The Canon R6 has proven excellent for astrophotography, exhibiting better dynamic range and shadow recovery than most Canon DSLRs, due to the ISO invariant design of the R6 sensor. It is a stack of 8 x 8-minute exposures at ISO 800, blended with a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 400 for the core, to prevent it from overexposing too much, all with a SharpStar 76mm apo refractor at f/4.5 with its field flattener/reducer. M31, the spiral galaxy in Andromeda, with the Canon R6 mirrorless camera.

Here I test the mid-priced R6, introduced in August 2020.ĬLICK or TAP on an image to bring it up full screen for closer inspection. The superb performance of the Ra has prompted me to stay with the Canon mirrorless R system for future camera purchases.

I reviewed that camera in the April 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine, with a quick first look here on my blog. The reflex mirror is gone, allowing for a more compact camera, better movie capabilities, and enhanced auto-focus functions, among other benefits.īut what about for astrophotography? I reviewed the Sony a7III and Nikon Z6 mirrorless cameras here on my blog and, except for a couple of points, found them excellent for the demands of most astrophotography.įor the last two years I’ve primarily used Canon’s astro-friendly and red-sensitive EOS Ra mirrorless, a model sadly discontinued in September 2021 after just two years on the market. In an extensive technical blog, I put the Canon R6 mirrorless camera through its paces for the demands of astrophotography.Įvery major camera manufacturer, with the lone exception of stalwart Pentax, has moved from producing digital lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, to digital single lens mirrorless (DSLM) cameras.

Eis r6