Review: Canon EOS 6D Mark II by DPReview

[neuroanatomist]

Posting pictures here is like writing a political article in a porn mag. It's pointless.

That's not funny, it's just sad. I feel a bit sorry for you. Just a bit.

What exactly does pictures posted have to do with DPR? Oh right, nothing.
Actually, wonderful images can be taken with a 50 year old film camera. Single images are pretty pointless if you discuss specs and tech. And just be clear: Canonrumors is only about that. New tech rumors. Not about art, not about skill in photography, not about user made shots or even a weekly competition for the best shots.

Really? Did you know that all of the most popular topics on CR Forums, based on both views and replies, are about sharing images? Every one. Not a single one of the Top 10 in either category is about tech rumors. So, no matter what brings you here, it's safe to say that most people here find photography – art, technique, skill, and particularly user-made shots – far more interesting than specs and tech. 4.7 million views of just the two bird-focused image sharing threads which are the top two topics.

So what do pictures posted here have to do with anything? Oh right, they're what most people here care about.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I was "pretty dumb"

Good to know you can be right about one thing, at least.

 

[Hflm]

Posting pictures here is like writing a political article in a porn mag. It's pointless.

That's not funny, it's just sad. I feel a bit sorry for you. Just a bit.

What exactly does pictures posted have to do with DPR? Oh right, nothing.
Actually, wonderful images can be taken with a 50 year old film camera. Single images are pretty pointless if you discuss specs and tech. And just be clear: Canonrumors is only about that. New tech rumors. Not about art, not about skill in photography, not about user made shots or even a weekly competition for the best shots.

Really? Did you know that all of the most popular topics on CR Forums, based on both views and replies, are about sharing images? Every one. Not a single one of the Top 10 in either category is about tech rumors. So, no matter what brings you here, it's safe to say that most people here find photography – art, technique, skill, and particularly user-made shots – far more interesting than specs and tech. 4.7 billion views of just the two bird-focused image sharing threads which are the top two topics.

So what do pictures posted here have to do with anything? Oh right, they're what most people here care about.

4.7 billion???

 

[neuroanatomist]

4.7 billion???

Thanks, typo fixed.

 

[sdim]

I was waiting for this camera to buy as a backup for my 5d mark iv but it seems I'm going to get a used 5d mark iii

 

[Hflm]

Honestly, you seem more biased then them. And in your fanboydom, you can't even see that.

Their questions are valid. That a second version is better than the first should be a given, otherwise why even make such a product? So stating it is better than 6D Mark I is obsolete. Stating it is a quality product is also obsolete, if the 6D Mark I already was that. The only question is the one they posed: Did Canon improve enough?

Same with your problems about the viewfinder remark. They just state it isn't 100% and they wish it was. What's wrong with that?

And the DR is a disappointment! No beating around the bush here. If you tell me that doesn't matter, then I say what is even mattering to you!
Canon can do better, even in the hobbist market as shown with the 80D. Giving us such a old tech sensor is an insult. But you can't see that, because as long as the Canon logo is on it, you are happy.
And you accusing others of being biased is just rich.

DR a disappointment when it is so close to the 5DIV? And it certainly beats the 80D when you have two images framed the same.
When you say the 6D2 image is 'old tech' what exactly do you mean? Personally I don't care what tech they used as long as it turns out good images and the 6D2 does just that. Could they have done better? Maybe. But what would have made you happy? one more stop DR/ WOW! Big move, that.

Jack is far from a fanboy but you in turn seem hellbent on criticsing Canon for areas that they did not see as critical to what they saw as the intended market.

Hmm. DR of the 6dii is nothing to brag about, when compared to peers. It certainly trails today's competition. I can't see it being close to the 5div at all (https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison/fullscreen?attr144_0=canon_eos6dmkii&attr144_1=nikon_d750&attr144_2=canon_eos5dmkiv&attr144_3=sony_a7rii&attr146_0=100_4&attr146_1=100_4&attr146_2=100_4&attr146_3=100_4&normalization=compare&widget=542&x=0.12683629912966343&y=-0.9785425435338782).

PDR is even lower than the original 6d:
http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Canon%20EOS%205D%20Mark%20IV,Canon%20EOS%206D,Canon%20EOS%206D%20Mark%20II,Nikon%20D750

At base ISO it is trailing the 80D, as can be seen from the measurements, too. At higher ISOs this reverses.
A +2ev push is as noisy as a 5div 4ev push according to above's test scene. For some people that is important to note and they have all the right to complain about this. If you don't care, fine. You have all the right to like this camera for its positives. All that doesn't mean that you can't take great images with it.

