Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Mark
just noticed under photo gallery a post with the 6D sunset like no other until tomorrow night
chuck

Trane Loc: Connecticut

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Here is a link to graphs produced by Bill Claff ([b]bclaff[/b] here on UHH). Other information is also available with a little digging on the same page,


Interesting comparisons,

I thought the ISO limit for the Canon 80D was 25,600, not 1631

Geofw Loc: Thornton Cleveleys UK

Hello markjay, welcome to the forum.
Have you considered renting the cameras & lenses you are thinking about, this may help in your decision making.

Once you have decided I hope enjoy your new hobby.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

What I listed on the chart is the upper limit to ISO that will produce a Photographic Dynamic Range of 6.5 f/stops. That is an arbitrary number (selected by Bill Claff), but is it a very good choice for useful comparisons. (It doesn't compare to anything other than the Photographic Dynamic Range values he presents.)

It tells us the highest ISO at which we can set the camera and for properly exposed images expect to make prints that are essentially noise free. You can't manipulate them, for example with brightness or contrast sliders, and a curves tool can't be used if the "noise free" quality is to be retained. It makes a very good value to compare different cameras for quality at higher ISO values. The higher that ISO value is means the less noise you will see in your low light images.

The upper limit that the camera allows you to set is virtually meaningless as a measure of image quality. The camera may have a setting for ISO 57,600 or 105,200, but that doesn't mean you'll get an image that can be printed with a full tonal range and low noise. It probably means you'll still be able to recognize the subject, but that isn't guaranteed either!

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

It was just as bad with film. 35 mm versus 120 with 6x6, 4.5x6, 6x7, 6x9, versus 126 versus 4x5. Built-in meter or hand held. Interchangeable lenses or not. TLR versus SLR versus rangefinder. The big difference is that today, we have all those lab results to ponder or ignore. Good luck and enjoy whatever you buy.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You can go here to see in depth and reliable reviews of both cameras:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-80d-review
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-6d

chfrus

Thats true you can't beat the Nikon 7200.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

markjay, Welcome to the UHH!

Like you I had been very much into photography since my High School days through marriage and kids, but less so as the kids grew up. Everything was film back then, and it wasn't until after I retired that I decided to get involved again. I was fortunate and had a neighbor who was a good photographer using some Nikon, and another friend who had taken photographs all over the world with Canons. Also like you I was hesitant to make a somewhat significant investment in some equipment I had never handled. My first digital was a Nikon P-500, and I hated it primarily because it just wouldn't focus sharply on anything at any distance. My Canon friend was then using a 60D crop frame, and one day we went out together and I got a chance to try his camera; it fit my hands well and seemed to do everything I wanted. When we got home I traded in the Nikon on a new 60D; that was about 2010 and I have no regrets.

The current version of that camera is the 80D and I believe the main 'improvements' are in the video function capabilities, but since I've only take one video, and that with a Canon A2000 pocket camera, I don't care. I bought it with the 18-135 mm zoom and have since added a Tamron 70-300 mm zoom.

The standard ISO range of the 60D is 100 - 6400, but there are menu settings to push it to 12800; I've never had occasion to use it higher that 1300.

Good luck in your search!

glenmarshall

I just jumped to a DSLR from hand-held digital and 35mm film. My choice was a Nikon D7200, an APS-C 24 megapixel model. I have had really good results, but it took a while to get used to the new controls on top of what a 35mm SLR has.

Consider joining a local camera club, where you can learn and share with a diverse group with varied levels of experience and talent. That is, in my opinion, more important than the choice of hardware.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Got any film cameras left?
Save thousands and thousands by shooting film :)

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

It depends what your interests are which may lead you in a direction as to go FF or crop sensor. For example, if you are mainly interested in landscape go FF, birds and other wildlife probably crop sensor. General and travel photography probably crop sensor. Finally, what ever you decide between FF and crop sensor get FF glass which is more expensive than DX glass but will enable you to move into FF if you go crop sensor like the 80d. I know that you are leaning toward FF and that is the way I have gone, however, consideration should be given to what you plan on shooting the most and perhaps a crop sensor Canon would better serve your needs.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

As you have seen any simple question in this forum could end up having many different answers. I will try to be brief while offering information that I believe you could find useful.
The closest thing to film is a full frame camera although as you have already seen digital offers certain advantages that we did not have with film.
When it comes to quality I have not found a big difference between full frame and a cropped sensor using the same lens. Cameras with more pixels could be of great help to those who crop often.
Noise (grain) and bouquet could be slightly better with full frame but the truth is that modern dSLR cameras are doing very well in both departments. You can enlarge beautifully with any of the two cameras.
My best advise is to go to a near by store and have the bodies you have in mind in your hand and see how you feel about them. Consider the type of photography you are going to be doing and also get expert advise from the camera store to help you in your decision.
Modern cameras are excellent, be full frame or not.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Forum Mark, I can see that you are already dizzy with all the responses to your question, enjoy.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mark, welcome to the Hog and welcome to the ever changing world of digi!
Mark, forget all the techno mumbo bullshit being thrown and get the 80. The 80 is twice the camera that the 6 has ever wanted to be.
The 80 is a very advanced crop camera and can shoot almost ANYTHING you point it at. The 6 was designed as a slightly updated and striped down full frame to ease a photographer cheaply into the FF market for minimal money and can barely cross the street without getting run over. A sorts of gutless wonder.
So after all that technical name dropping just get the 80 and in 2 years you'll know what else you will need to get.
The 80 will take any lens including the lightweight and less expensive EFs lenses or the bulkier EF lenses.
Don't get lost in everybody's DRISOFFFPS bs.
You'll be much happier with the 2x more advanced and much newer 80d!!!
Im sure that's what SS would do!!! LoL
SS

And don't listen to all those squeaky, jealous little Nikon girls(unless you live in Montana). They're happy being #2! You're more of a burley #1 kinda MAN!
Don't give in to the Nikon peanut gallery!!!
SS

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

Pick up the various cameras and feel the controls. Focus, change settings and carry it around for a time. Some folks get hung up on technical details and capabilities that they will never need or use and end up with a camera they just hate to carry because it doesn't feel right in their hands.....