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

[Jack Douglas]

The last two posts align with my thinking. Oft repeated, all the cameras out there are good.

Jack

 

[jeffa4444]

...

Latest rant noted. No need to repeat. Either you are right or Canon is. We shall find out.

Many of us feel same way and want to rant.

I went Canon when I went SLR because they were innovative.. first to bring video to an SLR, many other features etc. It was a leader.

I loved it and invested into their ecosystem and had hoped to work towards full frame, more pro bodies. But I don't make money from it and I can't afford to keep changing glass on each whim, so it's painful watching luke warm release after luke warm release while you see some really good innovation elsewhere.

Still watching the reviews, but looking more and more like I'll be still waiting.. again.

Yes, today Sony and Nikon are vying for the innovation crown. Recent rumors for the D850 release are pretty heady. 45-46MP, a true ISO 50, improved low and high ISO DR, up to 10 fps continuous (not clear if this will be just in 20MP crop-sensor mode), D5 AF, tilty screen, and XQD card slot, and full-frame 4k video. Now, video AF will still pale compared to Canon's, but if true, most of these rumors are true, this will be an amazing camera. Of course this is a whole different category from the 6DMII. What it means though is that Nikon has created enough room below the D850 that it won't have to "nerf" the D750 replacement to create product differentiation. Nikon can release a (D780?) with a 30MP sensor, 8-10FPS, 4k video, dual-card slots and marginally improved sensor (if at all) and still have a far superior camera campared to the 6DMII.

Yes, Nikon has had quality control problems, and yes, Canon's lens portfolio is a bit better. However, between Nikon's offerings and third party lenses, there is nothing that isn't covered from my perspective.

Will this cut into Canon's lead? Probably not. The switching costs are simply too high. But since I'm not invested in Canon stock, their lead in market share does me absolutely no good.

So bye bye Canon. I have a few L lenses in good shape--24-70mm L II, 70-300mm L, 100mm L, 85mm L II, and 100-400mm L II--that are going on the market soon. Selling these lenses should more than cover the purchase of D850 and Nikon 105E lens.

Troll or simply illogical? You do not want to pay for 5DMkIV but you are willing to sell your excellent lenses to pay for ... D850 ?

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=53f3756e83ed21cdae34510ac9750cac&topic=33164.0

So what? D850 will be a 5DsR or 5D4 competitor not a 6D2 competitor! Billybob was disappointed with 6D2 not with 5D4... I insist on "troll or illogical"....

If you define "troll" as anyone critical of your favorite brand, then I guess that includes me. My first DSLR was a Rebel 300D followed by 40D, 7D, and 7DMII. I've also owned all 3 5D FF cameras (yes, I have a bad case of GAS).

But I've been trending towards Nikon since 2009. My first camera was the Nikon 90D and I currently have 4 Nikon bodies (I need to shed two of them). I am now down to just the 80D on the Canon side. I never fully transitioned to Nikon because there are some things that Canon just does better. Canon cameras seem a bit more responsive, and as I said before, I have some amazing Canon glass, so I held out hope that Canon would produce cameras bodies that compete in IQ with the rest of the competition. But Canon doesn't compete with other brands. As long as it produces amazing glass and minimally addresses the needs of its user base, it doesn't need to match the offerings of other companies.

So my illogic was sticking with Canon as long as I have. I foolishly thought that they would do something different even though they were not losing market share. A company that feels no pressure to compete is great for shareholders, but horrible for users. I realize now that Canon has mastered the art of providing modest improvements to its camera bodies. Just enough to keep its user base locked in but not enough to generate any excitement.

I'm fortunate. I already have a foot out the door (actually, much more than a foot). It's just time for me to completely leave.

I'm lucky I get to play with cameras I don't own like the Sony A7S II, its an unbelievable camera in low light but the controls really suck and the colours are well awful in my opinion yet others love it.

