Canon T6i Hands On Review

[MichaelTheMaven]

Ive finished my hands on review for the T6i and thought I would share, overall GREAT little camera, I see it as a major upgrade over the T5i. Focusing systems are dominant, and I believe that Canon may have inadvertently killed the 70D with this. Love the ISO performance, face tracking is excellent.

In any event I know at least some of you will enjoy this:

https://youtu.be/YHiy9FDv3TA

 

[K]

Focusing systems are dominant, and I believe that Canon may have inadvertently killed the 70D with this. Love the ISO performance, face tracking is excellent.

Thanks for the video!

When I saw the specs of the 760, I had a similar thought - hmm, is a 70D even worth it? Still, I'd like to see more tests between the 760 and 70D before I come to any conclusions. Dual pixel should still be better, but if the 760 is good enough? If this AF III is plenty fine for the kind of video most people want to shoot - I'd say the 70D is dead.

With technology ever increasing, and in this day and age of DSLR's - what exactly is the point of having a premium line of APS-C cameras anymore? That concept might be obsolete. A single line of consumer-level APS-C cameras at $1,100 or less ought to have all the features and quality possible in what used to be a premium APS-C camera. I'd love to see the Rebel line just get better to the point of eliminating the need for premium APS-C bodies. This will mean we, the consumer, get more features and quality for a lower price. As it should be in the tech-world.

With entry level FF being priced very well now, and pros and others wanting larger bodies - it is hard to see why anyone would want to spend $1,400 or more on an APS-C camera (that's what the 70D sold for). That is an absurdly high amount. Better ergonomics, bigger bodies is definitely something - but why bother putting crop sensors in these larger bodies anymore? The 7D2 is the odd-ball, appealing to users not for it's sensor or IQ, but for it's very high FPS and awesome AF. That is a specialists camera, and the only one of its kind.

It makes me wonder if there will ever be a 80D? It is probably time for the industry to say good bye to overly expensive, premium APS-C bodies, and just replace that segment with entry level FF. This seems to be happening anyway - at least in the Nikon world.

I personally see more people on the entry level shooting Nikon. Nikon runs the TV commercial for the D3300 and D5300. I see more Nikons around people's necks at parks, the beach and anywhere else. I can't remember the last time I saw a rebel. I can see why - the Nikon's have a very impressive sensor and features for the price. The 24MP sensor they pack is no joke at all. That is a lot of IQ for the money. Huge value. There's also the marketing factor. The minimally informed buyer sees 18mp vs 24mp and that is probably 75% or more of the buying decision right there. Canon can now match this - but not for price unfortunately. The D3300 is still sporting a killer sensor and it's $500 or less.

For those who dig in more - the video AF features is the key here. For the enthusiasts, it will be great to have that kind of focus in a cheaper body. For the average consumer - finally being able to take decent video with a DSLR is huge as these users seek multi-use, multi-purpose devices for vacations, children etc...


While your video is not a 760 vs 70D heads up battle - based on what it shows of the 760, I'd have to agree, the 70D is dead.

 

[Marsu42]

Focusing systems are dominant, and I believe that Canon may have inadvertently killed the 70D with this.

I doubt it. Pity you didn't try actual tracking, for example the firmware options are really important for this (if they aren't crippled). Shooting standing birds in the water isn't "birding" as getting 'em in flight. Plus holding the "ergonomic" grip you praise all day long, w/o having handled it my guess there's still a distinctive difference vs. the xxd line.

But they sure put pressure on the 70d (same as the competition), and Canon will have made provisions for this hand have some leverage to adjust the 70d's price of the due to market demand. If we're lucky, the new Rebels will even speed up a 80d release with a 7d2 sensor?

Now I won't try to discuss your "enough dynamic range for most shooting purposes" thesis

Last not least, as Magic Lantern is on the 70d by now, this makes a laaaarge difference for video and for general stills shooting, too.

 

[photoguydan]

ordered mine last night for 730 shipped, i been shooting with the T4i over a year and wonder if the ISO is much better or so so on this one?

 

[MichaelTheMaven]

I doubt it. Pity you didn't try actual tracking, for example the firmware options are really important for this (if they aren't crippled). Shooting standing birds in the water isn't "birding" as getting 'em in flight. Plus holding the "ergonomic" grip you praise all day long, w/o having handled it my guess there's still a distinctive difference vs. the xxd line.

But they sure put pressure on the 70d (same as the competition), and Canon will have made provisions for this hand have some leverage to adjust the 70d's price of the due to market demand. If we're lucky, the new Rebels will even speed up a 80d release with a 7d2 sensor?

