Canon may not be finished with its plans for 2024 just yet. Following the dual launch of the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II in July, there are now signs that it has a third full-frame mirrorless camera in mind for this year: the EOS R6 Mark III.
There has been speculation on Canon Rumors that the latest mid-range model with a full-frame sensor could even hit stores in late 2024, along with a list of expected specifications.
It should be noted that the camera, announcement dates and specs are all based on rumours, though the timeline would match Canon's two-year cycle for the EOS R6 series so far, following 2020's EOS R6 and the EOS R6 Mark II which launched in late 2022.
For a camera of this level, a two-year product cycle seems shorter than most, but with Nikon recently announcing the excellent Z6 III which in many ways surpasses the EOS R6 Mark II, Canon may not be able to afford to hold on to this one.
The passionate rivalry between Canon and Nikon is set to continue
Canon Rumors says its sources have told it the EOS R6 Mark III is “virtually ready to go,” along with a list of expected specs.
The sensor will apparently be 24MP again, but it's “related” to the stacked sensor on the much more expensive EOS R3, the former flagship used by professional sports and wildlife photographers. There's no mention of burst shooting speed, though we'd expect it to be faster if the stacked sensor rumor is true, plus there'll be better control of rolling shutter distortion.
The Nikon Z6 III was the first camera of its kind to feature a “partially” stacked sensor that has a faster readout speed than the Canon EOS R6 II, so an even faster stacked sensor in a potential EOS R6 Mark III would be an obvious way for Canon to fight back.
However, the EOS R6 Mark III can't quite follow in the footsteps of the EOS R5 Mark II, and Canon also needs to keep the price reasonable: the EOS R6 Mark II launched at around $2,500 / £2,700 / AU$4,500, the same price as the new Nikon 6 III, and it can't go much higher with a successor.
In that regard, the processor is believed to be an upgraded DIGIC X, but it won't feature the performance-enhancing DIGIC accelerator found on the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1. It should also feature the same EVF as the EOS R5, rather than the one on the Mark II version which features Canon's fancy Eye-Control AF.
There are a few more specs mentioned in the rumor, many of which match those of the Z6 III. If Canon were to release the EOS R6 Mark III later this year, it would form a tight competition with the Z6 III for the crown of best overall mirrorless camera, and that's a battle we're all willing to fight for.
