Your ultimate 6D Mark II?

[Fotofanten]

- lighter build
- better DR
- lower noise levels
- flippy touchy screen, and if so, Dual Pixel AF
- more streamlined wifi implementation and better remote shutter app. NFC
- smaller build
- same or better level of weather sealing

No video, no 4K, no GPS, no high FPS, no bomb proof heavy weight construction. Size helps with ergonomics, but weight is a pure evil, especially for hiking photogs. GPS is a unnecessary luxury when you carry a smartphone, as you can simply snap a picture of the played back picture on the camera screen, with your location-enabled phone.

What's wrong with GPS? I like it. It takes no effort to switch it on and saves you time later on mapping every single picture and figuring out where you went. Also, smartphone runs out of battery pretty quickly and is another device you have to remember to use for every location. Nah, GPS in camera is way better.

If you are in the same location all day long then sure one smartphone pic will log your location easily.

I still forget to turn my GPS on sometimes! Then I curse myself later when adding pics to the map on Flickr! Not used to it as part of my shooting routine.

I see what you mean, and I agree! GPS is cheap and can be handy for many users, so they might as well continue to include it. My broader point that I tried to convey was that I wish for a lightweight, no frills, photographer centred, High IQ, slow paced, stealthy, affordable camera.

I forgot to mention a few other points, in light of the thread title "Your ultimate 6D II":
- ability to charge the camera battery with a power bank through USB
- option for more than 30 sec exposure time, without the need for Bulb mode
- ISO 25 setting without DR penalty
- spot metering linked to AF point, at least in Live View

 

[scyrene]

Re: Your ultimate 6D Mark II? -- Mirrorless FF?

Face it, most of us shoot in Av.

[Citation needed]

 

[scyrene]

Many things posted here seem reasonable (especially given the thread's title). However, one thing I don't expect is much change in low light/high ISO performance. The 6D is still very good in that regard compared to the top cameras - and if you look at all the most recent bodies from various brands, not much progress is being made there, apparently because we're almost at the limit of what is possible. High ISO jpeg processing is still making strides, but raw performance has largely plateaued. Don't expect even a stop better performance than the current 6D, especially if they raise the MP count.

(Of course, 'better' noise can be expected, i.e. more random, with less banding; and also shadow noise at lower ISO will improve, so you might not need to ETTR so much).

Wild speculation: the 5D4 is expensive enough that there's room for two lower FF bodies. I wouldn't be shocked to see a higher-spec, more expensive 6D and then a budget option below it.

 

[Crosswind]

However, one thing I don't expect is much change in low light/high ISO performance. The 6D is still very good in that regard compared to the top cameras - and if you look at all the most recent bodies from various brands, not much progress is being made there, apparently because we're almost at the limit of what is possible.

Are you sure? (rhetorical question)

Wild speculation: the 5D4 is expensive enough that there's room for two lower FF bodies. I wouldn't be shocked to see a higher-spec, more expensive 6D and then a budget option below it.

There was chatter about a new "nameplate" for the EOS system. Some entry FF camera maybe, positioned even below the 6D series. That could be the budget option you're talking about. I can definitely see that happening. Somewhere around 1500 bucks, not with all the bells n whistles of course, but still FF.

 

[Mikehit]

The purpose of the 6D was to be the entry to FF. If they bring out a different model for that purpose what roles does the 6D play in the line-up? How many 'bells ands whistles' do you cut out before it simply becomes a body with a sensor that no-one will buy?

 

[tcmatthews]

However, one thing I don't expect is much change in low light/high ISO performance. The 6D is still very good in that regard compared to the top cameras - and if you look at all the most recent bodies from various brands, not much progress is being made there, apparently because we're almost at the limit of what is possible.

Are you sure? (rhetorical question)

Wild speculation: the 5D4 is expensive enough that there's room for two lower FF bodies. I wouldn't be shocked to see a higher-spec, more expensive 6D and then a budget option below it.

There was chatter about a new "nameplate" for the EOS system. Some entry FF camera maybe, positioned even below the 6D series. That could be the budget option you're talking about. I can definitely see that happening. Somewhere around 1500 bucks, not with all the bells n whistles of course, but still FF.

I have long thought they should put the current 6D sensor and autofocus into a rebel body after the 6DII. A Rebel Fxxx something as a true entry level full frame camera. Then place the 6D II closer to the 5DIII specs. Some rumors have stated that 6D II is moving upmarket. Moving an autofocus system similar to the 5DIII would accomplish this.

 

[Zv]

- lighter build
- better DR
- lower noise levels
- flippy touchy screen, and if so, Dual Pixel AF
- more streamlined wifi implementation and better remote shutter app. NFC
- smaller build
- same or better level of weather sealing

No video, no 4K, no GPS, no high FPS, no bomb proof heavy weight construction. Size helps with ergonomics, but weight is a pure evil, especially for hiking photogs. GPS is a unnecessary luxury when you carry a smartphone, as you can simply snap a picture of the played back picture on the camera screen, with your location-enabled phone.

