7D upgrade to 6D

Jelster

Jelster

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I'm seriously considering purchasing a 6D. I currently have a 7D and my subjects have mainly been birds, wildlife and some motorsport, but I have this urge to stick a 50mm in the end of a FF body and "go shoot".

I currently own a 500mm f1.8, 85mm f1.8 and a 70-200 f2.8. (I also have a 17-55 f2.8 EF-S, and a Sigma 10-20, the latter which I will probably move on).

I notice a few people on here have gone this route and I'd be interested to hear how you all got on. I'll be keeping the 7D and the idea of the 6D is for landscape, portraits and general walk around stuff.

How do you find the handling, the new button layout and the menu system ?

Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
I just upgraded from a 40D and the switch was very easy. I quickly got used to the new button layout.

The 6D is a fantastic camera, image quality is great and noise handling is brilliant.
Don't be put off by some of the bad reviews you read about build quality etc. it's no 5D mkIII but a very solid body.
Auto focus has never been an issue for me even with only one cross type point but then again I don't do fast action.

I did however take some great shots of a seagull in flight from a boat in the sea and pretty much every shot was spot on with exposure and most were tack sharp.

Don't forget the 17-55 will not work on the 6D either.
 
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I think it looks a superb camera, build quality on reviews need to suck balls.

As we have said in a previous post, reviews said the 60D was poor because of a plastic setup as opposed to the magnesium alloy yet its actually solid as a rock.

As above, if I had the need I would get one, the 6D is superb in the image quality department.
 
Elliot,

How did you get on with the new button layout and menu ?
 
Jelster said:
Elliot,

How did you get on with the new button layout and menu ?
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No problem. Took a little getting used to but quickly adapted. The menus are very similar to the 40D just with a few more options and features.

The main thing I missed was the eight way thumb joystick which to 40D has. I kept going there to change focus points and still do occasionally, but other than that it's not a major change.
 
mark1616 said:
Dude, where did you get one of those and how much did it cost, it sounds amazing?! ;)
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Haven't you got one too :thinking: *

Does anybody use back button focus on their 6D ? I've got so used to using this feature that it's the only way I can focus these days....

* Obviously a one too many 0's (not garden hose...)
 
50mm 1.8 obviously? :lol:

I did the same upgrade a while ago and I'm still impressed! The new button layout is actually more ergonomic then that of the 7d. Unless you have tiny hands you can do almost everything with one hand.

I went back to a 7d recently to teach someone how to use it - and it's a clumsy layout TBH :thumbsdown:

I see no difference to the file handling, that said I normally just fill the card with Raws and then organise in LR.

Also, If you use LR and shoot in RAW, you may have to upgrade as the RAW format is incompatible with early versions.
 
Having moved from a 7D to 6D, and having had time to evaluate both bodies I will list the pro's for each below.

7D Pro's
*Handles better in my large hands. The 6D is "not bad", but the 7D wins in terms of number of useable buttons and it's incredibly useful joystick.
*Build quality is a notch or two above the 6D. It feels much more substantial, buttons are more meaty, and dials are solid. It just feels the better product.
*More AF options and many more cross-points. Useful for some occasions.
*Faster FPS.
*Less vignetting and distortion on all EF lenses due to crop factor. 1.6x focal length also has it's uses.

6D Pro's
*Better IQ within almost every situation. Offers One and half to one and two-thirds stops better noise handling, and does not require such wide aperture lenses to blur the background nicely:).
*More consistent AF. Despite fewer focus points and just the single cross-point, the 6D delivers a higher keeper rate than my 7D ever did. I mainly shoot centre point only, but the 6D definitely works better with the same lenses. My 7D was pretty good, but the 6D nails focus more often.
*Wifi & GPS. I never use them and it all seems pretty pointless to me, but some like the features.

In summary, the 7D is the better body but the 6D contains the better sensor. If body quality is critical then skip the 6D because it is inferior to the 7D. If IQ is critical then the 6D is a wonderful camera, easily trumping anything the 7D can offer. I have no regrets moving from 7D to 6D because for me IQ is the critical component. AF, superior build quality and FPS are merely nice to haves.
 
Jelster said:
Haven't you got one too :thinking: *

Does anybody use back button focus on their 6D ? I've got so used to using this feature that it's the only way I can focus these days....