Overall, I can't find fault with DPR's Review. They criticised the camera IQ in areas where it clearly trails the competition, but they also positively remarked the high ISO performance (already good in the original 6d), for example. Criticising the review style, as some here did is some kind of whataboutism for me and doesn't change the facts stated above.

 

[Mikehit]

I waited patiently for this camera, I got EF lenses for my crop body, just to be ready for it. And Canon presents something to me, I could have bought 5 years ago in form of the 5D Mark III.
So excuse my saltiness, if I didn't care for Canon, I wouldn't be.

Well that is pretty dumb. Spending your hard earned cash on inappropriate lenses in readiness to spend more hard earned cash on a camera whose specs and capabilities you had no idea about? And then you get angry at Canon? I think that says more about you than Canon.

Over the years I have seen countless people ask 'which lenses should I buy, I may go FF sometime in the future', and I always advise to bu the lens they need now not something they may need in the future.

What's dumb about getting a lens, you can use later on full frame, if that's what you are planing to do? Furthermore, many fast primes are only available as EF lenses. So I chose to buy something more expensive, but future proof (so I thought), instead of first the cheaper stuff, and then all the stuff again in expensive version.
Also I wasn't "I may go FF". I am: "I definitely will go FF!" So why bother with EF-S lenses (of which I also have 2)?
Which brings us to point where I was "pretty dumb": I though Canon would do better, being the biggest fish in the pont. I though the 6D Mark II would be a 80D scaled to full frame.
I was wrong. Anyway, I got my full frame now, but I won't need the EF glass no more.

My point was you are bitter at Canon because you made an error of judgement.
You have to be 'bitter' (your word) about having bought FF lenses for a camera that did not materialise. If you aren't complaining about having bought the EF lenses, why are you bitter? I am just having problem following what it is you were 'bitter' about.

 

[Act444]

The 3 years old d750 still can eat this 'amazing' (according to the fan boys) 6d2 for breakfast. How canon managed to produce bellow standard products and still kept fanboys happy is what amazes me lol! 2k usd for a 2013 sensor and system! No thanks.

Thanks for the past 6 years Canon. But I'm done feeding a greedy corporation like you. I'd gladly support a company that leads with innovation with my next purchases instead.

Will 6d2 limit my photography skill? No. But why would I support company who isn't the leading innovator? Who isn't pushing thing? Who's just playing the lame cat up game and playing it bad?

I know that feeling.
so I sold most of my Canon gear; lost some $ on bodies, but maintained or made $ on the lenses.
I still keep a little bit of it for specific uses but in 2012 I switched to Nikon and eventually added Pentax, Fuji and Olympus gear.
After seeing that even consumer-level products from those mfrs gave me the kind of raw file quality that even Canon's high end bodies could not deliver I was convinced I made the right decision and 5 yrs later I'm still happy I changed gear to get what I wanted. I allowed me to focus on the image and processing I wanted to do instead of learning workarounds to deal with shortcomings of Canon's imaging systems. It also spared me the angst of waiting and hoping that the next Canon body upgrade would deliver what I wanted. I would have been waiting for years for the 80D and 5d4.

I still think Canon makes one of the simplest and easiest to understand and use camera systems (early flashes not included) with great ergonomics but raw file quality was more important to me than all those other things.

So, if you also feel like that, hopefully you can justify and afford to make the change. it's not that hard to learn a different system and Canon's lenses aren't so fabulous that you're going to miss out on something special by switching... Well, maybe with the exceptions of those wonderful 17 and 24mm til-shift units!

Just do it!

To put some balance on this statement we own a still camera rental business for every rental of a Nikon or a Sony product we have three or four on Canon. The Sony A7 series cameras have great sensors but terrible control layouts & menu structures, Nikon menus by comparison to Canon are also not as well thought out and color imagery not as good. All these systems have their star lenses and ones that could be better.
I have had Olympus micro 4/3rds cameras back to when they brought out the 4/3rds system with Panasonic again the menu structures are flawed and the sensor size too small for serious landscape but as a casual travel camera it fits the bill.
Fact is grass is always greener on the other side until you get there then you see the shortcomings. Did Canon short change the 6D MKII, yes and no, did Nikon short change the D750 yes and no, did Sony short change the A7 II yes and no life is never simple and neither is camera choice.

Great point. There's more to it than simply specs, it's the system as a whole. Ultimately it's why I chose and stick with the Canon system, and I fully understand those that choose Nikon (and now, Sony) have their reasons and priorities too. I see no real need for all the brand wars, just use what works for you. However I think most of us can agree on one thing: no matter what system you go with, there is a compromise you're making SOMEWHERE. The question is what you can live with and what are the deal breakers?

