Digital Camera World » Canon 6D

Canon 6D Wi-Fi: the complete set-up process explained… without all the jargon

jmeyer — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 01:00:37 +0000

Wi-Fi connectivity is one of the big new features of the Canon EOS 6D. And the Canon 6D Wi-Fi feature enables you to connect your camera to an iOS (iPhone) or Android (Samsung Galaxy) device quickly once you’ve been through the set-up process explained in this video.

Unlike some other wireless solutions offered by other manufacturers, Canon’s EOS remote app enables you to not only view the scene, but take to control of your cameras settings.

In this video Ali Jennings of our testing team shows you step-by-step how to complete the Canon 6D Wi-Fi set-up process.

Canon EOS 6D review

jmeyer — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:20:00 +0000

In our Canon EOS 6D review, we take an in-depth look Canon’s first true enthusiast level full frame DSLR, which is positioned just below the EOS 7D and above the EOS 60D in Canon’s line-up.

With the Canon 6D price tag at £1,799/AU$2,349/US$2,099 body only or £2,519.99/AU$3,498/US$2,899 with an EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM kit lens, the Canon EOS 6D is appreciably more affordable than the Nikon D600, its biggest rival.

In our Canon EOS 6D review video, Ali Jennings, Lab Manager for our testing team, takes a look at what his new Canon DSLR offers photographers and if it lives up to the hype.

Canon EOS 6D Review Video Transcript

“Hi I’m Ali Jennings, imaging lab manager for Future’s photography portfolio.

This is the Canon EOS 6D, Canon’s first true enthusiast level full frame digital SLR, which is positioned just below the EOS 7D and above the 60D in Canon’s line-up.

Inside is Canon’s Digic 5 processor and a 20.2 million pixel full frame CMOS sensor with a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-25600, which is great for and a range of conditions, and if needed this range can be extended from ISO 50 to 102400.

Two new features for Canon’s DSLR range are inbuilt GPS and WiFi technology. These are handy for recording your location and taking wireless control of your camera.

Whilst the weight of the 6D and the 60D are the same, the 6D’s body isn’t as deep and this makes the grip a bit deeper so it gives really good purchase.

The button layout has been thoughtfully arranged and gives you instant access to the camera’s main features. Many of these can also be accessed using the Quick menu button here, and adjusted using the rear navigation pad.

The menu system is huge with 15 tabs, so the inclusion of the My Menu screen cuts down time locating commonly used features by being able to add them to this screen.

When it comes to AF there are 11 points grouped around the centre of the frame and although this gives a reasonable amount of choice, only the centre one is cross type. We found this is the best one to choose for moving subjects, so you may have to crop to improve the compose post-capture.

The Canon 6D uses Canon’s 63-zone iFCL metering system with a dual-layer metering sensor. As we have found with other Canon models, this works well, but in high contrast situations a little compensation, either way, often needs to be dialled in to get the exposure looking right.

Colour rendition is excellent adding slight but not overwhelming warmth, and the TFT screen shows an accurate representation of the final image.

On the whole the 6D shows excellent control over noise, with none visible at the lower end of the ISO range. Coloured speckling is visible at ISO 25600 along with some loss of detail in JPEG files, but the images are still usable,

The Canon 6D is the first DSLR to feature WiFi technology built-in. This works well taking just a couple of minutes to pair both camera and iPhone. Once paired and a shooting mode is selected you can then adjust the settings and take pictures using the controls on the screen of your phone.

GPS can be switched on here and once done automatically tags your images with your location, this data can then be view in Canon’s software or other applications that are able to read GPS data.

There’s no doubt where the Canon EOS 6D is aimed, with pro and beginner features stripped, you’re left with a camera finely tuned to the needs of the enthusiast.

The full frame sensor captures images that are rich in colour and tone, with raw format files offering plenty of scope for adjustment. It’s a great option for anyone looking to upgrade to a full-frame camera from a camera such as the 60D.”

Canon 6D vs 7D: (or sensor vs wallet) which camera is best for you?

samanthacliffe — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:00:52 +0000

In this post, we’ll make a Canon 6D vs 7D comparison, both of which are aimed at advanced-amateur photographers, to see which Canon camera best matches your needs. While the Canon 7D lacks the full frame sensor of the canon 6D, it nevertheless offers a great deal of specs for a now considerably lower street price than when it was launched.

