DXO: Canon EOS 6D Mark II Sensor Review: Great Color and ISO Performance

[Talys]

With that in mind, the only part of the 6D2's measurements which is at all surprising is how low the true sensitivity is. ISO 100 is actually 63 and ISO 200 is actually 127. That's a record-low for Canon, and I believe a record-low for any SLR. That means that using like-for-like settings, the 6D2 underexposes by nearly two thirds of a stop. [Is this a fact? Can you prove it?] To compensate and get the same exposure you'll need to either use a faster lens/open up (potentially dropping in sharpness and increasing vignetting), lower your shutter speed (yay motion blur) or raise the ISO (more noise and less exposure latitude to play with).

That's a huge problem. Yes, the 80D also severely overrates its ISO, but that wasn't quite this bad. Yes, Fuji do it too, but again, not by this much. Nikon and Sony haven't, as far as I'm aware, ever fudged their ISO sensitivity by any more than half a stop. (Though even half a stop is too much to get away with, in my view.)

No, this is not a fact. It is horse poop. If the 6DII is severely overrated... or whatever... so is the 80D and 60D, and some older xxxD Canon bodies, all to approximately the same degree, because I take photos of the same subject from different angles using the same exposure settings all the time with these cameras. I rely on that.

Also, so too must my Sekonic flash meter, because when I'm using a whole bunch of strobes and/or speedlites, especially when it's a new lighting setup, I'll usually take a reading with Sekonic, and it's pretty damned close.

But anyways, here is proof. Using exactly the same tripod location and lighting, I took 2 pictures of a ColorChecker, on the left with an 80D and on the right a 6D Mark II, both at 1/320 ISO 100. Don't mind pixel peeping sharpness, because I just used the shutter button autofocus and took a single shot; that wasn't the point. The point is, both are identically exposed, or at least close enough not to matter. Certainly not by some massive ISO difference.

Full resolution: http://talys.icxi.com/cr/20170919/6D2_80D_ISO_Compare.jpg

Edit -- no idea why attachments never work for me

 

[jester73]

But anyways, here is proof. Using exactly the same tripod location and lighting, I took 2 pictures of a ColorChecker, on the left with an 80D and on the right a 6D Mark II, both at 1/320 ISO 100. Don't mind pixel peeping sharpness, because I just used the shutter button autofocus and took a single shot; that wasn't the point. The point is, both are identically exposed, or at least close enough not to matter. Certainly not by some massive ISO difference.

Full resolution: http://talys.icxi.com/cr/20170919/6D2_80D_ISO_Compare.jpg

Edit -- no idea why attachments never work for me

For me 6dII image is visibly darker.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Not sure if it's too significant but I agree it's darker. I'm guessing maybe 1/3 stop.

Jack

 

[Talys]

For me 6dII image is visibly darker.

Obviously, the sensors are different, and I agree, the 6DII looks a little darker on areas like the ridged plastic. However, the trick is to evaluating exposure differences (certainly by two thirds of a stop...) is to look at the grey in the back. There is no way the grey between the two is different by 2/3 of a stop, or anything close to that.

Just take either half in the source file, and change it by 2/3, and look at how different the grey looks.

Not sure if it's too significant but I agree it's darker. I'm guessing maybe 1/3 stop.

Jack

Good eye -- chimping it in Lightroom, at about +.29, they grey levels are very close.

By the way, the 1/320 2.8 @ISO 100 is the exposure setting from the Sekonic. And ugh, I just noticed, I had profile corrections turned on during imports, which slightly changes it.

However, I stand by my original statement... it's nowhere close to a 2/3EV difference, or a difference between ISO 127 and ISO 200. I mean, for heavens sake, that would require nearly double the exposure between the two cameras to get the same results.

 

[Don Haines]

It is a big deal because our eyes can see 20 stops of DR!!!

Yes, the eye can detect 20 stops of DR.... but only 12 stops at the same time. The eye needs time to adjust..... this is why when you head outside at night you have to wait several minutes for the iris (aperture) to adjust and you can see the faint details....

Using the same logic, the 6D2 can see 12 stops of DR at the same time, but by adjusting the aperture of my lens between F1.4 to F22, I get an additional 8 stops of range that I can shift my 12 stop window over.....

 

[Talys]

It is a big deal because our eyes can see 20 stops of DR!!!

Yes, the eye can detect 20 stops of DR.... but only 12 stops at the same time. The eye needs time to adjust..... this is why when you head outside at night you have to wait several minutes for the iris (aperture) to adjust and you can see the faint details....

Using the same logic, the 6D2 can see 12 stops of DR at the same time, but by adjusting the aperture of my lens between F1.4 to F22, I get an additional 8 stops of range that I can shift my 12 stop window over.....