 

[Graphic.Artifacts]

The beatings will continue until morale improves!

 

[Mikehit]

Hmm. DR of the 6dii is nothing to brag about, when compared to peers. It certainly trails today's competition. I can't see it being close to the 5div at all (https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison/fullscreen?attr144_0=canon_eos6dmkii&attr144_1=nikon_d750&attr144_2=canon_eos5dmkiv&attr144_3=sony_a7rii&attr146_0=100_4&attr146_1=100_4&attr146_2=100_4&attr146_3=100_4&normalization=compare&widget=542&x=0.12683629912966343&y=-0.9785425435338782).

+2 stop push and it is very close, +3 stops it is pretty close. +4 stops and it starts to separate.
You have to push it 4 stops to be able to say the 6D2 is not close?? Do you actually take photographs in the real world?

Like you, I cannot fault the DPR review. However, I think they have become like DxO where they provide data about ever more arcane aspects of performance and let people make their minds up how relevant it is to them.
Some people point at the information and say 'see, it is one of the worst cameras on the market'. Others look at the information and say 'that information has little relevance to the way I shoot'. That doesn't make it a poor tool, it makes it a tool that is not relevant to all circumstances.
If I want a back up FF camera for my 1dx2 my only question is 'does it fill the role I need for a back up camera or do I need to spend the money on a 5DIV'.


It really will be interesting with the next round of releases from Nikon. Will there be cries of overpricing if the D750 replacement is more expensive than the D750 was on launch and it being poor value compared to the 6D2? Will there be screams of anguish that they use 'old tech' from 18months ago? Howls of derision when they have not improved DR in the newest model because they are using an 'old tech sensor'?
Or are these responses peculiar to Canon customers?

 

[reef58]

I waited patiently for this camera, I got EF lenses for my crop body, just to be ready for it. And Canon presents something to me, I could have bought 5 years ago in form of the 5D Mark III.
So excuse my saltiness, if I didn't care for Canon, I wouldn't be.

Well that is pretty dumb. Spending your hard earned cash on inappropriate lenses in readiness to spend more hard earned cash on a camera whose specs and capabilities you had no idea about? And then you get angry at Canon? I think that says more about you than Canon.

Over the years I have seen countless people ask 'which lenses should I buy, I may go FF sometime in the future', and I always advise to bu the lens they need now not something they may need in the future.

What's dumb about getting a lens, you can use later on full frame, if that's what you are planing to do? Furthermore, many fast primes are only available as EF lenses. So I chose to buy something more expensive, but future proof (so I thought), instead of first the cheaper stuff, and then all the stuff again in expensive version.
Also I wasn't "I may go FF". I am: "I definitely will go FF!" So why bother with EF-S lenses (of which I also have 2)?
Which brings us to point where I was "pretty dumb": I though Canon would do better, being the biggest fish in the pont. I though the 6D Mark II would be a 80D scaled to full frame.
I was wrong. Anyway, I got my full frame now, but I won't need the EF glass no more.

My point was you are bitter at Canon because you made an error of judgement.
You have to be 'bitter' (your word) about having bought FF lenses for a camera that did not materialise. If you aren't complaining about having bought the EF lenses, why are you bitter? I am just having problem following what it is you were 'bitter' about.

Not that I fully agree, but I can relate, I think he is saying why all of the cloak and dagger and long wait for a camera that is basically a reconfigured 5dmk3. I certainly was not expecting Canon to lay an egg on the image quality evolution for this model. They did. It is a disappointment. Certainly 1st world problems. I shall endure. I was looking forward to a Canon full frame with a tilt screen for landscape work. The specs looked great, and myself and many others assumed the progress Canon has been making on their sensors would find its way to the 6d2. Oh well.

 

[Jack Douglas]

I gather Canon is expected to be some people's personal servant. It's a free society we live in, free yourself and be mature and buy ________. You have my blessing. Enjoy it and post great award winning photos or anything really, but just be happy, don't fret and pass the vibes on to to others.

Photography is fun irrespective of the camera brand!

BTW, I can relate too and understand but my goal is to behave in a way that keeps me from transmitting useless negativity everywhere. The key is, are you contributing in a way that is likely to have some positive effect even if is a criticism or a complaint. Nobody here is saying there isn't anything to complain about in the 6D2.