What's wrong with GPS? I like it. It takes no effort to switch it on and saves you time later on mapping every single picture and figuring out where you went. Also, smartphone runs out of battery pretty quickly and is another device you have to remember to use for every location. Nah, GPS in camera is way better.

If you are in the same location all day long then sure one smartphone pic will log your location easily.

I still forget to turn my GPS on sometimes! Then I curse myself later when adding pics to the map on Flickr! Not used to it as part of my shooting routine.

I see what you mean, and I agree! GPS is cheap and can be handy for many users, so they might as well continue to include it. My broader point that I tried to convey was that I wish for a lightweight, no frills, photographer centred, High IQ, slow paced, stealthy, affordable camera.

I forgot to mention a few other points, in light of the thread title "Your ultimate 6D II":
- ability to charge the camera battery with a power bank through USB
- option for more than 30 sec exposure time, without the need for Bulb mode
- ISO 25 setting without DR penalty
- spot metering linked to AF point, at least in Live View

All good points there that I'd also like to see in the 6DII. Though the ISO 25 thing seems unlikely. I guess it would be nice to just use ISO 50 or 25 for longer exposures without using an ND filter though most of my long exposures are in the 8 or 9 stop category which is also why I like your first point about 30s exposures.

 

[Crosswind]

I have a Canon EP-EX 15 (on top of an additional -4 diopter glass) which is for my EOS 6D and I really like it. I just hope that Canon keeps the VF mount the same (even if they decide to use a smaller body), so I can keep this thing to use it on the 6D mk2's viewfinder.

Something like a VF extension piece with the option to buy an additional diopter correction glass should be available for every serious DSLR or mirrorless camera! Sadly, that's (still) not the case.

 

[James Larsen]

Or maybe Canon will keep producing the 6D, so the entry level will be 6D, a bump up is the 6D2, and a bump over that is the 5D4. Maybe, maybe not.

I do want to see a 6D2, thats for sure.

 

[Zv]

Or maybe Canon will keep producing the 6D, so the entry level will be 6D, a bump up is the 6D2, and a bump over that is the 5D4. Maybe, maybe not.

I do want to see a 6D2, thats for sure.

That would be nice, especially if they released a firmware update for the 6D to add a few nice features to maybe keep it relevant. Maybe get some more use out of the old 6D before it fades away. Though I doubt it looking at how Canon have replaced cameras historically.

 

[Corydoras]

My ultimate 6D Mark II would include:

-28 MP sensor with DPAF and at least 13.5 stops of DR
-at least the same or better AF than the 80D has
-6 fps continuous shooting speed
-4K 30 fps video with H.265

To be realistic, i´m a bit doubtful that whether 28 MP and 4K will be on the spec sheet of the new 6D or not. I think Canon might go with 24 MP and 1080p 60 fps video to protect 5D Mark IV. I wish the 6D Mark II gets at least some more megapixels because I recently bought an 5K iMac to replace my broken late 2013 iMac, so the extra megapixels would mean that I could crop a bit further than with the current 20 MP sensor while being above 1:1 viewing ratio.

 

[Maiaibing]

The 6DII will eventually come out, hopefully sometime early next year - what would you like to see in the new version?

While many people here drool over tech specs there's one item which cannot be beat: the best possible sensor.

So I really hope the 6DII will get a better sensor than the 5DIV just as the 6D had vs the 5DIII. My wish list almost ends there.

Otherwise like with the 5DIV update Canon should focus on the core weaknesses when upgrading the 5DIII: bringing more MPIX, better DR and better AF to their customers.

 

[scyrene]

The 6DII will eventually come out, hopefully sometime early next year - what would you like to see in the new version?

While many people here drool over tech specs there's one item which cannot be beat: the best possible sensor.

So I really hope the 6DII will get a better sensor than the 5DIV just as the 6D had vs the 5DIII. My wish list almost ends there.

Otherwise like with the 5DIV update Canon should focus on the core weaknesses when upgrading the 5DIII: bringing more MPIX, better DR and better AF to their customers.

Better as in, low light/high ISO? Cos the 5D3 clearly had better resolution. What's the 6D like at low ISO DR? I've never used one, so I've no idea.

(Yes I'm being a little cheeky, but 'better' can mean many things).

 

[rfdesigner]

The 6DII will eventually come out, hopefully sometime early next year - what would you like to see in the new version?

While many people here drool over tech specs there's one item which cannot be beat: the best possible sensor.

So I really hope the 6DII will get a better sensor than the 5DIV just as the 6D had vs the 5DIII. My wish list almost ends there.

