By virtue of its design and functionality, the Canon EOS 6D is a full-frame 20.2MP DSLR that captures images with remarkable clarity and detail while also being compatible and convenient to use in a variety of situations. With the strong DIGIC 5+ image processor and 14-bit A/D conversion, the full-frame sensor is capable of capturing vibrant images with increased sensitivity up to ISO 102400 when used in conjunction with the camera. Intelligent noise reduction techniques and the capacity to capture continuous still pictures at a rate of up to 4.5 full quality frames per second are also made possible by the processing capability.
With an 11-point autofocus system, the 6D is capable of gaining accurate focus regardless of the shooting circumstances. This system is further strengthened by the inclusion of a central cross-type focus point that improves low-light focus sensitivity. With the autofocus system in place, the iFCL-63 dual-layer metering sensor may benefit from the focusing system when taking exposure measurements. The sensor evaluates color and brightness data inside the scene to calculate precise exposure settings.
Up to 1080/30p video recording is feasible in the All I-frame or IPB compression format, as is the standard H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec. Full HD video recording is also possible in the All I-frame or IPB compression format. When shooting HD video, you have total manual control over the exposure and sound, allowing you to have complete control over the final appearance of your movies.
The 6D is also equipped with Wi-Fi and GPS technologies, which enable it to communicate with a wide range of devices. When combined with the Canon EOS Remote software (available for iOS and Android), the built-in Wi-Fi functionality of the 6D allows you to take remote control of the camera and quickly send photographs from your camera to your phone via the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY. With the GPS receiver, you can automatically collect locational data and incorporate this information into the metadata of your photographs, allowing you to geotag your shots and map out the locations of each shot.
When compared to other full-frame DSLRs, the 6D has a smaller body size, yet it still includes a huge 3.0″ 1,040K-dot TFT LCD panel for crisp playback and evaluation of your photos. The body’s structure incorporates an aluminum alloy and polycarbonate chassis under a magnesium and polycarbonate shell to provide durability while yet keeping a low overall weight.
Full-frame CMOS sensor with 20.2 Megapixels and 14-bit A/D conversion, as well as a DIGIC 5+ image processor
Image quality is enhanced by the use of the big, full-frame 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is designed with particular consideration paid to sharpness, detail, and the representation of colors and tones within a scene. Larger sensors can produce more visual depth and smoother gradients and tonal transitions than smaller sensors because of the more information and detail they contain. Additionally, a big sensor gives you more control over the plane of focus and the ability to use selective focus techniques with greater ease.
This sensor produces pictures with a maximum resolution of 5472 x 3648 pixels and a pixel size of 6.55 m square, allowing for better light reception and a higher signal-to-noise ratio than previous generations. Because of the strong collaboration between this pixel structure with the DIGIC 5+ image processor and its 14-bit A/D converter, a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-25600 is achieved, which can be further extended to ISO 50-102400.
In addition to improving the 6D’s low-light sensitivity, the DIGIC 5+ processor improves the camera’s overall speed and power. It also makes use of twin 4-channel A/D converter front-end processing circuits to speed up the conversion of both JPEG and RAW file formats. This offers a maximum continuous shooting rate of 4.5 full-resolution frames per second, as well as improved noise reduction while operating at higher ISOs when compared to previous models. When dealing with both still and moving images, the DIGIC 5+ engine also delivers real-time correction for chromatic aberration in real time.
Autofocus System with 11 Points
The 6D is equipped with an 11-point autofocus system that allows for quick and precise focusing regardless of the subject matter or working environment. These 11 points provide equal coverage throughout the whole frame, while a more refined central cross-type point with EV -3 sensitivity delivers more efficient and precise low-light focusing in low-light environments. Individuals may choose between single-shot AF, AI Servo AF, and AI Focus AF, based on their specific requirements. Additionally, the AI Servo mode is highly adjustable in terms of focus tracking, acceleration and deceleration sensitivity, and first or second picture priority modifications. While dealing with wide-angle or telephoto lenses, lens data may also be entered and changed within the camera, allowing for better focus refinement when working with the lens.
