5d3 versus the 6d image quality

[500d]

in terms of image quality alone are they the same?????

 

[Marsu42]

in terms of image quality alone are they the same?????

You're talking about stills? If so: basically yes, it's the same sensor generation, both are also very similar to the 5d2 - the resolution difference 20mp (6d) vs 21mp (5d2) vs 22mp (5d3) is only decisive for video quality where the 5d3 excels - and can even record raw while the 6d sd card slot is crippled to 40mb/s.

 

[pedro]

You may read this older thread as well...
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=12847.msg230204#msg230204

 

[sdsr]

in terms of image quality alone are they the same?????

In most situations I suspect you would have a hard time seeing any difference at all, but at very high ISOs the 6D's images look a bit less noisy (or, one might prefer to say, the quality of noise on the 6D is superior), and if you have or want to push shadows a lot, the 6D generates considerably less noise and banding than the 5DIII.

I usually find DR discussions - esp. in the endless Canon vs Nikon debates - tiresome, especially because the differences between the two groups of sensors strike me as being considerably overstated. I still do, but I'll note that a week ago the other half (armed with a 6D) and I (armed with a 5DIII) were taking photos at a vintage car show outdoors in the middle of a brilliantly sunny day, i.e. lighting conditions most of us would ordinarily avoid given the choice. We had no choice (other than not take photos at all), and the circumstances were all wrong for setting up tripods for multiple exposures (we were just taking casual photos for fun and tripods would have been inconsiderate of others). Unsurprisingly, lots of shadows, including the grass under the cars, came out more-or-less black. Processing the files in LR, it was easier to bring out clean shadow detail from the 6D's files than from the 5DIII's. That said, the differences were only really noticeable via pixel-peeping - even viewed on a 30" monitor you would have to look for the noise/banding on the 5DIII's images to notice it; but they're there nevertheless.

If those differences matter to you, then yes, the 6D, in those regards at least, makes better images.

 

[Marsu42]

In most situations I suspect you would have a hard time seeing any difference at all, but at very high ISOs the 6D's images look a bit less noisy (or, one might prefer to say, the quality of noise on the 6D is superior),

Also some reviews found the 6d images to be less sharp than the 5d3 (which, at low iso, is less sharp than the 5d2)... the 6d might have a stronger aa filter to counter the moire generated by this sensor, and also some forced nr seems to be applied if you look at 5d3 & 6d raw shots next to each other.

If you add this fact to the higher resolution a valid comparison can only be made after some 5d3 noise reduction and downsizing 22->20mp. The result would be virtually the same ... but it doesn't really matter, considering the other differences the iq isn't a deciding factor at all.

and if you have or want to push shadows a lot, the 6D generates considerably less noise and banding than the 5DIII.

... and ...

That said, the differences were only really noticeable via pixel-peeping - even viewed on a 30" monitor you would have to look for the noise/banding on the 5DIII's images to notice it; but they're there nevertheless.

... contradict themselves - if there's any dr advantage of the 6d it should be barely noticeable. If not, the 5d3 was probably defective - just like the 7d it uses dual readouts and might be prone to variations between copies.

 

[AndreeOnline]

I was a 5Dmk3 owner and I now own a 1Dc (which is a 1Dx in regard to stills).

There is a VERY noticeable difference between 5Dmk3 and 1Dc (and 1Dx, I assume) when it comes to lifting shadows.

I can take the shadow slider all of the 4 stops to the right in Lightroom and actually use it (but that should rarely be the case), whereas on a 5Dmk3 it gets painful around 2 stops, if I remember correctly.

Pushing the two files, the difference is so great that had I known this before buying the 5Dmk3 (which was long before Magic Lantern and all that) I would have gone with the 1Dx. But I couldn't justify the price difference at the time.

But I do think that the 5Dmk3 is an excellent camera—don't get me wrong.

I've heard that the 6D is closer to, or same as, the 1Dx in this regard. I would put the sensor generations as 6D and 1Dx in one bin and the 5D cameras in an other.

 

[Marsu42]

I've heard that the 6D is closer to, or same as, the 1Dx in this regard. I would put the sensor generations as 6D and 1Dx in one bin and the 5D cameras in an other.

Thanks for mentioning it, I admit from what I've seen so far I can't really believe it, but it surely makes me feel better for ordering a 6d

 

[500d]

thanks for the responses the 6d it is