6D or 5D2?

Vertigo

Vertigo

Vertigo

Soldato
Joined
28 Dec 2003
Posts
16,497
Yeah I know this one has been done before.

Basically I need a second full frame body. I can't justify a second 5D3 so have been looking at the 6D but I'm also having occasional thoughts about the 5D2.

Advantages of each, from what I can tell, and some of these are subjective for me:

6D:
  • Slightly better AF (2 more points, -3EV centre)
  • Better high-ISO performance
  • Silent mode
  • GPS/Wifi
  • Better video

5D2:
  • Rear joystick & dual-function top buttons
  • 1/8000th shutter
  • Better construction/sealing
  • Cheaper
Now I don't care about GPS, Wifi or video so those are irrelevant.

On the face of it the 6D looks the better bet but I'm concerned about the control layout. I use the rear joystick and top-mounted buttons a lot on the 5D3 so the fact these these are missing/different on the 6D may annoy the hell out of me when switching between the two. This is a big point in favour of the 5D2 in my eyes.

If I accept the loss of silent mode then it boils down to the AF and ISO performance. Just how different/better is the 6D in these areas?

Would be very interested to hear any opinions but especially from anyone who has owned both.
 
I own and operate both full time - the 6D is the better camera and you get used to it - its hardly much different, its IQ blows away the 5d2 - coming from a 5d3 you would be disappointed with the mk2 - also the centre AF out does ALL canon cameras and its a total beast - I have no idea how it works in near pitch black - but I can assure it does, its a low light beast.

Dpad is on the back wheel so you can joystick there if you want.

6D NO QUESTION - as soon as I get the money im going to 5d3 from my 5d2, NO WAY I am getting rid of the 6d - its a phenomenal camera.

Also you are incorrect about the 5d2 being 'better built' they have both the same shutter count lifespan and water sealing (infact the 6d is a tad tad better), sure its light and small, but its tough.

6D !!!

PS: the outer AF points in the 6D are fast and accurate in any light apart from very dark/dim, work just fine in churches, inside, obviously outdoors, just lovely camera, the centre point as mentioned destroys the 5d2 (AND YOUR 5d3 sir ;) )- Id say the AF performance is a good 25% 'better' than the 5d2 across all its AF points, faster, more assured, faster to lock on - obviously its many years newer so should be.

PPS: Its dynamic range is also way higher than the 5d2 (at least I have found it to be)
 
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Thanks for the input. Regards the shutter, the 6D is rated at 100,000 I believe whereas the 5D3 and 5D2 are 150,000. Build-wise, I was under the impression that the 6D used more plastics/composites in place of magnesium compared to the 5D2 but could well be wrong.

Yeah I know about the -3EV centre point which can basically focus in the dark :) The high-ISO noise is also very slightly better than even the 5D3.
 
Ignoring the slight (massive) hype above! If your going to have one over each shoulder and continuously swith bettween the two then get the 5d mkii as the control layout is identical do switching between the two is no effort at all. I have never seen any evidence or review that puts the 6d or 5d mkiii very far ahead in terms of ISO they are all effectively iterations of the same sensor after all. AF is a tricky one the mkiii has it all the 6d has an exceptional centre point and the mkii has a bit of a bad rep, which oddly didn't seem to be much of an issue when it was the wedding togs camera of choice for about 5 years! If you were after a single camera I would have said 6d but as a working pair the mkii makes more sense and saves money!
 
Ahhh the 6D is 150,000 I've read? 100,000 is still good - how much are you going to use it ? Either way its an arbitrary number, iv had 5d2's go at 50k and seen others go to a half million.

Either way keep an eye on : http://www.olegkikin.com/shutterlife/canon_eos6d.htm

The 6D is all magnesium apart from sections of the top plate are composite to let GPS/WIFI signals through - its just much smaller than the 5D, thinner etc.

Also the 6D is obviously the newer digic processors - lets me do a lot more with the camera, I like it has lens adjustment for the AF at the wide and tele ends of lenses - you dont get that on the 5D - also a bunch of other stuff from the digic 6 (?) which has proven very useful to me.

Cannot recommend it enough though - 100k shutter or not - id still have it over the 5d2 any day - am a full time pro though so maybe your needs differ, example shots off the 6D cam:

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OCUK-19.jpg


OCUK-14.jpg
 
a1ex2001 said:
Ignoring the slight (massive) hype above! If your going to have one over each shoulder and continuously swith bettween the two then get the 5d mkii as the control layout is identical do switching between the two is no effort at all. I have never seen any evidence or review that puts the 6d or 5d mkiii very far ahead in terms of ISO they are all effectively iterations of the same sensor after all. AF is a tricky one the mkiii has it all the 6d has an exceptional centre point and the mkii has a bit of a bad rep, which oddly didn't seem to be much of an issue when it was the wedding togs camera of choice for about 5 years! If you were after a single camera I would have said 6d but as a working pair the mkii makes more sense and saves money!
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Disagree - My aim when I Sell my 5d2 is to have the 6D and the 5d3 as a working pair (I use the 5d2/6d now as a pair)

The controls are not *that* different at all - where it matters, the dial wheels, they are the same......also after 20 minutes you can use either without looking it just comes naturally from muscle memory.

Recommending a camera based on what you would assume to be muscle mem isn't a good way to go! lol
 
The shutter life isn't an issue either way, just mentioning it really. It's not going to get huge use - the 5D3 will still be the primary go-to body, I just need a second one for when I shoot with two at once (weddings) and a backup.

a1ex2001 - yeah the control layout is the one big thing in the 5D2's favour. The issue is that I don't want to sacrifice IQ because of it. I appreciate the 6D and 5D3 are only incremental steps but, if there's a noticable difference between them and the 5D2, I don't want to find myself in a situation where I'm always trying to use the 5D3 and treating the 5D2 as a "second-class citizen", only using it as a backup or when I don't have time to switch lenses, if that makes sense.

EDIT: Out of interest, is there a custom function to allow the D-pad to change the focus point without having to first press the top-right button? I move the AF point around a lot on the 5D3, although I appreciate this won't be the case quite as much with a 6D or 5D2 simply due to the lower point count.
 
Vertigo1 said:
EDIT: Out of interest, is there a custom function to allow the D-pad to change the focus point without having to first press the top-right button? I move the AF point around a lot on the 5D3, although I appreciate this won't be the case quite as much with a 6D or 5D2 simply due to the lower point count.
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Ill take a look dude when iv finished editing my photos from today - be with you within the hour

PS as you also mention - im always 'wanting for more' with the IQ performance of my the 5d2 - no probs in day light - i get frustrated at 3200+, the 6D mullers it (obviously in the grand scheme both are excellent, just as your only comparing those 2)
 
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Vertigo1 said:
Just realised one other benefit of the 6D - full control of 600EX-RT flashes. That could be the deal-maker.
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Whatever is best for you! lol - for me, the deal was done donkeys ago ;) :D

Also I love it because its so small and light - if out with the Mrs somewhere or just on a day out - I wack the 40mm F2.8 pancake on it, and its a small, light easy to use camera with astonishing IQ.
 
Funny you mention that as sometimes the missus comes out with me and borrows my second body. This used to be my 7D but, since I sold that, I only have my old 40D. Whatever FF body I get, she'll end up using on such outings.
 
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