Full Review: Canon EOS R6 Mark III for Filmmakers and Video Creators

[Canon Rumors]

I've had the Canon EOS R6 Mark III in-hand for about a month now, and let's just get this out of the way right now: on paper, the R6 Mark III is probably the best hybrid camera that Canon has ever created. The photo side is about all one would ever need out of a […]

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[AccipiterQ]

It's important to note that for this review, and for subsequent updates, I will do my best to shoot as much footage as possible in the XF-AVC S YCC422 10 bit flavor of the h.264 codec, in Intra frame compression

Why not use h.265? I don't shoot a ton of video, so this may be a silly question, but does h.264 offer any advantage?

 

[Toamelicious]

It's important to note that for this review, and for subsequent updates, I will do my best to shoot as much footage as possible in the XF-AVC S YCC422 10 bit flavor of the h.264 codec, in Intra frame compression

Why not use h.265? I don't shoot a ton of video, so this may be a silly question, but does h.264 offer any advantage?

I think H.264 is easier on the processor for playback and generally more compatible with possibly older devices.
H.265 does better compression, resulting in smaller files, but also more load on the CPU.

 

[BlueBomberTurbo]

It's important to note that for this review, and for subsequent updates, I will do my best to shoot as much footage as possible in the XF-AVC S YCC422 10 bit flavor of the h.264 codec, in Intra frame compression

Why not use h.265? I don't shoot a ton of video, so this may be a silly question, but does h.264 offer any advantage?

Intra is only available in h.264 on R6 III. LGOP is the sole option for h.265. You get Intra High, Standard, and Light in h.264, along with LGOP. And I can say from experience with h.265 LGOP, you'll want a higher bitrate if you're working with noisier files. h.265 LGOP definitely loses some grain definition that's otherwise helpful for NR like Topaz.

 

[rombe3jr]

Great review. Awesome to hear your comedy friends using a couple R6 II's! Another angle to the story right now is that Canon is moving in hard against Sony on the video side. The C50 is much newer but clearly in the lead over the Sony FX3 spec for spec. And the R6 III is beating the comparatively priced A7V in most video specs. A refreshing sea change in Canon's favor. I sympathize with the lack of shutter angle. It would have been better to "set it and forget it." Otherwise, another thing to lose sleep over the night before a shoot! Regarding audio recording in 120p the use case for me is catching audio directly before or after the slow-motion event without additional recording devices required. Capturing a skateboarder, for example, as they approach a jump in normal speed, audio recording in progress... hear the sound of the wheels as they roll and alter tone with subtle changes in the concrete. Then the jump and everything slows down as they somehow move the skateboard in ways that, lets be honest, would cause serious injury to the average person, if attempted. And perhaps this mid air moment is silent as we hold our breath, and maybe audio isn't necessary here at all. But the impact of the landing, if heard, is almost felt along with the skateboarder. The stress on the body becomes more real. Will they fall like I would? Perhaps the relief of landing safely. We want to feel the moment with the skateboarder. Its all, well quite a bit different without audio. Not every slow motion scenario is like that but nicer to have the ability to record audio than not. My two cents.

 

[vlasena]

Sorry, i maybe missed it in review, but was the issue with IBIS wobble on wide angle fixed? Or what was meant is that it is only fixable by digital IS, which is not possible to use without IBIS? Is it the same on R5?

 

[rombe3jr]

Sorry, i maybe missed it in review, but was the issue with IBIS wobble on wide angle fixed? Or what was meant is that it is only fixable by digital IS, which is not possible to use without IBIS? Is it the same on R5?

Unfortunately there is still a wobble problem. GyroFlow is a good 3rd party software solution, but it needs the gyro data that only the modern cameras have (R6 III and C50). Here's a good video showing footage without and with GyroFlow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uRclDI4fmE&t=51s

 

[vlasena]

Thank you for sharing, but that is very sad that even after 2 generations of R6, Canon still does not have a solution and we have to use 3rd party software. I am not a pro, for me even the original R6 is still good enough, pictures and colors are amazing if not better, however for video all those GOPs and other funcy stuff is not a substitution of proper IBIS. Not sure how this is not in every single review. GoPro or DJI all have some kind of digital, canon just a stabilization for photos. Who cares about your amazing video if it is wobly and ugly?

 

[BlueBomberTurbo]

On the bright side, GyroFlow is free, and is a plugin for use with your NLE. So it's not an extra step vs having to use standalone software (which first party absolutely would be). Not sure if there would be any blur artifacts (following 180° shutter) at all from this kind of stabilization, vs relying on it solely for digital stabilization (guaranteed blur).

 

[rombe3jr]

Thank you for sharing, but that is very sad that even after 2 generations of R6, Canon still does not have a solution and we have to use 3rd party software. I am not a pro, for me even the original R6 is still good enough, pictures and colors are amazing if not better, however for video all those GOPs and other funcy stuff is not a substitution of proper IBIS. Not sure how this is not in every single review. GoPro or DJI all have some kind of digital, canon just a stabilization for photos. Who cares about your amazing video if it is wobly and ugly?

I agree. If it is any consolation, there is only one interchangeable lens camera brand doing IBIS well enough to eliminate a gimbal right now, and reliably shoot smooth looking hand held (even 200mm is achievable), and that is with a Panasonic Lumix. The Canon R6 is indeed still a compelling camera in many ways, especially if you are doing a limited amount of video. Shorter clips will look as good as the R6 II, slightly better in the R6 III but again, more incremental and not needed much unless you need to shoot video over 30 minutes at a time or 4k 60 fps over 10 minutes (to avoid overheating). I agree that brands like GoPro/DJI/Insta360 are moving into video fast. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for only $525 USD (new on B&H right now), is the clear leader and somewhat of a game changer. Its larger 1" sensor has helped it a bit in lower light situations over previous models, the gimbal for obvious reasons (no wobble) and the ability to pull the camera out and start recording so quickly. Its sensor can always improve, especially for low light, but the biggest limiting factor is probably the 20mm full frame equivalent field of view. For most "vlog" style video its perfect to shoot yourself and the scene behind you. A firmware update gives us a 40mm equivalent crop, but that does limit the sensor. My guess is the next generation Pocket 4 was going to work on these two weaknesses (sensor capabilities and field of view). The fact that it is over 2 years old means that DJI was probably close to releasing a version 4 but then the December, 2025 ruling in the United States banned not only drones from China/DJI but also any new device with radio communications (which includes the Wi-Fi / Bluetooth connectivity to your phone or lav mics standard on the new Pockets). The good news is that the Osmo Pocket 3 is still for sale in the US. DJI was so far ahead of the competition that it probably still has a couple years before anything else comes close. It is likely DJI will continue to innovate and have new models ready to offer the US market if/when the ban is lifted. For now, if you need 4k video in a 20mm equivalent field of view in moderate to well-lit situations, there is nothing easier than the Osmo Pocket 3.