Canon EOS 6D Review

January 7, 2013 | Mark Goldstein | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Introduction

The new EOS 6D is the smallest and lightest full-frame Canon DSLR. The 6D features a 20.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, built-in wireless transmitter, integrated GPS module, DIGIC 5+ image processor, an 11-point autofocus array, 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering sensor, an expanded ISO range of 50-102,400, 3.0-inch LCD monitor with 1,040,000 dots, continuous shooting speed of 4.5 frames per second and 1080p Full HD video capabilities. The Canon EOS 6D is available body-only for $2,099 / £1,799 or in a kit version with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens for $2,899.00 / £2,519.99.

Ease of Use

The Canon EOS 6D brings the full-frame DSLR experience to the masses, with a lower price-tag, smaller and lighter body, and a more simplified control layout than the popular 5D Mark III. It also has a couple of features, most notably built-in wi-fi and GPS, that its bigger brother doesn't offer, although there are inevitably some big compromises too, including only 11 AF points, 97% viewfinder coverage and slower 4.5fps burst shooting (the 5D Mark II has 61 AF points, 100% viewfinder and 6fps burst shooting). The EOS 6D is also up against some strong competition from the better-specified Nikon D600, which takes a somewhat different approach to make full-frame more affordable.

The EOS 6D weighs 755g and measures 144.5 x 110.5 x 71.2mm, making it quite a lot lighter and smaller than the 5D Mark III and therefore better suited to life as a travel camera. The 6D still has a part-magnesium alloy body, which should make it more durable in the longer term than plastic-bodied cameras, and it also adds a welcome level of weather-proofing for protection against dust and moisture. There's a textured area on both the deep hand-grip and around the thumb-rest on the rear of the camera, and size-wise the 6D is perfect for everyone with small to normal-sized hands. On the front of the 6D is an infrared port on the grip, rather too small and awkwardly placed depth-of-field preview button, self-timer lamp and a monaural microphone.

Like other semi-pro cameras, the Canon EOS 6D offers two control wheels; a small one on the top of the handgrip, and a large, spinning dial on the back of the camera. This rear 'quick control dial' is characteristic of all high-end Canon EOS cameras, used to apply rapid exposure adjustments. It's a bit of an acquired taste compared to more conventional control dials, but you quickly get used to it and it is easy to 'spin'. There's a dedicated Lock switch underneath which toggles this dial on and off.

Instead of the 5D Mark III's small joystick on the rear, the 6D employs a conventional four-way controller set within the rear control wheel. It's a little "spongy" in use, but perhaps a better fit for the 6D's target audience than the love-it or loathe-it joystick. Just above is the useful Quick button which opens the Quick Control screen. Depending on which shooting mode you're using, this lets you quickly set various parameters via the LCD screen, using the four-way controller to move around the various options. The Quick Control screen is particularly well-suited to beginners and tripod work, letting you see and adjust the camera's key controls at a glance.

Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 6D
Front Rear

On the top-right of the Canon EOS 6D, positioned above the large monochrome status LCD display, are four buttons, each of which has a single function. You press a button and then turn either the top control dial or the rear control dial to change the corresponding setting. The 6D also shows the settings on the main LCD screen as well as the status LCD. There's a smaller fifth button which activates the status LCD display light so that you can use it in the dark.

There are two LCD displays on the EOS 6D; the 3-inch colour LCD on the rear and the smaller status panel on the top. On cheaper DSLR cameras, the LCD on the rear usually has to do both jobs, but on this model all of the camera's main settings are visible from above on the smaller panel. This makes the Canon EOS 6D quicker to use and also helps to extend the battery life. The main LCD screen offers a fantastic VGA resolution with 1,040K dots, so you may find yourself using it more often than you thought. Importantly it also allows you to judge the critical sharpness of your photos using the LCD screen. The optical viewfinder has a magnification of 0.71x and dioptre correction, but only offers 97% coverage compared to the 5D Mark III's 100%, which means that you can't quite be sure of everything that the camera is capturing (although you quickly learn to anticipate what it will include in the final image).

Like most DSLRs aimed at prosumers, the EOS 6D offers all the usual serious manual and semi-automatic shooting modes for users who want more advanced exposure control, via a chunky and positive dial on the top-left of the camera body, including a central lock button to prevent the dial from inadvertently moving. Canon refers to these advanced operations as the 'creative zone' and provides all the normal settings including Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority and the full Manual mode. There is also an auto shooting mode aimed at beginners called Scene Intelligent Auto which allows you to change just a few key settings using the LCD screen, setting both the aperture and shutter speed for you, with the Creative Auto mode additionally offering the ability to alter the Picture Effect and aperture. The Scene menu offers 7 beginner-friendly modes, including the useful Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight control. The 6D's power switch is located underneath the shooting mode dial, as on the 5D Mark III, although the latter's handy Multi-Function button has been completely removed.

