In the Field: Canon EOS R6 Mark II for Weddings

Wedding photographer Marina Polovinkina knows that she’s capturing one of the most important events in her clients’ lives. With challenging light and weather conditions, tight schedules, and high expectations, her gear has to live up to the pressure.

So how does one of Canon’s most sought-after mirrorless bodies hold up in a real-world setting?

Read on to find out why the Canon EOS R6 Mark II – along with Marina’s dream lens, the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L – is a great choice for wedding portraits, couple sessions, and those all-important once-in-a-lifetime wedding shots.

The Setup: Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Canon RF 28-70 f/2.0

Being an international couples and wedding photographer, I get to shoot all kinds of wedding celebrations, elopements, and couple and family sessions around the world.

This time, MPB lent me the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and a matching zoom lens for testing at a wedding photography workshop in Berlin, organised by Way Up North.

The EOS R6 Mark II is a natural upgrade to the Canon EOS R6 I’ve been shooting with for the past three years, and I’ve been keen on testing the RF 28–70mm f/2.0 ever since I switched to Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Canon RF 28-70 f/2.0: First Impressions

The EOS R6 Mark II sits comfortably in the hand and is quick and responsive. And thanks to the focal range and aperture of the Canon RF 28-70 f/2.0, flexibility and image quality are guaranteed in all kinds of settings throughout a typical wedding day – low-light photography included.

The lens is quite heavy, and holding this body-lens combination one-handed when using an off-camera flash and a flash trigger feels almost impossible. However, the ergonomics of the camera definitely make up for it.

The shooting experience is smooth, and the technology immediately gave me the confidence that my creative decisions would be rewarded with high-quality, sharp, and unique wedding photos.

Overall, this setup enabled me to adapt quickly to changing conditions and felt like an excellent choice for my wedding photography needs and the pictures I wanted to take.

EOS R6 Mark II: Performance

The Canon EOS R system has transformed my approach to wedding photography: with its smart functionality and excellent autofocus compared to DSLR systems, I can now focus more on the emotional connection with my couples and on the creative side of my wedding shots, leaving much of the technical heavy lifting to my camera.

Compared to my usual setup – the Canon EOS R6 paired with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM EF and a Canon EF-EOS R adapter –, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II in combination with the Canon RF 28-70 f/2.0 felt more efficient, more reliable, and easier to work with.

I’m really impressed by the autofocus and eye-tracking performance of the Canon R6 Mark II. During the workshop, both helped me take sharp and crisp images, even in dynamic situations. And the burst mode is invaluable too, especially for motion shots and pictures with an intentional blur.

As a visual artist, I also love Canon’s colour science. The colour reproduction is soft and true to life, and it needs very little correction in editing and post-production when you’re after a timeless look. For my style, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II was an excellent fit.

Verdict: Is the Canon EOS R6 Mark II the Best Canon Camera for Wedding Photography?

In recent years, Canon has released a broad range of mirrorless cameras to suit different photographic needs and budgets. But while there are no doubt more advanced options out there than the Canon R6 Mark II, they also come with a bigger price tag.

So, if you’re looking for resolution, features, and performance that allow you to deliver high-quality artistic shots, the EOS R6 Mark II is definitely one of the best Canon cameras for wedding photography you can get within its price range.

And while it’s compatible with a variety of lenses, the versatile Canon RF 28-70 f/2.0 zoom lens I borrowed from MPB is an excellent choice if you want to stay flexible and focus on the big event, your creativity, and your empathic communication with your couples rather than spending your time switching lenses.

Head to @ogurezkapusta on Instagram to learn more about Marina and her work.

Or discover other inspiring tips and techniques, camera gear guides, and interviews on the MPB content hub.