6D- An amateur's review

[CarlTN]

That is a possibility. An upgrade from Rebel series to 6D would be substantially different, I believe! It would be outrageous to demand such a high price without much in return. However, the difference between 50D might be lesser since it is a pretty good camera to start with.

50D is nearer to rebels in IQ (in fact some rebels are quite better, even 500D) than to a 6D. 6D is worlds apart from a 50D IQ-wise. Heck, even 5D2 is worlds apart from a 50D IQ-wise especially in low-light.

I would hope so, the pixels are several times the area of the 50D's pixels! I was only stating the experience I've had in editing thousands of photos from both...that's all. I'm not sure any of the Rebels are that much better in IQ than the 50D, though no doubt the T4i and T5i are very slightly better. They still don't have AFMA, though! But then, neither did the 60D...

 

[CarlTN]

The difference in having such a nice outline makes it seem more in-focus. It isn't that my previous camera is not in focus; it's just that the outlines produced are that rough. You have to live with it. A lot of times when I thought my lens weren't in focus, I will check it and realize it is in focus, and I think that's the problem with 550D. It might be different with 70D or 7D, but that's another story.

Could it be just 'sensor's pixel pitch' and 'lens resolution'?

6D images looks sharper because 6D has sensor with lower pixel density than 'traditional' 18-MPs of 550D (and all later Canon's APS-C). Therefore, the final image is more detailed and looks sharper.

I think I know what you mean by "the outlines are rough", because my EOS M images (18 MP) at pixel level look 'less sharp' to me than images from old XTi/400D (10 MP). (When both 18 MP and 10 MP images get down sampled to the same smaller size, 18 MP looks better of course.)

As I tried to point above: the FF camera is more tolerant to lens resolution and can produce good images with poor lens. Anyone who goes to DxO site to check on lens tests can say the same (by comparing the same lens model on FF and APS-C camera).

I agree, but again, "outlines" around images sounds more like internal RAW processing to me, or else an inherent characteristic of the sensor. And again, I assume the 7D has the same sensor, and I've never seen such outlines from it.

The argument about lower pixel density holds up to a degree, but in my opinion not as much as the difference in "sensel size" would have you think. That's why I didn't feel the need to keep a crop sensor camera after buying the 6D. Because, in reality...and given the image that gets shot, achieves adequate sharpness...the 6D has more resolution than it seems like it would, so the difference is not as great. Perhaps the new 70D's 20MP sensor is very noticeably higher resolving than the old 18MP, so it might have more of the "lens flaw" resolving power you're talking about. But...is that really a good thing? Because it's not just about lens resolution itself, but also focus accuracy. And lenses only focus so accurately and consistently. With very small pixels, even something less than a micron of inaccurate autofocus, is going to suddenly reduce that 20MP crop sensor's resolution to 10MP...in which case it has no advantage over a full frame camera with larger pixels. In fact it only has disadvantages.

 

[Zlyden]

In fact it only has disadvantages.

Yes. Similar doubts about 'all them megapixels' kept me from replacing 400D with newer APS-C camera for 5 or almost 6 years.

And I definitely do not need pictures that occupy much more file space. After doing some tests I decided to shoot with 6D in 'large RAW + medium JPEG' mode: 10MP JPEGs are quite enough for almost all needs (they also do not eat terabytes of space and megabits of traffic on editorial server), 20 MP RAWs are needed sometimes when some extra PP is needed.

I did some tests with 'L' and 'M' size of RAWs and did not see any quality improvements (sharpness, ISO) in smaller 10 MP 'M's compared to larger 20 MPs 'L's, that might be expected (?).

If anyone has some links at hand (or can explain it in few words), I will appreciate to get some basic info that explains how exactly different RAW sizes are created in camera, what advantages/disadvantages each one has...

 

[Marsu42]

Yes. Similar doubts about 'all them megapixels' kept me from replacing 400D with newer APS-C camera for 5 or almost 6 years.