Once the EOS 6D is in one of the 'creative zones', users can adjust the ISO setting into one of 12 positions from 50 to 102,400 (you need to to enable the ISO 50, 52000 and 102,400 modes via the "ISO Speed Settings" menu option). This massive ISO range allows you to shoot in almost any lighting conditions without having to resort to using flash, which is good news as the 6D doesn't actually have a built-in pop-up flash (you'll need to budget for an external flashgun). The EOS 6D offers a range of three Auto focus modes (One Shot, AI Focus and AI Servo), and there are six preset, auto, kelvin and custom white balance options.

The viewfinder displays all key exposure information including the ISO speed, and there are four metering modes including a tighter 1.5% Spot metering mode, useful in tricky lighting conditions as an alternative to the excellent and consistent Evaluative metering system. The 6D uses a rather rudimentary 11-point auto-focus system with only one cross-type point in the middle, which doesn't compare well to either the 5D Mark III's 63 point system, 41 of which are cross-type points with five being the extra sensitive double-cross type, or the Nikon D600's 39-point AF module. The 6D does have one ace up its auto-focusing sleeve though - the centre point remains operational down to -3EV, the equivalent of moonlight, making it the most sensitive in low-light of any DSLR on the market. This was borne out in practice, with the 6D locking onto the subject in almost pitch-black lighting conditions. So while it's limited number of AF points make it less well-suited to tracking moving subjects, if you mostly use the central AF point then you'll love its ability to quickly and accurately focus in almost any situation.

Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 6D
Front Side

The Canon EOS 6D is the first DSLR on the market to feature built-in wi-fi connectivity. The new wi-fi capabilities allow you to share images during playback via the Wi-Fi menu option. Enable the Wi-Fi menu option and the Wi-Fi Function option appears underneath, which contains six icons. The 6D can connect to another camera, a smartphone, a computer, a printer, the internet and a DNLA device respectively. Setup is long-winded but relatively straight-forward for each scenario, although you'll need a basic understanding of the protocols involved (or consult the supplied User Guide). Note that you need to install the dedicated and free EOS Remote app to connect the 6D to the world's most popular smartphone, or the Apple iPad, iPad 2 and fourth-generation iPod Touch, or an Android device. You can then use your smartphone or tablet to remotely control almost every aspect of the camera's operation, review images on a larger, more detailed screen and to transfer images between devices.

The 6D can tag your images with GPS data (latitude, longitude, altitude and shooting time) just like many of the company's compact cameras. We prefer having GPS built into the camera rather than having to sync it with an additional device, as on the recent PowerShot S110, although it does consequently suffer from the issue of negatively affecting battery life.

The 6D's menu system is similar to most EOS cameras, utilising a simplified tab structure that does away completely with scrolling. There are 6 main menu options, each containing up to 4 individual tabs of options. You can even setup your own customised menu page for instant access to frequently used settings via the My Menu setting. The documentation that comes with the 6D is clear enough, as it is with all Canon cameras, if a little light on detail. You do get a basic manual in English throughout and you'll find most things that you need to know about the camera's operation in here, although you'll need to refer to the supplied CD for an 'electronic' manual. There's also a separate instruction manual for the camera's Wi-Fi and GPS functions, again with a longer version on the CD.

We tested the EOS 6D with the popular EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens, which is offered as a kit lens in some regions. This combination offered fast, positive autofocus, can track moving subjects very well and is also near-silent, and we'd recommend that you choose this kit if you're buying into the Canon system for the first time. The 24-105mm lens also crucially features image stabilisation. This is important for Canon, as some competitors image stabilisation that's built-in to the camera body. The main difference between Canon (and Nikon) and the other manufacturers is that Sony (plus Olympus and Pentax) have opted for stabilisation via the camera body, rather than the lens, which therefore works with their entire range of lenses. Canon's system is obviously limited by which lenses you choose, but it does offer the slight advantage of showing the stabilising effect through the viewfinder. Canon and Nikon also claim that a lens-based anti-shake system is inherently better too, but the jury's out on that one.