A big, brilliant pentaprism viewfinder with a 21mm eyepoint and 97 percent frame coverage for good observation of the scene is also included in the 6D, which contributes to fine focus. This architecture has a significant impact on the manual focusing skills as well as the overall composition in low light.
A Dual Layer Metering Sensor with 63 Zones from iFCL.
With the use of the autofocus system, an intelligent metering system may be used to determine the most exact exposure settings by analyzing focus, color, and brightness within the scene individually. A total of 63 zones provide excellent detail coverage of the full image region, and the dual-layer construction allows for greater sensitivity to different wavelengths of light.
The dual layers are divided into two channels: a red/green channel and a blue/green channel, which works to counteract the red light sensitivity bias that electronic sensors have by their very definition. In order to merge the data obtained from both layers, a series of algorithms is used, with the resulting exposure reading being exceptionally precise independent of the shooting conditions.
It is possible to adjust the exposure using evaluative, center-weighted, and spot metering methods with this metering system, which also has an exposure compensation range of +/- 5 EV, allowing for more precise manipulation of the determined exposure setting.
EOS HD Video (High Definition Video)
Full HD video recording is available in a variety of codecs, including 1080/30p, 24p, and 25p; 720/60p, 50p; and 480/60p, 50p; among others. In order to achieve longer continuous recording lengths, a 4GB automated file partition is used during video recording. This allows for continuous recording times of up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. It is possible to use both All I-frame (which requires a UHS-I memory card) and IPB compressions, in addition to the regular H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec. If you’re recording with numerous cameras, it’s also feasible to include the time code to make things even more convenient.
The ability to manually modify your exposure settings and audio levels further improve video performance. Exposure can be modified using both aperture and shutter speed variables, and sound can be regulated using the 64-level volume control. An external stereo microphone, which connects to the computer through the 3.5mm microphone connector, can also be utilized.
The DIGIC 5+ processor also significantly increases video reaction times and aids in the reduction of color artifacts, aberrations, and moiré, while also enabling the use of ISO sensitivity levels as high as ISO 25600 in H mode and allowing for the recording of 4K video.
Wi-Fi and GPS are built in.
Because of the camera’s integrated Wi-Fi and GPS technology, it can communicate with other devices in a highly useful manner, including the ability to instantly share photos from your camera and geotag photographs.
When you use Canon’s proprietary iOS and Android software, Canon EOS Remote, you can manage exposure settings remotely from your smartphone, allowing you to make exposures and alter camera settings from a distance. You may also use your smart smartphone to evaluate images captured by your camera and to transfer data wirelessly across devices. The 6D is fully compatible with the DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance), allowing you to share your photographs from the camera with other home items like as HDTVs, iPads, and other Wi-Fi-enabled Canon cameras. You may also upload still photographs straight to CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, which will allow you to share them with friends and family on social networking sites without the need for a computer.
Similar to a digital camera, a GPS receiver is capable of recording locational data (longitude, latitude, altitude, and universal coordinated time) as EXIF data, which is then embedded into your image files for later retrieval. This then allows you to monitor the location of where your photographs were captured and to see the precise journey you took.
Designing for Efficiency
The EOS 6D incorporates a big full-frame sensor into a small, portable chassis, allowing for more mobility without losing image quality or performance. The chassis is made of aluminum alloy and polycarbonate, and the exterior is made of magnesium and polycarbonate for further durability and strength. The shutter has a life expectancy of 100,000 cycles.
An Integrated Cleaning System, which allows for the removal of interior dust, also contributes to the efficiency of the design. To counteract the impacts of dust within the housing, the glass filter is cleaned using ultrasonic vibration, and the dust particles are collected by an adsorbent. Ultrasonic vibration and an adsorbent are used to clean the glass filter. This device is entirely sealed against the entry of external pollutants, and the optical low-pass filter has an anti-dust fluorine coating to make it easier to remove larger dust particles from the environment.
Clear View LCD Monitor with a 3.0″ diagonal display
With a 1,040,000-dot resolution and an anti-reflection coating, the 3.0″ Clear View TFT LCD delivers high-quality viewing at a low price. In even the brightest of lighting settings, this enables for crisp and clear viewing, and it presents pictures and movies with a great deal of depth and richness. In addition, the display has a viewing angle of up to 160°, allowing for examination from the side or below.