Otherwise like with the 5DIV update Canon should focus on the core weaknesses when upgrading the 5DIII: bringing more MPIX, better DR and better AF to their customers.

I think the reason the 6D sensor worked out better than the 5DIII is not the sensor, but the readout and the WiFi & GPS.

You see meeting FCC part 15 just means not making stuff that is really horrible from an EMC perspective.

In order to make stuff that doesn't self jam the WiFi you need somewhat cleaner electronics, but for GPS you need to be ABSOLUTELY silent, electronically speaking. Now the 5DIII would have been pretty good EMC wise, it would after all have had to cope with a WiFi adapter, but GPS wasn't in its remit. The other factor is on/off sensor ADCs, with off sensor ADCs there's more chance of picking up interferenace which will show up as banding.

So with on sensor ADCs & GPS all round.. I'm expecting the self interference of the 6DII to be the same as the 5DIV: zero

 

[K]

DUAL SD CARD SLOTS.


Without that, Canon can keep this DSLR.


Anyone who drops more than $2,000 on a camera body in this day and age that has only one memory card slot is crazy in my opinion.

 

[j-nord]

Re: Your ultimate 6D Mark II? -- Mirrorless FF?

Face it, most of us shoot in Av.

[Citation needed]

agreed. I shoot manual. Av/Tv certainly still have their use for certain people/scenarios. IMO Auto-ISO + EC in manual mode replaces virtually all use cases for Av/Tv. Most important 'modes' however, are the custom presets.

 

[j-nord]

DUAL SD CARD SLOTS.


Without that, Canon can keep this DSLR.


Anyone who drops more than $2,000 on a camera body in this day and age that has only one memory card slot is crazy in my opinion.

I completely agree however, this is just the type of 'crippling' Canon would carry over from the 6D.

 

[Zv]

DUAL SD CARD SLOTS.


Without that, Canon can keep this DSLR.


Anyone who drops more than $2,000 on a camera body in this day and age that has only one memory card slot is crazy in my opinion.

Or just, you know, umm... buy better SD cards. It's totally fine having one card slot - there is risk of failure in everything, having two slots might reduce this risk but it doesn't eliminate it entirely.

Do you have 2 cars in case one fails to start for work in the morning? The dual slot thing only feeds paranoia IMO - unless you are a pro shooting some VIP stuff in the middle of nowhere or doing sports/wildlife. Average joe photographer who shoots occasionally about once a week could probably do just fine without. And that's who the 6D is aimed at.

Even if I had two slots I'd still just use one. I accept things will fail rarely but not that they will fail all the time. When did that thinking become the norm? Can anyone here tell me when dual slots genuinely saved their ass?

I'm probably more likely to accidentally format my card than anything else!

 

[rfdesigner]

DUAL SD CARD SLOTS.


Without that, Canon can keep this DSLR.


Anyone who drops more than $2,000 on a camera body in this day and age that has only one memory card slot is crazy in my opinion.

Or just, you know, umm... buy better SD cards. It's totally fine having one card slot - there is risk of failure in everything, having two slots might reduce this risk but it doesn't eliminate it entirely.

Do you have 2 cars in case one fails to start for work in the morning? The dual slot thing only feeds paranoia IMO - unless you are a pro shooting some VIP stuff in the middle of nowhere or doing sports/wildlife. Average joe photographer who shoots occasionally about once a week could probably do just fine without. And that's who the 6D is aimed at.

Even if I had two slots I'd still just use one. I accept things will fail rarely but not that they will fail all the time. When did that thinking become the norm? Can anyone here tell me when dual slots genuinely saved their ass?

I'm probably more likely to accidentally format my card than anything else!

+1

Every time I do a "session" I pop the card and download to my laptop thereafter the rest of the backup process kicks in.

it's all risk/effort ratio.

yes cards can go bad, if you're that worried carry a device that can read SD cards (small tablet etc) and set up an autocopy function so you just pop the card in that and it backs up whitout extra effort (that's what happens on my laptop), then use a different card in the camera and just carry on. 20 seconds effort every hour or so or after that once in a lifetime image.

For non-professional stuff that's more than enough.

2 slots is nice, but just one slot didn't stop me buying the 6D

 

[hmatthes]

I carry a SD card holder and a Passport standalone (battery) drive. Between scenes, I remove the card, load the images onto the hard drive, then store the used card while retrieving an empty.
Back in my office, all the cards are individually imported into LR. The passport is back up. Never had a card fail.
Maybe there are fewer failures if you are double backup protected.
Those without a plan seem to have more issues. I dunno, but I know that my stuff is safe -- one slot or two.
BUT... if the 6DII had two cards, I will trade in my 6D1 and shoot parallel cards anyway...