The full-frame sensor, usually reserved for only top-of-the-line DSLR cameras, represents the finest standard of DSLR picture-grabbin.’ It doesn’t come cheap. Canon fit a full-frame sensor into its new 6D—and offered camera buyers a pro-level detail at a surprisingly low price. Does it make the 6D worth buying? More »
Besides spending some time with the Canon EOS M, I also got to test out the Canon 6D, a new full-frame offering from the camera-maker that’s set to arrive later this year. The $2,099 DSLR lowers the barrier to Canon full-frame ownership, and actually has a few tricks up its sleeve that the more expensive and extremely capable 5D Mk III doesn’t even offer.
The big one is Wi-Fi built-in, which is only possible with the 5D3 via an add-0n transmitter that costs nearly $800. Using the 6D’s Wi-Fi, you can transmit images to an Android app, which Canon’s Chuck Westfall demoed at the event, in order to browse through your pictures, transfer photos to your device and even change camera settings. An iOS app is coming soon, which, like the Android app, will be a free download. Eventually, the plan is also to make it so that the 6D can communicate directly with Canon’s Wi-Fi-enabled printers, too, meaning you’ll be able to print from camera without using any intermediary.
While Wi-Fi makes post processing a much easier task, the 6D really shines when you’re shooting, too. The silent shutter mode is absolutely whisper quiet, and while still audible in a silent room, nature and street photographers, and those hoping to be less auspicious in a crowd will definitely appreciate the significant difference between it and the standard shutter sound on any DSLR.
The 6D also feels incredibly solid, even though it isn’t quite as rugged and weather-resistant as the 5D3, and with the attached Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II lens it wasn’t overly heavy, but definitely has a premium, weighty feel compared to the 60D and 7D. The control layout is slightly tweaked from the 5D3, and should make it much easier for those stepping up to a full-frame DSLR from entry-level devices like the Rebel line.
When this camera was initially announced, my only qualms about putting down a pre-order were around the AF system. Now, based on my experience, those qualms are gone. The 6D may only have one center cross-type AF point, compared to the 41 cross-type points on the 5D3′s AF system, but Westfall actually said that AF speed on the 6D could potentially outperform the 5D3 in low-light situations using that single cross-type. With image quality, too, Westfall said that the 6D should be on par with the 5D3 at lower ISOs, but should outperform at higher ISOs, thanks to larger pixels on the full-frame sensor.
I didn’t get much chance to check out the 6D’s video-shooting capabilities, but it seems to perform well enough there, too. I’m a still shooter at heart, however, and the 6D seems to be an amazing camera for photography in every respect, especially for those graduating to full-frame after lots of experience on more affordable APS-C entry-level DSLRs.
The Canon 6D is scheduled to hit retail shelves by December, though I’m told Canon is pushing to maybe bring it out even earlier. This would definitely make a great stocking stuffer for the prosumer crowd, so hopefully we’ll see it sooner rather than later.
Nikon just announced its D600, a $2,100 DSLR with a full-frame sensor. Now, just four days later, we have a similar (and identically priced) offering from Canon. Coincidence? Not likely. Industry backchannel conspiracies aside, however, it’s only to our advantage to have a choice — if you’re looking to upgrade your digital SLR without taking out a second mortgage, you can now pick Nikon’s model, or the EOS 6D from Canon. The latter flavor, which offers built-in WiFi (the D600 requires an adapter), packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and it’s 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, which will remain on the market, targeting professional users. The camera features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 through 102,400, it can shoot 4.5 fps stills and offers 1080/30p video capture. It also has an optical viewfinder, paired with a 3-inch 1.04-million-dot LCD on the rear, which looks just as sharp as you might expect.
What really blew us away, though, is the new camera’s size and weight. It’s more compact than the 5D and even the 7D, an APS-C camera, weighing in at 690 grams — a 20-percent decrease from that larger pro model. 20 percent may not sound like a tremendous improvement, but it’s certainly noticeable, boosting the 6D’s versatility, and making it an ideal choice for street and travel photography. We haven’t had a chance to shoot with the new high-end DSLR just yet, but it felt quite solid in hand, despite the more compact design and significant weight drop. Take a closer look in our gallery below, followed by our hands-on video after the break.
Gallery: Canon EOS 6D hands-on
Continue reading Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video)
Filed under: Cameras
Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Used to be, to get a full-frame sensor in a Canon camera, you had to shell out big bucks for a pro rig like the 5D Mark III or 1D X. No longer. Canon’s just unveiled its EOS 6D, the smallest, lightest and cheapest full-frame DSLR it’s ever made. Weighing 690g, the 6D is 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, and at $2,099, it’s a full $1,400 less than its heftier stablemate — which also puts it directly in line with Nikon’s recently released full-frame shooter, the D600. In addition to that mammoth sensor, the 6D’s the first EOS camera to have built-in WiFi. When paired with the company’s free iOS and Android apps, you can use your phone to change the 6D’s settings, take and geotag photos using the live remote function, and even transfer those shots to your handset wirelessly.
Gallery: Canon EOS 6D press shots
The 6D packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+ image processor that shoots stills at 4.5fps, does HDR (though it only saves the composite image, not the individual shots), and 1080p 30fps video in 29 minute 59 second clips. Its sensitivity runs from ISO 100 up to 102,400 (extended) and has an 11-point autofocus system with an EV -3 sensitivity rating for better low light performance. There’s a 3-inch, 1.04 million dot ClearView LCD on the back to supplement the optical viewfinder, plus it’s got a stereo mic jack to ensure the audio matches the quality of your HD videos. To store your imaging masterpieces, the 6D has a single SD card slot that’s SDHC and SDXC compatible. When it goes on sale this December, the 6D will be sold in two configurations: $2,099 for the body only, and a kit that throws in a 24-105mm f/4L USM zoom lens for $2,899.
Continue reading Canon unveils EOS 6D DSLR: full frame sensor and WiFi for $2,099 in December
Filed under: Cameras
Canon unveils EOS 6D DSLR: full frame sensor and WiFi for $2,099 in December originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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At just $2100 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 the same price for body alone? More »
DigicamInfo says this is the Canon 6D. And if the specs the site obtained are correct, it will be a full frame beast of a camera, but with a price tag that makes it a bit more attainable for mere mortals. The rumored DSLR is believed to have a 20.2-megapixel sensor, DIGIC 5+ CPU, auto ISO range of 100-25600 (max 50-102400), 11-point autofocus, GPS, wi-fi, and a 3-inch LCD in a body the size of an APS-C equipped camera. Whoa. More »
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