Canon 6D Mark II arrives with more megapixels, more AF points, Dual Pixel CMOS AF and a flip-out LCD

posted Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 12:01 AM EDT

Click here to read our Canon 6D Mark II Hands-On Preview

After five long years, the successor to Canon's most affordable full-frame DSLR is here. Say hello to the Canon 6D Mark II. Sporting an all-new 26MP full-frame sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF, a 45-point AF system, and most noticeably, a 3.0-inch, fully-articulated LCD touchscreen, the new 6D Mark II brings some fresh, modern features and specs to Canon's affordable full-frame DSLR series.

Prior to the 6D, as you went up the range of Canon DSLRs, the first full-frame model was the 5D-series, a very pro-oriented and rather pricey model; one that might be out of reach for the non-pro photographer. So, to lower the barrier of entry into the full-frame world, the 6D was created, offering a smaller, ligher design and some consumer-oriented amentieis, such as an SD card slot (rather than CF). Canon continues this heritage with the 6D Mark II, keeping similar weight and size specs while also upgrading the features and performance and managing to keep the base, body-only pricepoint right at a more reasonable US$2,000 -- compared to the $3,200 MSRP of the 5D Mark IV, for example.

Photographer and reviewer Jeremy Gray was fortunate enough to spend some quality hands-on time with a pre-production 6D II out in Yellowstone National Park. Not only does he provide a slew of real-world images to browse through, but also an initial report on the camera's handling, image quality and performance (Reminder to readers: this a pre-production beta sample). We also have our standard in-depth Product Overview, complete with all the details on the camera's new features, performance upgrades and how it compares to the original. Click the links below to get the full rundown!

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens at 100mm, f/13, 1/10s, ISO 100. This image has been modified. This image is from a beta sample of the Canon 6D Mark II. RAW file processed in Canon Digital Photo Professional software.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens at 158mm, f/11, 1/100s, ISO 100. This image has been modified. This image is from a beta sample of the Canon 6D Mark II. RAW file processed in Canon Digital Photo Professional software.