Canon EOS 6D Official Specs

[Marsu42]

From http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/professional_cameras/digital_slr_cameras/eos_6d#Specifications ...

Center: cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8.

... does this mean that with a f2.8+ lens attached, the center point degrades to non-cross ?!? This would be an anti-5d3/1dx af system which are tuned for f2.8 lenses.

I noticed that too. Interesting question. It would make the 6D's AF the worst in years.

I don't think so... 5D2 is still worse.

... not if the 6d has *no* cross-type point at f2.8, just the added low-light sensitivity.

 

[Albi86]

But the one thing canon has got going for it, its a pain to change. lenses are better and upgrading the body is simpler than changing systems. Also bodies are around what, 2-3 years? so even if it is not perfect some may still upgrade and have blinkers to the competition. It is more paramount for pros to have the best features as it could be the difference between being paid and not. But if we are talking amateurs just wanting to take pictures then not so much of an issue.

Lenses used to be better. Nowadays Nikon, Sigma and Tamron produce unquestionably good glass, especially for the amateur. And as an amateur, switching system is not that painful. My 2100$ are not going to a company which gives a camera that struggles against the 4 yo 1700$ 5D2.

 

[cinema-dslr]

If they had to criple the body this much (5,6 crosstype, only sd ,97% viewfinder..etc)
Then the sensor probably would have been the succesor to the 18Mpx 1dx sensor they had to drop due to resent HiGH Mpx and dynamic range competition.
This would mean that this little camera could have the potentional to make briliant pictures/movies. in the later case you have to manual focus anyway

 

[Marsu42]

Lenses used to be better.

They might be still better in absolute terms esp. considering IS and af performance, but the latest releases are either very expensive (24-70) to ridiculously priced (tele primes) or very expensive and geared towards the video market (IS primes). So imho currently no need to buy Canon because of the lens selection alone.

Then the sensor probably would have been the succesor to the 18Mpx 1dx sensor they had to drop due to resent HiGH Mpx and dynamic range competition.

That might be an explanation for the crippled af - but I guess if the "newly developed sensor" is really significantly better than the 5d3 version Canon would have mentioned it in their press release. Much more likely that sad, cold truth is that Canon does what Canon usually does to lower priced camera bodies - cut essential features (60d: afma, 6d: shutter, af) and add gimmicks.

 

[verysimplejason]

From http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/professional_cameras/digital_slr_cameras/eos_6d#Specifications ...

Center: cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8.

... does this mean that with a f2.8+ lens attached, the center point degrades to non-cross ?!? This would be an anti-5d3/1dx af system which are tuned for f2.8 lenses.

I noticed that too. Interesting question. It would make the 6D's AF the worst in years.

I don't think so... 5D2 is still worse.

... not if the 6d has *no* cross-type point at f2.8, just the added low-light sensitivity.

I guess you're right but at least it's more sensitive in low-light. Here's the comparison of 60D and 6D AF

60D
TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor

6D
TTL secondary image-forming phase-difference detection system with AF-dedicated CMOS sensor

Do you think it's because of the phase detection system incorporated in 6D other than the contrast detection? Is it like the AF of 650D? I've used the 650D and compared it with my old 500D. I have to say 650D is light years away from 500D in terms of focusing. I'm using at that time the same lens.

 

[DzPhotography]

If they had to criple the body this much (5,6 crosstype, only sd ,97% viewfinder..etc)
Then the sensor probably would have been the succesor to the 18Mpx 1dx sensor they had to drop due to resent HiGH Mpx and dynamic range competition.
This would mean that this little camera could have the potentional to make briliant pictures/movies. in the later case you have to manual focus anyway

The successor to the 1Dx sensor? ;D

It's brandnew ???

 

[Jotho]

Native ISO

6D - 100-25600
D600 - 100-6400

I wonder if this means 6D is better in low-light...

;D

I hope 6D and 5D3 has almost the same ISO performance. They've got the same native ISO. If DR is a little bit better for 6D (even with less MP, here's crossing all my fingers + toes), then 6D will be a better option for me.

I shot at up to ISO 25600 a couple of weeks ago in Vietnam in some tunnels we went down, haven't finished processing them yet due to en emergency, but will do that soon, I hope they turned out fine, I have very good results from ISO 10000 so this will be interesting.

 

[madmailman]

I haven't read all 16 pages so I'm not sure if this has already been posted. I checked the Canon (US) site and found some interesting things that are not quite the same as the CR "official specs" (or just missing).

Shutter Speeds 1/4000 to 30 sec., X-sync at 1/180 sec. (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode.)

AF Points
11 points

Center: cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8.

Upper and lower AF points: vertical line-sensitive AF at f/5.6.

Other AF points: Horizontal line-sensitive AF at f/5.6.


Here's the linky: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_6d#Specifications

 

[Albi86]

I haven't read all 16 pages so I'm not sure if this has already been posted. I checked the Canon (US) site and found some interesting things that are not quite the same as the CR "official specs" (or just missing).

Shutter Speeds 1/4000 to 30 sec., X-sync at 1/180 sec. (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode.)

AF Points
11 points

Center: cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8.

Upper and lower AF points: vertical line-sensitive AF at f/5.6.

