Some Canon EOS 6D Mark II Talk [CR2]

[ahsanford]

What is it about the 5D4 that will warrant an additional $1,300?

I'm thinking they go for -

5 FPS + small buffer
45pt AF at best...still a chance they do a 19pt system (yuck!!!)
No 100% viewfinder, but closer than the 6D was.
1/180 Sync Speed
1/4000 Shutter
Same as 6D weather sealing.

I'm with you 100% on the $1,300 question.

But even mid-level crop rigs like the 80D got 1/8000 shutter, so one expects the 6D2 to get it as well.

Sync speed is all over the map for Canon:

1D series = 1/250
5D series = 1/200
6D1 = 1/180
7D series / XXD = 1/250 (Why?! Because crop needs faster shutter speeds?)

My guess is the 6D2 will be 1/180 again as a petty nerf to the 5D4.

But I think they'll step up to 5.5 or 6 fps because 'Mk II must improve!' and there it will be -- a camera 60% the price of the 6D4 that it only 1-1.5 fps slower. That's much more an indictment of the nerfing of the 5D4 with its modest 7 fps than it is a poor 6D2 decision, IMHO.

- A

 

[vscd]

Tilt screen and 1/4000... stays an amateurcam

 

[NancyP]

I wonder if the tilt LCD will be compatible with L brackets. The swing-out LCD of the 60D does not have further articulation when used with the usual one-piece L bracket. Because I use a tripod very frequently, I would rather have a plain tilt allowing below-eye-level use of LCD and keep L bracket compatibility. I haven't tried to transmit the liveview image to a cell phone or other external screen.

A better sensor would be huge. More stops of dynamic range is more important to me than more resolution. Lack of pattern noise is also important. The 6D is my night camera as well as all around landscape, macro, slow-moving nature photography camera.

 

[ahsanford]

I wonder if the tilt LCD will be compatible with L brackets. The swing-out LCD of the 60D does not have further articulation when used with the usual one-piece L bracket. Because I use a tripod very frequently, I would rather have a plain tilt allowing below-eye-level use of LCD and keep L bracket compatibility. I haven't tried to transmit the liveview image to a cell phone or other external screen.

I hear you -- and the L bracket comment is fair -- but as we seem to be laying off photographers from news agencies left and right, reporters are morphing into their own photojournalists. One might imagine that any tilty-flippy screen needs to be able to face front. That's less for selfies than it might be for vlogging, turning in a reportage assignment, etc.

I could be wrong, though. Perhaps a tilty-flippy really is all about ergonomic comfort with video and stills shooting near the ground and above one's head.

- A

 

[slclick]

Interesting to see how a lot of people are daydreaming about 80D like AF capabilities, fps like crazy, exorbitant price increases (because of fancy spec speculations) etc. Just a lot to feel let down about after the camera's presentation... :-\

There will be a reason why the camera costs less than a 5D mk IV. I guess it will be excellent for stills and may be have some proper video capabilities (perhaps even 4k, though i dont't expect that) due to the flippy screen. That's it. For Sports you better keep using your 70/80D, 7D/mk II or 1DX/mk II's, for wildlife at it's best similarly.

Except that it is a $2000 camera (without a lens). Sure it's not a pro level action camera where I expect to spray 40 shots in a few seconds and capture that perfect point where the bald eagle has the wings spread to perfection. However to imply that it shouldn't be able to do action, as in unable to track a moving subject is nonsense. Not today when any decent camera costing far less can do it.

And I've made this point before. With the release cycle of the xD cameras, not only does this new 6D2 need to look good today, it needs to hold up and look good 3 years from now. The current 6D when it debuted came with a weak AF system. Today it looks quite dated. I suspect Canon won't make that mistake this time.

Put simply, tell someone today that they spent $2k+ on a camera, oh but it will struggle to get sharp pictures of your kids running around is probably unacceptable.

Time. The master of us all.

Upon launch like with all things, there was quite a bit of grumbling. Yet now, there are so many great owner stories of their love of the 6D and what it has been capable of in their hands.

I tend to ignore the hard pendulum swings when it comes to rumors and launches of new lenses and bodies....the dust settles and then the informed and experienced share their wisdom. That's the tasty fruit first adopters miss out on.

