Upgrade advice: 6D or 5D2/3?

[Marsu42]

There are some professional features and video features that the 5D mark III has that the 6D does not.

Since no one has reviewed the 6d with the final firmware and the "hands on" are very amateurish, it's hard to say what firmware features and customizations Canon has cut. The final decision for people w/o unlimited money will be between 5d3 and a 6d *plus* a $1000 (or $1000 better) lens. So: 5d3+Tamron 24-70 or 6d+Canon 24-70ii?

Sorry for suggesting a Nikon on Canonrumers...but I am a Canon shooter and prefer canon, i'm just not a 6D fan yet. No dual cards, only 9af points, 1/180 sync speeds...stuff like that just makes me cringe. My 5D3 rocks though.

The d600 is very competitive, and Nikon will probably have the edge on the 6d. But your comparison is flawed: the 6d has *11* af points (but only 1 good one, that's the problem), and 90% of users will have a very hard time to tell 1/180 6d from 1/200 x-sync 5d3 - both is rather mediocre and also below the 60d/7d.

[dunkers]

For your purposes and needs, I would say either get the 5d2 or 6D. Think of it this way. If you get a 5D2 or 6D, you an use the money you saved towards some nice glass. You said you have the EF-S 15-85, EF 50/1.4, and Tamron 70-300 VC USD.

You're no longer going to be able to use that 15-85, so you may need a standard zoom and maybe an L lens or two. You can used that saved glass to get the new 24-70 f/4L IS, which has that special macro mode on the tele end. That is a good solution to your standard zoom/macro needs. The 50 can be used for your portraits.



That aside...

The 5d3 does have more AF points, but you only really need those for sports or BIF. Although I got the 5D3 before the 6D was announced, I still wouldn't change my decision.

I shoot a lot of sports/action so I need the 61-AF system and the 6fps. However, for portraits/landscapes you don't really need those extra points or the extra burst. I used the 60D and was frustrated by its tracking capabilities.

Build-wise, the 6D is by no means a pushover. It has a magensium body with a polycarb top. Coming from a 60D, it would be an upgrade for you either way.

Image-wise, the 6D is not going to be a slouch either. It may even be possible that the 6D has slightly better noise performance because it has less pixels crammed into it. Personally, I'm really interested in how the extra-sensitive center AF point performs. If it performs as its touted to be, that will be huge for lowlight shots.

[bycostello]

you say travel photography so i'd suggest the 6d as it has gps

[nightsky87]

Great insights everyone! Thanks!

To answer some, the need for a new system isn't all that urgent. The 60D and 15-85 are technically sold but they're still staying for a few more months - its complicated. Then again, I could never resist preordering (early adopter tendencies).

There seem to be quite a lot of concern about the 6D having no reviews so barring IQ from the equation, I'm more concerned about the limitation in AF points (11 vs 61). Great to hear that for my needs 11 might be enough though.

I forgot to mention that budget is quite limited at this point and stretching for a 5D3 would be difficult (not impossible). The move to a 5D3 would mean that I wouldn't be able to get any new lenses anytime soon. I was thinking of the 6D+Tamron 24-70 (yes I know, not as sharp as the canon 24-70 mk II) and that would stretch budget to the limit. Note again that I do NOT do this in any professional capacity and I don't really earn off it.

Also, about the WiFi and GPS features of the 6D, I don't really need the GPS but having WiFi seems like a good thing for me in the sense of getting remote control capabilities.

So as of now, I guess the decision is still tilting towards the 6D.  Unless someone brings up some dealbreaker. 

[Marsu42]

I'm more concerned about the limitation in AF points (11 vs 61). Great to hear that for my needs 11 might be enough though.

Note that the 61pt af is only for the most expensive lenses - lesser glass uses less af points, and the outer points degrade to non-cross. Grab the pdf 5d3 manual and read which class your lenses are in so you aren't disappointed. The 11pt 6d af (or all-cros 9pt af on 60d or 19pt on the 7d) work with all lenses alike.

I forgot to mention that budget is quite limited at this point and stretching for a 5D3 would be difficult (not impossible). The move to a 5D3 would mean that I wouldn't be able to get any new lenses anytime soon.

In that case: Just don't unless someone offers you a 5d3 for <$2300. Just imagine buying the 6d (maybe not for the early adopters price, but <$2000) and still having money left for lenses, tripods (and good heads), a large & fast uhs1 sd-card, filters (nd, polarizer), repairs for all that stuff - if that perspective lifts a weight then your decision should be easy. It's not like no one will talk to you anymore if you haven't the latest and greatest camera body, in max. 2-3 years the 5d3 will be ancient because Canon will deliver a much more competitive sensor.

[JohanCruyff]

For my type of photography, I enjoy doing landscapes, macro (although I use an extension tube for budget reasons), portraits (still subjects mostly... and my pet dogs!), and general travel photography.
http://500px.com/nightsky87

For macro photography, keep in mind that the depth of field reduces when you increase the sensor's size, coeteris paribus.
You can boost ISO and use a narrow aperture because (coeteris paribus) FF sensors have less diffractions problems than APS-C ones, though.

[sanj]

I saw your pictures and with it sort of understand your needs. 5d2 would be a superb upgrade for you. Regards.

[M.ST]

Get the 5D Mark II with the new EF 24-70 II

[Marsu42]

Get the 5D Mark II with the new EF 24-70 II

Why would you recommend the 5d2 over the 6d? While 5d2 is rather inexpensive atm, the op stats that the does "general travel photography" and likes the wifi feature - and the sensor of the 6d will probably better then the 5d2, same goes for the af system.

[nightsky87]

All those 5D3 deals are taunting me...

But... I think I'll stick to the 6D+Tamron 24-70 with the current budget. The 5D2 sounds like a good system but with the few hundred bucks to the 6D, I do think I can get more out of the built-in WiFi, GPS, low-light AF, high ISO performance (that comes with the newer sensor and DIGIC core), etc. It's not like I do photography to get any sort of income so a next upgrade will take years and keeping the older 5D2 doesn't seem like a good idea.

Note that the 61pt af is only for the most expensive lenses - lesser glass uses less af points, and the outer points degrade to non-cross. Grab the pdf 5d3 manual and read which class your lenses are in so you aren't disappointed. The 11pt 6d af (or all-cros 9pt af on 60d or 19pt on the 7d) work with all lenses alike.

I checked the manual and my lenses seem to work with the 61-pt focusing system but with fewer cross-type. Still a superior system to the 6D in that sense.

In the end, I think my decision is driven primarily by needs and budget constraints. I need a full-frame system but with my photography, as many have pointed out, AF isn't as critical. The 61-pt focus is a good bonus if I go 5D3 though. But in that case, I won't be able to afford any lenses in the near future. And what use is a good body with no good lenses right?

So with all that, I'll probably jump into the pre-order sometime soon. Hopefully there won't be any delays with the release! Thanks to everyone for their input!

(There's no chance of the 5D3 crawling towards 6D prices anytime soon right?  )

[Marsu42]

(There's no chance of the 5D3 crawling towards 6D prices anytime soon right?  )

Murphy's Law: If you buy the 6d then the 5d3 will drop in price rapidly, if you wait and save the 5d3 will stay @$3000 :->

Ok, really, I think Canon will make sure there will remain a healthy difference no matter what, the only thing that is certain that the 6d will loose the early adopters premium like all bleeding edge tech products.

[amazin]

According to what you describe, a 5D mk2 would be well suited for you. with the arrival of the 6D, you can find it at a great deal.