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

Product Images

Front of the Camera

Isometric View

Isometric View

Front of the Camera

Isometric View

Isometric View

Rear of the Camera / Turned Off

Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed

Rear of the Camera / Info Screen

Rear of the Camera / Info Screen

Rear of the Camera / Quick Screen

Rear of the Camera / Main Menu

Rear of the Camera / Live View

Rear of the Camera / Movie Recording

Rear of the Camera / Info Screen

Top of the Camera

Bottom of the Camera

Side of the Camera

Side of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Memory Card Slot

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.

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.

Review Roundup

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

Specifications

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