I think that the main reason that most people want more DR is so that they can take a picture that looks like a shadowy block with the sun behind the subject, and then, CSI-style, make actual colors magically appear. Look! Something from nothing!

The problem is, the end result is still a crappy picture that isn't properly illuminated. So actually, it's still nothing

Another better reason (among the likely, serious ones for people in the market for a 6DII), I guess, would be to more easily capture more near-whites. Personally, I always know if what I'm going to photograph is going to have too much bright whites, and I just knock it down a little, or you could use the white priority mode, but I guess it's legitimate to say, "but I don't have to do that if I have more DR".

 

[dlee13]

With that in mind, the only part of the 6D2's measurements which is at all surprising is how low the true sensitivity is. ISO 100 is actually 63 and ISO 200 is actually 127. That's a record-low for Canon, and I believe a record-low for any SLR. That means that using like-for-like settings, the 6D2 underexposes by nearly two thirds of a stop. [Is this a fact? Can you prove it?] To compensate and get the same exposure you'll need to either use a faster lens/open up (potentially dropping in sharpness and increasing vignetting), lower your shutter speed (yay motion blur) or raise the ISO (more noise and less exposure latitude to play with).

That's a huge problem. Yes, the 80D also severely overrates its ISO, but that wasn't quite this bad. Yes, Fuji do it too, but again, not by this much. Nikon and Sony haven't, as far as I'm aware, ever fudged their ISO sensitivity by any more than half a stop. (Though even half a stop is too much to get away with, in my view.)

No, this is not a fact. It is horse poop. If the 6DII is severely overrated... or whatever... so is the 80D and 60D, and some older xxxD Canon bodies, all to approximately the same degree, because I take photos of the same subject from different angles using the same exposure settings all the time with these cameras. I rely on that.

Also, so too must my Sekonic flash meter, because when I'm using a whole bunch of strobes and/or speedlites, especially when it's a new lighting setup, I'll usually take a reading with Sekonic, and it's pretty damned close.

But anyways, here is proof. Using exactly the same tripod location and lighting, I took 2 pictures of a ColorChecker, on the left with an 80D and on the right a 6D Mark II, both at 1/320 ISO 100. Don't mind pixel peeping sharpness, because I just used the shutter button autofocus and took a single shot; that wasn't the point. The point is, both are identically exposed, or at least close enough not to matter. Certainly not by some massive ISO difference.

Full resolution: http://talys.icxi.com/cr/20170919/6D2_80D_ISO_Compare.jpg

Edit -- no idea why attachments never work for me

May just be me but I feel the colors are slight more saturated on the 6DII images and it has a deeper color too it. Could also explain why it appears darker.

 

[AlanF]

I think that the main reason that most people want more DR is so that they can take a picture that looks like a shadowy block with the sun behind the subject, and then, CSI-style, make actual colors magically appear. Look! Something from nothing!

The problem is, the end result is still a crappy picture that isn't properly illuminated. So actually, it's still nothing

A common example from your hobby of bird photography is when you take a photo of a bird in flight illuminated from the sun above; the top is often perfectly illuminated and the underneath in shadow. It can be nice to lighten the shadows below, which you can do without spoiling the correctly illuminated parts using PS. Your eyes can see the details underneath when your camera can't in one take. The same reasoning applies to other scenes.

 

[tomscott]

As ive said many times, it beats the 5DMKIII in every IQ metric and is £500 cheaper and £1500 cheaper than a 5DMKIV.

Its a relative bargain in the Canon line up. Ive been over the moon with mine.

For people who say its a poor camera... The 5DMKIII was one of the best Canon has ever made... with only a couple of shortcomings... namely the banding and muddy purple shadows. 6DMKII has neither.

If people are really honest with themselves how often do you stick to ISO100. I barely ever shoot that low the cameras are so capable I would rather have better quality high up and this has it in spades.

 

[SecureGSM]

Hi Jack,

It is and by 1/3 of a stop.

but... 80D image is upscaled and 6D II image is not. when upscaled, brightness certainly is changed and is no longer representative of the original unmodified image. we should compare original images at it's native resolution instead.

Not sure if it's too significant but I agree it's darker. I'm guessing maybe 1/3 stop.

Jack

 

[jester73]

As ive said many times, it beats the 5DMKIII in every IQ metric and is £500 cheaper and £1500 cheaper than a 5DMKIV.

5DMKIV body on e-bay cost less than 3k USD. Please show me offer for 6dmii for £1500 cheaper than a 5DMKIV.
I can believe you that 6dmii is not poor camera but than it is expensive camera for 2k USD.