I read the reviews of the pre-production Canon 6D MKII and I went back and read the reviews of the Canon 6D. The 6D was berated by hardened Canon users as well as Nikon users scoffing at it against the D600 (we all know how that camera went!) on paper.
Fact is Ive loved the 6D one of the most underrated cameras in my lifetime and Ive shot over 60,000 shots with mine with my only real gripe being low level banding in grey or certain blue skies. Made money out of it too which was not part of the plan.
So my decision to buy the 6D MKII was really as a replacement for the 6D and to access better AF coverage, better metering and the flippy screen (which I liked on my seldom used 760D), yes I would have liked better DR but it was not a deal breaker and the cost is not too dissimilar to the £ 1,950 I paid for the 6D (£ 1,999) and now it has a two year guarantee not one.
The fact that it feels lighter, is well made, the controls are basically the same, it uses the same batteries, SD cards & lenses just means you don't need to think how to use it and can focus on composition & exposure or what you buy it for the photography. Its a tool not jewel and ALL tools have compromises but after reviewing shots taken in not optimal conditions this past weekend I'm not full of buyers remorse and Canon will remain my camera manufacturer of choice. Yes more DR and less noise in recovered shadows would be better but hell its not the difference between life & death.

 

[Jack Douglas]

jeffa4444, I'm not the least bit surprised, of course nothing is perfect. I gave my Nikon D5100 crop to my daughter when I bought the 6D and it was a good camera but when she needed menu help from me after I'd been shooting the 6D for months it reinforced how much better the Canon ergonomics were IMHO.

6D, AF - I just used the center 95% of the time. It was so easy to have AI servo on AF-ON and just release my thumb gently while pressing the shutter after the composition was locked. Thus focus and recompose became a trivial issue, etc.

I'll be fine when I get my 6D2 with no complaints.

Jack

 

[Aglet]

..my only real gripe being low level banding in grey or certain blue skies.

absolute deal-breaker for some of us

 

[Aglet]

jeffa4444, I'm not the least bit surprised, of course nothing is perfect. I gave my Nikon D5100 crop to my daughter when I bought the 6D and it was a good camera but when she needed menu help from me after I'd been shooting the 6D for months it reinforced how much better the Canon ergonomics were IMHO.

6D, AF - I just used the center 95% of the time. It was so easy to have AI servo on AF-ON and just release my thumb gently while pressing the shutter after the composition was locked. Thus focus and recompose became a trivial issue, etc.

I'll be fine when I get my 6D2 with no complaints.

Jack

I'm not sure what you shoot, Jack. d5100's AF system wasn't great for anything moving faster than a turtle but on a static scene with a tripod I'll take a raw from from it over the 6D for a large print.
d5100's base ISO IQ is outstanding for a cheap old consumer camera.
it's sensor to viewfinder misalignment is really annoying tho.

 

[Jack Douglas]

jeffa4444, I'm not the least bit surprised, of course nothing is perfect. I gave my Nikon D5100 crop to my daughter when I bought the 6D and it was a good camera but when she needed menu help from me after I'd been shooting the 6D for months it reinforced how much better the Canon ergonomics were IMHO.

6D, AF - I just used the center 95% of the time. It was so easy to have AI servo on AF-ON and just release my thumb gently while pressing the shutter after the composition was locked. Thus focus and recompose became a trivial issue, etc.

I'll be fine when I get my 6D2 with no complaints.

Jack

I'm not sure what you shoot, Jack. d5100's AF system wasn't great for anything moving faster than a turtle but on a static scene with a tripod I'll take a raw from from it over the 6D for a large print.
d5100's base ISO IQ is outstanding for a cheap old consumer camera.
it's sensor to viewfinder misalignment is really annoying tho.

Actually, the D5100 AF is not that bad in capable hands. My present gear is listed at the bottom.

I think you have a tendency to exaggerate with your Canon complaints. Talk is cheap. There isn't a product in existence that couldn't be better in some way. Talented individuals work for all the companies, so best is unlikely to permanently exist under a given banner. Best brand today is not necessarily best brand tomorrow or it even may go out of existence. This is continuous jockeying and poor reason to be jumping ship every few years. I decided to move to Canon and unless they falter big time that's where I'll happily stay.