Jack

 

[Jack Douglas]

"It really will be interesting with the next round of releases from Nikon. Will there be cries of overpricing if the D750 replacement is more expensive than the D750 was on launch and it being poor value compared to the 6D2? Will there be screams of anguish that they use 'old tech' from 18months ago? Howls of derision when they have not improved DR in the newest model because they are using an 'old tech sensor'?
Or are these responses peculiar to Canon customers?"

Only time will tell, but if Nikon is going to stay afloat they can't discount all their cameras. The D750 can hardly be the price of the present 6D2.

Jack

 

[Mikehit]

Not that I fully agree, but I can relate, I think he is saying why all of the cloak and dagger and long wait for a camera that is basically a reconfigured 5dmk3. I certainly was not expecting Canon to lay an egg on the image quality evolution for this model. They did. It is a disappointment. Certainly 1st world problems. I shall endure. I was looking forward to a Canon full frame with a tilt screen for landscape work. The specs looked great, and myself and many others assumed the progress Canon has been making on their sensors would find its way to the 6d2. Oh well.

If (and that is a big 'if') that is what he meant then fair enough - but to talk about being 'bitter' just seems like a drama queen.
If DR is essential, and the idea of having cutting edge sensor technology at your disposal is important, then given the history of Canon releases and the repeated haranguing they have had over the last 6 or 7 years on this issue, why do such people continually imagine that Canon will magically release something equal to Sony sensors?

However, if they stay with Canon because other things (functionality etc) are more important than dynamic range for landscapes, why do they get so worked up about lack of DR? It shows a total lack of perspective. The alternative is to buy a SoNikon then post repeatedly on the SoNikon boards about how poor their functionality is compared to Canon.

 

[testthewest]

I was "pretty dumb"

Good to know you can be right about one thing, at least.

Glad you got that cheap shot. Because that's about all you do: Evade most of the arguement and go ad hominem.

 

[testthewest]

Not that I fully agree, but I can relate, I think he is saying why all of the cloak and dagger and long wait for a camera that is basically a reconfigured 5dmk3. I certainly was not expecting Canon to lay an egg on the image quality evolution for this model. They did. It is a disappointment. Certainly 1st world problems. I shall endure. I was looking forward to a Canon full frame with a tilt screen for landscape work. The specs looked great, and myself and many others assumed the progress Canon has been making on their sensors would find its way to the 6d2. Oh well.

If (and that is a big 'if') that is what he meant then fair enough - but to talk about being 'bitter' just seems like a drama queen.
If DR is essential, and the idea of having cutting edge sensor technology at your disposal is important, then given the history of Canon releases and the repeated haranguing they have had over the last 6 or 7 years on this issue, why do such people continually imagine that Canon will magically release something equal to Sony sensors?

However, if they stay with Canon because other things (functionality etc) are more important than dynamic range for landscapes, why do they get so worked up about lack of DR? It shows a total lack of perspective. The alternative is to buy a SoNikon then post repeatedly on the SoNikon boards about how poor their functionality is compared to Canon.

That's what I meant. All the wait for that.
Actually I was even reinforced in my trust in Canon, when I heard about the 5DIV sensor, the only thing missing (for me) was the tilt-flip screen. I already had the 6DII on preorder, because I thought: I get the best DR Canon can build, a mediocre to weak autofocus and that tilt-flip screen for 2,5k €. I was even pleasantly surprised about the price. I was dealing with the narrow spread of autofocus points, since I don't need that too much, and I wasn't sad because of no 4K. But that DR nerf is unfair. It is also unprecedented with the 6D, which had a good sensor for its time.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I was "pretty dumb"

Good to know you can be right about one thing, at least.

Glad you got that cheap shot. Because that's about all you do: Evade most of the arguement and go ad hominem.

Yeah, I guess you missed the previous reply...or are you evading it? Maybe it was too long to read, so I'll summarize: you're wrong.

 

[Talys]

I waited patiently for this camera, I got EF lenses for my crop body, just to be ready for it. And Canon presents something to me, I could have bought 5 years ago in form of the 5D Mark III.
So excuse my saltiness, if I didn't care for Canon, I wouldn't be.

Well that is pretty dumb. Spending your hard earned cash on inappropriate lenses in readiness to spend more hard earned cash on a camera whose specs and capabilities you had no idea about? And then you get angry at Canon? I think that says more about you than Canon.

Over the years I have seen countless people ask 'which lenses should I buy, I may go FF sometime in the future', and I always advise to bu the lens they need now not something they may need in the future.

