Canon 6D Mk II

26MP Full-Frame, 6.5 FPS, ISO 102,400, 1,080/60p HDR, 4K Time-Lapse Stereo

Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mark II (27.0 oz./765g with battery and card, $1,399 new or about $900 used if you know How to Win at eBay) and Canon 50mm f/1.2 L. bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

It comes as body-only for $1,399 and as a kit with 24-105 L IS II for $2,499 (lens review).

This junk-free private website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

August 2022   Canon Reviews   Canon Lenses   Canon Flash   All Reviews

Pro DSLRs Compared.

Original Canon 6D (2012-).

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

 

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

 

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II and Canon 50mm f/1.2 L. bigger.

 

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

 

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

 

Sample Images

(more at High ISO Performance)

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

Katie at her desk

Katie working on her MacBook Air, 1:11 PM, 23 December 2017. Canon 6D Mk II, Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L, f/1.2 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 640, Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution file.

 

Due to the 6D II's great lens compensation and image processing, I can use old non-L lenses from decades ago for great pictures. These next three shots are made with a $100 used 28-135mm lens:

Warbird at Sunset, Palm Springs Air Museum

Warbird at Sunset, New Year's Day 2018. Canon 6D Mk II, Canon EF 28-135mm IS at 135mm at f/5.6 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution file or camera-original file.

 

Warbird at Sunset, Palm Springs Air Museum

Flying Tiger" P-40 Warhawk, New Year's Day 2018. Canon 6D Mk II, Canon EF 28-135mm IS at 28mm at f/3.5 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution file or camera-original file.

 

Japanese Lantern

Japanese Lantern, 05 January 2018. Canon 6D Mk II, Canon EF 28-135mm IS at 70mm at f/5 at 1/40 at Auto ISO 640, as shot. bigger or camera-original file.

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Introduction

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

New   Good   Bad   Missing

Adorama Pays Top Dollar for Used Gear

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Crutchfield

The Canon 6D Mark II is a fantastic and inexpensive full-frame DSLR, offering extraordinary technical image quality in a lightweight package.

It is a new version of 2012's original Canon 6D.

The low cost comes from having fewer controls than fancier Canons like my 5DSR. The image quality is the same, but it may take some more fiddling to make changes to settings than with more expensive cameras.

I got my 6D Mk II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

New

New since the original Canon 6D:

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com 26 MP, up from 20 MP.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com 6.5 FPS, up from 4.5 FPS.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com 45 AF points, up from 11.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com As-shot 4:3, 1:1 square and 16:9 crop modes (even the 5D Mk IV doesn't have these!).

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com New, additional control button near the shutter button.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com Flipping LCD.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com Touch-screen LCD.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com Bluetooth.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com NFC.

blue ball icon © KenRockwell.com GPS now has a Mode 2 option that turns off the GPS when the camera is off to save your battery. The original 6D left the GPS on all the time if you had it activated.

 

Good

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com This and the original 6D are the lightest full-frame DSLRs ever. Sony's top full-frame mirrorless cameras aren't much lighter.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Superb technical image quality.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com In-camera, as-shot 4:3, 1:1 (square) and 16:9 crops.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Works flawlessly with all Canon EF lenses made since 1987; never any incompatibilities which are a growing sore spot with the once-great Nikon system.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Quiet shutter mode.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com Weather resistant.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com High quality domestic Japanese production, not offshored to China or Thailand like Sony or Nikon.

green ball icon © KenRockwell.com 100% USA-based high-quality technical support at (800) OK-CANON.

 

Bad

red ball icon © KenRockwell.com Rotation sensor not always accurate; some images occasionally might be rotated the wrong way.

 

Missing

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No built-in flash.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No facial recognition for regular shooting, so you have to select focus points manually when photographing people — a big slow-down compared to most mirrorless and higher-end DSLRs today.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No second card slot.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No automatic LCD brightness control.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com No rear thumb-nubbin controller.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com 45 AF points, but like all full-frame DSLRs, they're all in crammed into the center.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com 4K video only in Time Lapse mode; regular video is 1,080 maximum.

gray ball icon © KenRockwell.com Cropped modes are good, but the finder only shows crop lines — it doesn't gray-out the cropped areas.

 

Lens Compatibility

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

I got my 6D Mk II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

The 6D Mk II works flawlessly with all Canon EF lenses made since 1987.

It won't work with EF-S or EF-M lenses, which are for APS-C cameras.

 

Specifications

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

 

I got my 6D Mk II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Image Sensor

26 MP.

24.0 × 35.9mm CMOS.