I admit I'm completely lost with this line of thought - the 18mp crop sensor might be (arguably!) worse at 100% pixel level but if you downsize it to the mp count of former cameras it's same or superior - so you can think of it as getting more resolution for free for select shots.

I understand that people say that this argumentation doesn't isn't valid for 40mp+ high mp sensors as you really "don't need it", but personally I don't consider 18/20mp overkill if you shoot loose or want to crop for different aspect ratios.

 

[candc]

I have a 70d and a 6d. Everybody knows the 6d has better low light performance but the IQ is very similar in normal shooting conditions. The 70d is much nicer to use in just about every way. They both have their uses so get them both for $2400 total and you have all kinds of options

 

[pato]

Holy shi* I've already managed to scratch my display Don't know how I did it, but it's scratched. My 550D is 3 years old and hasn't even a single scratch
It seems as if there is some anti reflection coating and that doesn't seem to be very hard :'(

 

[Marsu42]

It seems as if there is some anti reflection coating and that doesn't seem to be very hard :'(

Canon saved some $$$ buy just putting a plastic lcd into the 6d, the 5d3 has a glass cover ... so the very first thing after buying is to stick a protective plastic cover on it or order a glass protector, ebay/China for €5...

... but don't dispair, if you put a non-reflective cover on it now the scratch won't be as visible as now.

 

[Zlyden]

I admit I'm completely lost with this line of thought - the 18mp crop sensor might be (arguably!) worse at 100% pixel level but if you downsize it to the mp count of former cameras it's same or superior - so you can think of it as getting more resolution for free for select shots.

The reason was: I was satisfied with 400D 10MP pictures most of the time (especially with quick RAW post-processing). No, I do not shoot birds, cats, kids, football players (and other fast moving animals or objects). I shoot a lot of equipment pictures that will be printed in the magazine as half-page width illustrations (i.e. -- 4x3 inches or 10x7 cm, even with 340 lpi Agfa screening, 10 MPs are much more than enough for the purpose).

The thing I did not like about 400D was not its 10MPs sensor size, but its 'not very good' high ISO handling (and long time or inability to focus in dark without flash).

Judging by reviews (and rumors) that I looked at during all these years: no Canon APS-C camera could deliver me such things to a level or degree that was worth the switch.

And the final drop (that made me to purchase 6D) was getting EOS M. EOS M has 18 MP sensor similar to all other Canon's APS-Cs and it did not offer any significant ISO/indoor improvements compared to 400D. Switching from 400D to 6D (and FF) was the only logical step with much better IQ promised (and delivered).

PS: And I wish that EOS M had similar picture quality settings as 6D: so, I could choose big RAW L + smaller JPEG M combination

 

[CarlTN]

I have a 70d and a 6d. Everybody knows the 6d has better low light performance but the IQ is very similar in normal shooting conditions. The 70d is much nicer to use in just about every way. They both have their uses so get them both for $2400 total and you have all kinds of options

Much nicer in just about every way? I doubt that!

 

[candc]

I have a 70d and a 6d. Everybody knows the 6d has better low light performance but the IQ is very similar in normal shooting conditions. The 70d is much nicer to use in just about every way. They both have their uses so get them both for $2400 total and you have all kinds of options

Much nicer in just about every way? I doubt that!

it is, a lot of the features like the touch swivel screen and the really good live view shooting are things that i thought were kind of gimmicky to begin with now i don't want a camera without them. the way you can get through the menus using the touchscreen and the q button is so much better, i also really like the af expansion button and the better af system in general. the 70d seems to just respond faster.

 

[CarlTN]

I have a 70d and a 6d. Everybody knows the 6d has better low light performance but the IQ is very similar in normal shooting conditions. The 70d is much nicer to use in just about every way. They both have their uses so get them both for $2400 total and you have all kinds of options

Much nicer in just about every way? I doubt that!

it is, a lot of the features like the touch swivel screen and the really good live view shooting are things that i thought were kind of gimmicky to begin with now i don't want a camera without them. the way you can get through the menus using the touchscreen and the q button is so much better, i also really like the af expansion button and the better af system in general. the 70d seems to just respond faster.