 

[hmatthes]

As a very happy 6D owner I will gladly buy the 6D-II just to have two bodies again.
My wish list is very simple:
24~28 MP is all I need.
45 point AF with wide pattern is ideal for landscapes and nature. Nine points is horrible!
Dual SD slots will be nice. No CF required.
Weather sealing should be improved. Most of my L glass can take a bit of rain, the 6D makes me nervous in rain.
Flippy-dippy screen is of no interest. Rarely used on my 70D, not missed on 6D.
ISO from 50~50,000 with near-noiseless 6400 (maybe 12,800) -- my Leica Q has this and is amazing at night.
Four custom settings instead of two.
Never happen but if only...:
Focus peaking hybrid viewfinder. DPAF derived, overlay display in viewfinder = happy focus touch-up in realtime.

One can dream...

 

[captainkanji]

I hope it doesn't have an AA filter, but if they are prioritizing video, this prob won't happen.

 

[slclick]

I hope it doesn't have an AA filter, but if they are prioritizing video, this prob won't happen.

I don't think it's going to be a priority, the Mark 1 wasn't. I think the 6D is the closest thing to a stills body Canon has put out in a long time. Sure they include it but it costs nearly nothing and then you don't alienate that segment of buyers. Landscape & Macro...that's the target.

 

[Luds34]

Except that it is a $2000 camera (without a lens). Sure it's not a pro level action camera where I expect to spray 40 shots in a few seconds and capture that perfect point where the bald eagle has the wings spread to perfection. However to imply that it shouldn't be able to do action, as in unable to track a moving subject is nonsense. Not today when any decent camera costing far less can do it.

And I've made this point before. With the release cycle of the xD cameras, not only does this new 6D2 need to look good today, it needs to hold up and look good 3 years from now. The current 6D when it debuted came with a weak AF system. Today it looks quite dated. I suspect Canon won't make that mistake this time.

Put simply, tell someone today that they spent $2k+ on a camera, oh but it will struggle to get sharp pictures of your kids running around is probably unacceptable.

Even the current 6D is pretty good at tracking - that is not a problem provided you can keep the AF point on the subject, and it is the options on AF points wher the 5DIV and 1Dx2 win out. Can you use the 6D for sports? Certainly but the other two increase the keeper rate.

So yes, the 6D can give you sharp pictures of your kids running round.

I personally rarely go into continuous shooting and therefore don't need the high frame rate. I'd much rather go the route of solid tracking and clicking of a few single shots here and there and counting on them being in focus. The 6D tracks well with the center point, but that is it. The center point gives very poor composition for many shots if one is tracking on the head/face/eye.

 

[Luds34]

If you cannot get pin sharp shots of a kid running around with the 6D you need to learn how to use your camera.

Yeah, you got me, I don't know how to use my camera. :

 

[hubie]

If you cannot get pin sharp shots of a kid running around with the 6D you need to learn how to use your camera.

Yeah, you got me, I don't know how to use my camera. :

If in fact that is what you have trouble with, then you took the afflictive truth with a grain of salt .

 

[Mikehit]

Except that it is a $2000 camera (without a lens). Sure it's not a pro level action camera where I expect to spray 40 shots in a few seconds and capture that perfect point where the bald eagle has the wings spread to perfection. However to imply that it shouldn't be able to do action, as in unable to track a moving subject is nonsense. Not today when any decent camera costing far less can do it.

And I've made this point before. With the release cycle of the xD cameras, not only does this new 6D2 need to look good today, it needs to hold up and look good 3 years from now. The current 6D when it debuted came with a weak AF system. Today it looks quite dated. I suspect Canon won't make that mistake this time.

Put simply, tell someone today that they spent $2k+ on a camera, oh but it will struggle to get sharp pictures of your kids running around is probably unacceptable.

Even the current 6D is pretty good at tracking - that is not a problem provided you can keep the AF point on the subject, and it is the options on AF points wher the 5DIV and 1Dx2 win out. Can you use the 6D for sports? Certainly but the other two increase the keeper rate.