The EOS 6D features the latest DIGIC 5+ image processor, which produces noticeably fast image processing, start-up and image review times and great noise reduction in high-ISO images (jump to the Image Quality page for ISO samples). DIGIC 5+ also allows the 6D to shoot attain a speed of 4.5fps for up to 1,250 full-sized JPEGs with a UHS-I memory card or 17 RAW images. 14-bit A/D conversion, in-camera HDR processing, multiple exposure function and in-camera RAW processing are also enabled by the Digic 5+ processor. Battery life is rated to CIPA standards at around 1,000 shots using the viewfinder, but this is greatly reduced if you exclusively shoot in live view mode or use the Wi-Fi and GPS features. This can be doubled by using the optional BG-E13 battery grip (£249.99) which takes two batteries.

Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 6D
Top Front

The 6D has an identical Live View system to the 5D Mark III. If you're new to DSLRs and don't understand the terminology, basically Live View allows you to view the scene in front of you live on the LCD screen, rather than through the traditional optical viewfinder. This is an obvious attraction for compact camera users, who are familiar with holding the camera at arm's length and composing via the LCD screen. It's also appealing to macro shooters, for example, as it's often easier to view the screen than look through the viewfinder when the camera is mounted on a tripod at an awkward angle.

Live View is easy to turn on via a dedicated switch on the back of the camera which toggles between Live View and Movie recording and a self-explanatory Start/Stop button. A grid line display, dual-axis electronic level and very useful live histogram can be enabled to help with composition and exposure, and you can zoom in by up to 10x magnification of the image displayed on the LCD screen. Focusing is achieved via the AF-On button, or you can half-press the shutter-button. Live View can also be controlled remotely using the supplied EOS utility software, which allows you to adjust settings and capture the image from a PC.

There are three types of focusing system on offer in Live View mode. The first, Quick AF, works by physically flipping the camera mirror to engage the auto-focus sensor, which then momentarily blanks the LCD screen and causes a physical sound, before the image is displayed after about 1 second. The other methods, Live AF and Live AF with Face Detection, use an image contrast auto-focus system, much like that used by point-and shoot compacts, the main benefits being the complete lack of noise during operation, and no LCD blackout. Unfortunately these are much slower than the Quick AF mode, taking over 3 seconds to focus on a clearly-defined subject in bright light, which will put off most users that are attracted by the promised point-and-shoot experience. On a more positive note, you can move the AF point around the screen, and the 6D successfully detected faces in most situations.

Live View is also used for the EOS 6D's 1080p movie mode. The 6D records high-definition 1080p, wide-screen video in 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, at either 30fps, 25fps or 24fps in the MOV format. There is also 720p 1280x720 pixel recording at 50/60 fps and and standard video at 30fps and 25 fps. The maximum size of a single video clip is one second below 30 minutes with 4GB automatic file partitioning. You can also take either single or continuous stills during recording, with video capture continuing after the final still frame has been taken. Audio is recorded in linear PCM format without any compression. There's a built-in microphone on the front of the camera for mono recording and a socket on the side for connecting an external stereo microphone. It also has an HDMI port for playing back movies and stills on a HD TV. It uses the industry-standard HDMI mini-out connection, but note that you'll need to purchase a suitable cable separately. You can also still connect the 6D to a standard TV set via NTSC/PAL.

Although you can autofocus during movie recording, the camera uses the painfully slow contrast-AF mode. Focusing manually is a much better idea, although most AF lenses have MF rings with very little 'travel' between their close-focus point and infinity (the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS is quite good in this regard), and in a quiet environment it's also possible to hear the sound of the focusing ring. You can set the aperture and shutter speed from the camera in movie mode, and exposure compensation and AE-Lock can also be used. You can also take a single/sequence of still shots whilst shooting video, but this causes a 1 second delay which you'll need to edit out later.

Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 6D
Memory Card Slot Battery Compartment

The EOS 6D implements the same dust-removal technology as other EOS cameras, where the sensor is shaken briefly at high frequency to dislodge any dust particles from its surface. This could delay the need for manual sensor cleaning, perhaps indefinitely, but it won't be able to remove 'sticky' deposits like salt spray, pollen or the smears left behind by careless sensor cleaning or the wrong kind of solvent. The 6D also inherits the internal Dust Delete Data system from the 5D Mark III, which can map the position of visible dust on the sensor. This can then be deleted automatically after the shoot with the supplied Digital Photo Professional software.