Shooting long with heavy glass means a small camera is actually a negative for me although lighter would be helpful.

Jack

 

[Aglet]

jeffa4444, I'm not the least bit surprised, of course nothing is perfect. I gave my Nikon D5100 crop to my daughter when I bought the 6D and it was a good camera but when she needed menu help from me after I'd been shooting the 6D for months it reinforced how much better the Canon ergonomics were IMHO.

6D, AF - I just used the center 95% of the time. It was so easy to have AI servo on AF-ON and just release my thumb gently while pressing the shutter after the composition was locked. Thus focus and recompose became a trivial issue, etc.

I'll be fine when I get my 6D2 with no complaints.

Jack

I'm not sure what you shoot, Jack. d5100's AF system wasn't great for anything moving faster than a turtle but on a static scene with a tripod I'll take a raw from from it over the 6D for a large print.
d5100's base ISO IQ is outstanding for a cheap old consumer camera.
it's sensor to viewfinder misalignment is really annoying tho.

Actually, the D5100 AF is not that bad in capable hands. My present gear is listed at the bottom.

I think you have a tendency to exaggerate with your Canon complaints. Talk is cheap. There isn't a product in existence that couldn't be better in some way. Talented individuals work for all the companies, so best is unlikely to permanently exist under a given banner. Best brand today is not necessarily best brand tomorrow or it even may go out of existence. This is continuous jockeying and poor reason to be jumping ship every few years. I decided to move to Canon and unless they falter big time that's where I'll happily stay.

Shooting long with heavy glass means a small camera is actually a negative for me although lighter would be helpful.

Jack

Jack, fellow Canadian and guy who lives near where I'm going to retire in a few years and who shows mature restraint and sense in his posting here...

I think you should be shooting Olympus. Seriously. it's great for us... mature folk who like to shoot nature.

Flagship Oly is Cheaper than a 5d3 and outperforms the heck out of it in most situations.
I've posted this info elsewhere but it's worth a look.

http://www.getolympus.com/ca/en/digitalcameras/omd/e-m1-mark-ii.html

and here's a former Nikon embassador on the subject:

http://www.intufisuri.ro/2017/07/olympus-om-d-e-m-1-mk-ii-review-or-how.html

Check it out and let me know what you think, especially if you haven't looked at this brand before.
No store near you? You can buy direct in Canada. I used the Cdn site link above.

Lenses?..

http://www.getolympus.com/ca/en/mzuiko

No. I don't work for Olympus.
But I'd like to. ;D

 

[jeffa4444]

jeffa4444, I'm not the least bit surprised, of course nothing is perfect. I gave my Nikon D5100 crop to my daughter when I bought the 6D and it was a good camera but when she needed menu help from me after I'd been shooting the 6D for months it reinforced how much better the Canon ergonomics were IMHO.

6D, AF - I just used the center 95% of the time. It was so easy to have AI servo on AF-ON and just release my thumb gently while pressing the shutter after the composition was locked. Thus focus and recompose became a trivial issue, etc.

I'll be fine when I get my 6D2 with no complaints.

Jack

I'm not sure what you shoot, Jack. d5100's AF system wasn't great for anything moving faster than a turtle but on a static scene with a tripod I'll take a raw from from it over the 6D for a large print.
d5100's base ISO IQ is outstanding for a cheap old consumer camera.
it's sensor to viewfinder misalignment is really annoying tho.

Actually, the D5100 AF is not that bad in capable hands. My present gear is listed at the bottom.

I think you have a tendency to exaggerate with your Canon complaints. Talk is cheap. There isn't a product in existence that couldn't be better in some way. Talented individuals work for all the companies, so best is unlikely to permanently exist under a given banner. Best brand today is not necessarily best brand tomorrow or it even may go out of existence. This is continuous jockeying and poor reason to be jumping ship every few years. I decided to move to Canon and unless they falter big time that's where I'll happily stay.

