Canon R6 vs Fujifilm GFX 50R

The Canon EOS R6 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in July 2020 and September 2018. Both the Canon R6 and the GFX 50R are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a full frame (Canon R6) and a medium format (GFX 50R) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Fujifilm provides 51.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon R6		Fujifilm GFX 50R
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Canon RF mount lenses		Fujifilm G mount lenses
20 MP, Full Frame Sensor		51.1 MP, Medium Format Sensor
4k/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 204,800)		ISO 100-12,800 (50 - 102,400)
Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1620k dots		3.2 LCD, 2360k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
12 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		Lens stabilization only
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
360 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
138 x 98 x 88 mm, 680 g		161 x 97 x 66 mm, 775 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS R6 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon R6 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Fujifilm GFX 50R is notably larger (15 percent) than the Canon R6. Moreover, the GFX 50R is markedly heavier (14 percent) than the Canon R6. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the Canon R6 gets 360 shots out of its LP-E6NH battery, while the GFX 50R can take 400 images on a single charge of its NP-T125 power pack. The power pack in the Canon R6 can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon R6	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	680 g	360	Y	Jul 2020	2,499
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	161 mm	97 mm	66 mm	775 g	400	Y	Sep 2018	4,499
3.		Canon R5	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	738 g	320	Y	Jul 2020	3,899
4.		Canon R	139 mm	98 mm	84 mm	660 g	370	Y	Sep 2018	2,299
5.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Canon 5DS R	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
7.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
8.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	148 mm	94 mm	91 mm	740 g	400	Y	Sep 2016	6,499
9.		Hasselblad X1D II	148 mm	97 mm	70 mm	766 g	..	Y	Jun 2019	5,750
10.		Leica Q2	130 mm	80 mm	92 mm	718 g	370	Y	Mar 2019	4,995
11.		Olympus E-M1 III	134 mm	91 mm	69 mm	580 g	420	Y	Feb 2020	1,799
12.		Olympus E-M1X	144 mm	147 mm	75 mm	997 g	870	Y	Jan 2019	2,999
13.		Panasonic S1	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1017 g	400	Y	Feb 2019	2,499
14.		Panasonic G90	130 mm	94 mm	77 mm	536 g	290	Y	Apr 2019	999
15.		Sony A9 II	129 mm	96 mm	76 mm	678 g	690	Y	Oct 2019	4,499
16.		Sony A6600	120 mm	67 mm	69 mm	503 g	810	Y	Aug 2019	1,399
17.		Sony A99	147 mm	111 mm	78 mm	812 g	500	Y	Sep 2012	2,799
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The Canon R6 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the GFX 50R, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon R6 features a full frame sensor and the Fujifilm GFX 50R a medium format sensor. The sensor area in the GFX 50R is 68 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 0.79. The sensor in the Canon R6 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the GFX 50R offers a 4:3 aspect.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 51.1MP, the GFX 50R offers a higher resolution than the Canon R6 (20MP), but the GFX 50R has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.33μm versus 6.57μm for the Canon R6). It is noteworthy in this context that the Canon R6 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 9 months) than the GFX 50R, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the GFX 50R has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Fujifilm GFX 50R implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GFX 50R for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 41.3 x 31 inches or 104.9 x 78.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 33 x 24.8 inches or 83.9 x 62.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 27.5 x 20.6 inches or 69.9 x 52.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon R6 are 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm for good quality, 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon R6 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS R6 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm GFX 50R are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon R6	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4k/60p	24.2	14.3	3394	90
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	Medium Format	51.1	8256	6192	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon R5	Full Frame	44.8	8192	5464	8k/30p	25.3	14.6	3042	95
4.		Canon R	Full Frame	30.1	6720	4480	4K/30p	24.5	13.5	2742	89
5.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
6.		Canon 5DS R	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.6	12.4	2308	86
7.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
8.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	Medium Format	51.1	8256	6192	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
9.		Hasselblad X1D II	Medium Format	51.3	8272	6200	none	..	..	..	..
10.		Leica Q2	Full Frame	46.7	8368	5584	4K/30p	26.4	13.5	2491	96
11.		Olympus E-M1 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Olympus E-M1X	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
13.		Panasonic S1	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	25.2	14.5	3333	95
14.		Panasonic G90	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
15.		Sony A9 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.0	3434	93
16.		Sony A6600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.8	13.4	1497	82
17.		Sony A99	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	25.0	14.0	1555	89