What's dumb about getting a lens, you can use later on full frame, if that's what you are planing to do? Furthermore, many fast primes are only available as EF lenses. So I chose to buy something more expensive, but future proof (so I thought), instead of first the cheaper stuff, and then all the stuff again in expensive version.
Also I wasn't "I may go FF". I am: "I definitely will go FF!" So why bother with EF-S lenses (of which I also have 2)?
Which brings us to point where I was "pretty dumb": I though Canon would do better, being the biggest fish in the pont. I though the 6D Mark II would be a 80D scaled to full frame.
I was wrong. Anyway, I got my full frame now, but I won't need the EF glass no more.

Well first, being someone who owns both, I think 6DII is as close to an 80D scaled to full frame as you're going to get. It certainly isn't a lighter, smaller 5DIV + Flippy Screen for $2,000, which seems like what a bunch of people want/expect.

But anyways, perhaps as a takeaway lesson, don't buy glass that you're not going to take advantage of for half a decade plus. Not only do things change, but newer, cheaper, better stuff might come out, not to mention, there will be sales and used units.

On the other hand, with very few exceptions (like EF50/1.8 or EFS17-55/2.8), if you want the best quality images out of fast primes, you're going to be looking at L lenses anyways, which are all EF. So, like, if you want a 100L or 85L or whatever, it's not like there was a cheap EFS you could have bought instead. And that's not just Canon; every single camera manufacturer does that. But it's also not like you can't use a 100L on APSC for great results... right?

About, your comment, "I could have bought a 5DIII 5 years ago" -- well, sure you could have. Why didn't you? It was an awesome camera then. I suspect it's because it's because it was $3,500 at launch. Then the 6D came out. Why didn't you buy that? And then what really doesn't make a lot of sense to me was that if you could have bought a 5DIII at its launch price... why didn't you buy a 5DIV? Or a 5DSR?

If what you're actually saying is that you like Canon cameras, but you want the 5DIV features and output to drop down to the $2000 price range before you go FF, please just say that.

Personally, I DO NOT want a 5DIII/5DIV. It doesn't have an articulating screen, which is crucial for me, it is too bulky for my liking, and I won't take advantage of its ability to survive deserts, rainforests, arctic tundras and warzones. I'd just rather have a smaller camera that is more suited to my casual, fairweather and studio photography. Sure, I would prefer a better sensor; who wouldn't? But that doesn't mean I can't be happy with the 6DII sensor, which takes beautiful pictures, period.

 

[x-vision]

+2 stop push and it is very close, +3 stops it is pretty close. +4 stops and it starts to separate.
You have to push it 4 stops to be able to say the 6D2 is not close??

Hmm. Here is what the Digital Picture says about the 6DII dynamic range (so, not DPReview, mind you):

• In the Exposed -3 EV comparison, the 5D IV shows significantly less noise at ISO 100 than the 6D Mark II does and it still shows noticeably less at -2 EV ISO 100.
  

So, the 5D IV shows significantly less noise at base ISO - and yet, they are somehow very close. LOL

And since we are it, the Digital Picture also says that the 80D has a 'slightly higher dynamic' than the 6DII.
So, a 2x cheaper camera with a 2.56x smaller sensor has dynamic range advantage.

If the 6DII is close to the 5DIV, then my 80D is even closer. LOL

Mike, get over it. You are not going to convince anyone with your arguments.

 

[Talys]

+2 stop push and it is very close, +3 stops it is pretty close. +4 stops and it starts to separate.
You have to push it 4 stops to be able to say the 6D2 is not close??

Hmm. Here is what the Digital Picture says about the 6DII dynamic range (so, not DPReview, mind you):

• In the Exposed -3 EV comparison, the 5D IV shows significantly less noise at ISO 100 than the 6D Mark II does and it still shows noticeably less at -2 EV ISO 100.
  

So, the 5D IV shows significantly less noise at base ISO - and yet, they are somehow very close. LOL

And since we are it, the Digital Picture also says that the 80D has a 'slightly higher dynamic' than the 6DII.
So, a 2x cheaper camera with a 2.56x smaller sensor has dynamic range advantage.

If the 6DII is close to the 5DIV, then my 80D is even closer. LOL

Mike, get over it. You are not going to convince anyone with your arguments.

Herein lies the dangers of trying to scientifically and objectively grade a product that's designed to produce an image that's ultimately going to be graded subjectively.

Even on metrics that are both reasonably mathematically easy to calculate and visually approximate, like sharpness, it isn't always as simple as it seems. Everyone might agree with a mathematical formula that determines that image A is sharper than image B (based on edge contrast detection), but two-thirds of the viewers might say that image B is just a more pleasing photo to look at. So which is "better"?

When I bought the T2i, seemingly kazillions of years ago, it was because I liked the color rendition and the ease of use of the layout. How do you stick a number onto that?