Now I won't try to discuss your "enough dynamic range for most shooting purposes" thesis

Last not least, as Magic Lantern is on the 70d by now, this makes a laaaarge difference for video and for general stills shooting, too.

Im not sure where you are getting your information, but it doesn't sound like you even carefully watched the video.

Have you actually held a T6i or are you just a 70D owner who is taking it personally?

 

[K]

Focusing systems are dominant, and I believe that Canon may have inadvertently killed the 70D with this.

I doubt it. Pity you didn't try actual tracking, for example the firmware options are really important for this (if they aren't crippled). Shooting standing birds in the water isn't "birding" as getting 'em in flight. Plus holding the "ergonomic" grip you praise all day long, w/o having handled it my guess there's still a distinctive difference vs. the xxd line.

But they sure put pressure on the 70d (same as the competition), and Canon will have made provisions for this hand have some leverage to adjust the 70d's price of the due to market demand. If we're lucky, the new Rebels will even speed up a 80d release with a 7d2 sensor?

Now I won't try to discuss your "enough dynamic range for most shooting purposes" thesis

Last not least, as Magic Lantern is on the 70d by now, this makes a laaaarge difference for video and for general stills shooting, too.

I watched the video. He provided actual tracking footage for the video AF. The video AF seemed to be the main focus here. Pun intended.

Face recognition worked, and it followed focus pretty well.


If everything turns out to show that the IQ, AF and other features are as good as the 70D or better, then the 70D is redundant. The 70D will only have 1 advantage - a larger body with different button layout. Which is an ergonomic advantage.

I would not want to shoot for several hours on a Rebel. Too small, little buttons. A huge reason why big pro bodies are bought by pros - the ergonomics.

On the other hand, if Canon just keeps the price of the 70D at or near the Rebel - it will stick around for a while. But what is the point of selling two similarly priced, similarly featured bodies with almost the same specs?

I would have to say that based on this Rebel - the 80D isn't going to happen. Not unless Canon has something big planned for it. What can Canon possibly give the 80D to make it better without then inadvertently killing the 7D2?

A better path for Canon is to keep upping the specs of the Rebel line. Those who make a living, or are enthusiasts are going to go for higher end models anyway. With FF prices dropping and squeezing a potential 80D out from the top - that is the logical place for anyone serious in photography. The $1,200+ market should now belong to FF.

The high-end APS-C body market is in my opinion, dead. Nikon abandoned it long ago.


But I still await more detailed tests and results...

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I won't buy a camera that does not have AFMA. It does not really matter what else it does, if it does not focus accurately with all my lenses, its not worth bringing home.

For f/5.6 consumer lenses with lots of depth of field, its ok.

 

[Marsu42]

Im not sure where you are getting your information, but it doesn't sound like you even carefully watched the video.

LOL! I did watch the video, and just for good measure I just watched it again to give you some more hits. What specific information I mentioned do find not matching with your hands on teaser?

* you state the grip being better than previous rebels - but you didn't compare to xxd which will be still larger

* you didn't test phase af tracking, just video af - I take it you know the difference. You're just shooting stationary birds and say the focus system is "very good" (sic!). And you didn't have a look how much you can customize phase af tracking in the firmware. This is one potential big difference to the 70d. That's why I find you recommending the t6i for "sports shooters" rather courageous, but probably further in-depth testing will be available when purchasing some videos of yours.

Have you actually held a T6i or are you just a 70D owner who is taking it personally?

Sorry to hear you responding like this to my feedback, but that doesn't sound like you even carefully read my reply, or are you just trying to defend your (rather nice) video? Note the bold part:

Plus holding the "ergonomic" grip you praise all day long, w/o having handled it my guess there's still a distinctive difference vs. the xxd line.

 

[whatta]

thanks a lot for the early test. could we see some low light, high iso tests?

for me the 70d has two advantages which I miss from the 760d:
AFMA and pentaprism

maybe AFMA can be added with a firmware?

btw what about this one?
Canon MG-Ef Magnifying Eyepiece
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116123-REG/canon_0048c001_mg_ef_magnifier.html

thanks

 

[whatta]

* you didn't test phase af tracking, just video af - I take it you know the difference. You're just shooting stationary birds and say the focus system is "very good" (sic!). And you didn't have a look how much you can customize phase af tracking in the firmware. This is one potential big difference to the 70d.

760d should have the same af as 7d which has been praised. so the potential differences could, indeed, be in software.