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At just £1,799 for the body, the Canon EOS 6D it’s the cheapest full-frame camera you can buy new. It’s got one hell of a lineage, but how will it measure up to Nikon’s crazy new D600, which costs just a smidgen more?
The Canon EOS 6D — Canon’s new entry-level full-frame DSLR — looks a whole lot like a slightly beefed up version of the legendary 5D Mark II. That shouldn’t be surprising. That camera almost single-handedly turned the professional SLR into a standard-issue tool for filmmakers.
The new 6D, jumps into the role the 5DMKII has played since the release of the 5D Mark III six months ago; a professional camera that’s some £800 cheaper than the next step up. We’re also learning about the 6D just a week after Nikon showed us its D600, an enthusiast friendly, 24-megapixel, full-frame DSLR that costs £1400-odd for the body. These two cameras will be duking it out for the love of the next generation.
So what’s inside the 6D? A 20.2-megapixel 35mm sensor, the newish Canon Digic 5+ image processor, and an 11-point autofocus system. None of those specs should be all that surprising. The sensor’s resolution falls more or less in line with the 5D Mark II’s and everything from the image processing to the 4.5 fps max continuous shooting speed are specs we’ve seen before.
Here’s a nice touch, though: the 6D has identical video shooting modes to the 5D Mark III. The 6D can record 1920 x 1080 HD video at 25 and 30 fps or 1280 x 720 HD video at 60 and 50 fps.
But unlike other pro-grade DSLRs, the new 6D comes with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. Other DSLRs require external accessories to get these functions so if it’s something you’re looking for, the 6D could save you even more money. When the GPS is turned on it adds geographic and UTC time information to the EXIF data of your photos. As with other Wi-FI cameras, the 6D can use it’s connectivity to transfer files to your other devices as well as to post the photos online to social networks or Canon’s proprietary storage locker service. The concern with built-in connectivity is always that it’ll eat up buckets of battery, so we’ll be keeping an eye on that when the 6D comes out.
The Canon 6D isn’t a very surprising camera, and why should it be? As we mentioned before this is really just a spec bumped upgrade to the blockbuster 5DMKII formula. Besides the connected features, which may or may not be useful, putting the 5D Mark III’s video specs and an upgraded image processor in the new 6D are significant improvements—especially at the price. The Canon EOS 6D will be available in December for £1,799. I’ll also be available bundled with the excellent EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM for £2,520. [Canon]
Canon EOS 6D
• Price: £1,799 (body only)/ $2900 w/ 24-105mm f/4 lens
• Sensor: 20.2-megapixel, full-frame (36.0mm x 24.0mm)
• Max ISO: 25600 (Standard)/ 102400 (expanded)
• Video: 1920 x 1080 30/25/24 and 1280 x 720 60/50
• Max Drive: 4.5 frames-per-second at full resolution
• Screen: 1,040,000, 3-inch LCD
• Storage: Dual-SD card slots
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11 point AF is a little left to be desired but obv. to protect the higher end units.
This could be a powerful bit of kit for that price. Looking forward to see some low light/high ISO samples.
D600 for £1400-odd. I think not, cheapest I can find it is £1995 – where have you seen it for 1400?
Digital Rev – http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-d600-dslr-body/MTAwMTM2Mg_A_A However these are considered a ‘Grey Import’ in terms of supporting warranty..
I got my D7000 from them. Had an electrical issue within the 12 months, took it to a camera shop (with Digital Rev’s ‘informed consent’) got it repaired and they refunded my after I emailed the scanned invoice to them. There is a bit of back and forward emails to Hong Kong to get their acceptance, but they came through alright with their own warranty.
Having said that, I’ve now got another issue with the electronics and, had I bought from the UK, I could’ve had it repaired under the extended Nikon warranty.
I got my D70 from them many years ago when they had a VAT payback arrangement. Worked out 200 quid cheaper than buying in the UK.
Yeah, I forgot to mention they sent me a Chinese user manual too. They did send the English one after I complained, though!
£1600 ex UK import Duty + VAT…so still likely to hit the 2K mark
I’m interested to see what corners they’ve cut, if any, on the quality of the actual body, again I guess to distance it from the 7 and 5Ds…
Also, £500 more than the US price? Thanks Canon!
Looks like the AF has taken the main hit.
But I guess they were probably just aiming for it to be better than on the 5D mk2, so the bar wasn’t really set very high!
Well it’s hard to tell until people get their hands on it and we see some sample shots – my guess is ISO will be a big factor.
AF on paper is the obv. one – the 7D’s strength was its AF & Speed so it can’t compete with that otherwise they will damage their own brand.
6D has the 7D’s AF system, less AF points. It’ll be just about as accurate as the 7D. It’s still a portrait/landscape camera. Can’t beat the crop for sports/wildlife.
So which do you think will produce better video £1 for £1; this or the Lumix GH3?
For me it’ll always be the canons; I just don’t like the panasonic look. I know it’s a cliche, but it just looks too video-y to me where the canons are able to look more filmic if you know what you’re doing. The sample footage for the GH3 thus far has done nothing to sway me from that view.
yeah it doesn’t have duel card slots. you might want to amend that, also you list the price with the 24-105 as in dollars.