The usage of a smaller display in combination with Live View mode causes the picture to be overlaid over the larger one. While in Live View mode, you may study your image in real time, and you can also add grid lines over your image to aid with composition. When it comes to maintaining uniform vistas or aligning up parallel lines within a scene, the built-in electronic level comes in handy. When in Live View, you may also zoom into and explore inside the image, and you can utilize the grid lines to fine-tune the alignment of your shot down to the millimeter.
HDR and several exposure modes are pre-installed on the camera.
A High Dynamic Range (HDR) option is provided, which enables the generation of HDR photographs in-camera, saving time by eliminating the need to manually overlay images in post-production after the fact. When employing this mode, a series of bracketed exposures of the same image is taken and then automatically merged into the same frame, resulting in a shot with no blown highlights or blocked up shadows, as well as a wide variety of tones in the middle of the image’s tones. This setting is particularly beneficial when taking scenes with a high level of contrast, as described above.
When shooting in-camera, it is also possible to make multiple exposures, with a total of up to nine exposures being recorded onto a single file utilizing two different control settings. When in Additive mode, the process is quite similar to that of producing many exposures on film, with each exposure being layered on top of the previous one; manual exposure correction is necessary. Using average mode, you may overlay your photographs and have the camera automatically corrects for the final exposure, which eliminates the unwanted risk of excessive under or overexposure. The ability to record several exposures in either JPEG or RAW formats is available, and you can also use an existing RAW image as a starting point from which to overlay subsequent shots, which may then be modified in real-time on the LCD is also available.
Modes such as Scene Intelligent Auto and Special Scene are available.
Scene Intelligent Auto mode combines a variety of Canon’s automated exposure technologies to provide a well-refined exposure that is not possible with other modes. All of the automatic features, such as Picture Style Auto and Auto Lighting Optimizer as well as Autofocus and Automatic Exposure, are used to intelligently evaluate the situation in front of you and provide the most effective exposure settings to clearly represent your subject matter.
Particularly useful are the Special Scene settings, which apply a series of modifications to your images to help them look their best in more difficult lighting circumstances. Handheld Night Scene automatically records four successive exposures at shutter speeds that are quick enough to be held in one hand and then layers them into a single picture. Using this method, you may capture high-quality photographs in low-light conditions without the need for a tripod or image stabilization gear. HDR Backlight Control operates in a similar fashion, recording a series of exposures at various values to guarantee that the highlights and shadows are not lost throughout the processing process. Images that are underexposed and overexposed are combined to generate a final image with a greater dynamic range.
Canon EOS 6D specifications
| Body type | Mid-size SLR |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy, polycarbonate top plate |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 5472 x 3648 |
| Other resolutions | 3648 x 2432, 2736 x 1824, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 21 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Digic 5+ |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | RGB Color Filter Array |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100 – 25600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 51200, 102400 as option |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 50 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 102400 |
| White balance presets | 6 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, Normal |
| File format | JPEG (Exif 2.3), RAW: RAW (5472 x 3648), M RAW (4104 x 2736), S RAW (2736 x 1824) (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaSelective single-pointSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | by optional dedicated Speedlite |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 11 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF |
| Focal length multiplier | 1× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | Clear View II TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 97% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.71× |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (Hot shoe) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/180 sec |
| Continuous drive | 4.5 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) |
| Format | H.264 |
| Videography notes | 1080 and 720 intra or inter frame, 480 inter frame |
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (HDMI Mini) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Remote control | Yes (Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes (Splash and dust resistant) |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 1090 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 770 g (1.70 lb / 27.16 oz) |
| Dimensions | 145 x 111 x 71 mm (5.71 x 4.37 x 2.8″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (by cable and PC) |
| GPS | Built-in |
| GPS notes | Image tagging and tracking modes |
Verdict
When compared to its competitors, the EOS 6D does not offer the depth of features that its best competitors do. However, it does combine very good image quality with impressive high ISO performance and class-leading low-light autofocus ability (thanks to the central AF point), as well as powerful built-in Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities.
