AUTOFOCUS

Focus on what matters most

With its advanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus, the EOS R6 identifies and tracks moving subjects like no mirrorless camera before. Sharpness is exactly where it needs to be, and you’ll find yourself shooting with confidence knowing that the EOS R6 is performing like a pro.

The camera’s autofocus is powered by its DIGIC X processor, which uses deep-learning artificial intelligence to recognise and track a subject’s eyes, face, head and body. People are kept sharp even in profile or when only one eye is visible. And if your subject turns away for a moment – when photographing fast-paced sport, for example – the EOS R6 continues to follow their head or body so their face is sharp when they turn back towards you.

Being able to track elements such as bodies and heads, not just faces, is crucial when photographing sports in which players suddenly turn their back – such as football or hockey – or are required to wear helmets that obscure part of the face.

In the EOS R6, this technology even extends as far as cats, dogs and birds, making continuous focus tracking in wildlife photography significantly easier.

People can be tracked even if they are wearing a mask helmet or sunglasses. When photographing motorsports, thanks to a firmware update, the camera can recognise motorbikes and racing cars, even distinguishing between closed and open cockpits, pinpointing a driver’s helmet when this is visible.

Couple performing ballet in the theatre

© Wanda Martin / Canon Ambassador ® Teatro Massimo

Super-sensitive focusing

The camera’s Dual Pixel CMOS II AF system is so sensitive it can focus in as little as 0.05 seconds3 and operate in light levels as dark as -6.5EV1 which is roughly the same as the light from a quarter moon. The EOS R6 is the first EOS to have this level of sensitivity, which lets it focus with maximum apertures as small as f/22, allowing teleconverters to be used with relatively narrow-aperture lenses, including our ultra-portable super-telephoto lenses, such as the RF 800MM F11 IS STM and RF 600MM F11 IS STM.

Lens Full time manual support

Refine or override the focus manually when in AF mode without having to flick a switch. Popular with users of older EF USM lenses this feature has been reimagined for RF lenses and their newer generation of focusing motors.

Focus bracketing

The EOS R6 features focus bracketing, which lets photographers create focus-stacked composite images with much more depth of field than can be generated with small apertures alone. It’s an especially useful technique for close-up or macro images, where depth of field is naturally shallow.

In Focus Bracketing mode, the EOS R6 captures a succession of frames with a single button press, starting at the specified focus distance then moving incrementally towards infinity with each shot. This series of images can be ‘stacked’ into a final composite picture in post-production using software such as Digital Photo Professional, which is supplied with the camera.

Woman in a ballet pose

Great Image quality, in less-than-great conditions

At the centre of the EOS R6 you'll find technologies shared with our flagship EOS-1D X Mark III camera.

"The face tracking gave me the confidence to keep up with my model and capture his dynamic and emotional poses."

Tracking behaviour

The behaviour of the camera’s AI Servo tracking autofocus can be adjusted by tweaking parameters such as ‘Tracking sensitivity ‘or ‘acceleration/ deceleration tracking’, or by selecting one of four ‘cases’ – configurations that are ideal for different types of action photography.

By default, or to get started the EOS R6 now also includes Case A, which automatically adapts according to the movement being photographed.

EOS R6 auto-focus in action

Easy focus-point selection

The EOS R6’s autofocus area cover virtually 100 per cent of the frame2 and can be used individually, in zones, or together as a single focus area with up to 6072 selectable positions. Spot AF has also been added, which uses a very small AF area for extreme precision.

Photographers can use a multi-directional joystick control to move the active focus point or zone around the screen manually. The sensitivity of this control – which is easy to control with the camera at your eye – can be adjusted to one of three levels according to your personal preferences.

Alternatively, the camera’s touchscreen can be used to set the position of the active focus point – by simply tapping or dragging when shooting in live view mode, or by using Touch & Drag technology when the camera is at your eye.

Related Articles

Explore these articles to discover how the Canon EOS R6 excels in so many areas.

  • VIDEO HYBRID

    One Camera for Stills and video

    Alongside superb quality stills, the EOS R6 produces exceptional video.

  • IMAGE QUALITY AND STABILISATION

    Great image quality, in less-than-great conditions

    At the center of the EOS R6 you'll find technologies shared with our flagship EOS-1D X Mark lll camera.

  • SPEED

    EOS R6 - Silent, continuous shooting

    Use the EOS R6 to shoot continuously and silently up to an astonishing 20 frames per second.

  • HANDLING AND CONNECTIVITY

    Designed by Canon, For You

    The EOS R6's design will feel reassuringly familiar from the first moment.

    1. During still photo shooting, with an f/1.2 lens, Centre AF point, One-Shot AF, at 23°C/73°F, ISO100. Excluding RF lenses with Defocus Smoothing coating
    2. Horizontal: 100%×Vertical: 100% (Maximum approx.) AF area coverage, Applicable when subject frame is shown while using Face+Tracking AF mode is active with and RF lenses (except RF600mm F11 IS STM / RF800mm F11 IS STM and Extender RF), EF lenses (excluding some current products), Extender EF (III) (depends on master lens AF area mode). Some scenes and subjects may not be applicable. For details on compatible lenses, please see the Canon official support site.
    3. The World’s fastest AF focusing speed of 0.05 sec among interchangeable lens digital mirrorless cameras incorporating 35mm full frame equivalent image sensors with phase-difference detection AF on the image plane and contrast detection AF. EOS R6’s AF speed is the same as that of the EOS R, EOS RP and EOS R5. Available in the market as of 9th of July 2020. (Based on Canon's Research). Calculated based on the resulting AF speed measured according to the CIPA guidelines. (Varies depending on the shooting conditions and the lenses used.) Internal measurement method. [Measurement conditions] Focusing brightness: EV 12 (room temperature, ISO 100) Shooting mode: M, Lens used: RF24-105mm F4L IS USM (at focal length of 24mm), Still photo shooting with shutter button operation, AF method: 1-point AF (with Center AF point), AF operation: One-Shot AF