The 6D is Canon’s entry-level full-frame camera. It provides vastly better image quality than any of the crop cameras. Here are the reasons you should upgrade to a 6D from the previous cameras:
- The full-frame sensor provides 60% better background blur than a crop camera can, improving portraits.
- The full-frame sensor provides MUCH better image quality, especially in low-light, making it ideal for landscapes and indoor photography. For this reason, I recommend it for indoor sports, despite having a weaker focusing system than the 7D or 70D.
- It has a GPS, which no other Canon camera has. It also has Wi-Fi, which the 70D also has.
Despite the fact that it’s 50% more expensive than the 70D, however, the 6D lacks several key features of the 70D:
- All of the 70D’s focus points are cross-type, making it a better choice for sports and wildlife. With the 6D, you will need to use the center autofocus point for moving subjects, limiting your composition choices.
- The 70D does an excellent job of focusing on moving subjects while recording video. The 6D (and all other Canon cameras) do an awful job.
- The 70D has an articulating screen, which reduces durability but is helpful for shooting self-portraits or at strange angles.
- The 70D has a touch-screen, which the 6D does not.
Also, all lower-end cameras feature a pop-up flash. This is hardly a benefit, however, because pop-up flashes are awful. Additionally, the low-light image quality of the 6D and all Canon full-frame cameras provides better results in situations where you might want a pop-up flash. The 6D replaced the 5D Mark II, and used prices are within 20% of each other. The 6D is a better camera than the 5D Mark II in almost every way, but these are the key benefits. Use them to determine whether it’s worth the extra cash to upgrade over a 5D Mark II:
- Wi-Fi allows you to browse files from your phone or tablet. This is useful for proofing photos in a studio or for posting a picture to Facebook from your smartphone.
- GPS can record your location, which is very useful when traveling.
- The live view display works far better than the 5D Mark II’s in low-light environments, making it much easier to compose and focus night photos.
- The mode dial has a locking button, preventing you from accidentally changing modes—a problem that always has plagued the 5D Mark II.
- The center autofocus point works well in much lower light conditions than the 5D Mark II can handle.
Before buying the 6D, consider buying a used Nikon D600 ($1,300) or a new Nikon D610 ($2,000). The Nikon bodies offer about 12% better overall image quality, which is a significant advantage. However, they lack the 6D’s built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WuwnAuvmTw
