Hands on Field Test of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II

[Sharlin]

I own both the 6D2 and the 7D2 and there is no comparison between the two. With the 7D2 I never go above ISO 400 and that is with a f/2.8 lens. With the 6D2 I just shot a picture early in the morning at ISO 40,00 at f/9.0 and was able to salvage it.

You're doing something very wrong if you are seeing a difference of several stops between the 7D2 and the 6D2. Available non-anecdotal data agrees with common sense and the laws of physics and gives the expected difference of a little over a stop. See, for example, The Digital Picture. If you could salvage a 6D2 photo shot at ISO 40000, you could just as well salvage a 7D2 photo shot at ISO 12800. I'd be inclined to believe you if by "7D2" you actually mean the EOS D30 from year 2000.

 

[slclick]

I own both the 6D2 and the 7D2 and there is no comparison between the two. With the 7D2 I never go above ISO 400 and that is with a f/2.8 lens. With the 6D2 I just shot a picture early in the morning at ISO 40,00 at f/9.0 and was able to salvage it.

You're doing something very wrong if you are seeing a difference of several stops between the 7D2 and the 6D2. Available non-anecdotal data agrees with common sense and the laws of physics and gives the expected difference of a little over a stop. See, for example, The Digital Picture. If you could salvage a 6D2 photo shot at ISO 40000, you could just as well salvage a 7D2 photo shot at ISO 12800. I'd be inclined to believe you if by "7D2" you actually mean the EOS D30 from year 2000.

No doubt! I mean yeah, the common complaint of the original 7D was noise levels above 6400, so if you're having issues with the MUCH improved Mark 2 then it's user error.

 

[Graphic.Artifacts]

6d II vs 5D IV @ISO 12,800:

https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/EOS-6D-Mark-II-6499/highres/Canon-EOS-6D-II-ISO12800-IMG_9894_1501769013.jpg

https://www.magezinepublishing.com/equipment/images/equipment/EOS-5D-Mark-IV-6184/highres/Canon-EOS-5D-MKIV-ISO12800-7S0A0048_1474037456.jpg

as good as it gets.

Thanks for this link. Hadn't seen this. High ISO does appear to be very good for straight images that wont require a lot of tone adjustment in post. Especially for JPG's which are bit-constained regardless. I want to believe that Canon optimized the camera for high ISO. It would make the lack of low ISO DR in RAW's a bit more palatable. Despite my initial disappointment I could probably make this work as a travel camera until Canon releases a fully developed mirrorless solution. Probably going to have to spend a lot more time in photoshop than I would have liked. Not ready to pull the trigger yet though. I'll wait until all of the reviews are in.

 

[hbr]

I own both the 6D2 and the 7D2 and there is no comparison between the two. With the 7D2 I never go above ISO 400 and that is with a f/2.8 lens. With the 6D2 I just shot a picture early in the morning at ISO 40,00 at f/9.0 and was able to salvage it.

You're doing something very wrong if you are seeing a difference of several stops between the 7D2 and the 6D2. Available non-anecdotal data agrees with common sense and the laws of physics and gives the expected difference of a little over a stop. See, for example, The Digital Picture. If you could salvage a 6D2 photo shot at ISO 40000, you could just as well salvage a 7D2 photo shot at ISO 12800. I'd be inclined to believe you if by "7D2" you actually mean the EOS D30 from year 2000.

Guys, I'm serious. I don't know if I was just unlucky and just got two bad copies or what. I purchased the first one to take photos of all the birds in my back yard along with the 400 5.6 L. From the beginning I was disappointed with the noise levels even in strong sunlight. I was going to sell it until I did some landscape shots with several of my f/2.8 lenses. The shots were incredible and the colors perfect, so I kept it. That camera was stolen and the second camera was no better. I am often jealous when I see beautiful shots with little noise and great detail from other photographers using the same setup as me.
Anyway, I'm glad to hear that others wit this camera are happy with it, but it has been a disappointment for me. I often felt that I got cleaner pictures with my XSi.
therefore, sorry for the erroneous post.

