Should I go with a 6D or a Mkii while they're cheap

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

@ Dustin, have you got enough info to give an opinion of the 6D data at low ISO ( specifically 100 ) compared with the 5D ? Colleagues who have the 5D mk3 have referred to the more film- like qualities of this model compared with the Mk 2 and 1Ds Mk 3. I wondered if you are seeing anything like that yourself with the 6D.

I've only been using it for a few days, but coming from a 5DII I have found images noticeably better to my eye. Smoother color, tighter detail. I am very impressed with the image quality for stills.

I haven't personally used the MKIII, so I cannot comment on how it compares there, but I have read that the noise levels are superior even to the MKIII. As far as image quality goes, the 6D is an exceptional camera and produces noticeably superior images to the 5DMKII.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here's a very simple, around the house image that I can tell a difference with (this is shot with a 6D/Tamron 24-70mm VC before AFMA, which I did on my whole kit today).

The second image is about a 100% crop that shows both fine detail and color graduation on skin tones. This is ISO 800. I primarily shot a business event yesterday evening at ISO 2500 and saw no need for noise reduction. Images look flawless.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

6D. always go with newer technology.

Not always.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Power went out during my son's birthday tonight and so I had to crank the ISO to 5000 and shoot with ambient light. This shot is straight out of camera, ISO 5000, 1/50th second shutter speed at 70mm (Tamron 24-70mm VC):

(Even at 100% the grain looks like about ISO 800 a generation ago)

 

[verysimplejason]

Power went out during my son's birthday tonight and so I had to crank the ISO to 5000 and shoot with ambient light. This shot is straight out of camera, ISO 5000, 1/50th second shutter speed at 70mm (Tamron 24-70mm VC):

(Even at 100% the grain looks like about ISO 800 a generation ago)

Nice pic. Im still trying to save for 6d. Your 24-70 seems a very nice lens.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Power went out during my son's birthday tonight and so I had to crank the ISO to 5000 and shoot with ambient light. This shot is straight out of camera, ISO 5000, 1/50th second shutter speed at 70mm (Tamron 24-70mm VC):

(Even at 100% the grain looks like about ISO 800 a generation ago)

Nice pic. Im still trying to save for 6d. Your 24-70 seems a very nice lens.

6D is a great camera. It is popular with some to bash it without trying it, but other than a couple minor quirks I find it to be a great camera - it is my favorite that I have used so far. By all accounts it is capable of as good of image quality as just about any Canon ever.

I have been really happy with the Tamron. I have no problem recommending it. I would recommend buying it from a reputable retailer that will let you exchange copies if necessary. There seems to be some sample variation, particularly with early copies. I felt my first copy was not entirely on spec, so I exchanged it for a second that I have exceptionally pleased with.

 

[emag]

Who knows if they're even going to make a filter for the 6D though because they haven't produced one for any bodies other than 7D and 5D2.

Here 'tis:
http://store.mosaicengineering.com/VAF-6D-Moire-Aliasing-Filter_p_15.html

 

[Sporgon]

@ Dustin, pic quality looks impressive. Keep the samples and info on the 6D coming. I'd like to see some 100 ISO shots in your usual style.

Also let us know how you feel about the build of the 6D as time goes on. I've had a look at one in my local prof store and if seems good, but, just like when you look at a car, it's not untill you own it that you find it's faults

Personally I'd like Canon to introduce a 6Dv version - no wi fi and gps but a mag alloy top plate

 

[Ew]

Power went out during my son's birthday tonight and so I had to crank the ISO to 5000 and shoot with ambient light. This shot is straight out of camera, ISO 5000, 1/50th second shutter speed at 70mm (Tamron 24-70mm VC):

(Even at 100% the grain looks like about ISO 800 a generation ago)

Nice pic. Im still trying to save for 6d. Your 24-70 seems a very nice lens.

6D is a great camera. It is popular with some to bash it without trying it, but other than a couple minor quirks I find it to be a great camera - it is my favorite that I have used so far. By all accounts it is capable of as good of image quality as just about any Canon ever.