Anti-alias filter.

5.67 µm pixel pitch.

3:2 aspect ratio.

1.0× crop factor (full-frame).

Ultrasonic cleaner.

 

ISO

Stills

ISO 100 ~ 40,000 in normal modes.

ISO 50 ~ 102,400 in expanded mode (you have to enable ISO 50, ISO H1 51,600 and ISO H2 102,400 in a menu if you want to use them).

 

Video

ISO 100 ~ 25,600.

 

Auto ISO

Yes, should be very flexible.

 

Image Sizes       specifications       top

Native 3:2

JPG

6,240 × 4,160 pixels Large (native, 26 MP).

4,160 × 2,768 pixels Medium (11.5 MP).

3,120 × 2,080 pixels Small 1 (6.5 MP).

2,400 × 1,600 pixels Small 2 (4 MP).

 

Raw

6,240 × 4,160 pixels RAW (26 MP).

4,680 × 3,120 pixels mRAW (14.6 MP).

3,120 × 2,080 pixels sRAW (6.5 MP).

 

4:3 crops

JPG

5,536 × 4,160 pixels Large (23 MP).

3,680 × 2,768 pixels Medium (10 MP).

2,768 × 2,080 pixels Small 1 (5.6 MP).

2,112 × 1,600 pixels Small 2 (3.4 MP).

 

Raw*

5,536 × 4,160 pixels RAW (23 MP).

2,768 × 2,080 pixels sRAW (5.6 MP).

*all data is saved and the desired crop is included in the file data.

 

Square (1:1) crops

JPG

4,160 × 4,160 pixels Large (17 MP).

2,768 × 2,768 pixels Medium (7.7 MP).

2,080 × 2,080 pixels Small 1 (4.3 MP).

1,600 × 1,600 pixels Small 2 (2.6 MP).

 

Raw*

4,160 × 4,160 pixels RAW (17 MP).

2,080 × 2,080 pixels sRAW (4.3 MP).

*all data is saved and the desired crop is included in the file data.

 

16:9 crops

JPG

6,240 × 3,504 pixels Large (22 MP).

4,160 × 2,336 pixels Medium (9.7 MP).

3,120× 1,752 pixels Small 1 (5.5 MP).

2,400 × 1,344 pixels Small 2 (3.2 MP).

 

Raw*

6,240 × 3,504 pixels RAW (22 MP).

3,120 × 1,752 pixels sRAW (5.5 MP).

*all data is saved and the desired crop is included in the file data.

 

Still Formats & Color Spaces       specifications       top

JPG and/or raw.

sRGB and Adobe RGB.

 

Video       specifications       top

File Format

MP4 file holding MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 video and AAC audio.

 

Frame Sizes and Rates

1,920 × 1,080 at 59.94 IPB Standard (60 MBPS), 29.97 IPB Standard (30 MBPS) or Light (12 MBPS), 23.976 IPB Standard (30 MBPS).

There's an option for HDR at 1,080. This preserves highlight and shadow detail.

1,280 × 720 at 59.94 IPB Standard (26 MBPS), 29.97 IPB Light (4 MBPS).

 

Time-Lapse Movies       specifications       top

MOS (no sound).

4K/29.97: MOV file holding Motion JPEG (500 MBPS).

1,080/29.97: All I-frame (90 MBPS).

 

Audio       specifications       top

Recorded only along with video.

Stereo microphones built in.

Mic-in jack with plug-in power overrides built-in mic.

No headphone jack.

 

Autofocus       specifications       top

Canon 6D Mk II finder

Canon 6D Mk II finder.

45 AF points, all in the center of the frame as with all full-frame DSLRs.

All 45 points work with lenses not slower than f/5.6 and focus on both horizontal and vertical lines (cross-type) and work down to LV -½.

The center point offers extra precision with f/2.8 lenses and works down to LV -3 with an f/2.8 lens, or works down to LV -2 with an f/5.6 lens.

The central 27 points also work with lenses or teleconverter combinations as slow as f/8, however at f/8 only the central 9 are still cross-type. You need f/5.6 for the rest to work as cross-points.

There's an AF assist light.

For Live View, it has Dual Pixel CMOS AF, with phase detection pixels on the sensor as well.

 

Light Meter       specifications       top

7,560 pixel RGB + IR sensor.

63-zone (7 × 9) metering.

Modes:

1.) Evaluative, keyed to active AF point.

2.) 6.5% partial metering.

3.) 3.2% spot.

4.) Center-weighted.

