Why does the Canon EOS R6 have a wider range of ISO settings than the more expensive EOS R5?
Mel Hawkins, Glasgow
BRIAN SAYS… ISO sensitivity is dependent on the sensor technology and also the surface area of the individual pixels. Assuming that the same sensor technology is used for both cameras, the only difference between the two models is the sensor size. With 20MP on the EOS R6 over a 36mm x 24mm area, each individual pixel has more than twice the area than the 45MP EOS R5.
This large pixel size enables the wider range of ISO found in the EOS R6, from ISO 100 to 102,400 by default and from ISO 50 to 204,800 with ISO expansion, making it 1-stop more sensitive than EOS R5. In addition the larger pixels means the camera can focus in lower light than the EOS R5. However for small birds in good light, the EOS R5 resolution finds the eye of a