I have been really happy with the Tamron. I have no problem recommending it. I would recommend buying it from a reputable retailer that will let you exchange copies if necessary. There seems to be some sample variation, particularly with early copies. I felt my first copy was not entirely on spec, so I exchanged it for a second that I have exceptionally pleased with.

Has anyone kept track of the serial number (ranges) of the returned / NG Tamron 24-70 VC ??
I'm wondering if we can get some sort of guideline of the range yo avoid.

 

[Marsu42]

Personally I'd like Canon to introduce a 6Dv version - no wi fi and gps but a mag alloy top plate

For me a 6Drts-af please, with built-in rt flash master, swivel screen and 11 pt true crosspoint af @f2.8 - *then* I'm more likely to consider the €2000 price is justified...

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

@ Dustin, pic quality looks impressive. Keep the samples and info on the 6D coming. I'd like to see some 100 ISO shots in your usual style.

Also let us know how you feel about the build of the 6D as time goes on. I've had a look at one in my local prof store and if seems good, but, just like when you look at a car, it's not untill you own it that you find it's faults

Personally I'd like Canon to introduce a 6Dv version - no wi fi and gps but a mag alloy top plate

I haven't had time to do a lot of "typical" shooting since I have gotten it. I've shot a couple of events (which is good, because it is paying work), but my shooting otherwise has been limited to "around the house" kind of stuff. Here is one that I took today of the family cat, ISO 1000. I shoot RAW, but did no custom settings. The only thing I have done here is a +56 in LR4 "Shadows" to pull open the shadows a bit because of shooting into a shadowed area. The 100% image is incredibly clean. I'm impressed with its improved ability to retain detail in the shadows without banding or noise. Lens is the Tamron

 

[Sporgon]

That does look incredibly good for 1000 ISO

So much for all the b*** ***t about Canon using outdated sensor technology.

I note your cat is accustomed to the same degree of luxury that my wife provides for hers ;D

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

That does look incredibly good for 1000 ISO

So much for all the b*** ***t about Canon using outdated sensor technology.

I note your cat is accustomed to the same degree of luxury that my wife provides for hers ;D

I uploaded a fairly large image so that it could be examined closely (3000 pixels long end). If someone were to tell me that this image was ISO 100-200, I would believe them.

But even at high ISO (5000+) where there is some grain, it is so smooth and film like that it is in no displeasing to my eye, and I'm pretty paranoid about clean images. I actually have a friend in Toronto that also just got a 6D who said this: "I bought the 6D a few weeks ago and very happy with it! One thing I am really loving is the quality of grain(noise) in high iso shots (12800 and over) - really film like!"

 

[Sporgon]

@ Dustin, didn't twig you're uploaded such a big file. I've just downloaded it on my iMac and opened it in Photoshop, and yes, I revise my comments. It's good for any ISO ! The blanket and dark background would be very susceptible to noise as well. That is really quite astonishing, I'm going to send the file to my partner in B-P.

Looks like I'm gonna have to raid the bank account........

 

[Marsu42]

So much for all the b*** ***t about Canon using outdated sensor technology.

You're confusing "outdated" with "bad": yes, Canon is behind the competition in sensor design (low iso sharpness, shadow noise, mp & dr) and no, that doesn't mean that Canon sensors cannot be an appropriate tool for most jobs - actually even my 60d is.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here's a single exposure RAW shot taken yesterday and processed normal workflow - this is all in LR4. I have definitely found that there is less banding when pulling up shadow detail and the graduation to highlights is also smoother compared to 5DII.

I do use HDR occasionally when shooting tough lighting scenes, but I have found already that there is enough dynamic range with the 6D that HDR shows little overall improvement. I'm impressed:


Road to Perdition by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

http://www.dustinabbott.net/2013/02/i-believe-i-can-fly/

To able to do this all myself with the razor thin depth of field of the 135L is pretty amazing. I would have had a nightmare trying to execute this concept with my 5DII