Rated to work from LV +1  ~  LV +20, but they usually work well beyond this.

 

Finder       specifications       top

98% coverage.

0.71× magnification with 50mm lens.

33.3º apparent angle.

21mm eyepoint.

-3 ~ +1 diopters.

Fixed focus screen.

 

Shutter       specifications       top

1/180 flash sync.

1/4,000 ~  30 seconds, Bulb.

Vertical metal focal plane.

2- or 10-second self timer, one to ten shots each time.

Shutter delay rated 60 milliseconds.

Turn-on time rated 200 milliseconds.

 

Frame Rates       specifications       top

6.5 FPS with tracking autofocus and exposure.

3 FPS in Continuous Low setting.

 

Buffer (Burst) Sizes       specifications       top

100 frames JPG; 150 frames with a UHS-I card.

18 frames RAW, 21 frames RAW with a UHS-I card.

21 frames mRAW, 23 frames mRAW with a UHS-I card.

25 frames sRAW, regardless of card type.

25 frames RAW + JPG, regardless of card type.

18 frames mRAW + JPG, regardless of card type.

19 frames sRAW + JPG, regardless of card type.

 

Remote Release       specifications       top

Phone app.

 

Flash       specifications       top

1/180 flash sync speed.

E-TTL II system, which has been Canon's standard for years.

 

Built-in Flash

NONE.

 

External Flash

Dedicated hot shoe.

Prontor-Compur (PC) sync terminal.

 

Live View       specifications       top

For video and for stills.

29.97 FPS.

5× and 10× magnifiers.

Meter works from LV 0  ~  LV +20.

 

LCD Monitor       specifications       top

Canon 6D Mk II flipping LCD

Canon 6D Mk II flipping LCD. bigger.

3" (77 mm) diagonal touch screen.

1,040,000 dots.

3:2 aspect ratio.

Swivels up, down, left and right.

Smudge-resistant coating.

No anti-reflection coating.

 

Connectors       specifications       top

Canon 6D Mk II flipping LCD
Canon 6D Mk II flipping LCD
Look right. bigger.
Look left. bigger.

3.5mm mic-in jack.

USB 2.0.

HDMI type C.

 

WiFi       specifications       top

For remote control and image transfer.

IEEE 802.11b/g/n.

2,412 ~ 2.462 GHz.

Channels 1 ~ 11.

DS-SS modulation (IEEE 802.11b).

OFDM modulation (IEEE 802.11g/n).

Range rated 50'/15m.

Camera Access Point and Infrastructure modes.

Authentication method: Open system, Shared key, WPA/WPA2-PSK .

Encryption: WEP, TKIP, AES.

 

NFC       specifications       top

NFC Forum Type 3/4 Tag compliant (dynamic).

 

Bluetooth       specifications       top

4.1 low energy.

GFSK modulation.

 

GPS       specifications       top

GPS (NAVSTARs from the mind of the USA).

GLONASS (from the mind of Russia).

QZSS MICHIBIKO (Japan).

Mode 1 leaves the GPS on all the time, even if the camera is off. This is great for log files, but crummy for battery life.

Mode 2, new since the original 6D, turns off the GPS when the camera is off. This is great for battery life, but means the first few shots when you turn on the camera might not have location data until the GPS relocks.

Position updates selectable at 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120 or 300 seconds.

Can set camera clock.

One NEMA log file per day.

 

Storage       specifications       top

Canon 6D Mk II

Card door, Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

One slot for an SD, SDHC or SDXC card.

UHS-I and Eye-Fi compatible.

Doesn't work with Multimedia cards (MMCs), whatever they were.

 

Body       specifications       top

Frame: Aluminum alloy and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber.

Exterior: Polycarbonate resin with special conductive fiber & Polycarbonate resin with glass fiber on some parts.

Canon claims some weather sealing:

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II seals.

 

Power & Battery       specifications       top

Battery

Both the LP-E6N (new, included) or the old LP-E6 batteries work. The new one has more capacity than the older LP-E6 battery, and they are interchangeable and both charge in the usual Canon LC-E6 charger.

The LP-E6N is rated for 1,200 shots. (1,100 at 0ºC/32ºF; 380 with live view or 340 with live view at 0ºC/32ºF.)

When used with a second battery in the BG-E21 grip, the rated number of shots doubles.

 

LP-E6N Battery

LP-E6N Battery (looks the same as the older LP-E6).

 

Charging

LC-E6 Charger

Battery Charger LC-E6.

LC-E6 folding plug 100-240V 50-60 cps charger.