So yes, the 6D can give you sharp pictures of your kids running round.

I personally rarely go into continuous shooting and therefore don't need the high frame rate. I'd much rather go the route of solid tracking and clicking of a few single shots here and there and counting on them being in focus. The 6D tracks well with the center point, but that is it. The center point gives very poor composition for many shots if one is tracking on the head/face/eye.

Exactly. The question comes how much does a camera cost to have a full frame sensor with the AF options of (for example) the 5D3. If you don't mind the camera costing $2,8000 then you have a 5D3 model rebadged as a 6D model. If you want the 6D2 as an 'entry level' FF camera then it may well be out of the question.
The thing is, for all this blather about 6D2 specs, no-one has really decided what the ethos behind the 6D2 is. If it is to provide FF overlap with something like the 7D2 then giving it that level of AF is highly unlikely.

 

[Tangent]

I hope it doesn't have an AA filter, but if they are prioritizing video, this prob won't happen.

Wasn't there a patent about adjustable AA? Turn it off for landscape. Turn it on for portraits or video. That would be very nice to have in 6D mkII.

 

[ahsanford]

I hope it doesn't have an AA filter, but if they are prioritizing video, this prob won't happen.

Wasn't there a patent about adjustable AA? Turn it off for landscape. Turn it on for portraits or video. That would be very nice to have in 6D mkII.

...any camera would love that feature. One would think that if Canon could seamlessly implement such a feature, they'd save it to be first released with a 1D-level model.

- A

 

[Luds34]

I personally rarely go into continuous shooting and therefore don't need the high frame rate. I'd much rather go the route of solid tracking and clicking of a few single shots here and there and counting on them being in focus. The 6D tracks well with the center point, but that is it. The center point gives very poor composition for many shots if one is tracking on the head/face/eye.

Exactly. The question comes how much does a camera cost to have a full frame sensor with the AF options of (for example) the 5D3. If you don't mind the camera costing $2,8000 then you have a 5D3 model rebadged as a 6D model. If you want the 6D2 as an 'entry level' FF camera then it may well be out of the question.
The thing is, for all this blather about 6D2 specs, no-one has really decided what the ethos behind the 6D2 is. If it is to provide FF overlap with something like the 7D2 then giving it that level of AF is highly unlikely.

And I don't think anyone expects or is even demanding 7D2 level of AF performance.

What is the FF upgrade worth? $500? $1000? $2000? Let's take an 80D as an example. It's basically a $1000 camera that has pretty solid AF system. I'd argue that one could expect the 6D to have similar features, build quality, ergonomics, size to the xxD line but just in a full frame version. So I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a decent AF system in the new 6D.

The other thing is that even the Rebel comes with a better AF system then the current 6D has. And frankly I'd be more then happy with one of those 19 point systems, as long as we have some separation among them (I greatly enjoyed the 19 point all cross type system when I owned a 70D).

Basically what I really just want to be able to do with my 6D (and I doubt I'm alone in this) is to be able to reliably track a subject with outer focal points with fast glass ( 85/1.8 135/2 70-200/2.8 ).

 

[Otara]

If you cannot get pin sharp shots of a kid running around with the 6D you need to learn how to use your camera.

Yeah, you got me, I don't know how to use my camera. :

I dont seem to need this 'learning' when Im using my other cameras that have had more reliable off-centre AF points. People can get pin-sharp moving shots with manual focus so in theory no matter what AF we have you can always get a sharp shot, but that doesnt mean most people would be happy with better AF options than the current 6D.

 

[eguzowski]

