CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

I have been comparing FF camera backs for several months now before taking the plunge. I think I have narrowed it down (I think) to these two models.

The above two are in my price range provided I shop carefully and acquire a really nice, previously loved (used) model. The 6D, II features some newer and updated features than the 5D, III which are appealing.

For those who are familiar with both of these camera models, I would really appreciate input as to how to make an intelligent choice regarding these. My only other DSLR is a 60D crop sensor which I will keep until I upgrade it to a newer Crop down the road. I have enough FF lenses for the time being (Tamron 28-300, Canon 50, 1.8 prime and a newly acquired barely used, Canon 70-300L) which I am completely in awe of what it can and already has done on my 60D!

I am thinking my next lens purchase will be a used Canon 24-105L, which model the newest or the older is still undecided....price will have an impact here too. At that point I will give the Tamron 28-300 to my son to replace an older Canon model of his, which finally bit the dust that he bought in Japan while serving in the US Navy about 15 years ago.

As far as what I like to shoot, landscapes, family photos including portraits and birds along the Alabama Florida coast, so faster is better.......( I realize too that 300mm is not ideally long enough either....that is primarily why I am still interested in the crop which turns a 300 into a 480.....)

Hopefully I have given enough information to enable you to advise. Thanks in advance to all who are willing to participate!

Tom

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Re the used older Canon 24-105 f4 L - I would be very careful about buying a used one. They have a known fault (ribbon cable problem) which causes them to fail well before they should.
Mine failed at around 17,000 photographs.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The Canon 6D Mark II is a brand new body. I doubt you're going to find a whole bunch of them in the used market but I'm sure there are some of them available. The main issue of the 6D Mark II is that the quality of the sensor is not improved over older Canon models. For a brand new camera it's dynamic range is not great. It does have good low-light performance, on a par with, and perhaps slightly better than the Canon 5D Mark III, but not as good as was expected when it was released. The 5D Mark III is very long in the tooth so that the 6D Mark II has much more updated software and features. The Canon 5D Mark III has a more professional build and more professional features but is of course much older.

The Canon 6D Mark II is in many ways nothing more than a Canon 80D with a full frame sensor. It's 45 focus points have a very narrow spread around the middle of the frame which is not terribly useful and will still require recomposing. Maybe, as an alternative, you should be considering upgrading your 60D to a Canon 7D Mark II or Canon 80D, both of which have very significant improvements over the 60D.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mine has well over 100,000 shots on it and it's going strong!!!
SS

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

Ouch! sorry that happened but I surely appreciate your letting me know to avoid it!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OK, to settle this bit about dynamic range on the 6DII vs older models.
Look here, click on the 6DII, 5DIII, 60D(because that is what you are used to) and any others you want.
note the 6DII equals or exceeds the 5DIII until you get above ISO 51200 - !?!?!?!? And the original 6D (used in Ex+ about $1000) has better DR until you pass ISO 400 and from there on is basically the same as 5DIII and the 6DII.
It's big drawback is the AF system - pretty simple but I used one for years and even did BIF with it. Also it doesn't have the swivel screen etc. In some ways I miss mine - I now have a 5DIV-why-because I could afford the upgrade and the holiday sales tempted me.
The manager where I bought my 5DIV has told me the people who bought 6DIIs from him all seem to love their new cameras.

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

Thanks for all the input. Yes, the 5D, III is getting old. I looked at the 6D, I, which is getting old too, but it appears the II has much better low light performance.

Your comments regarding the possibility of upgrading to an 80D or A 7D, II are interesting also, as I have been considering that as an alternative myself also. Eventually, I think I would enjoy having both sensor sizes, but there is much more to consider than sensor size alone......

Regarding moving up to a more modern crop as per above, at this point in time do you think moving to either an 80D or 7D, II would be a better move than moving to either of the FF's in my comparison above?

If I did that, I expect I would still be looking toward a FF, but later down the road as funds available do not allow me to do both simultaneously. And the choices there.......based on my comments above regarding usage, the 7D, II is somewhat faster as to frames per second, but the 80D is more modern overall. Which to chose and why??????????

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

I have heard that some of the older model lenses do have this problem. It may be a crap shoot as to whether one gets lucky or not. Really do wonder what % of that lens model has been identified with that problem. Anyone know??

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

It is a tough call whether to move to a full frame camera or just get a more modern crop camera.

Between the two crop camera sources, 7D II is faster, has dual card slots, a more professional build, several more professional features, much better weather sealing, and 65 focus points. The 80D is much more current with a better sensor and has some features that the 7D II does not have, like an articulating touch screen. It's a tough call as to whether to get one versus the other. In use they feel very different in the hand and have different controls layouts. The 80D is very similar to the body of your 60D, but is much more refined, while the 7D Mark II is closer in look and design and size to the 5D III.

Obviously if getting more reach out of your 70-300L for birding is important to you, then you'll be happier with a crop camera over a full frame. The 45 focus points of the Canon 80D has a much wider spread then the 45 focus points on the Canon 6D Mark II which also has a body similar to your 6D. You need to determine what it is you hope to gain with a full-frame body.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The 5D M III is a nice camera, the 6D M II not so much, I would stay away from it! From its feature set it is nice and does work well, the body is comfortable and so on, but the sensor in it is the crappiest sensor that Canon has ever produced and many folks are still amazed, that Canon really put such a piece of crap in a "modern" body! The dynamic range of that camera is just terrible!

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

My primary reason for considering getting a FF camera is for better noise reduction and more light getting to the sensor. It is quite possible I am paying more attention to that than I need to as the newer crops have much better noise reduction than my 60D. At one time, I felt I would be getting a better focus system also with the FF, but I have come to realize that that is not necessarily true. I have read much and I have reviewed pictures of the same thing taken with a crop and with a FF and honestly in many cases I cannot tell the difference in IQ. It seemed to be quite an issue with casual portraits I take of family in low light, but the acquisition of a Canon Speedlite has nullified that. I do think it is a close call between the 7D, II and the 80D also.

Any additional thought are much appreciated! It sure would be nice if everything did not boil down to compromise........

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Show me where it is "Just Terrible" - Download so you can see the details Gold is 6DII, Blue is 5DIII, Green is 6D.
It is almost identical to the 5DIII you say is "nice" and at low ISO the older 6D outdoes both of them.

(Download)

Haydon

Yes Elena Shumilova keeps using this old tech from the 5DIII and I doubt many here can match her with new toys.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/39591482202/in/dateposted/

CanonTom Loc: Birmingham

She is a master for sure.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

If you plan to use the 70-300 L with a teleconverter, the maximum aperture at the long end will be f/8. With an f/8 maximum aperture lens combo, You can only use a single point on the Canon 7D Mark II, but you can use up to 27 focus points at an f/8 maximum aperture on the Canon 80D. Assuming you can use a Canon 1.4x extender with your lens, that means on an 80D, or 7D II, you would have a 35mm equivalent angle of view at 300mm equal to 672mm.

Edit: just did some research and discovered that the 70 to 300 L is not fully compatible with a Canon extender. It might work with third-party extenders (teleconverters) but the end results may not be acceptable to you.