 

Clock Battery

Internal rechargeable battery for the clock: charges in 8 hours and then runs for three months if you take out the LP-E6N.

 

Size       specifications       top

4.35 × 5.67 × 2.94 inches HWD.

110.5 × 144.0 × 74.8 millimeters HWD

 

Weight       specifications       top

Rated 27.0 oz. (765g) with battery and card.

Rated 24.16 oz. (685g) stripped.

 

Quality       specifications       top

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

Made in Japan.

 

Operating Environment       specifications       top

0 ~ 40º C (32 ~ 104º F).

To 85% RH.

 

Announced       specifications       top

29 June 2017, 12:01 AM NYC time.

 

Promised for       specifications       top

Late July 2017.

 

Included       specifications       top

Camera.

Battery.

Charger.

Strap.

Fat printed manual in English, French and Spanish.

"Register Your Camera Now" paper with phone and web address for the USA.

No cords.

 

Price, USA       specifications       top

August 2022

$1,399, body-only.

$2,499, kit with 24-105mm L IS II.

About $900 used if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

December 2019

$1,199, body-only.

$1,599, kit with 24-105mm STM.

$2,099, kit with 24-105mm L IS II.

 

January 2018

$1,899, body-only.

$2,299, kit with 24-105mm STM.

$2,799, kit with 24-105mm L IS II.

 

December 2017

$1,699, body-only.

$2,099, kit with 24-105mm STM.

$2,599, kit with 24-105mm L IS II.

 

June 2017

$1,999, body-only.

$2,599, kit with 24-105mm STM.

$3,099, kit with 24-105mm L IS II.

Canon 6D Mk II

Canon 6D Mk II. bigger.

 

Accessories

Top   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   

Compared   Recommendations

 

Included

LP-E6N battery.

LC-E6 charger.

 

Optional

BG-E21 grip.

Protecting Cloth PC-E2.

 

Performance

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

 

Overall   Autofocus   Ergonomics   Finder   Flash

High ISOs   Auto ISO   Auto White Balance

Image Quality   Mechanics   Noise & Vibration

Top LCD   Rear LCD   Playback   Data   Power & Battery

 

I got my 6D Mk II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Overall

Performance          top

The Canon 6D Mk II is a top quality full-frame DSLR with superb technical image quality in a lightweight package at a bargain price.

What you lose for paying only half as much as other full-frame cameras is that there are a few less external controls and no facial recognition for regular shooting, so it can take a little longer to set some things or select AF areas manually for people photographs.

 

Autofocus

Performance          top

Autofocus is fast and sure — but it has no facial recognition for regular viewfinder shooting. Therefore the 6D Mk II loses a lot of ground compared to an iPhone X or better DSLRs like the 5DSR and 1DX or most of Fuji's or Sony's mirrorless cameras for photographing people. Most other contemporary cameras just find faces, focus on them and track them all over the frame if they move so you can pay attention to what's in your picture, while with the 6D Mk II you still have to select AF areas manually.

The 6D Mk II is a superb nature, landscape, architecture, interior, astronomical and technical camera, but I'd go with something else for photographing people. As of 2018 I expect an autofocus system to find faces for me. I lose pictures if I have to select AF areas manually.

 

Ergonomics

Performance          top

Ergonomics are typical Canon, which is very, very good. There is a My Menu menu which is easy to set up, and once you do, it's easy to get there and set what you need super-fast. Also great is the QUICK screen (press the [Q] button) from which you can set most shooting settings.

The touch screen makes settings easy, especially for entering text information.

The rubbery grip material is the best in the industry. It's super grippy, yet firm. It's as if it's made of the same nanomaterial as the footpads of a lizard that grip anything without being sticky.

A few minor annoyances are:

The shiny chrome lettering on the top left mode dial can make the markings difficult to read in direct sunlight. Worse, the important C1 and C2 modes have their letters even smaller inside tiny little silver squares, so they are difficult to read most of the time.

The LOCK lever on the back, which locks-out the command dials, can get knocked accidentally to LOCK depending on how you carry your 6D Mk II around your neck. This lever is in a similar position to the power lever of the original 5D, which would often turn itself off when carried around your neck.

 

Finder

Performance          top

The finder is wonderful. Everything is big, bright, sharp and clear. You have many menu options to turn grid lines and a level on and off, as well as each of many different status icons along the bottom.

In this view, I have them all turned on. The cross at the top is the level, which shows dots in various directions if you're out of level:

Canon 6D Mk II viewfinder

Actual view through Canon 6D Mk II finder. bigger.

