Canon 6D Review: 1+ Year Hands-On [video review]

[Khalai]

I would love to see something even like the new 70D's AF system in the 6D (MKII), but keeping the great sensitivity on the center point.

+1 I agree Dustin. I'm still on the fence, especially now with the 7D Mark II coming. I was just thinking the same thing just the other day: A 6D mark II with Dual Pixel AF and all cross-type, 19-autofocus points.

I'd definitely buy one. I still may get a 6D even when the 7D Mark II becomes available.

As I myself would love to see a more advanced AF system in 6D, I'm afraid that Canon would be afraid of cannibalizing th 5D3 sales. After all, I was also deciding whether to take the leap to 5D3 or just "suffice" with 6D. All boiled down to AF difference and I couldn't simply justify 1500 USD more for better (far better to be honest) AF system. I learnt to live with 6D AF limitations, but I guess there are several customers, who decided to buy 5D3 instead of 6D for that reason alone.

I think Canon created a confusing choice for consumers. You can buy a 6D for less than the new 7D Mark II and IMHO, I think the jury is still out on the question of the 7D Mark II's IQ and noise handling capabilities.

I was doing BIF's with a T3i coupled to a 70-300 4-5.6L and getting better shots than my nephew with his 7D coupled to a 100-400L. Yes, I may have just gotten lucky and there are probably other variables at play, especially camera familiarity. I think the 7D's AF system may have been a bit much for him. My nephew just took a class given by Canon in San Francisco on the 7D's focus system after having the camera for almost 4 years.

As for me, I figure if I can photograph BIF with a camera that has an inferior AF system and is slower (3.7 fps) than the 7D, the 6D for me will be a welcome improvement. I keep scratching my head as to why Canon priced the 6D the way they did knowing they would introduce a more robust APS-C camera that would compete with it (primarily price and feature set: new sensor, new AF system, etc.), not to mention competition from other camera manufacturers.

Granted, if you don't have the bucks to snap-up a 5D Mark III AND you have invested in a lot of Canon glass, the 6D makes sense. Maybe Canon has adopted Intel's "Tick-Tock" manufacturing cycle model. In my mind, the 6D was a Tick -- the 6D Mark II should be a Tock (we can only hope).

They may compete in price, true, but not on feature field. They are both meant for totally different genres of photography. 7D is fast-paced, rugged, tank-like body with a small sensor (it's main disadvantage towards 6Ds), while 6D is a low-light monster, but lighter, smaller and less featured.

As for tick-tock model - I'd love that. 6D with e.g. 19 X-type points with center point double X-type at 2.8 (basically 7D1 specs, but with FF spread) would be awesome. But then, the 5D4 would have to have AF that surpasses even 7D2, otherwise, people will just go for lesser model, as it would be "just good enough". All this depends on pricing of course.

 

[NancyP]

Yes, the 6D and 7D/7D2 are both "specialist" cameras, in a way. 6D is not the camera to use for your kid's sports, but it is a fine landscape and general-sue camera. 7D is an action camera pure and simple. You have to go to the 5DIII to get a single camera that combines both feature sets, though the 7D2 will still beat out the 5D3 on burst speed.

Technique will beat out camera model any day when shooting birds in flight.

 

[canonvoir]

Yes, the 6D and 7D/7D2 are both "specialist" cameras, in a way. 6D is not the camera to use for your kid's sports, but it is a fine landscape and general-sue camera. 7D is an action camera pure and simple. You have to go to the 5DIII to get a single camera that combines both feature sets, though the 7D2 will still beat out the 5D3 on burst speed.

Technique will beat out camera model any day when shooting birds in flight.

When you have the technique, the best camera helps a lot.

I see the 7D2 showing up on football sidelines. Turning 300mm 2.8's into 480mm 2.8's for well lit games.

 

[bholliman]

Yes, the 6D and 7D/7D2 are both "specialist" cameras, in a way. 6D is not the camera to use for your kid's sports, but it is a fine landscape and general-sue camera. 7D is an action camera pure and simple. You have to go to the 5DIII to get a single camera that combines both feature sets, though the 7D2 will still beat out the 5D3 on burst speed.

Technique will beat out camera model any day when shooting birds in flight.

When you have the technique, the best camera helps a lot.

I see the 7D2 showing up on football sidelines. Turning 300mm 2.8's into 480mm 2.8's for well lit games.

well, maybe 480mm f/4.5 in full format equivilent

 

[Khalai]

Yes, the 6D and 7D/7D2 are both "specialist" cameras, in a way. 6D is not the camera to use for your kid's sports, but it is a fine landscape and general-sue camera. 7D is an action camera pure and simple. You have to go to the 5DIII to get a single camera that combines both feature sets, though the 7D2 will still beat out the 5D3 on burst speed.

Technique will beat out camera model any day when shooting birds in flight.

When you have the technique, the best camera helps a lot.

I see the 7D2 showing up on football sidelines. Turning 300mm 2.8's into 480mm 2.8's for well lit games.

well, maybe 480mm f/4.5 in full format equivilent

480/4.5 for DoF, not for shutter speed, which may be important too

 

[Vikmnilu]

Thanks Graham for the review!

I dont own the 6D and I am not sure that I will, but your review added a bit more of doubt when thinking about the next camera. So far, I am happy and my needs are fulfilled almost 100% of the times with a 5D mark II. Maybe in 6m.- 1 y. may be time to change. Or maybe not... I was 7 years with a 10D.. However, when my hands were on the 5D II I thought why didn't I change before... I think Either it will be 5D III or 6D + 7D mark II. I "unfortunately" am developing my skills in wildlife and is a field I really love and plan to shoot in the coming years.... so the 7D II seems a great camera for that too...

Anyway now I am redesigning my lens collection (selling my 24 1.4 II and 24-70 2.8 vI and buying the zoom vII) and possibly my cokin GND filters (to Lee). Did you start with the Cokin? Did you find any differences?

And really beautiful pictures you shot! I also shoot quite a lot of landscapes at f16 and above and was wondering about if there is someone else using these aperture! I have heard about the loss of sharpness at these high number apertures because of the diffraction. Any experiences on that? Any noticeable loss of quality? I know about it but really need those apertures many times for the purposes I want (as you, long exposures for example).

Anyway, keep on the good shots and thanks again for the review!

Victor