Opinions on the Canon 6D
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Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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I've moved mostly to film now and it looks like I've a buyer for my Sony A7Rii, but am loathe to ditch the Petzval lens I have which is an EOS mount and could probably do with a digital camera for if I'm in a hurry, for family use etc.

I'm wondering about the 6D as a cheaper substitute mainly because I'd like to use it with the Petzval (the 85mm, with a pre-purchased 58mm on its way... eventually) and indoors in low light conditions, like church interiors.

So, wonder what people here know/think/have experienced with it?

dogbucket

1,254 posts

225 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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The AF system is a bit dated in regards to action shots, but the centre point is a cross type rated to -3EV, so is great for low light. That lens looks pretty mad tho!

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

278 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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Well the AF system is pointless with a lens 'made' 100 years ago with no autofocus..

I've used a 6D for 3+ years now its an awesome all round body, not the fastest but great image quality and just about the best low light/astro camera.

Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Monday 15th February 2016
quotequote all
Cheers - that pretty much clinches it for me. No AF of course - the Petzval doesn't even have a focus ring (works on a rack & pinion which I wondered about but is ace in practise) and for others I have an adaptor so I can use my Leica R lenses on it, including an awesome macro lens that should work well. I'd be right in assuming that manual focus with legacy lenses is no problem?


Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Monday 15th February 2016
quotequote all
dogbucket said:
The AF system is a bit dated in regards to action shots, but the centre point is a cross type rated to -3EV, so is great for low light. That lens looks pretty mad tho!
It's quite difficult to predict or control the amount of and nature of bokeh, but when got right it does give a unique and lovely effect; not juts the swirls, but it can make specular highlights on things like ornamentation inside churches 'glow'. I've always used it 'wide open', well sort of - you can leave an aperture stop out altogether - so get very little depth of field which I like, being into abstract type shots.

Edited by Bring on the clowns on Monday 15th February 18:46

jonny33

117 posts

202 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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I've been looking at the 6d for a while as I am looking for a full frame upgrade from the 550d. It looks a great camera but the auto focus puts me off. I shoot mostly aero\motorsport as well as some astro. It is also a dated camera now and is due a newer model so you can get some good deals. The rumour mill suggests the 6d mkii will be released after the new 5d mkiv. Neither have any official release dates or info so you could be waitingba while.

Craikeybaby

11,830 posts

249 months

Tuesday 16th February 2016
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I've been toying with the idea of a 6D as a replacement for the stop-gap 5D mk1 I bought 5 years ago, but I'm not sure the AF will be an improvement on the 5D. I guess what I'll really need to do is spend the extra for the 5D mk3.

Gold

1,998 posts

229 months

Tuesday 16th February 2016
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Craikeybaby said:
I've been toying with the idea of a 6D as a replacement for the stop-gap 5D mk1 I bought 5 years ago, but I'm not sure the AF will be an improvement on the 5D. I guess what I'll really need to do is spend the extra for the 5D mk3.
If you're in no rush there will very likely be new models of both this year.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

278 months

Tuesday 16th February 2016
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The AF is certainly an improvement on the 5d2 but only by a degree rather than orders of magnitude like the 5d3

ExPat2B

2,159 posts

224 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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I just don't "get" Canon.

They bring out the 6D that has probably the best current Canon sensor, Wifi, and GPS.

And intentionally cripple the rest of the camera, the autofocus, the FPS and buffer, the card slots, the software ( Jpeg HDR and multiple exposure ) don't give it a flash or the advanced Canon flash control, give it a 97% viewfinder, no 60fps HDMI movies....the list goes on. I used a friends 6D and 24-70 for a weekend, I have never been so frustrated by cripple tech my whole life.

They then leave the 5d model swinging in the wind for 4 years without an update..... so you end up with an entry level full frame with a better sensor and tech than the prosumer model..

All they needed to do was update the 5D *with tech they had already developed and brought to market* and it would have been better in many ways than the Nikon D750, D610, D800 etc

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

278 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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6d sells doe 2/3rds the cost of the 5d3. Do you not understand business at all?

GhostDriver

879 posts

216 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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I usually shoot with my 6d and 5dmk3 at the same time (weddings and events). I love my 6D. So much lighter. As already mentioned the AF is great at the centre with low light. Wifi works perfectly for getting images straight away, and its reliable.
Picture quality is excellent and totally same as my 5d. My main gripe is that the shutter is not as fast, and it can be a bit of a pain when I'm shooter wide open at f1.2 in daylight or with flashes.

On the whole for the price, its an amazing camera and I would thoroughly recommend it, especially if your after bokah type shots as it has a beautiful sensor for that, with a good lens the colour and warmth are stunning.

Bring on the clowns

Original Poster:

1,339 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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Again, thanks. It sounds like a good choice for the images I like to make.

ExPat2B

2,159 posts

224 months

Thursday 18th February 2016
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RobDickinson said:
6d sells doe 2/3rds the cost of the 5d3. Do you not understand business at all?
Precisely, the camera selling at 2/3rds the cost has a better sensor and GPS and WIFI, that makes no business sense, it just end up with the cheaper model stealing sales from the more expensive model. They should have updated the 5D Mk3 years ago.

XB70

2,491 posts

220 months

Thursday 18th February 2016
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This has been an interesting read as I was going to get a 5DMk3 but went for the 6D instead. I have had a love/hate relationship with it (the autofocus does seem from the dark ages and little different to the long-suffering 20D that it replaced). I often thought - I should have got the 5DMk3.

However, the comments above by people far better than my (rubbish) skills have made me feel more at ease now with my decision.

There have been times with a 70-200mm L lens in great light where I have looked at the photo and thought "Wow! I took THAT?"

I really do need to learn how to use it properly though

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

278 months

Thursday 18th February 2016
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It's a case of getting the right tool for the job though.
I rarely use autofocus so I don't mind the 6d at all

boxsternoob56

223 posts

165 months

Thursday 18th February 2016
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I went from a 500D to the 6D and think it was a decent upgrade in many respects...as an amateur you get full frame with decent low light capabilities, wifi & GPS...and it isn't too big or heavy either...a 5D111 would have been my other option and the extra £ isn't justified IMO (for me)...never had an issue with autofocus either