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Canon R6 provides a higher video resolution than the GFX 50R. It can shoot video footage at 4k/60p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the Canon R6 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the GFX 50R (5760k vs 3690k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon R6 and Fujifilm GFX 50R along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon R6	5760	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	3690	n	3.2	2360	tilting	Y	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
3.		Canon R5	5760	Y	3.2	2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
4.		Canon R	3690	Y	3.2	2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
5.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
6.		Canon 5DS R	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
7.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
8.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	optional	Y	3.2	2360	full-flex	Y	1/4000s	3.0	n	n
9.		Hasselblad X1D II	3690	n	3.6	2360	fixed	Y	1/2000s	2.7	n	n
10.		Leica Q2	3680	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	20.0	n	Y
11.		Olympus E-M1 III	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
12.		Olympus E-M1X	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
13.		Panasonic S1	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
14.		Panasonic G90	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
15.		Sony A9 II	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
16.		Sony A6600	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
17.		Sony A99	2359	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	6.0	n	Y

One feature that differentiates the Canon R6 and the GFX 50R is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The Canon R6 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the GFX 50R offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon R6 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the Canon R6 and the GFX 50R write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Moreover, both cameras support UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS R6 and Fujifilm GFX 50R and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon R6	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon R5	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
5.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 5DS R	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
9.		Hasselblad X1D II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	-	3.0	Y	-	-
10.		Leica Q2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y
11.		Olympus E-M1 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
12.		Olympus E-M1X	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic S1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Panasonic G90	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Sony A9 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony A6600	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	YES	2.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony A99	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm GFX 50R (unlike the Canon R6) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the Canon R6 and the GFX 50R are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. Neither of the two has a direct predecessor, so perhaps they will constitute the origins of new camera lines for Canon and Fujifilm. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Fujifilm websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon R6 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon EOS R6:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4k/60p vs 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (5760k vs 3690k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (138x98mm vs 161x97mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 95g or 12 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (44 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 9 months after the GFX 50R).

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm GFX 50R:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (51.1 vs 20MP), which boosts linear resolution by 57%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.77x vs 0.76x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2360k vs 1620k dots).
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 360) out of a single battery charge.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2018).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Canon R6 is the clear winner of the match-up (14 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon R6 and the Fujifilm GFX 50R place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the Canon R6 or the GFX 50R. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon R6	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2020	2,499
2.		Fujifilm GFX 50R	5/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2018	4,499
3.		Canon R5	4.5/5	..	91/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2020	3,899
4.		Canon R	4/5	o	79/100	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2018	2,299
5.		Canon 5DS	..	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
6.		Canon 5DS R	5/5	+	83/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
7.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
8.		Fujifilm GFX 50S	..	..	85/100	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	6,499
9.		Hasselblad X1D II	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Jun 2019	5,750
10.		Leica Q2	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	4,995
11.		Olympus E-M1 III	5/5	..	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2020	1,799
12.		Olympus E-M1X	4.5/5	o	..	4.5/5	..	Jan 2019	2,999
13.		Panasonic S1	4.5/5	+ +	88/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	2,499
14.		Panasonic G90	4.5/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2019	999
15.		Sony A9 II	..	..	90/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2019	4,499
16.		Sony A6600	4/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2019	1,399
17.		Sony A99	5/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,799
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon R6 vs Fujifilm GFX 50R

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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