Other AF points: Horizontal line-sensitive AF at f/5.6.


Here's the linky: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_6d#Specifications

Yes, it was posted. And we were wondering if the central point is only half cross-type.

 

[Gcon]

Anyway am I the only photographer that thinks the 18mp sensor is absolute rubbish?? The 100-400ISO range which I shoot in most, is awful in comparison to the 40Ds 10mp. It is extremely noisy, not clean at all and there is a lot of banding! I read a lot on hear about it and poo poo'd the problems because I thought people were being overly critical as its a tech forum. But 800ISO and over is a great improvement, but most of my stuff is done in the 100-400 range. So I am extremely disappointed in the 7D for IQ which is what I want. Everything else about the camera is perfect IMO, but there is no point in having a great camera with poor IQ.

You are spot on. I shot for a couple of years with the 5DII, and then bought the 7D as a backup, and a bit of a birder. I was horrified by the amount of noise at ISO100. I tried again using it in different situations. Sharp yes. Noisy - absolutely! It's horrible. It has sat in my spare bag for about a year - I just haven't got around to getting rid of it, but I haven't used it either.

If they brought out a 7DMarkII with some kind of huge base ISO noise improvements, and all other features the same (same 18MP), then I'd get one in a flash. It's unusable to me in its current form though.

 

[bakker]

Well, I've got the 5D mark III but I really don't see the point why this 6D gets built-in WiFi and GPS while the mark III does not.. The argument that it consumes the battery faster is not valid in my opinion. It should be possible to disable these functions in the menu for those that don't want to use them..

I think it's because of the fact the 6D has a plastic top plate. The GPS won't work properly through magnesium alloy so you can't build it into pro body cameras without ruining the durability.

Ok, I can live with that!

 

[Albi86]

Found this:

A cross-type sensor with an f/2.8-sensitive horizontal line and an f/5.6-sensitive vertical line will function as a cross-type sensor with an f/2.8 or faster lens, but if you use a slower lens, you'll still have a functional AF point (but with only single-line orientation).

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Canon-EOS-DSLR-Autofocus-Explained.aspx

 

[verysimplejason]

It seems 6D has a phase detection apart from contrast detection. That maybe the reason why its AF is a lot different from 5D2 or 60D. Maybe, it's a more advanced AF of 650D. I guess that why its AF is more expensive. I'm just perplexed that it's not cross-type @ center @ F2.8.

 

[Marsu42]

Found this:

A cross-type sensor with an f/2.8-sensitive horizontal line and an f/5.6-sensitive vertical line will function as a cross-type sensor with an f/2.8 or faster lens, but if you use a slower lens, you'll still have a functional AF point (but with only single-line orientation).

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Canon-EOS-DSLR-Autofocus-Explained.aspx

Yes, this is valid for the 1dx/5d3 outer af points - but Canon's 6d spec "cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8" simply doesn't match this. Seems more like a desperate measure to make all people w/ f2.8+ lenses buy the 5d3.

 

[Albi86]

Found this:

A cross-type sensor with an f/2.8-sensitive horizontal line and an f/5.6-sensitive vertical line will function as a cross-type sensor with an f/2.8 or faster lens, but if you use a slower lens, you'll still have a functional AF point (but with only single-line orientation).

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/Canon-EOS-DSLR-Autofocus-Explained.aspx

Yes, this is valid for the 1dx/5d3 outer af points - but Canon's 6d spec "cross-type at f/5.6; vertical line-sensitive at f/2.8" simply doesn't match this. Seems more like a desperate measure to make all people w/ f2.8+ lenses buy the 5d3.

Why not? I understand that this is exactly the case, just vertical and horizontal are swapped in the example.

It seems 6D has a phase detection apart from contrast detection. That maybe the reason why its AF is a lot different from 5D2 or 60D. Maybe, it's a more advanced AF of 650D. I guess that why its AF is more expensive. I'm just perplexed that it's not cross-type @ center @ F2.8.

Should be the opposite. Cross-type with f/2.8 or faster, non-cross with slower lenses.

 

[aznable]

i think both 6D and D600 are a bit overpriced to be entry level FF camera...i dont linke both of them anyway

 

[Viggo]

Maybe it's wise to wait to thrash a camera until after something other than a speclist is provided? The 6d will be able to focus in -3 ev so in that regard, it's even better than the 1d X.

 

[verysimplejason]

This only means I need to get the 70-200 F2.8 IS USM if I want to do some sports photography part-time.

 

[Albi86]

Maybe it's wise to wait to thrash a camera until after something other than a speclist is provided? The 6d will be able to focus in -3 ev so in that regard, it's even better than the 1d X.

Being able to focus and being able to focus accurately are two different things though. The second part is our concern, given the AF system.

 

[verysimplejason]

Maybe it's wise to wait to thrash a camera until after something other than a speclist is provided? The 6d will be able to focus in -3 ev so in that regard, it's even better than the 1d X.

Yeah I think so but the problem is when you compared it with D600. For those upgraders to FF, I think this is important since we are at the cross-road. However, I'll wait for some more testing by our so-called experts and for me to be able to see what upgrade path should I take knowing this will be for good this time. Right now, I have still the option since I'm not deeply invested in the lenses. I hope it will be cleared when the first of the 6D shipments come.