So who wins a Canon 6D vs 7D match-up? Well, there are some things to take into consideration first. The point of this comparison isn’t really to say which camera is best. The Canon 6D obviously boasts a full-frame sensor, while the EOS 7D offers a crop sensor.

There are obvious benefits to having a full-frame sensor, and if you know you need a full-frame sensor for your photography, then a Canon 6D vs 7D match-up is a no-brainer! But for the average consumer, for whom a 1.6x crop sensor will fulfill most of their needs, while it’s easy to be drawn in by the allure of the Canon EOS 6D, is the EOS 7D, with its falling price and advantage over its new sibling in some key specifications, not equally a no-brainer?

So let’s ignore sensor size for a moment and assume that if you’re still reading, then having a full-frame sensor isn’t your top need from a camera. The two Canon cameras here do match closely on some of the specs that appeal to advanced amateur photographers, but also have their differences on others – namely, the 7D’s higher frame rate and focus points. So if you’re not so concerned by the EOS 7D’s 1.6x crop factor, it’s falling price (soon to fall more, we’d expect) could make it a real bargain for photographers looking to upgrade from their entry-level DSLR.

But let’s take a look at the Canon EOS 6D.

For starters, the EOS 6D boasts a couple of firsts for Canon: it’s the smallest, lightest and – perhaps most importantly – cheapest full-fame DSLR ever made by the company, and it is also the first EOS camera to include built-in WiFi.

Changing your camera settings, geotagging photos and transferring your shots to your handset is now possible using Canon’s free iOS and Android apps, making it even easier to share photos with the world.

This is an exciting new feature for an EOS camera, but whether it will be the deciding factor when it comes to that all-important purchasing decision is another matter.

By comparison the Canon EOS 7D was well received by the public on its launch; its 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, high ISO range (up to 6400), 1080p 24fps HD video, 19-point AF and fast processing speed were impressive features and still wouldn’t be considered long in the tooth even today.

But when comparing the Canon 6D vs 7D, does the newer, lighter EOS 6D and its bigger sensor outweigh the sub-£1000 prices for which you can now find the EOS 7D?

It is clear the the Canon EOS 6D is all-singing, all-dancing when it comes to the specs the modern technologically-savvy, advanced-amateur to pro photographer might be looking for; its full-frame 20.2-megapixel sensor, super-fast DIGIC 5+ image processing, 4.5 fps continuous shooting and ISO range might appear to wipe the floor with those of the 7D.

But for all the 6D’s seductive digits, specifications and gimmicks, is it worth spending around £2,000?

If you want/need/cannot live without the latest, lightest, and impressively kitted out full-frame DSLR from Canon, you might be happy investing in the EOS 6D, particularly if you’re looking for a camera that performs well in low-light conditions.

But perhaps the real question to ask is whether you will be using this camera to its full potential and getting the most out of your investment? How often will you need to shoot above ISO 6400? Is the difference in speed in the Canon 6D vs 7D – the former’s DIGIC 5+ processor vs the latter’s DIGIC 4 processor – that vital to your work to make it essential to your purchase?

If your answer to these questions is a negative, and if you don’t have wads of cash to spare on a new camera you might consider the well-regarded EOS 7D. What’s more, if you aren’t looking specifically for a full-frame DSLR and you simply want a high-performance DSLR that sits closer to your budget at around £800 less, the 7D remains a strong candidate.

The Canon 6D is certainly a great choice for landscape photographers or music photographers. But if you shoot a little bit of everything, perhaps the 7D can in fact offer you just want you need in a camera without breaking the bank. Here are our reasons in favour of each camera:

Reasons to buy the Canon 6D

Its much larger sensor (more than 2.5x larger than the 7D), and all the creative possibilities it affords
Higher sensitivity and better low-light performance
Wi-Fi capability
GPS functionality
HDR function
Smaller and lighter

Reasons to buy the Canon 7D

Faster continuous shooting rate
More cross-type focus points (19 vs 11)
More viewfinder coverage (100% vs 97%)
Faster maximum shutter speed (1/8000sec vs 1/4000sec)
Much cheaper

But don’t take our word for it just yet. We’ll be giving you a full, scientific review 6D in the coming weeks. In the meantime you can catch up with our testing team’s ongoing trials with the camera on their hands-on Canon EOS 6D review over on our sister site, TechRadar.