Peripheral Illumination Correction is a feature that's actually a lot simpler that it initially sounds. Basically it corrects the unwanted effects of vignetting, typically seen in wide-angle photos in the corners of the frame. The 6D contains a database of correction data for various Canon lenses and, if Peripheral Illumination Correction is enabled, automatically applies it to JPEG images. For RAW images the correction is applied later in the Digital Photo Professional software. Up to 40 lenses can be programmed into the 6D, with over 80 currently available to choose from. Peripheral Illumination Correction is a useful and effective addition, particularly for JPEG shooters, and can safely be left turned on all of the time.

Even more useful, especially if you have a number of older lenses, is the AF Microadjustment feature that has trickled down from 5D Mark III and other pro DSLRs. This allows you to alter the focus of each lens, then use a focusing target to test if the lens focuses correctly, and if it doesn't, alter it slightly using the AF Adjustment option, then test again until perfect focus is achieved. With most other DSLR systems you'd have to send the camera and lens off for calibration (and maybe even have to pay for it), but with the 6D, you can calibrate all of your lenses in the comfort of your own home (up to 20 lenses can be stored in the camera). The EOS 6D also features a silent shooting mode that reduces the sound of both the shutter and mirror, perfect for situations where you don't want to draw unwanted attention to yourself. A continuous silent mode is also available, although it's at a slightly slower rate of 3fps than the headline 4.5fps mode.

Once you have captured a photo, the Canon EOS 6D has an average range of options for playing, reviewing and managing your images. More information about a captured image can be seen on the LCD by pressing the Info button, which brings up a brightness image histogram and all the shooting Exif data, including aperture, shutter speed and the time and date it was captured, with a second press displaying an additional RGB histogram. Highlight Alert and AF Point Display can also be turned on via the Playback menu. It's simple to get a closer look at an image as you can zoom in up to 15 times, and it is also possible to view pictures in a set of nine contact sheet. You can also delete an image, rotate an image, view a slideshow, protect images so that they cannot be deleted and set various printing options. Unlike some competitors, there are no digital styles or effects that can be applied to an image after it has been taken - the more subtle Picture Styles are the only way of tweaking your JPEGs in-camera, before they are captured. In-camera image rating makes it easy to organise your images ahead of post-production, with the rating maintained in IPTC-friendly software, and you can also edit RAW files in-camera with 10 parameters available.

The Canon EOS 6D's software suite is very good. Admittedly, photographers who've graduated to a camera like this one will almost certainly have chosen image browsing and editing software already, so they won't need the basic image browsing program included here, but there's more than that. You also get Canon's simple but effective PhotoStitch application for making panoramic shots, EOS utility for using the 6D remotely (while tethered to a PC), ImageBrowser EX image management software program, and Canon's Digital Photo Professional application for converting RAW files. This is a big bonus, because other makers don't always include such good RAW conversion software. Digital Photo Professional certainly isn't the best RAW converter on the market, but importantly does mimic the camera's Picture Styles 'retrospectively'. In addition the supplied Picture Style Editor software can be used to create custom Picture Styles on your computer instead of in-camera.

That concludes our tour of the Canon EOS 6D's interface - now let's take a look at its image quality.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 6Mb.

The Canon EOS 6D produced images of amazing quality during the review period. This camera produces noise-free JPEG images from ISO 50 all the way up to ISO 3200, with noise first appearing at ISO 6400 - an incredible performance for a 20 megapixel, 35mm SLR. The faster settings of 6400, 12,800 and 25,600 display relatively little noise, with ISO 51,200 suitable for small prints and web images and the fastest setting of 102,400 best reserved for emergenices. The JPEG images were a little soft straight out of the camera using the default Picture Style and ideally require some further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you can change the in-camera setting. The night photograph was very good, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and Bulb mode allowing you to capture enough light in all situations. The 6 different Picture Styles and the ability to create your own are a real benefit to JPEG shooters, as are the Highlight Tone Priority and Auto Lighting Optimizer custom settings when used in the right conditions. The HDR mode combines three images taken at different exposures to create a single image with greater dynamic range.

Noise

There are 11 ISO settings available on the Canon EOS 6D which you can select at any time. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting, with the JPEG version on the left and the RAW on the right:

JPEG

RAW

ISO 50 (100% Crop)

ISO 50 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 51200 (100% Crop)

ISO 51200 (100% Crop)

ISO 102400 (100% Crop)

ISO 102400 (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Canon EOS 6D has 2 different JPEG file quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality JPEG option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

20M Fine (5.68Mb) (100% Crop)
20M Normal (2.83Mb) (100% Crop)
   
20M RAW (22.2Mb) (100% Crop)
 
 

Sharpening

Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images at the default setting are a little soft and benefit from some further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. Alternatively you can change the in-camera sharpening level if you don't like the default results.