 

The only bad thing about the finder is the same as with all other consumer DSLRs up to and including the 5DSR: all the markings are made with dark LCD lines that block whatever might be behind them. Pro cameras like the 1DX use red LEDs that don't block anything. The 6D Mk II's finder markings are side-lit in red in the dark, but they are side-lighting the LCD, and still block the subject.

AF zones show in black and may cover up a face while you're waiting for a smile:

Canon 6D Mk II viewfinder

Actual view through Canon 6D Mk II finder. bigger.

 

Flash

Performance          top

There is NO built-in flash.

The 6D Mk II uses the same flash control system as other current Canon cameras, so no news here.

It has a dedicated hot shoe for use with Canon's flashes.

 

High ISO Performance

Performance          top

The 6D Mk II's high ISO performance is state-of-the-art for digital cameras; it matches other current full-frame cameras like the Sony A7R Mk III I tested last week. While some people obsess over minute differences, when you just look at the pictures, they're the same at each ISO.

Click any for the camera-original © files to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly. These are all shot with the 50mm f/1.8 STM at f/5.6 on a tripod at various exposure times.

 

Complete Images

These images all look about the same at this web size up to ISO 51,200; the highlights, shadows and colors match very well across the entire ISO spectrum with just a little extra rattiness at the very highest ISO 102,400. Some years ago this wasn't the case; higher ISOs on older cameras would look quite different from lower ISOs even at small print sizes.

ISO 102,400 looks almost as good at this size with only minimal mottling and color banding, and the shadows aren't that much different from those at the lower ISOs.

As you can see, pretty much any ISO will work well for reasonably sized web or print images. Blotchiness is normal at the very highest ISOs; the camera is doing everything it can to make a picture out of essentially no light and no exposure.

Click any for the camera-original © files as above to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly:

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

 

Crops from above

These are 600 × 450 pixel crops that vary in size to fit your browser window. If they are about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 41 × 62" (105 × 160 cm) at this same magnification. If they are about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 83 × 125" (2.1 × 3.2 meters) at this same extreme magnification! Obviously we're looking very closely here.

As with all modern digital cameras, we lose fine details and textures as ISO climbs. It doesn't get that much noisier; what happens is that increasing levels of noise reduction are used to smooth-over the noise at higher ISO, and it removes subject texture and details with the noise. Noise reduction removes fine subject textures first, and only removes hard edges edges at the highest ISOs.

ISO 50 shows the most texture and detail in the wood grain behind the clock. As ISO climbs we lose these subtle details in the brown wood.

By ISO 800 we're starting to lose detail in the egg-and-dart embossing in the clock's outer gold band, and the ornamental lines are starting to disappear from details in the the clock's black woodwork.

By ISO 6,400 most of the details are gone from all of the wood.

By ISO 25,600 even hard edges are starting to disappear. The minute marks on the clock face are erased by the noise reduction, and the big number are starting to get chipped away.

By ISO 51,200 (H1) the clock numbers are starting to get colored, and color smears are visible.

At ISO 102,400 (H2) the image is mottled, parts of the big clock face number are missing, and the lion head on the left of the clock is unrecognizable as a lion.

Click any for the same camera-original © files as above to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly:

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Canon 6D Mk II High ISO Performance

Click any for the same camera-original © files as above to explore on your computer; mobile devices rarely show the full resolution files properly.

 

Auto ISO

Performance          top

Auto ISO is state-of-the-art.

We can program maximum and minimum ISOs, as well as the minimum shutter speed, and even program the minimum shutter speed to track the lens' focal length plus or minus three stops. Brilliant!

 

Auto White Balance

Performance          top

Auto white balance is about average for a DSLR. It's not as good in mixed and indoor lighting as top mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7R III or an iPhone X, which have the advantage of constantly analyzing the image from the sensor before you shoot.

 

Image Quality

Performance          top

The 6D Mk II has advanced lens optimization, which means it can make great images even when using old, non-L lenses from decades ago.

It corrects for corner darkening (peripheral illumination), lateral chromatic aberration (color fringes), distortion and diffraction at small apertures.

Colors, highlights and shadows look magnificent as we expect from Canon.

 

Mechanical Quality

Performance          top

The 6D Mk II is very well made of plastic and metal. There's metal on the inside and for the lens mount and hot shoe where we need it, and the exterior is otherwise all plastic to keep the weight down. Canon calls it "Polycarbonate resin with special conductive and glass fiber," which are fancy words for fancy plastic.

