EOS 6D
4.8
5
32
32
Yeah, but...
Quality, workable product. Functions well. Excellent focusing in low light (on subject NOT moving); very good ergonomics and handling; great digital processor. However, still no tethered shooting with Aperture or Lightroom. That's a head scratcher.
June 17, 2013
Luvin' my Canon 6D - Here's Why...
Much has been written editorially and by end-users about the Canon 6D, so I will highlight only items which are most relevant to my experience thus far.
Canon 6D lay-out - As a creature of habit, initially I was a bit dismayed with the feature lay-out of the Canon 6D. This is in comparison to my Canon 50D which I have owned for several years. After a couple of sessions, I have come to really enjoy the well thought out lay-out of this camera. First, the "Off/On" switch is located top left below the Mode Dial. Second, the Mode Dial has a lock button to prevent inadvertent changes. Third, I really like how the Quick Control & Multi-controller dials have evolved into a single dial. Fourth, the Back Focus button (AF-ON) is located in a very accessible spot - on the 50D, I constantly fumble to locate it without looking. Finally, I also like the location of the Live View access button - much more intuitive than the 50D.
After several months of field use, I have completely bought into the intuitive lay-out of the 6D. Besides to usual AF/Drive/ISO/Metering buttons on the top right of the camera, the consolidation of the Quick Control dial, the Multi-controller & Set button is well thought out, easy-to-access and intuitive. I like this set-up much better than the separate joy-stick/multi-controller found on my 50D. To access the shooting functions, all I have to do is push the "Q" button and navigate with the Quick Control/Multi-controller/Set button. Easy peazy.
Full Frame - My other DSLR is a Canon 50D. This camera uses what is commonly referred to as a "crop sensor". When I first got the 50D, I was thrown off by the change in perspective compared to my Canon SLR film camera. That said, I am so happy to be shooting Full Frame again! I won't get into all of the technical reasons why Full Frame over APS-C/Crop Sensor except to say, I am thrilled with the light gathering capability of the 6D. I can shoot at lower iso's thus reducing any image noise potential. 6D - 20.2mp/50D - 15.1mp. Fyi, my primary lens are: 24-70mm f/2.8L USM & 70-200mm f/4.0L IS USM.
Shutter - Even in standard mode, the shutter on the Canon 6D is noticeably quiet.
Editorials and end-users have commented on continuous shooting speed. I'll just say 4.5fps will not set the world on fire by today's standards. It is plenty fast so long as I am not shooting action sports/scenes. My 50D shoots @ 6.3fps which will be well suited for action shots.
Continuous shooting mode - I have started to shoot in continuous mode especially when bracketing my shots. Note: I also shoot in RAW. I haven't really noticed any significant buffer lag while shooting in continuous mode. Generally, I will shoot in bursts of three shots, pause, and shoot in another burst. 4.5 fps seems to meet my needs well.
AF Points - I generally use center auto focus point. Having a gazillion auto focus points is not a priority nor a requirement for my needs.
Ai Servo - When I am not using manual focus, I am using Ai Servo. Works very well as expected especially with continuous shooting mode.
Image noise - Although, I haven't really pushed the camera to high ISO range, shots in standard ISO range from 100 to 800 have exhibited no noise to speak of.
Picture Styles - I really like this Canon feature. In a nutshell, you can select a Picture Style like Standard, Neutral, Faithful, Landscape, Portrait & Monochrome. The camera processor will render the image based on the style selected. In addition, when you use Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, you can additional styles to DPP's library.
Remote - On tripod shots, I use a Canon RS-80N3 wired shutter remote. You may ask why I wouldn't use the wireless remote feature... well, the wireless remote sensor is located on the front of the camera on the camera grip. This means the wireless remote needs to be in line of sight with sensor to operate reliably. This is fine if you are taking a picture of yourself or yourself in a group.
Media card - The 6D uses an SD card. And there is only one slot. Some cameras now have multiple slots and can use both Compact Flash & SD. This is not a priority nor a requirement for my shooting needs.
Battery - Since I am not using the GPS & WiFi technology features, I find battery discharge rates to be acceptable. I shoot in "Live Mode", use continuous shooting mode, review images when shot, review histograms - all the features which can drain a battery. I haven't run into any issues even on longer shoots. I am purchasing at least one additional battery for back-up(s).
New technology | WiFi & GPS - Presently, I do not use the WiFi feature. Since I usually shoot on the fly and like to pack light, I do not carry a laptop/iPad. At some point, I will explore integrating WiFi into my routine. GPS is a real cool feature for geo-tagging. Call me old fashion/old school... I have no compelling reason to geo-tag at this time. Like WiFi, I will explore later and perhaps use. That said, these two features are battery power guzzlers. So the upside for me is my battery(s) will last longer in the field.
Build - I am liking the build and feel of the 6D. It fits my hand very well. Solid feel. The body is textured in all the right places.
Flash - No built in flash. No biggie here as I prefer using external light sources.
Conclusion - Overall, I am thrilled to have this camera in my bag. It has performed (thus far) to expectations. When my skills grow and expand, I will consider a 5D. In the meantime, I look fwd to viewing my new photos after a shoot and determine if any are worthy of those slick photo gifts (canvas prints, glass prints, metal sublimation prints) for family & friends! Ps: still using the 50D for action stuff and where a little more shutter speed & a little more reach is needed. Happy shooting!
June 17, 2013
I love it
Finally a camera that can fully replace my 12 years old EOS 30 film camera. Image quality is beyond anything I've expected, and it still surprises me whenever I take the 6D for a walk. AF system is very efficient, and even if only the center point is cross type, it gets the job done without any problem. Image quality at high ISO settings lets me take photos in light conditions which I wouldn't consider worth taking my camera out from the bag. Only cons I can find are lack of built in flash with wireless flash control capability and perhaps the fact that there is no EOS Remote for Windows Phone (let's hope yet).
June 16, 2013
Low Light Monster!
I've shot 5 events since Dec. and I'm very impressed with the 6D's image quality (I upgraded from the 7D). Low light performance is outstanding. I have no problem shooting 12,800. Wifi works great, but it can take a minute for my tablet to connect. It makes uploading to social sharing sites very fast. Once connected, viewing/downloading is quick. The center AF point is fantastic, but the outer points are not as reliable in low light. It can make composition more challenging in extreme low light, but it's superior to the 5D II. AI servo works fine for me in single shot for side to side action, like BMX (back button focusing is nice). I'm sure the 5D III is far superior (I don't shoot sports). Bottom line is if you are upgrading from an APS-C or shoot slow moving or static events, you'll love the images. Car shows are perfect!
June 10, 2013
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