Shooting long with heavy glass means a small camera is actually a negative for me although lighter would be helpful.

Jack

Jack, fellow Canadian and guy who lives near where I'm going to retire in a few years and who shows mature restraint and sense in his posting here...

I think you should be shooting Olympus. Seriously. it's great for us... mature folk who like to shoot nature.

Flagship Oly is Cheaper than a 5d3 and outperforms the heck out of it in most situations.
I've posted this info elsewhere but it's worth a look.

http://www.getolympus.com/ca/en/digitalcameras/omd/e-m1-mark-ii.html

and here's a former Nikon embassador on the subject:

http://www.intufisuri.ro/2017/07/olympus-om-d-e-m-1-mk-ii-review-or-how.html

Check it out and let me know what you think, especially if you haven't looked at this brand before.
No store near you? You can buy direct in Canada. I used the Cdn site link above.

Lenses?..

http://www.getolympus.com/ca/en/mzuiko

No. I don't work for Olympus.
But I'd like to. ;D

I bought into the system when it was 4/3rds with the E-500 then when it changed to micro 4/3rds first with adaptors then replacing the lenses to micro 4/3rds. Ive currently a OM-D E5 II and a OM-D E10 and they are rarely if ever used anymore. Ive used compact cameras, APS-C cameras you name it but FF is like a drug once you've experienced it everything else is a compromise (except wildlife / birds where APS-C excels).

The 6D MKII feels much more lighter against the 6D than the stats suggest and its marginally smaller and I'm the wrong side of sixty to lug more weight than needed. Yes lenses are larger & heavier but optically much better than micro 4/3rds.

 

[tomscott]

Here is my initial impressions of shooting the 6DMKII

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=33212.msg680597#msg680597

 

[Aglet]

I bought into the system when it was 4/3rds with the E-500 then when it changed to micro 4/3rds first with adaptors then replacing the lenses to micro 4/3rds. Ive currently a OM-D E5 II and a OM-D E10 and they are rarely if ever used anymore. Ive used compact cameras, APS-C cameras you name it but FF is like a drug once you've experienced it everything else is a compromise (except wildlife / birds where APS-C excels).

The 6D MKII feels much more lighter against the 6D than the stats suggest and its marginally smaller and I'm the wrong side of sixty to lug more weight than needed. Yes lenses are larger & heavier but optically much better than micro 4/3rds.

I've experienced some of the best "FF drugs" available with some of the best glass for it as well.
Yes, definitely an almost addictive experience when seeing the output.

But carrying all that stuff all the tim? No thanks.
The latest MFT gear is capable of delivering 5d3 level IQ (or better?) in a much easier to carry package.

As for the lenses... plenty of crop detail presented in that page I linked, a few posts above, from the former Nikon pro that exhibits what MFT and Oly glass can do. It's a nearly 30MB web page showcasing the abilities, and shortcomings, of Oly's flagship body. Certainly an educational read and exactly the topic of that page.
He compares it to a D5 and a D810, as a system, in many cases, quite favorably.

 

[slclick]

I have the latest Oly MFT and NO, it will not, does not and cannot outperform my 5D3 and EF glass in any way shape or form. It will compliment it but that's where the comparisons stop. Ridiculous.

 

[Loswr]

The latest MFT gear is capable of delivering 5d3 level IQ (or better?) in a much easier to carry package.

They must sell some high quality seeds and buds in that little 'garden' shoppe where you hang your images.

 

[Mikehit]

I bought into the system when it was 4/3rds with the E-500 then when it changed to micro 4/3rds first with adaptors then replacing the lenses to micro 4/3rds. Ive currently a OM-D E5 II and a OM-D E10 and they are rarely if ever used anymore. Ive used compact cameras, APS-C cameras you name it but FF is like a drug once you've experienced it everything else is a compromise (except wildlife / birds where APS-C excels).