Brian

 

[Talys]

Here's a bird taken on a cloudy day with 6DII and 70-300mm II @ 300mm f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO 1250:

Cropped -

Uncropped - http://versadyne.com/talys/chickadee.jpg

 

[SecureGSM]

Sharlin,
You made a fair call. I would say that 6D II unedited RAW files advantage over 7D II file is around 1 1/3 of a stop. What strikes me though is how well 6D II files comes out past noise reduction in raw editing software.

My guess is the better qualities of noise in 6D II files make noise reduction job easier for the software. Noise is more random, no banding, no colour blotches. I see difference even compared to 6D original files. Probably 2/3 of a stop advantage after noise reductions was applied. I hope it makes sense.

I own both the 6D2 and the 7D2 and there is no comparison between the two. With the 7D2 I never go above ISO 400 and that is with a f/2.8 lens. With the 6D2 I just shot a picture early in the morning at ISO 40,00 at f/9.0 and was able to salvage it.

You're doing something very wrong if you are seeing a difference of several stops between the 7D2 and the 6D2. Available non-anecdotal data agrees with common sense and the laws of physics and gives the expected difference of a little over a stop. See, for example, The Digital Picture. If you could salvage a 6D2 photo shot at ISO 40000, you could just as well salvage a 7D2 photo shot at ISO 12800. I'd be inclined to believe you if by "7D2" you actually mean the EOS D30 from year 2000.

 

[Adelino]

Btw just for fun: My old account got banned and I have no idea why. Not one swear nor bullshit talk, I looked up all my posts during the last months with that account... just because you mentioned one should continue booing Canon to not get 'banned' (I get the sarcasm).

Well, you did just swear right there...

 

[Sharlin]

Sharlin,
You made a fair call. I would say that 6D II unedited RAW files advantage over 7D II file is around 1 1/3 of a stop. What strikes me though is how well 6D II files comes out past noise reduction in raw editing software.

My guess is the better qualities of noise in 6D II files make noise reduction job easier for the software. Noise is more random, no banding, no colour blotches. I see difference even compared to 6D original files. Probably 2/3 of a stop advantage after noise reductions was applied. I hope it makes sense.

You're right and I should probably have elaborated. The noise quality in all of Canon's new sensors seems to be improved and more amenable to noise reduction (zero of which is applied in eg. TDP and DPR reference images). It's good to know that holds for the 6D2 as well even if numerically the sensor is disappointing to many. Goes to show, again, that numbers don't tell everything.

 

[Talys]

The noise quality in all of Canon's new sensors seems to be improved and more amenable to noise reduction

Bingo! 6D2, 5D4 both have images after noise reduction that are extremely pleasing, without jumping through any hoops. Just use the default DPP settings, and you're off to the races. It's effortless and consistent.

Sure, the unedited RAW file is important, but not compared to what you get after processing them, because that's what you're actually going to use, and ultimately, nobody else cares what your picture looked like before they got to see it.

I should add the caveat that as someone who rarely shoots high ISO, there are no doubt better ways to get rid of noise that I just haven't explored because it's not super important to me. But being able to really easily use a high ISO image is a great feature, even -- or perhaps especially -- if you don't use it much.

 

[Luds34]

That is really good to know.
Do you have any comments on AF tracking? Or do you not do enough of that to comment?

This is just preliminary, but I took my 6D2 out with 135 f/2L and shot it wide open yesterday. Put the camera in AI Servo and used zone mode (9 points) and moved along the top (left, center, right) and took a few dozen shots of my daughter running around on a playground, swinging, etc. etc. and came away very happy. Everything just seemed to hit. So my initial impressions are this is a huge step up from the original 6D and was my reason for upgrading.

Obviously I look forward to continue to test out the AI tracking but initial impressions are very solid.

 

[xseven]

Hi!
Maybe here I will have more luck!
Will anyone who already has a 6D II be kind enough to post some raw files (high contrast scene + some under/over exposed variants, a "lens cap" ... just think of what sort of raw files you would have liked to inspect prior to buying the camera )
Google drive, dropbox, wetransfer ...
Thank you!

