Bluetooth 5.1. It has also thankfully ditched the R6 II's micro HDMI port for a proper, full-sized one. Elsewhere there is also a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 for charging, data, and UVC/UAC webcam use, plus 3.5 mm microphone and headphone jacks.

Improvements

There are plenty of improvements and features that have trickled down from the pro-oriented R1 and R5 II. This includes Canon's latest Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system which, as is common with pretty much all recent releases from every manufacturer, now covers a broader range of subjects, including trains, airplanes, and horses. An interesting new Register People Priority mode allows pre-selection of up to 10 faces for priority tracking. 

The camera’s ISO range extends to 64,000, supporting clean low-light shooting, while in-body stabilization combines with lens IS for up to 8.5 stops of compensation. A pre-continuous shooting feature records 20 frames in H+ mode in full RAW, JPEG, or HEIF before the shutter is pressed.

Upgraded IBIS compensates for up to 8.5 stops of camera shake at the center of the frame, and 7.5 stops at the periphery.

A 3.69-million-dot electronic viewfinder with OVF View Assist offers a more natural dynamic range, while the 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen (1.62 million dots) aids self-shooting and low-angle framing. Zebra, false-color, and waveform displays—borrowed from Canon’s Cinema EOS line—are now available for more accurate exposure control.

The Multi-Function Shoe supports digital accessories such as the DM-E1D microphone and EL-5 Speedlite, while the new LP-E6P battery extends endurance to around 620 shots per charge.

Weight is 1.3 lb / 609 g (Body Only) and 1.5 lb / 699 g with battery and recording media. Physical dimensions are 5.4 x 3.9 x 3.5" / 138.4 x 98.4 x 88.4 mm.

RF 45mm F1.2 STM

Joining the ecosystem is the speedy RF 45mm F1.2 STM, Canon’s lightest f/1.2 RF lens at just 346 g / 0.76 lb. The lens introduces Canon’s widest aperture to the enthusiast range for the first time, offering excellent low-light performance and greater creativity and a minimum focusing distance of 45cm.

It features a durable metal mount, 9-blade aperture, and compatibility with Canon’s focus breathing correction technology

Canon's obviously happy with the choices it's made in bringing this to market, painting it as "a game-changer for photographers seeking depth of field control and outstanding creative results."

Canon EOS R6 Mark III Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS R6 Mark III will ship by the end of the month for a body only $2799. Two kit options pair it with the RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM for $4049, and the RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM USM lens for $3149. 

The Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM will ship next month for $469.