Original (100% Crop)

Sharpened (100% Crop)

   

Night Shot

The Canon EOS 6D's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there's a Bulb mode for even longer exposures, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds, aperture of f/11 at ISO 100.

Night

Night (100% Crop)

Highlight Tone Priority

This custom setting promises to improve the highlight detail of the image by expanding the dynamic range from 18% grey to bright highlights. Turning it on didn't make a great deal of difference in our test shot, as shown below.

Off

On

Auto Lighting Optimizer

This setting promises to automatically correct the brightness and contrast of an image, with three levels of varying intensity available. There was a slight difference between the weakest and strongest settings, as shown below. Note that the user guide warns that this setting might cause noise to increase at higher ISO speeds.

Off

Low
   

Standard

High

Multiple Exposure

This new setting allows you to combine up to 9 images into a single composite image, with a range of different ways to blend them together. Here's an example with two images combined.

HDR

The HDR mode combines three images taken at different exposures to create a single image with greater dynamic range.

Off

+1 EV
   

+2 EV

+3 EV

Picture Styles

Canon's Picture Controls, similarly to Nikon's Picture Styles, are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone settings. The six available Picture Controls are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. There are also three User Defined styes so that you can create your own look.

Standard

Portrait

   
Landscape

Neutral

   
Faithful

Monochrome

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Canon EOS 6D camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Canon EOS 6D enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movie & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 20 second movie is 75.9Mb in size.

Product Images

Canon EOS 6D

Front of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Isometric View

 
Canon EOS 6D

Isometric View

 
Canon EOS 6D

Front of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Isometric View

 
Canon EOS 6D

Isometric View

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Turned Off

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Info Screen

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Info Screen

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Quick Screen

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Main Menu

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Live View

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Movie Recording

 
Canon EOS 6D

Rear of the Camera / Info Screen

 
Canon EOS 6D

Top of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Bottom of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Side of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Side of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Front of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Front of the Camera

 
Canon EOS 6D

Memory Card Slot

 
Canon EOS 6D

Battery Compartment

Conclusion

On paper the new Canon EOS 6D seems rather poorly specified compared to its main rival, the Nikon D600, and its big brother, the 5D Mark III, but in reality it proves to be a very capable DSLR that delivers outstanding pictures in both good and bad light.

The key difference between the 6D and the main alternatives are the number and type of AF points. The 6D's 11-point system, with only one extra-sensitive point in the middle, means that it struggles a little with fast-moving subjects, so if this is your bread and butter photography, consider the 5D Mark III or even the APS-C EOS 7D instead. On a more positive note, that centre AF point remains operational down to -3EV, the equivalent of moonlight, beating both the D600 and 5D Mark III and ensuring that the 6D can accurately autofocus in almost any lighting conditions. The 6D is also the only DSLR on the market to offer built-in GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity (both are optional extras for the Nikon D600), although there's the inevitable drain on battery life if you leave them permanently switched on.

The new 20 megapixel sensor in conjunction with the Digic 5+ processor results in seriously impressive low-light performance, with an almost noise-free range of ISO 50-6400 and perfectly usable 12800 and 25600 settings. The video side of things is also excellent, with an accessible interface, manual exposure, better control of sound and cutting-edge compression rates. We would have liked to have seen an articulated LCD screen for easier composition, and the auto-focus system for movies is still decidedly clunky when compared to mirrorless cameras, but otherwise the 6D handles both stills and video with aplomb.

Compared to the 5D Mark III's official price of £2999 / $3499, the 6D is something of a bargain at £1799 / $2099, especially as it delivers very similar image quality to its big brother. The only fly in the ointment in terms of price is the Nikon D600, which due to being released earlier now typically undercuts the 6D by a couple of hundred pounds / dollars. Still, the EOS 6D should also drop in price once the novelty has worn off. We'd advise you to choose carefully though if you're pitting the 6D against the D600 - they're quite different cameras in their approach, with the 6D having the edge in low-light performance and the D600 offering a more versatile auto-focusing system. Thanks to both cameras though, full-frame has never been more affordable, and the new Canon EOS 6D is a real contender if you're looking to step-up from a smaller format.

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4.5
Features 4
Ease-of-use 4
Image quality 5
Value for money 4.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Canon EOS 6D.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

The long-awaited Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR has finally arrived, boasting improvements to virtually every aspect of its popular predecessor, the breakthrough 5D Mark II. It's cost has also increased significantly, so does the new 5D Mark III offer enough to justify the £2999 / $3499 asking price? Read our detailed Canon EOS 5D Mark III review to find out.

