Canon EOS mag

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New products EOS 6D full-frame DSLR

comparison chart

EOS 6D information Left The layout on the back of the EOS 6D is simpler than that of the EOS 5D Mark III (below). Most of the buttons are

EOS 6D

EOS 5D Mark III

EOS 60D

EOS 7D*

Internet inferno Canon has caused much confusion among internet bloggers with its latest camera announcements. Some complained about the lack of a built-in flash and optical viewfinder on the EOS M (see page 30). Others used this mirrorless model to predict the end of the single-lens reflex camera. The full-frame EOS 6D was greeted with protests about the lack of built-in flash (again), the relatively low number of AF points, the low flash synchronisation speed (only 1/180 second) and even the inclusion of ‘gimmicky’ features such as Wi-Fi and GPS. Some claimed that the EOS 6D was the beginning of the end for APC-S cameras and even started berating Canon for ‘conning’ users into buying EF-S lenses which would be useless when upgrading to full-frame. The fuller picture So what is really happening? Well, EOS magazine has no insider information of Canon’s plans, but we can offer a perspective based on experience and research. First, Canon is an international company producing products for a global market. Japan, USA and Europe are major outlets, but India and China, among others, are becoming increasingly important. A camera which enjoys modest sales in one country might be very popular in another. Second, Canon does not design a camera for a specific individual. This will come as a shock to some internet bloggers, who feel aggrieved if the latest model does not address a previous complaint they made, or fails to improve on the specification of a camera they already own. The EOS 6D is a case in point. It has been introduced as an entry level full-frame DSLR, so it is perverse to criticise it for not having the features of a mid-range full-frame camera or a top-of-the range APS-C model. More choice Neither the EOS M nor the EOS 6D replace previous models. They have been introduced to expand the market by offering more choice to consumers. It is a strategy which has worked well for Canon and many other manufacturers. Here at EOS magazine we have no concerns over the long-term viability of mirrorless cameras, APS-C format DSLRs and full-frame DSLRs.

Right Copy

Right Copy

now grouped around the Quick Control Dial. Two buttons are missing (circled below) – these operate the creative display and the rating system. Neither feature is available on the EOS 6D. The multi-controller now surrounds the SET button.

Autumn 2012

Spring 2012

Autumn 2010

October 2009

Announced Lens mount

EF (not compatible with EF-S lenses)

compatible with EF and EF-S lenses

effective megapixels

20.2

22.3

18.0

18.0

CMOS Sensor

size (approx)

36 x 24mm (full-frame)

22.3 x 14.9mm (APS-C)

type

TTL pentaprism

coverage/magnification

97% / 0.71x

100% / 0.71x

96% / 0.95x

100% / 1.0x

Viewfinder

dioptric correction

-3 to +1.0 dioptre built-in

SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-1 compatible

CF+SD/SDHC/SDXC (two card slots)

SD/SDHC/SDXC

CF

Recording media

DIGIC 5+

DIGIC 5+

DIGIC 4

Dual DIGIC 4

Image processor File type recording

raw, JPEG, raw+JPEG, MOV

Above and right There is a new battery grip for the EOS 6D – with the smaller body, the grip for the EOS 5D Mark III will not fit. BG-E13 provides additional power for extended shooting while also making it easier to shoot both vertically and horizontally. It can be used with two LP-E6 batteries to double the number of shots possible with a single battery. Six AA batteries can be used when it is not possible to recharge the main batteries.

type

TTL full aperture with 63-zone SPC ±5 stops in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments ±3 stops in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments

Exposure metering

exposure compensation autoexposure bracketing

standard range extended values

100 to 25600

100 to 6400

ISO settings

50, 51200, 102400

12800

AF points

11

61

9

19

AF working range AF microadjustment

EV -3 to +18

EV -2 to +18 available 3.2-inches 1,040,000

EV -0.5 to +18

Autofocus

Left In keeping with the other EOS full-frame models, the 6D does not have built-in flash. This improves the weather protection – there are fewer joints for water to seep through. Canon says that the EOS 6D body is dust and drip-proof. If you want to use flash, there is a range of EX-series Speedlites available. As a built-in flash replacement we recommend the Speedlite 270EX II. This has a guide number of 27 – more than twice that of most built-in flash units. However, the high ISO values and the ability of the AF system to focus in low light might mean that you need flash less often than with some previous models. Canon says that the construction of the EOS 6D body is part-magnesium. It does not go into details, but it is likely that part of the body is non-metallic to allow operation of the GPS and Wi-Fi systems.

–

–

available

size

3.0-inches

3.0-inches

LCD monitor

pixels

920,000

maximum speed

1/4000 second 1/180 second

1/8000 second

Shutter

maximum flash sync.

1/200 second

1/250 second

GN 13 GN 12 built-in flash acts as wireless master

built-in

–

Flash

external

E-TTL II compatible with EX-series Speedlites

maximum speed

4.5fps

6fps

5.3fps 58/16

8fps

Continuous shooting

max. burst (JPEG/raw)

1250/17

16,270/18

130/25

available for still photography and movie recording

Live View

Movie size

Full HD, HD, SD

built-in microphone headphone terminal

none none

built-in mono

Movie mode

provided

none

20/tba

13/47

20/59

27/70

Custom functions (number/settings)

battery pack

LP-E6

Battery and approx. battery life

Who will buy the EOS 6D? Where is the market for the EOS 6D? The killer feature for some current EOS owners will be the built-in GPS. EXIF data freed us from recording technical data with notepad and pencil. GPS means that we will not need to write down where an image was taken either. But we think that the camera will also have a strong appeal to people looking to buy their first DSLR. The wireless connectivity and the promised EOS Remote app gives a two-way link to smartphones, which many will find hard to resist. Of course, these features are already available to some EOS users from wireless accessories, Eye-Fi SD cards and GPS units, but these do not have the appeal of a camera with everything built-in.

23°/0°C - no live view 23°/0°C - with live view

1090/980 220/190

950/850 200/180

1100/1000

800/750 220/210

320/280

w x h x d

144 x 110 x 71mm 152 x 116 x 76mm 144 x 106 x 77mm 148 x 111 x 73mm

Size and weight

body + card + battery

755g

950g

755g

900g

battery grip

BG-E13 built-in built-in

BG-E11 GP-E2 WFT-E7

BG-E9

BG-E7 GP-E2

GPS

– –

Wireless file transmitter

WFT-E5 RS-80N3

Other features

Remote switch

RS-80N3

RS-60E3

Wireless controller

LC-5 / RC-6

RC-6

LC-5 / RC-6

£1799.99 £1699.99 * EOS 7D with firmware upgrade 2.0.0 E&OE £2999.99 £1049.99

Price (RRP)

14 Reproduced from EOS magazine October-December 2012

Reproduced from EOS magazine October-December 2012 15