 

[hbr]

Hi!
Maybe here I will have more luck!
Will anyone who already has a 6D II be kind enough to post some raw files (high contrast scene + some under/over exposed variants, a "lens cap" ... just think of what sort of raw files you would have liked to inspect prior to buying the camera )
Google drive, dropbox, wetransfer ...
Thank you!

Hi xseven,

I am working on that, but it is a slow process as time and weather has been against me. I already have several unedited RAW files on Google Drive that you are welcome to download and edit to your hearts content in the editor of your choice. I will continue to add photos as I have the time to go out and shoot some photos. The link is:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2lFTWTRuXxtcHJlci1tLURMam8?usp=sharing

These shots are directly out of the camera with no further processing other than my initial camera setup.

Brian

 

[jd7]

That is really good to know.
Do you have any comments on AF tracking? Or do you not do enough of that to comment?

This is just preliminary, but I took my 6D2 out with 135 f/2L and shot it wide open yesterday. Put the camera in AI Servo and used zone mode (9 points) and moved along the top (left, center, right) and took a few dozen shots of my daughter running around on a playground, swinging, etc. etc. and came away very happy. Everything just seemed to hit. So my initial impressions are this is a huge step up from the original 6D and was my reason for upgrading.

Obviously I look forward to continue to test out the AI tracking but initial impressions are very solid.

OK, these sorts of comments in this thread from people who have actually bought the 6DII, and a few similar comments I've seen elsewhere on the internet, have just about got me over the line ... Looking forward to hearing my reports about the AF tracking in due course!

 

[tcmatthews]

Ergonomically I find the cameras like the 6D close to perfect. I always wanted a swivel screen on my 6D. I hate the 5D/7D body ergonomics they are just too big for my hands. So upgrading to a 5D IV just is not going to happen. So do I just continue buying Sony equipment because it is a better fit?

If you think the 6D (and by extension, 6DII, since it's almost identical physically) is close to perfect ergonomically, I'm very surprised that you would enjoy the ergonomics of the Sony ILCs :X

I think I will just buy a 80D out of the refurb store on black friday and call it good.

Save yourself the time and just get it on Amazon now The 80D is a fine camera. If you don't need fully weather sealed and you don't need full frame -- specifically, either being able to shoot wider or at with less noise at high ISO -- the 80D is Canon's best choice in my opinion. It opens up the whole universe of excellent EFS lenses that cost a fraction of what's available on EF and L lenses.

Forget the price of the body: you're going to spend a fortune to get the equivalent of the 10-18 STM for your FF. And you'll need to buy a 24-70/4 at three times the price and one third the focal range to do much better than the nano USM 18-135, which is great in the middle of its focal range. The EFS17-55/2.8 is a pretty awesome deal too. Sure, everyone would prefer the EF24/70/2.8 on a FF, but look at the price difference.

Also, if you don't need all that weather sealing or f/2.8 telephotos, the EFS lenses are just way, way, way lighter. My 70-200/2.8 II weighs like... as much as 3 EFS zoom lenses plus a EF70-300.

The great thing about an 80D is that you can buy the L lens for the one focal range that it's really critical to have awesome glass for, and buy much cheaper lenses that are good enough for everything else. If you buy a FF body, there is a tendency to try to buy L for everything, even if you don't shoot that much in that FL. And then for each of those, you need to agonize between f/4 and the twice-as-expensive f/2.8, because hell, you're already half-way there anyhow.

First of all I have a full set of full frame lens for Canon. I have just been using them on a Sony camera since last year when I sold my 6D. I also have the EFs 15-85 so unless I am getting STM for video I do not need any mid focal range Canon Lens. The 16-35f4 L IS destroys the image quality of the 10-18 STM. I bought mine just before I sold my 6D. I also bought one of those 10-18 STM when they first came out and though it was broken it was so soft in comparison to my Sony E 10-18f4. At the time I had a EOS M and did the test shots on that. It looked soft in the preview. Though I had focus issues so I put it on my 60D. Still soft thought it was broken. When got a tripod and focused it in live view still looked a little soft. Thought I had just gotten use the the weaker Sony AA filter from months of not using my 60D. So I when and got my Nex 6 and metabones adapter. The lens was focusing correctly but it had no sharpness in the corners. It did improve around f8 but my Sigma that went for the swim on my first 60D was better. Come to think about I am sure I have written about my experience with the 10-18STM in a post on here somewhere.