Canon EOS 7D

The Canon EOS 7D is a brand new 18 megapixel DSLR camera, complete with 8fps continuous shooting, high-res 3 inch LCD screen, Live View and Full HD movies. The Canon 7D also features a number of significant improvements to its auto-focusing, metering, viewfinder and flash systems, which all add up to make this one of the best-ever specified EOS cameras. Find out if the Canon EOS 7D can also take great pictures by reading the World's first expert review...

Nikon D600

The Nikon D600 is a new full-frame DSLR camera. Featuring a 24.3 megapixel full-frame sensor, the small, lightweight D600 also offers 1080p HD video, ISO range of 50-25600, a 39-point AF system, 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Read our in-depth Nikon D600 review now...

Nikon D800

The Nikon D800 is one of the hottest DSLR cameras for 2012. Featuring a remarkable 36 megapixel full-frame sensor, the D800 also offers 1080p HD video, a 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Read our in-depth Nikon D800 review to find out if it's worth the £2499.00 / $2,999.95 cost of admission.

Sony A77

The Sony A77 is the flagship model in the second generation of Sony's SLT camera range. The A77 offers a 24.3 megapixel sensor, 12fps burst shooting, 1080p Full HD movies, high-resolution OLED viewfinder, 3-inch free-angle LCD, 19-point auto-focus with 11 cross-sensors, built-in GPS and an ISO range of 50-16000. Can it really challenge Nikon and Canon in the discerning prosumer market? Read our detailed Sony A77 review to find out...

Sony A850

The Sony A850 is the most "affordable" full-frame DSLR camera, featuring a 24.6 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen and an anti-shake function integrated into the body. Retailing for around $1999 / 1999 Euros / £1700, does the Sony A850 have what it takes to compete with its main rivals? Read our in-depth Sony A850 Review to find out...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Canon EOS 6D from around the web.

techradar.com »

In many ways the Canon EOS 6D is the Canon's first true enthusiast level full-frame digital camera. While the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EOS 1DX also have a full frame sensor, the Canon EOS 6D's design and handling is far closer to that of the APS-C format Canon EOS 60D.
Read the full review »

pocket-lint.com »

The Canon EOS 6D might sound like the dream ticket for full-frame DSLR aspirers. It's the first time that Canon's dipped its toe into the "budget" full-frame pond. But, to be realistic, its £1600 body-only asking price is still more the cash equivalent of a dive than a doggy-paddle.
Read the full review »

the-digital-picture.com »

The Canon EOS 6D is the smallest and lightest full frame sensor format Canon DSLR camera ever (as of review time). The image quality benefits of Canon's full frame CMOS sensors are big, while the footprint of the 6D remains small - as does the relative impact on your wallet. The image quality the 6D delivers is impressive.
Read the full review »

Specifications

IMAGE SENSOR

Type 36 x 24 mm CMOS
Effective Pixels Approx. 20.2 megapixels
Total Pixels Approx. 20.6 megapixels
Aspect Ratio 3:2
Low-Pass Filter Built-in/Fixed with fluorine coating
Sensor Cleaning EOS integrated cleaning system
Colour Filter Type Primary Colour

IMAGE PROCESSOR

Type DIGIC 5+

LENS

Lens Mount EF (excludes EF-S lenses)
Focal Length Equivalent to 1.0x the focal length of the lens

FOCUSING

Type TTL-CT-SIR with a dedicated CMOS sensor
AF System/ Points 11 points (f/5.6 cross type at centre, extra sensitivity at f/2.8)
AF Working Range EV -3 - 18 (at 23°C & ISO100)
AF Modes AI Focus
One Shot
AI Servo
AF Point Selection Automatic selection
Manual selection
AF points can be selected separately for vertical and horizontal shooting
Selected AF Point Display Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on top LCD panel and Quick Control screen
AF Lock Locked when shutter button is pressed half way in One Shot AF mode or AF-ON button is pressed.
AF Assist Beam Emitted by an optional dedicated Speedlite
Manual Focus Selected on lens
AF Microadjustment C.Fn II-9
+/- 20 steps ( wide and tele setting for Zooms)
Adjust all lenses by same amount
Adjust up to 40 lenses individually
Adjustments remembered for lens by serial number

