The Canon EOS 6D is the company’s first digital camera aimed squarely at photography enthusiasts that utilize a full-frame sensor. Although the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Canon EOS 1DX both contain a full-frame sensor, the Canon EOS 6D’s design and handling are much more similar to those of the APS-C size Canon EOS 60D. This is because the Canon EOS 6D has a smaller sensor.
Even though the Canon 7D is significantly more affordable, the Canon 6D is positioned directly below the Canon EOS 7D and directly above the Canon EOS 60D in a mix of numbers. But then they released the Canon EOS 7D in 2009, and even though it has high-end capabilities that are perfectly matched to photographers who take pictures of nature and sports, the camera’s price has gone down.
Canon EOS 6D Build Quality
It is easy to see that the Canon EOS 6D is a hybrid of the Canon EOS 7D and the Canon EOS 60D simply by looking at its size and control layout. The Canon EOS 6D is comparable to the Canon 60D in size, weight, and control layout; however, it incorporates the movie and stills live view switch found on the back of the Canon 7D.
The Canon 6D has a height that is half a centimeter higher than the Canon 60D, but it has a depth that is somewhat less than the Canon 60D. As a result, the grip on the Canon 6D is slightly more substantial. This makes a surprising amount of a difference, and it indicates that the grip provides improved purchase.
Because of the intelligent arrangement of the camera’s buttons, several of the camera’s most important functions, including the autofocus technique, the sensitivity, and the exposure compensation, are immediately accessible. Additionally, rapid adjustments to the parameters are possible.
Canon EOS 6D Performance
There is a good amount of variety thanks to the 11 AF points clustered around the center of the frame; nevertheless, only the central point is of the cross kind. When we tested the Canon 6D, we discovered that while it can focus swiftly when using the periphery points, it does not track moving targets quite as effectively as it does when using the center point.
When photographing deer, we achieved an almost perfect success rate when we used the center point of the camera; nevertheless, many of the photographs might be improved by cropping to get a better composition.
The Canon EOS 6D utilizes the iFCL metering system with a 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor, the exact mechanism used by both the Canon EOS 60D and the Canon EOS 7D. This technique is incredibly accurate, taking into consideration the focus point, the colors present in the scene, and the quantity of light accessible, as we have seen in prior Canon EOS models.
Canon EOS 6D Image Quality
During this evaluation, the Canon EOS 6D generated photographs of exceptional quality. An astounding performance for a 20-megapixel, 35-mm SLR, this camera shoots noise-free JPEG photos from ISO 50 up to ISO 3200, with the first appearance of noise occurring at ISO 6400. The faster levels of 6400, 12,800, and 25,600 exhibit relatively little noise; ISO 51,200 is excellent for small prints and online photographs; the quickest setting of 102,400 should be saved for optimal use in emergencies. The JPEG photographs were a touch soft right out of the camera when using the default Picture Style.
If you want them to look their best, you should sharpen them some more in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you may alter the option on the camera itself. The nighttime shot turned out well thanks to the camera’s Bulb mode and a maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds, which enabled you to catch sufficient light in any given environment.
When applied in the appropriate contexts, the Highlight Tone Priority and Auto Lighting Optimizer custom settings may benefit JPEG photographers. This is also true of the six various Picture Styles that can be employed, plus the possibility to build one’s own. Using the HDR mode, you may generate a single image with a higher dynamic range by combining three shots captured at various exposures.
Canon EOS 6D Specs
| Body type | Mid-size SLR |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy, polycarbonate top plate |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 5472 x 3648 |
| Other resolutions | 3648 x 2432, 2736 x 1824, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 21 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Digic 5+ |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | RGB Color Filter Array |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100 – 25600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 51200, 102400 as option |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 50 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 102400 |
| White balance presets | 6 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, Normal |
| File format | JPEG (Exif 2.3), RAW: RAW (5472 x 3648), M RAW (4104 x 2736), S RAW (2736 x 1824) (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaSelective single-pointSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | by optional dedicated Speedlite |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 11 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF |
| Focal length multiplier | 1× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | Clear View II TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 97% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.71× |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (Hot shoe) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/180 sec |
| Continuous drive | 4.5 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) |
| Format | H.264 |
| Videography notes | 1080 and 720 intra or inter frame, 480 inter frame |
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (HDMI Mini) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Remote control | Yes (Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes (Splash and dust resistant) |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 1090 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 770 g (1.70 lb / 27.16 oz) |
| Dimensions | 145 x 111 x 71 mm (5.71 x 4.37 x 2.8″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (by cable and PC) |
| GPS | Built-in |
| GPS notes | Image tagging and tracking modes |
Canon EOS 6D Verdict
When everything is considered, the Canon EOS 6D is a fantastic option for the hobbyist and club photographer searching for a full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera. These customers will discover that they have all they require and a little more on top of that.
