5D Mkiii bundle v's 6D bundle: Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved. Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens: 1. Canon...

miseanseo Loc: Illinois/Ireland

Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved.
Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens:
1. Canon 5D Mkiii with 24-70 f4L IS including Pro100 printer for $3,199
2. Canon 6D with 24-105 f4L IS (no printer) for $2,099
The printer is $148 so the difference is really only $952
I do mostly landscapes, people and some bird photography.
Thanks for any input.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Canon 5D Mark 3 with 24-70mm f4LIS.
Ideal for landscapes and people would meet two or your criteria. for birds you could later consider a telephoto lens

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

miseanseo wrote:

Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved.
Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens:
1. Canon 5D Mkiii with 24-70 f4L IS including Pro100 printer for $3,199
2. Canon 6D with 24-105 f4L IS (no printer) for $2,099
The printer is $148 so the difference is really only $952
I do mostly landscapes, people and some bird photography.
Thanks for any input.

To borrow from a web page:
"Autofocus performance is the major difference between the two cameras. It is a big factor if you are into photographing sports, action, portraits or any moving subject.

The EOS 5D Mark III has a 61 point AF array with up to 41 cross-type AF sensors (depending on the maximum aperture of the lens mounted on the camera). Along with the EOS 1D-X, it has Canons most advanced autofocus system.
The EOS 6D has an eleven point autofocus (AF) array with one cross-type AF sensor in the centre.

Cross-type AF points are more sensitive, and therefore focus more accurately, than other AF sensors. This is especially important if you work at wide apertures (i.e. between f1.0 and f2.8) as depth-of-field is so narrow at these settings."

If you not a focus geek then go for the lighter cheaper 6d.

p.s. I have the 5dIII and love it!!!!!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

miseanseo wrote:

Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved.
Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens:
1. Canon 5D Mkiii with 24-70 f4L IS including Pro100 printer for $3,199
2. Canon 6D with 24-105 f4L IS (no printer) for $2,099
The printer is $148 so the difference is really only $952
I do mostly landscapes, people and some bird photography.
Thanks for any input.

I have a 6D. Great for landscapes, people, etc. Not so great for moving subjects. I would go with the 5DIII. You will need a longer lens then the 24-105 anyway for any kind of wildlife.

Yooper 2 Loc: Ironwood, MI

I have the 5D Mark lll and it does everything I need, from landscapes to portraits, to BIF. I am extremely satisfied with it.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Also have the 5dIII, great camera. I bought the Tamron 24-70 2.8 Vibration Compensation. The lenses is great, though best for outside, flash. The Canon version of this lens is also 2.8 now, but $800 more.

heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

i have the 6d,could not see spending the extra 1000
i use spot focus 90 % of the time,the big bonus for me
i now have the kit 24-105 plus i bought a nice used 70-200 2.8 IS with my extra 1000

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I seems a good choice either way. I just received a 6D/24-105. The 5D is a great body and I almost had a 24-70f/4.

As has been stated extra will be needed, but a good one-glass kit.

For landscapes, I wasn't a wider either prime or zoom.

I also have my 60D for long and action.

Good shooting! J. R.

Schwabo Loc: Florida

5D MKIII is the way to go, the 24-70 is a very good lense it is my walk around. The 24-105 is just a tat softer in my opinion.

miseanseo wrote:

Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved.
Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens:
1. Canon 5D Mkiii with 24-70 f4L IS including Pro100 printer for $3,199
2. Canon 6D with 24-105 f4L IS (no printer) for $2,099
The printer is $148 so the difference is really only $952
I do mostly landscapes, people and some bird photography.
Thanks for any input.

Nanaknox

miseanseo wrote:

Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved.
Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens:
1. Canon 5D Mkiii with 24-70 f4L IS including Pro100 printer for $3,199
2. Canon 6D with 24-105 f4L IS (no printer) for $2,099
The printer is $148 so the difference is really only $952
I do mostly landscapes, people and some bird photography.
Thanks for any input.

Thank you so much for posting this question. I am facing the same decision. These responses were most helpful.

BillH Loc: Lancaster County PA

Good price for the 5diii. Plus a great printer. I have the 6d. I know many say it is not good for action. It does a great job with BIF. Go to my topic list and find tundra swans. Taken with 6d and 50-500 sigma lens. Remember we got good shots in the film days before burst rates and shooting one frame at a time. I still have some great shots of a foal running and jumping in a corral. Sharp and clear. They were taken with an old Minolta xg1. You can't go wrong with either. Whatever you get - enjoy

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

miseanseo wrote:

Decided to go FF, and lucky to have the money saved.
Can't decide between larger camera with smaller lens and smaller camera with larger lens:
1. Canon 5D Mkiii with 24-70 f4L IS including Pro100 printer for $3,199
2. Canon 6D with 24-105 f4L IS (no printer) for $2,099
The printer is $148 so the difference is really only $952
I do mostly landscapes, people and some bird photography.
Thanks for any input.

One of your options is a very nice deal that will allow you to make some very nice photographs. The other option will allow you to show the great photographs your great new camera and lens took. You will be happy with both. 13"x19" prints will blow your mind.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

heyjoe wrote:

i have the 6d,could not see spending the extra 1000
i use spot focus 90 % of the time,the big bonus for me
i now have the kit 24-105 plus i bought a nice used 70-200 2.8 IS with my extra 1000

Yes, if not shooting fast action, the 6d works fine. It WILL shoot action just not with the reliability as the 5lll/7d. Spending the extra on glass is a smart way to go!
Joe, are you confusing "spot focus", with "center focus point", ?
I didn't think the 6 would spot focus. Spot focus is the ability to compress the center focus point and make it smaller than normal. ;-)
SS

Haydon

SharpShooter wrote:

Yes, if not shooting fast action, the 6d works fine. It WILL shoot action just not with the reliability as the 5lll/7d. Spending the extra on glass is a smart way to go!
Joe, are you confusing "spot focus", with "center focus point", ?
I didn't think the 6 would spot focus. Spot focus is the ability to compress the center focus point and make it smaller than normal. ;-)
SS

SS, there's a claim that the 6D has a spot metering mode but according to what I've read, "the camera will bias the area around the active focus point considerably" which suggests that as you mentioned it's closer to center weighted in reality.

The 6D is a very capable budget full frame but one must realize as SS said that the weakest point of the camera is the autofocus. Landscape and portrait work well with this camera but when the action becomes fast paced, the keeper rate will drop.

miseanseo Loc: Illinois/Ireland

Have not had a chance to check posts until now. Thanks to all; excellent input. I want to do more bird photography so I'm thinking of springing for the 5D. I already have a 70-200 f4 L lens which, with a 2x extender, should work for birds, at least for now. I'm planning a trip to the Mississippi to shoot bald eagles in the next couple of weeks - may even rent a 600mm.
Thanks again.