EXPOSURE CONTROL

Metering Modes TTL full aperture metering with 63 zone Dual Layer SPC
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to All AF point)
(2) Partial metering (approx. 8% of viewfinder at centre)
(3) Spot metering (approx. 3.5% viewfinder at centre)
(4) Centre weighted average metering
Metering Range EV 1 - 20 (at 23°C with 50mm f/1.4 lens ISO100)
AE Lock Auto: In 1-shot AF mode with evaluative metering exposure is locked when focus is achieved.
Manual: By AE lock button in creative zone modes.
Exposure Compensation '+/-5 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments (can be combined with AEB).
AEB 2, 3, 5 or 7 Shots +/-3 EV 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments
ISO Sensitivity* Auto (100-25600), 100-25600 (in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments)
ISO can be expanded to L: 50, H1: 51200, H2: 102400
During Movie shooting: Auto (100-12800), 100-12800 (in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments) ISO can be expanded to H: 25600

SHUTTER

Type Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter
Speed 30-1/4000 sec (1/2 or 1/3 stop increments), Bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode)

WHITE BALANCE

Type Auto white balance with the imaging sensor
Settings AWB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White
Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Colour Temperature Setting.
White balance compensation:
1. Blue/Amber +/-9
2. Magenta/ Green +/-9.
Custom White Balance Yes, 1 setting can be registered
WB Bracketing '+/-3 levels in single level increments
3 bracketed images per shutter release.
Selectable Blue/Amber bias or Magenta/ Green bias.

VIEWFINDER

Type Pentaprism
Coverage (Vertical/Horizontal) Approx. 97%
Magnification Approx. 0.71x¹
Eyepoint Approx. 21mm (from eyepiece lens centre)
Dioptre Correction '-3 to +1 m-1 (dioptre)
Focusing Screen Interchangeable (3 types, optional). Standard Focusing Screen Precision Matte Eg-A II
Mirror Quick-return half mirror (Transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF600mm f/4 or shorter)
Viewfinder Information AF information: AF points, focus confirmation light.
Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB.
Flash information: Flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation.
Image information: Highlight tone priority (D+), maximum burst (2-digit display), card
information
Battery check: Composition information
Electronic level
Warning symbol: Displayed if any of the following is set: Monochrome, white balance
correction, expanded ISO speed, or spot metering.
Depth of Field Preview Yes, with Depth of Field preview button.
Eyepiece Shutter On strap

LCD MONITOR

Type 7.7cm (3.0") Clear View TFT, approx. 1040K dots
Coverage Approx. 100%
Viewing Angle (Horizontally/Vertically) Approx 170°
Coating Dual Anti-reflection
Brightness Adjustment Adjustable to one of seven levels
Display Options (1) Quick Control Screen
(2) Camera settings
(3) Electronic Level

FLASH

Modes E-TTL II Auto Flash, Metered Manual
X-Sync 1/180sec
Flash Exposure Compensation '+/- 3EV in 1/2 or 1/3 increments
Flash Exposure Bracketing Yes, with compatible External Flash
Flash Exposure Lock Yes
Second Curtain Synchronisation Yes
HotShoe/ PC Terminal Yes/ No
External Flash Compatibility E-TTL II with EX series Speedlites, wireless multi-flash support (with optional accessory)
External Flash Control via camera menu screen

SHOOTING

Modes Scene Intelligent Auto, No Flash, Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control, Program AE , Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual
Picture Styles Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined (x3)
Colour Space sRGB and Adobe RGB
Image Processing Highlight Tone Priority
Auto Lighting Optimizer (4 settings)
Long exposure noise reduction
High ISO speed noise reduction (4 settings)
Multi Shot Noise Reduction
Auto Correction of Lens Peripheral illumination
Chromatic aberration correction
Resize to M, S1, S2 or S3
RAW image processing - during image Playback only
Multiple exposure
HDR images
Drive Modes Single, Continuous, Self timer (2s+remote, 10s +remote), Silent single shooting, Silent continous shooting
Continuous Shooting Max. Approx. 4.5fps. (speed maintained for up to 1250 images (JPEG)¹²or 17 images (RAW))³ (with UHS-I card)²

LIVE VIEW MODE

Type Electronic viewfinder with image sensor
Coverage Approx. 100% (horizontally and vertically)
Frame Rate 30 fps
Focusing Manual Focus (Magnify the image 5x or 10x at any point on screen)
Autofocus: Quick mode, Live mode, Live Face detection mode
Metering Real-time evaluative metering with image sensor
Active metering time can be changed
Display Options Grid overlay (x3), Histogram, Aspect ratios, Electronic Level

