Canon 6D vs 5D mkIII vs 5D mkII
Discussion
Sorry, another what camera thread....
I am getting ready to press the button on a new camera and set on going full frame. I have saved up enough for a 6D body, but I am now having second thoughts about going for this having picked up a friend's 5D III. I've also been reading far too many reviews and now can't see the wood for the trees. To further complicate things I've also been toying with the idea of a used 5D II and some extra glass as the performance doesn't seem far off a 6D. So if you guys had £1500 burning a hole in your wallet, what would you do? 6D or secondhand 5D II and a new lens or should I hold off and save up the extra £££ i need for the mkIII?
One of the things I am keen to know from any 6D owners is if they have any buyer's remorse and wish they had bought a 5DIII instead.
I should add that I mostly shoot landscapes and interior shots for my business and have a couple of primes and a 17-40 lens which will fit any camera I go for.
I am getting ready to press the button on a new camera and set on going full frame. I have saved up enough for a 6D body, but I am now having second thoughts about going for this having picked up a friend's 5D III. I've also been reading far too many reviews and now can't see the wood for the trees. To further complicate things I've also been toying with the idea of a used 5D II and some extra glass as the performance doesn't seem far off a 6D. So if you guys had £1500 burning a hole in your wallet, what would you do? 6D or secondhand 5D II and a new lens or should I hold off and save up the extra £££ i need for the mkIII?
One of the things I am keen to know from any 6D owners is if they have any buyer's remorse and wish they had bought a 5DIII instead.
I should add that I mostly shoot landscapes and interior shots for my business and have a couple of primes and a 17-40 lens which will fit any camera I go for.
5d3 - best all rounder. Best AF, highest resolution, best build, most ergonomic and performance orientated. Most expensive.
6d - Best low light IQ, best low ISO IQ if you push the files. Average AF but great in low light. 2nd best build.
5d2 - Showing its age, not bad IQ and really you would be hard pushed to notice a real difference to the other 2 above unless you were told. Slow in operation, clunky , poorest build. Has few advantages over the 6d, possible cost, 1/200th flash synch and Pc socket and the ergonomics of the joystick but tbh its very underused with the 5d2 af system.
If it moves get the 5d3. If it doesnt get the 6d.
If you find an absolute bargain or need pc synch get the 5d2.
6d - Best low light IQ, best low ISO IQ if you push the files. Average AF but great in low light. 2nd best build.
5d2 - Showing its age, not bad IQ and really you would be hard pushed to notice a real difference to the other 2 above unless you were told. Slow in operation, clunky , poorest build. Has few advantages over the 6d, possible cost, 1/200th flash synch and Pc socket and the ergonomics of the joystick but tbh its very underused with the 5d2 af system.
If it moves get the 5d3. If it doesnt get the 6d.
If you find an absolute bargain or need pc synch get the 5d2.
Great timing with this thread, as I'm looking into this very same question myself at the moment.
I was swaying towards the 6D so far tbh. The weighty shift upwards in price for the 5D3 isn't quite warranting itself atm. Maybe I just don't know enough about the 5D3's features yet..
I'd be using this mainly for architectural shoots, teamed up with the TS-E 17mm lens
I was swaying towards the 6D so far tbh. The weighty shift upwards in price for the 5D3 isn't quite warranting itself atm. Maybe I just don't know enough about the 5D3's features yet..
I'd be using this mainly for architectural shoots, teamed up with the TS-E 17mm lens
RobDickinson said:
6D and the phone app! or live view anyhow.
For focusing?I used live view on the 5D2, and most recently with my 7D and it works a treat. I found the 7D's built in level really handy for leveling the body up prior to tilting the lens too, so that's a feature I'd like to use again.
Also looking to go for the TS-E 17mm, plus a 1.4x extender for when 17mm is too wide. Feel free to advise on that decision too

17tse + the 1.4tc works well.
Live view for focusing + exposure simulation for metering too, the standard metering goes mad with tse's.
I didnt try the phone app with my tse as my phone is crap. Not sure if it will help or hinder.
6d has built in level but not 3 axis only 1 or 2 I think. Anyhow the 7d's level was handy but not that accurate, more accurate than me most times!
Live view for focusing + exposure simulation for metering too, the standard metering goes mad with tse's.
I didnt try the phone app with my tse as my phone is crap. Not sure if it will help or hinder.
6d has built in level but not 3 axis only 1 or 2 I think. Anyhow the 7d's level was handy but not that accurate, more accurate than me most times!

PGD5 said:
Are memory cards unreliable enough for this to be an issue? Never had one fail myself..
Christ man, touch some wood!I've not had one fail either, but I don't like the idea of it happening either.
A chap over on TP had one fail this week, it's not common but not unheard of either.