NEXT PAGE: Canon 6D vs 7D specifications

Canon EOS 6D hands-on video review

jmeyer — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:00:19 +0000

The Canon EOS 6D ‘entry-level’ full-frame DSLR is finally a reality, announced yesterday at Photokina 2012 and just a week after Nikon surprised everyone with its new full-frame camera, the Nikon D600.

After months of Canon 6D rumours and speculation, this new Canon camera is a similar size and weight to the EOS 60D, making it the world’s lightest DSLR to feature a full-frame CMOS sensor.

Here, our head of testing Angela Nicholson takes a look at the 20.2-megapixel Canon EOS 6D, the first Canon DSLR to feature Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity enabling easy photo sharing.

Photographers can upload images and videos to Facebook and YouTube, transfer files to external storage devices or the cloud, or print pictures with a Wi-Fi photo printer.

Watch our Canon EOS 6D hands-on video review to see if this new Canon camera is the right choice for you.

For more on this new Canon camera, check out our testing team’s hands-on Canon EOS 6D review over on our sister site TechRadar.

Canon EOS 6D: price, specs, release date confirmed (UPDATE)

jmeyer — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:51:37 +0000

UPDATE 2: Canon EOS 6D price tag set for £1,799 (UK) / $2,099 (US), or £2,519.99 (UK) / $2,899 (US) for the Canon EOS 6D body + EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens.

UPDATE 1: Canon EOS 6D release date slated for December 2012

Canon has just revealed the Canon EOS 6D at Photokina 2012, its entry-level full-frame DSLR camera set to compete with the Nikon D600 announced last week.

The Canon EOS 6D boasts a newly designed 20.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, and a native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 25,600, which is expandable to ISO 50 102,400.

Also on board the Canon EOS 6D is a new 11-point AF system which Canon says allows for focusing all the way down to -3 EV, the equivalent of moonlight.

The new Canon full-frame DSLR also boasts a built-in GPS function that records your location and tags images as you shoot them.

A new Wi-Fi file transfer and remote control functionality enables the Canon EOS 6D to wirelessly transfer images to external storage devices and upload to Facebook and YouTube – or print wirelessly using a Canon Wi-Fi enabled printer.

Photographers can also use the Canon EOS 6D to view movies and images on DLNA-enabled HDTVs. Or by wirelessly connecting to a smartphone, photographers can remotely control their Canon EOS 6D to adjust shooting settings and focus, as well as trigger the shutter and review images.

Like most cameras, the Canon 6D records full HD video at 1080p, and it offers up to 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting.

The Canon EOS 6D also offers a 97% viewfinder, and Canon’s new DIGIC 5+ processing system which brings a host of automatic modes and creative shooting features, as well as manual controls.

Other key features include an HDR mode allowing Canon 6D users to capture both highlights and shadow in high-contrast lighting conditions, while Multiple Exposures mode lets photographers combine up to 9 separate exposures into a single image in-camera.

Like the Canon 5D Mark III, a silent drive mode allows photographers to shoot quietly in settings like weddings or out in nature where subtlety is needed, and a single axis electronic level accessed through the viewfinder or via the EOS 6D LCD screen helps photographers ensure a level horizon.

Canon also promises a tough, lightweight construction, claiming the EOS 6D is the most compact full-frame EOS DSLR ever manufactured, measuring in at 144.5 x 110.5 x 71.2mm and weighs 770g. The new EOS camera is also dust and drop-proof.

A new Battery Grip BG-E13 (£249.99) provides additional power for extended shooting, and when used with two LP-E6 batteries, the battery grip offers double the number of shots – and it can also be used with AA batteries

We’re still waiting for official confirmation, but reports suggest the Canon EOS 6D price tag will be approximately $2100, with a UK price at £1,799 body-only. The Canon EOS 6D release date will be December.

For more on this new Canon camera, check out our testing team’s hands-on Canon EOS 6D review over on our sister site TechRadar.