 

[SecureGSM]

I paid US$2,650.00 for a brand new 5D IV body just a couple of week ago. all taxes and free delivery inclusive.

5DMKIV body on e-bay cost less than 3k USD.

 

[scyrene]

Hi Jack,

It is and by 1/3 of a stop.

but... 80D image is upscaled and 6D II image is not. when upscaled, brightness certainly is changed and is no longer representative of the original unmodified image. we should compare original images at it's native resolution instead.

Not sure if it's too significant but I agree it's darker. I'm guessing maybe 1/3 stop.

Jack

Does resizing images typically change the brightness?

 

[scyrene]

Whoever says DR is not a big deal never converted a raw file. Guys, go ahead and try it. It'll be like enlightenment! Literally.

I have shot raw exclusively for over five years and I say the DR differences between the 6D2 and the best competitors is not a big deal the vast majority of real world circumstances.

PS: I'm not a troll.

And yet you say "And there is no 4K while the new iPhones shoots 4K at 60fps. $75 Chinese action cams shoot 4K video!!! Seriously Canon! WTF!?" so you're either lying about being a troll or utterly clueless about video.

 

[tomscott]

As ive said many times, it beats the 5DMKIII in every IQ metric and is £500 cheaper and £1500 cheaper than a 5DMKIV.

5DMKIV body on e-bay cost less than 3k USD. Please show me offer for 6dmii for £1500 cheaper than a 5DMKIV.
I can believe you that 6dmii is not poor camera but than it is expensive camera for 2k USD.

Your talking 2 different currencies bud. Im talking £

Just been discounted but was £3599
https://www.jessops.com/p/canon/eos-5d-mark-iv-digital-slr-body-100506

In the UK the 6DMKII is £2000 so there you go.

https://www.jessops.com/p/canon/eos-6d-mark-ii-dslr-body-125988

I bought my 6DMKII grey market the week it was released for £1468. Grey market the 5DMKIV is still £2459. Still dont think the 5DMKIV is worth £1000 more grey market.

When it gets to £2-2250 will probably pull the trigger. Would say it will be in that range by Christmas. 5DMKIV an incredible camera but the 6DMKII is literally 90% for nearly 50% less. Ive had no issues what so ever so far.

Check out my thread if your interested.

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=33212.0

 

[SecureGSM]

depends on the RAW editor of your choice and type of interpolation selected. sharpness and contrast are affected as well.

Does resizing images typically change the brightness?

 

[SecureGSM]

https://www.e-infin.com/uk/item/3071/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_dslr_camera_(body_only)

As you wish, GBP £2,149.00, all taxes inclusive, free delivery, 14 days Money Back Guarantee, 12 Month Warranty .How is that for Christmas in September?

...Grey market the 5DMKIV is still £2459. Still dont think the 5DMKIV is worth £1000 more grey market.

When it gets to £2-2250 will probably pull the trigger. Would say it will be in that range by Christmas.

 

[tomscott]

https://www.e-infin.com/uk/item/3071/canon_eos_5d_mark_iv_dslr_camera_(body_only)

As you wish, GBP £2,149.00, all taxes inclusive, free delivery, 14 days Money Back Guarantee, 12 Month Warranty .How is that for Christmas in September?

...Grey market the 5DMKIV is still £2459. Still dont think the 5DMKIV is worth £1000 more grey market.

When it gets to £2-2250 will probably pull the trigger. Would say it will be in that range by Christmas.

That's pretty good. £300 less than any other grey market distributor. Does make you wonder why.

Reviews of the site look good tho.

 

[SecureGSM]

I bought from these guys few weeks ago. They also sell on eBay at about 5% more.
The trick is to wait until eBay goes on 10% off everything promo and it does nearly every month these days.
with 10% eBay discount, the price that I paid for my 5D IV was 5% less than what is advertised on their website. so that would be another £100 off for you.

I ended up paying these guys A$3300.00. that's £1,980.00

Camera was courier delivered.

I was able to register the camera on Canon Australia website.

That's pretty good. £300 less than any other grey market distributor. Does make you wonder why.

Reviews of the site look good tho.

 

[BurningPlatform]

With that in mind, the only part of the 6D2's measurements which is at all surprising is how low the true sensitivity is. ISO 100 is actually 63 and ISO 200 is actually 127. That's a record-low for Canon, and I believe a record-low for any SLR. That means that using like-for-like settings, the 6D2 underexposes by nearly two thirds of a stop. [Is this a fact? Can you prove it?]

Well, I think he refers to these DXOmark measurements:
https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Canon/EOS-80D---Measurements
and
https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Canon/EOS-6D-Mark-II---Measurements

The first "tab" is ISO Sensitivity. However, at ISO 100 both 80D and 6dii are measured as ISO 64.