“It’s not the camera but the PHOTOGRAPHER that makes the image”
Released in November of 2012, It has been over a decade since the original Canon 6D entered the market. In that space of time, we’ve had the 6D Mark II, four more 5Ds and a slew of crop frame and mirrorless cameras from Canon, but today, I want to take a look at how the 6D functions and if it is still a viable camera option in today’s market.
The Canon 6D spots a 20.2 megapixel full-frame sensor with an eleven focal point system which, compared to today’s standard, is entry-level (but then again, the 6D was introduced as an entry-level full-frame camera, so that explains that lot). The 6D shoots FHD1080 at 24fps and HD 720p at 60ps, which no options for 30fps.
For someone full-time into photography in 2023, the Canon 6D is an ‘okay’ camera that would deliver you strong images as long as it is paired with the proper lens and good light. The autofocus system is most precise at the central focal point but isn’t as precise with the others meaning once you move your focus point from the centre, there’s a likelihood of slower focusing speeds or a complete miss altogether. The camera features a single SD card slot, so your images are gone should your camera fail you or something happens to your memory card.
I have been using the 6D actively for over three years, and I can attest to the quality of the images. The low light capabilities of this camera astound me to date and the way it renders colours (especially colours in the red-yellow spectrum) is just magnificent. Due to the pixel count, it isn’t advisable to crop significantly into your images compared to cameras with a higher pixel count.
The downside to the Canon 6D is the range of video capability. For people looking to do more of video work, it’d be more advisable to get the Canon 80D (trade-off is that the 80D is an APS-C camera whilst the 6D is full frame) as they are in the same price range. The focusing speeds on the video end too, aren’t stellar, and while the 6D will get the job done, unless you’re open to doing manual focus, you can be certain it’ll do the job slowly.
Here are some images I’ve shot over the years on the Canon 6D (all images post-processed in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop).
It’s safe to say the 6D is a great camera for those who don’t have the budget for something higher or are just beginners and would love to explore the full frame side of life without breaking the bank, but for seasoned professionals, the most the 6D can serve is as a B cam, or a backup camera should sometime happen to your primary camera body.