Anyway, I traded it in when I traded in the 6D, EOS-M and my Nex 6. I will not buy another 10-18STM to see if that one was a lemon. There is no point I will buy a better lens.

No if anything I am one of those trapped with Canon glass I like but wanting a better camera to use them on. I have been contemplating a 5D spec camera likely a 5DSR for over a year. But realize it will just sit at home like my 7D II. It only leaves the house when I want to use my Tamron 150-600mm. On that lense it does not matter that the camera is huge.

The 80D is currently running around 799 on the Canon refurb shop. It was running around that 2 months ago with a kit lens. I paid slightly less for the 7D II body only. I am in no hurry. I will wait for the sale.

 

[Luds34]

This is just preliminary, but I took my 6D2 out with 135 f/2L and shot it wide open yesterday. Put the camera in AI Servo and used zone mode (9 points) and moved along the top (left, center, right) and took a few dozen shots of my daughter running around on a playground, swinging, etc. etc. and came away very happy. Everything just seemed to hit. So my initial impressions are this is a huge step up from the original 6D and was my reason for upgrading.

Obviously I look forward to continue to test out the AI tracking but initial impressions are very solid.

OK, these sorts of comments in this thread from people who have actually bought the 6DII, and a few similar comments I've elsewhere on the internet, has just about got me over the line ... Looking forward to hearing my reports about the AF tracking in due course!

For sure. I know this is the "Full Frame 80D" but I've never shot an 80D. However, I did own a 70D for close to 2 years and that was my "action camera" and I felt confident shooting (action) with it. Just the little bit I used the 6D2 yesterday gave me that same feel and level of confidence.

I'm going to attempt to upload a shot and a 1:1 crop. I don't think I've done this before so I apologize if I screw this up.

 

[xseven]

I am working on that, but it is a slow process as time and weather has been against me.
Brian

Thank you for your understanding and time!

PS: is it ok if I post some edits of your photos?

 

[Luds34]

Excellent, it looks like the upload worked! I was a bit impressed by the tracking because I was following on her face but from the angle I had her face would disappear (be blocked) as she swung forward with her feet high in the air. Either way, the camera either compensated for that (at default tracking settings) or just re-acquired the lock fast enough it was a none factor. Surely the fast focus speed of the 135mm f/2L didn't hurt, but shooting at the narrow f/2 probably didn't help either.

Most my family left for a week long vacation on a lake today. I've been fortunate enough this year to be on vacations to Asia, Northern California, France, and I just got back from 5 days in the BWCA. In short I'm light on vacation time right now. However I'm going to join everyone towards the end of next week and I plan to do some more "real world" testing of the focus system.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Well, after viewing this page, I've clicked notify again ... perhaps until Aglet appears - ugh. I should really stay away because I have every confidence that there will be plenty of good reports of well focused, well exposed shots from happy campers.

Jack

 

[hbr]

I am working on that, but it is a slow process as time and weather has been against me.
Brian

Thank you for your understanding and time!

PS: is it ok if I post some edits of your photos?

Sure, I would like everyone to see them.

Brian

PS - I am loving this camera more every day and I am hoping a lot of people who are afraid to purchase it because of all the DR talk will enjoy the photos I am putting on that site and be able to make a good decision by looking at real photos. Not all the photos will be good photos as I am trying to learn the limitations of the camera and I am purposely taking some bad shots so that people can see the good, the bad and the ugly.
Just make mention of me in your postings so that everyone knows where the photos came from.
Thanks,

Brian

 

[xseven]

Brian

Brian took the time to share some raw files ... Thank you! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2lFTWTRuXxtcHJlci1tLURMam8?usp=sharing

A 12800 ISO DR example ... not bad resized la 2024px