Thanks for the responses chaps, really useful. I think that I am coming back to the 6D, I'm not too bothered about dual slots as I've managed fine for the last 3 years with only one on my 550D, and like PGD I can always go back and re-shoot. Frankly I'm more likely to forget to put the card back in from the computer.
On a related note, has anyone used HDEW? Their prices are competitive, which I assume they are grey imports, but they offer a 3 year warranty. They are relatively local to me.
On a related note, has anyone used HDEW? Their prices are competitive, which I assume they are grey imports, but they offer a 3 year warranty. They are relatively local to me.
I'm also debating this. I use a 6D for work occasionally, and love it for static stuff, portraits etc. Don't use it for action photos as I have 1D's for that.
For my personal stuff I want to upgrade from my 40D and go full frame.
I did debate the 5D Mk II, but it's quite old now, and the Mk III costs a lot more. So I think the 6D is the best bit, and I have had some practical experience with it.
The only thing I don't like is that it only takes SD card, and I have a massive pile of CF cards!
For my personal stuff I want to upgrade from my 40D and go full frame.
I did debate the 5D Mk II, but it's quite old now, and the Mk III costs a lot more. So I think the 6D is the best bit, and I have had some practical experience with it.
The only thing I don't like is that it only takes SD card, and I have a massive pile of CF cards!
londonagent said:
On a related note, has anyone used HDEW? Their prices are competitive, which I assume they are grey imports, but they offer a 3 year warranty. They are relatively local to me.
I bought my 6D from HDEW and before that i bought my G1X from them. No issues, except they debit your card straight away even if the item isn't in stock. I bought the 6D body, but it came in a box that formed part of a kit with a 24-105 - they didnt forget to remove the lens! UK instructions and charger plug. You wont qualify for any canon rebates though.markmullen said:
PGD5 said:
Are memory cards unreliable enough for this to be an issue? Never had one fail myself..
Christ man, touch some wood!I've not had one fail either, but I don't like the idea of it happening either.
A chap over on TP had one fail this week, it's not common but not unheard of either.
On a couple of occasions I've had a corrupted image on a card but for the first time I had one fail completely on me last week. I'd downloaded all the images from a wedding off my cards, backed up to an external hard drive and then went to reformat the cards in the camera. The camera refused to recognise one of them and no joy by putting it back in the card reader either.
londonagent said:
Sorry, another what camera thread....
I am getting ready to press the button on a new camera and set on going full frame. I have saved up enough for a 6D body, but I am now having second thoughts about going for this having picked up a friend's 5D III. I've also been reading far too many reviews and now can't see the wood for the trees. To further complicate things I've also been toying with the idea of a used 5D II and some extra glass as the performance doesn't seem far off a 6D. So if you guys had £1500 burning a hole in your wallet, what would you do? 6D or secondhand 5D II and a new lens or should I hold off and save up the extra £££ i need for the mkIII?
One of the things I am keen to know from any 6D owners is if they have any buyer's remorse and wish they had bought a 5DIII instead.
I should add that I mostly shoot landscapes and interior shots for my business and have a couple of primes and a 17-40 lens which will fit any camera I go for.
Tart I am getting ready to press the button on a new camera and set on going full frame. I have saved up enough for a 6D body, but I am now having second thoughts about going for this having picked up a friend's 5D III. I've also been reading far too many reviews and now can't see the wood for the trees. To further complicate things I've also been toying with the idea of a used 5D II and some extra glass as the performance doesn't seem far off a 6D. So if you guys had £1500 burning a hole in your wallet, what would you do? 6D or secondhand 5D II and a new lens or should I hold off and save up the extra £££ i need for the mkIII?
One of the things I am keen to know from any 6D owners is if they have any buyer's remorse and wish they had bought a 5DIII instead.
I should add that I mostly shoot landscapes and interior shots for my business and have a couple of primes and a 17-40 lens which will fit any camera I go for.
First world problems eh? 
One potential benefit I could guess at with the 6D (if you get the right model) is the WiFi and connected remote control. Can be done other ways of course but not necessarily quite as easily and without buying more gizmos. (Obviously for some the lack of need for buying more toys might be offputting ...
)
The idea of being able to pack the camera right into the corner of a small room and operate via a mobile device from a different room might be useful from time to time. Likewise being able to work from different angles, maybe more easily avoid being in the frame or reflections in things, etc., etc..
Could work very well with landscapes as well.
Just a few thoughts on practicalities that may not at first be evident - and may not be of any use of course!
) The idea of being able to pack the camera right into the corner of a small room and operate via a mobile device from a different room might be useful from time to time. Likewise being able to work from different angles, maybe more easily avoid being in the frame or reflections in things, etc., etc..
Could work very well with landscapes as well.
Just a few thoughts on practicalities that may not at first be evident - and may not be of any use of course!
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