FILE TYPE

Still Image Type JPEG: Fine, Normal (Exif 2.21 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system (2.0),
RAW: RAW, M-RAW, S-RAW (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition),
Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
RAW+JPEG Simultaneous Recording Yes, any combination of RAW + JPEG, M-RAW + JPEG, S-RAW + JPEG possible.
Image Size JPEG: (L) 5472x3648, (M) 3468x2432, (S1) 2736x1824, (S2) 1920x1280, (S3) 720x480
RAW: (RAW) 5472x3648, (M-RAW) 4104x2736, (S-RAW) 2736x1824
Movie Type MOV (Video: H.264 Intra frame / inter frame, Sound: Linear PCM, recording level can be manually adjusted by user)
Movie Size 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps) intra or inter frame
1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) intra or inter frame
640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps) inter frame
Movie Length Max duration 29min 59sec
Folders New folders can be manually created and selected
File Numbering (1) Consecutive numbering
(2) Auto reset
(3) Manual reset

OTHER FEATURES

Custom Functions 21 Custom Functions
Metadata Tag User copyright information (can be set in camera)
Image rating (0-5 stars), GPS coordinates.
LCD Panel / Illumination Yes / Yes
Water/ Dust Resistance Yes (equal to EOS-1N)
Sound Memo No
Intelligent Orientation Sensor Yes
Playback Zoom 1.5x - 10x
Display Formats (1) Single image with information (2 levels)
(2) Single image
(3) 4 image index
(4) 9 image index
(5) Jump Display
Slide Show Image selection: All images, by Date, by Folder, Movies, Stills, Rating
Playback time: 1/2/3/5/10 or 20 seconds
Repeat: On/Off
Histogram Brightness: Yes
RGB: Yes
Highlight Alert Yes
Image Erase/Protection Erase: Single image, All images in folder, Checkmarked images, unprotected images
Protection: Erase protection of one image at a time
Menu Categories (1) Shooting menu (x6)
(2) Playback menu (x3)
(3) Setup menu (x4)
(4) Custom Functions menu
(5) My Menu
Menu Languages 25 Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese
Firmware Update Update possible by the user.

INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB
Other HDMI mini output, Video output (PAL/ NTSC), External microphone (Stereo mini jack)

DIRECT PRINT

Canon Printers Canon Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge
PictBridge Yes, PictBridge compliant (USB and Wireless LAN)

STORAGE

Type SD, SDHC or SDXC (UHS-I)card

SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM

PC & Macintosh Windows XP inc SP3 / Vista inc SP1 and SP2 (excl. Starter Edition) / 7 (excl. Starter Edition)
OS X v10.6-10.7 (Intel processor required)

SOFTWARE

Browsing & Printing ImageBrowser EX
Image Processing Digital Photo Professional
Other PhotoStitch, EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture), Picture Style Editor

POWER SOURCE

Batteries Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E6 (supplied)
Battery Life Approx. 1090 (at 23°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)¹
Approx. 980 (at 0°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)
Battery Indicator 6 levels + percentage
Power Saving Power turns off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 or 30mins.
Power Supply & Battery Chargers AC Adapter Kit ACK-E6, Battery charger LC-E6, Car Battery charger CBC-E6

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Body Materials Magnesium Alloy front and rear body covers. Polycarbonate top cover
Operating Environment 0 – 40 °C, 85% or less humidity
Dimensions (WxHxD) 144.5 x 110.5 x 71.2
Weight (Body Only) Approx. 755g (CIPA testing standard, including battery and memory card)

ACCESSORIES

Viewfinder Eyecup Eb, E-series Dioptric Adjustment Lens with Rubber Frame Eb, Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15, Focusing Screens Eg (with Grid Eg-D, Super Precision Matte Eg-S), Angle Finder C
Wireless File Transmitter Built in
Lenses All EF lenses
Flash Canon Speedlites (90EX, 220EX, 270EX, 270EX II, 320EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, 600EX, 600EX-RT, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT)
Battery Grip BG-E13
Remote Controller/ Switch Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6
Other Hand Strap E2, GP-E2

 

Magnification ¹ with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1 dpt
Continuous Shooting ¹ Large/Fine(Quality 8) resolution
² Maximum fps and buffer capacity may be reduced depending on the cameras settings and light level
³ Based on Canon's testing conditions, JPEG, ISO 100, Standard Picture Style. Varies depending on the subject, memory card brand and capacity, image recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, Custom functions etc.
Battery Life ¹ Based on the CIPA Standard and using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera, except where indicated
  • *Recommended Exposure Index
  • All data is based on Canon standard testing methods except where indicated.
  • Subject to change without notice.

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