This is how a lightweight camera should be built.

 

Noise and Vibration

Performance          top

The 6D Mk II is always reasonably quiet; quieter than Canon's larger cameras.

The "Silent" modes aren't — they're just somewhat quieter, and not that much slower. The maximum frame rate isn't as high (about 3 FPS) in the Silent mode, but if you shoot at about 3 FPS as I usually do, the Silent modes are great for everyday shooting.

 

Top LCD

Performance          top

The top LCD is typical. It has an amber LED illuminator for the dark.

I rarely look at the top LCD; I use the rear LCD.

 

Rear LCD Monitor

Performance          top

The 3" rear LCD is a little smaller than the 3.2" screens on most full-frame DSLRs today. This is because the flipping LCD mount takes up space that could have been used for a bigger screen.

The screen is bright, clear, sharp and plenty bright.

It has no auto brightness control, so you have to change its brightness manually if you go outdoors.

Better than most cameras with flipping screens, it flips in every direction for self portraits or any other crazy use.

 

Playback   

Performance          top

It's the usual from Canon. Nice is that pressing the Magnify button both starts playback and zooms the image in one press, bravo!

You can zoom and scroll and swap images all with the touch screen, as well as with the usual buttons and dials.

There are a lot of options to read picture data by pressing the INFO button and the rear up and down buttons.

 

Data

Performance          top

Cards are formatted as "EOS_DIGITAL."

JPGs are tagged as 72 DPI.

JPG file sizes vary with image complexity.

 

Power & Battery

Performance          top

Like most DSLRs, the battery lasts pretty much forever. The biggest problem is that you'll get so used to never charging it that you might forget to charge it (or bring your charger) on a long vacation!

The charger is also excellent, with a folding plug and an LED that flashes differently in amber to let you know the charge percentage as it charges, and turns solid green when full.

 

Compared

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

I got my 6D Mk II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

See Pro DSLRs Compared.

I've covered the differences between this and the original Canon 6D at New. Since I shoot every day, the extra features, especially the new function button near the shutter and crop modes, is more than worth the extra price, but for this same reason I own the 5DSR which is what I actually shoot every day. See also Is It Worth It.

 

Recommendations

Top    Sample Images   Intro   Lens Compatibility

Specs   Accessories   Performance

Compared   Recommendations

 

The original Canon 6D has always been the world's best low-cost full-frame DSLR, and this new 6D Mark II is even better.

The 6D Mk II is excellent for most DSLR uses like landscapes, however for people pictures I prefer a camera with facial recognition for regular viewfinder shooting, like a mirrorless camera or a higher-end Canon DSLR. Without facial recognition I have to select AF areas manually, which really slows down people photography compared to a camera with facial recognition that can be depended on to find faces, focus on them all by itself and track them automatically as they move.

See Is It Worth It. It all depends on how much money you have and how much you use the camera. Personally I really love Facial Recognition for any people photography today, and if shooting in weird mixed or indoor light, mirrorless cameras today do a better job of getting the auto white balance dead-on with the first shot.

These things aside, the 6D Mk II is the best low-cost, lightweight nature and landscape camera around, where we don't use facial recognition and don't have conditions that fool auto white balance.

I got my 6D Mk II at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon, at Crutchfield or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.

 

Lens Suggestions

In addition the the plain body, it comes as a kit with 24-105mm STM for $2,599 or as a kit with 24-105 L IS II for $3,099.

The less expensive 24-105 STM is optically excellent and very light weight, while the 24-105 L IS II is faster at 105mm (f/4 vs. f/5.6), heavier and more toughly made. Either is an excellent choice regardless of price; choose based on whether you prefer toughness or light weight.

For the lightest weight, the 50mm f/1.8 STM is a superb optical performer, as well as being Canon's lightest, least expensive and essentially sharpest lens. I use mine all the time when I want to travel light.

Due to the 6D Mk II's advanced image processing, you don't need to pay top dollar for L lenses if you want top picture quality. Today's 24-105 STM is just as sharp as an L lens, and here's the part I really like: my old EF 28-105mm USM and EF 28-135mm IS lenses produce spectacular results on my 6D Mk II — and they weigh less or zoom longer than the 24-105 STM.

See also Best Canon Lenses and Canon Lens Reviews. The 6D2 works great with every Canon full-frame lens, even from back in the 35mm SLR days of the 1980s and 1990s.

I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used camera. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

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11 August 2022, 15 Dec 2019, 12 January 2018, 23, 26 December 2017, 29 June 2017