WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TODAY
DSLR or mirrorless? Canon’s two new options are great for wildlife imaging.
By George D. LeppW
ith Canon’s two newest bodies—the EOS 90D DSLR and the
mirrorless EOS M6 Mark II—every photographer has great options
for state-of-the-art still and video capture. While generally described
as “entry-level” systems, these cameras perform at considerably higher
levels, I’ve found. And they both deliver the three essentials you need for
great wildlife photography: reach, speed and resolution.
With their 32.5-megapixel APS-C sensors, the EOS 90D and the EOS
M6 Mark II feature a 1.6x crop factor (great for extending telephoto
range), improved resolution and ISO capabilities that enable faster
shutter speeds and extended depth of fi eld. Both cameras offer fast-
action capture: 10 fps for the EOS 90D and up to 14 fps on the M6 Mark II.
I found the autofocus responsive enough to capture birds in fl ight.
The advent of 4K video has greatly improved our options for
documenting wildlife behavior. The EOS 90D and the EOS M6 Mark II
come with 4K (UHD 3840x2160) video capture at 30 fps, with fast and
accurate Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus. You can speed up the action using
in-camera time lapse or slow it down with the available 120 fps in full HD
(1920x1080) video. I’ve even taken single-frame grabs from 4K video clips
to produce excellent prints and illustrations worthy of publication.
Macro and scenic photography will be enhanced by the cameras’ Focus
Bracketing function that offers incredible depth of fi eld, rendering small
subjects in extraordinary detail and yielding landscapes in sharp focus
from foreground to horizon.With Canon, The DSLR Versus Mirrorless Choice Is Win-Win
All you DSLR shooters out there will want to take a close look at the EOS
90D. It builds and improves upon both the EOS 80D and, in some areas, the
higher-level EOS 7D Mark II. DSLR photographers want the ergonomics
and speed that work seamlessly with the lenses already in their bags.
On the other hand, the EOS M6 Mark II checks all the boxes for
mirrorless technology. It’s small, lightweight at 14.39 ounces, very quickat 14 fps continuous shooting, and has an excellent optional electronic
viewfi nder that makes it easy to work in low light. With the dedicated
Canon EF-M lenses, the kit is light and manageable. But with the optional
EF-EOS M Mount Adapter, all my Canon EF glass from 11-24mm to
600mm worked perfectly! And both bodies offered the advantage of
the 32.5-megapixel APS-C sensor’s high resolution and 1.6x crop factor,
extending the reach on my telephotos with no additional loss of light.
After working on a variety of subjects with the EOS 90D and the EOS
M6 Mark II cameras, my conclusion is that the only thing “entry-level”
about them is the price. Their capabilities will meet the needs of many
outdoor/wildlife photographers. Whether you choose the traditional
DSLR format in the EOS 90D or go for the lighter, smaller M6 MK II
mirrorless system, these cameras will inspire new creative experiences
and imagery in the fi eld.See what’s possible with Canon’s latest DSLR and mirrorless systems
at usa.canon.com.Working from the shoreline of Morro Bay, California, Lepp used the Canon EOS 90D and Canon EF 600mm
f/4L IS III USM lens to capture this image of a kelp-wrapped sea otter grooming its fur. The camera’s APS-C
sensor, with its 1.6X crop factor, extends the photographer’s reach. Exposure: 1/1500 sec., ƒ/11, ISO 1600.ADVERTORIALCanon EOS 90D Canon EOS M6 Mark II