If it's not 4k then it's already dead. 4k is only 8mp and a standard in all competitors still photo cameras (even the iPhone). The Panasonic GH5 is a beast of a little camera for stills and video and Canon needs to wither step it up or perish. I'm not loyal to any camera company and I don't mind dumping glass if need be. As a wedding photographer and videographer I need convenience quality. I use two cameras for still and 3 for video. 4k allows my wide camera to act like two cameras (2x crops) during the ceremony, intros, and toasts. I was a photojournalist for 10 years for The New York Times, Associated Press etc and today this camera with 4k video, frame grabs would be a must for in photojournalist (many PJ's shoot photo and video now). There is NO need for in increase in MP! Wedding photographers and photojournalists do NOT need more MP...a wedding photographer shoots 2500-5000 raw images at a wedding and we don't need to process more MP....20MP is plenty (and is even enough for 8K video!). We also love to shoot images at the lowest available lighting situations handheld and more MP equals more noise...save the giant MP cameras for another specialty line of cameras. I'm buying a panasonic GH5 and wish the 6D or 5D4 had similar specs (I own a 5D3 and prefer the video straight out of my 70D)....5D4 is a lemon. yes...the gh5 is a small sensor but so is my 70D and it shoots clean video and I use faster glass. I son't get Canon? revoultionize the market and then start a new Cine line and make a ton of $...then stick a slow SD card slot in the 5D3, be forced by magic lantern to change 5d3 firmware, 5D4 gets a crappy 4k codec and 1.7 crop, (make a 70D with sharper cleaner video, swivel screen, touch screen AF) then a camera that costs more (5d3)? ...shadow highlight depth of Nikon...nope. I'm looking at you Panasonic and Sony and thankful that you have stepped up to the batters box and are home run hitters with a high batting average...may be time to bench Canon.

 

[rrcphoto]

If it's not 4k then it's already dead. 4k is only 8mp and a standard in all competitors still photo cameras (even the iPhone). The Panasonic GH5 is a beast of a little camera for stills and video and Canon needs to wither step it up or perish.

then go get a GH5..
: : :

 

[rrcphoto]

Except that it is a $2000 camera (without a lens). Sure it's not a pro level action camera where I expect to spray 40 shots in a few seconds and capture that perfect point where the bald eagle has the wings spread to perfection. However to imply that it shouldn't be able to do action, as in unable to track a moving subject is nonsense. Not today when any decent camera costing far less can do it.

And I've made this point before. With the release cycle of the xD cameras, not only does this new 6D2 need to look good today, it needs to hold up and look good 3 years from now. The current 6D when it debuted came with a weak AF system. Today it looks quite dated. I suspect Canon won't make that mistake this time.

Put simply, tell someone today that they spent $2k+ on a camera, oh but it will struggle to get sharp pictures of your kids running around is probably unacceptable.

Even the current 6D is pretty good at tracking - that is not a problem provided you can keep the AF point on the subject, and it is the options on AF points wher the 5DIV and 1Dx2 win out. Can you use the 6D for sports? Certainly but the other two increase the keeper rate.

So yes, the 6D can give you sharp pictures of your kids running round.

I personally rarely go into continuous shooting and therefore don't need the high frame rate. I'd much rather go the route of solid tracking and clicking of a few single shots here and there and counting on them being in focus. The 6D tracks well with the center point, but that is it. The center point gives very poor composition for many shots if one is tracking on the head/face/eye.

Exactly. The question comes how much does a camera cost to have a full frame sensor with the AF options of (for example) the 5D3. If you don't mind the camera costing $2,8000 then you have a 5D3 model rebadged as a 6D model. If you want the 6D2 as an 'entry level' FF camera then it may well be out of the question.
The thing is, for all this blather about 6D2 specs, no-one has really decided what the ethos behind the 6D2 is. If it is to provide FF overlap with something like the 7D2 then giving it that level of AF is highly unlikely.

there's also an issue of size, the more complex the AF sensor, the more room I do believe it takes up under the mirrorbox assembly.

 

[ahsanford]

If it's not 4k then it's already dead. 4k is only 8mp and a standard in all competitors still photo cameras (even the iPhone). The Panasonic GH5 is a beast of a little camera for stills and video and Canon needs to wither step it up or perish.

then go get a GH5..
: : :

Seriously. If you...

• Don't need to shoot north of ISO 800
• Don't need a depth of field smaller than 1 ft / 30 cm for portraiture
• Don't need more than 20 MP
• Don't need to nail moving targets
• Don't need access to the world's largest portfolio of lenses, flashes and third party accessories

...then knock yourself out and get a GH5.

The rest of us kind of do need some of things above and aren't so petty or binary as to declare a product DOA unless it is perfectly tailored to our sensibilities and priorities.

- A