The 6D MKII feels much more lighter against the 6D than the stats suggest and its marginally smaller and I'm the wrong side of sixty to lug more weight than needed. Yes lenses are larger & heavier but optically much better than micro 4/3rds.

I've experienced some of the best "FF drugs" available with some of the best glass for it as well.
Yes, definitely an almost addictive experience when seeing the output.

But carrying all that stuff all the tim? No thanks.
The latest MFT gear is capable of delivering 5d3 level IQ (or better?) in a much easier to carry package.

As for the lenses... plenty of crop detail presented in that page I linked, a few posts above, from the former Nikon pro that exhibits what MFT and Oly glass can do. It's a nearly 30MB web page showcasing the abilities, and shortcomings, of Oly's flagship body. Certainly an educational read and exactly the topic of that page.
He compares it to a D5 and a D810, as a system, in many cases, quite favorably.

I have seen some excellent photos with the latest Olympus bodies and Oly 300mmf4 or Panasonic 100-400 . But when viewed large on a 24" screen the image quality deficiencies compared to FF (of any marque) become apparent. Your words 'quite favourably' are right, but given your interesting description of your demands from a camera system you seem to be over-egging the pudding when talking about MFT.

 

[Mikehit]

I note that slclick did not talk specifically about DR. But you seem hung up on this.
Dynamic range measured in a lab may be better, but the sensor is 1/4 the size of the FF and when you blow it up to the same size you have more problems than just DR.

And the difference between 5DIII and Olympus is not even 1 stop. Is that really going to revolutionise your photography.

 

[Khalai]

The latest MFT gear is capable of delivering 5d3 level IQ (or better?) in a much easier to carry package.

They must sell some high quality seeds and buds in that little 'garden' shoppe where you hang your images.

Images of what? Underexposed back of a lens cap and pushed seven stops? What's the name of the coffee shop again? Ye olde DRone & Measurebator?

 

[Jack Douglas]

Aglet claims otherwise but clearly he's just having fun agitating and I think it counterproductive to engage.

I won't. May I suggest others don't. It'll leave more time for important matters like shooting with whatever wonderful camera you have!

Jack

 

[LonelyBoy]

Aglet claims otherwise but clearly he's just having fun agitating and I think it counterproductive to engage.

I won't. May I suggest others don't. It'll leave more time for important matters like shooting with whatever wonderful camera you have!

Jack

Please yes. He will get bored if he doesn't get a reaction, and he's clearly not interested in an actual discussion.

 

[Aglet]

I note that slclick did not talk specifically about DR. But you seem hung up on this.
Dynamic range measured in a lab may be better, but the sensor is 1/4 the size of the FF and when you blow it up to the same size you have more problems than just DR.

no, I don't like noise and pattern noise especially, Canon's specialty. DR is related but less of an issue.

And the difference between 5DIII and Olympus is not even 1 stop. Is that really going to revolutionise your photography.

The difference in DR... a little, yes.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DOZEN OTHER AMAZING FEATURES THE OLYMPUS HAS THAT ARE USEFUL IN REAL LIFE EVERY-DAY SHOOTING THAT NO CANON EVEN HAS?!?
Didn't look at those, did you.

 

[Maiaibing]

I present an argument about the Olympus flagship, whose little sensor (2 stops smaller) and data acquisition allows it to perform pretty much on-par with a Canon 5d3 in image quality, while being priced like a 6d2

Since 6D actually has better IQ than the 5D3 this is hardly an impressive argument to present to a Canon fan boy as it makes the Olympus flagship sport inferior IQ for the same price... Gotta sharpen your sword by focusing your argument.

 

[Mikehit]

I am constantly amused by how you Canon fan boys can't engage in a real debate when it challenges your primary choice

I can engage and that is what I was doing. I was explaining why I think the Olympus is not as good compared to Olympus as you make out it is. I could switch your argument around and ask why you cannot engage in a reasoned debate without you having to call someone a fanboy when they disagree with you. It seems that you can criticise Canon (supposedly objectively) but anyone who disagrees has no other motive than being 'scared' about why they made those choices.