To each their own. The 6D suits me just fine, and responds as fast as lightning. Swivel screens annoy the hell out of me...I notice the 1 series and 5D3 don't seem to need swivel screens. The 6D also has a Q button. Once I got used to using it, I find it works ok. I absolutely love the menu layout of the 6D, also.

 

[pato]

It seems as if there is some anti reflection coating and that doesn't seem to be very hard :'(

Canon saved some $$$ buy just putting a plastic lcd into the 6d, the 5d3 has a glass cover ... so the very first thing after buying is to stick a protective plastic cover on it or order a glass protector, ebay/China for €5...

... but don't dispair, if you put a non-reflective cover on it now the scratch won't be as visible as now.

Now that you mention it!
Damn, didn't realize this before.
Do you have a recommendation for the protector? I found this one here made of glass:
http://www.ebay.ch/itm/Camera-LCD-Screen-Glass-Protector-Cover-Camera-Protection-for-Canon-EOS-6D-/271333348435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2cba5453

 

[Marsu42]

Do you have a recommendation for the protector? I found this one here made of glass

I even opened a thread for it ... http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=17225.0

The cover you linked is about it, it's so cheap you cannot go wrong, I don't think you need one at 10x the price ... but let us know if you've got it and how it works and looks on the 6d.

Currently I'm using a non-reflective plastic cover that should also prevent scratches. Advantage: Well, it's non-reflective ... disadvantage: the details on screen get blurred quite a lot, so it's harder to check for focus, probably a reflective glass is better if you don't intend to shoot in bright outdoors a lot.

 

[CarlTN]

It seems as if there is some anti reflection coating and that doesn't seem to be very hard :'(

Canon saved some $$$ buy just putting a plastic lcd into the 6d, the 5d3 has a glass cover ... so the very first thing after buying is to stick a protective plastic cover on it or order a glass protector, ebay/China for €5...

... but don't dispair, if you put a non-reflective cover on it now the scratch won't be as visible as now.

Now that you mention it!
Damn, didn't realize this before.
Do you have a recommendation for the protector? I found this one here made of glass:
http://www.ebay.ch/itm/Camera-LCD-Screen-Glass-Protector-Cover-Camera-Protection-for-Canon-EOS-6D-/271333348435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2cba5453

The one I had on my 50D for 4 years worked perfectly, and from what I can tell, they're the only matte-finish plastic film screen cover you can buy anymore (and they might have always been the only one). They seem to only sell factory direct, as well:

www.boxwave.com

I need to order a few more, but they don't seem to make one for the 6D. I could cut the 5D3's to fit, though. I bought a glossy finish plastic film one for the 6D (made in Germany I think), and it blinds me like looking directly into the sun!!

 

[jeffa4444]

Their are many differences between the 5dMKIII and the 6d its not just the AF. The build quality of the 6d is very good but not to the 5dMKIII level, the 5dMKIII has a shutter guarenteed for 150K shots as opposed to 100K so this camera even on those two criteria was built with pros in mind not amateurs which was the remit of the 6d.

The 6d has to give something up with such a big price difference and clearly it does so making comparisons is not really useful because their aimed at totally different users. I find the 6d a wonderful tool when traversing Dartmoor with a Lowpro rucksack full of gear and a tripod in hand that lighter weight than the 7d you really notice after a few hours and you really notice the iQ back home when editting shots.

 

[abcde12345]

An image to show what I meant by wider dynamic range. Using my old 550D, the whiter parts and yellow leaves would have been over exposed, but with 6D, I'm able to not just have it within range, but greater manipulation in CS6 too.

 

[abcde12345]

This is horrible. I can't post any other picture. CR is frustrating me. =/

 

[candc]

This is horrible. I can't post any other picture. CR is frustrating me. =/

you have to type something in the text box to post an image

 

[abcde12345]

I did. It uploads till 100%, and goes into a blank page.

 

[Marsu42]

I did. It uploads till 100%, and goes into a blank page.

Do it like this instead: http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php/topic,18464.msg344470.html#msg344470