* Obviously a one too many 0's (not garden hose...)
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Yep, I use back button focus on the 6D. Pretty much the same as the 40D and probably the 7D.
 
That's good info, thank you all.

Like I said, I'm keeping the 7D, mainly for moving subjects and when I need the reach. The 6D will become my "go everywhere" body, along with the f1.8 lenses, and perhaps the 24-105.

It's all dependent on me closing a large deal tomorrow, which should be straight forward.
 
Just a caution that with you being used to the 17-55mm on your 7D, a 24-105mm on a 6D may not seem that great. The 24-105 is a fine kit lens, but on FF it will vignette more and suffer more distortion than the 17-55 on a crop. You also lose a stop, rendering DoF pretty similar between both options, and holding back the 6D's high-ISO advantage. My advice is to forget the 24-105 and grab a 24-70 F/2.8. My Tamron 24-70 VC is vastly superior to the kit 24-105 which came with my 6D.
 
Orville said:
Just a caution that with you being used to the 17-55mm on your 7D, a 24-105mm on a 6D may not seem that great. The 24-105 is a fine kit lens, but on FF it will vignette more and suffer more distortion than the 17-55 on a crop. You also lose a stop, rendering DoF pretty similar between both options, and holding back the 6D's high-ISO advantage. My advice is to forget the 24-105 and grab a 24-70 F/2.8. My Tamron 24-70 VC is vastly superior to the kit 24-105 which came with my 6D.
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I have a 24-105 and love it. Yes there is distortion and vignetting but Lightroom takes care of that on import so I don't ever see it. Not sure how it effects high ISO performance?
 
Orville said:
Just a caution that with you being used to the 17-55mm on your 7D, a 24-105mm on a 6D may not seem that great. The 24-105 is a fine kit lens, but on FF it will vignette more and suffer more distortion than the 17-55 on a crop. You also lose a stop, rendering DoF pretty similar between both options, and holding back the 6D's high-ISO advantage. My advice is to forget the 24-105 and grab a 24-70 F/2.8. My Tamron 24-70 VC is vastly superior to the kit 24-105 which came with my 6D.
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Having experienced lenses from both Tamron and Sigma in the past, I will need a great deal of convincing before I try them again, especially in the 24-70 f2.8 class.

I have my prime lenses, and the 24-105 really will be a walkabout lens, until I invest in something like a 17-40. The 70-200 f2.8 I have will also make a fine portrait lens too.
 
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The 24-105 is a good lens. I was not knocking it, just saying that 17-55 is optically superior and that when moving from a 7D + 17-55 to 6D + 24-105 you may feel slightly under-whelmed by the overall IQ improvements (I certainly was). I doubt that there has ever been a better kit lens than the 24-105, certainly nothing from Canon or Nikon I can think of.

In regards to third party lenses, I have owned cheap ones, expensive ones, poor ones and good ones. The same applies to Canon and Nikon lenses too. Few professional sites (if any) rate the Canon 24-70 MkI as a bad lens, and few rate the Tamron VC as optically inferior to the Canon. Build and QC may be a different issue, but isn't this what warranties are for? Last time I checked Tamron offered better warranties than Canon, so there is less to worry about. Given the choice between the 24-105 and Tamron 24-70 VC I would (and did) choose the Tamron every day. I wanted the best optical quality for reasonable money and the Tamron provides that.

It would be interesting to know how many others who moved from 7D + 17-55 IS to 6D + 24-105 also felt a little under-whelmed. Perhaps I am the only one, perhaps I am just too picky.

edit: Here are a few comparison shots I took with my 24-105 & Tamron 24-70 fixed to a 6D. For the most part, the Tamron is sharper and provides less distortion & vignetting at F/2.8 than the Canon does at F/4. With both at F/4 the Tamron is clearly better. Build quality and IS/VC performance are very similar (Tamron VC's is noticeably quieter), but the Canon does AF slightly (I mean slightly) faster. The Tamron is wider than the Canon at same focal lengths, useful for those who like going that little bit wider. Note that the LR corrected images were all done via the one-click method. Better results for both lenses are possible with a little time and effort.
 
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So I've looked at the new 24-70 f4, which seems to get good reviews. I've also looked at that new 40mm f2.8 pancake jobbie. That looks great as a lightweight travel lens.
 
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Jelster said:
Like I said, I'm keeping the 7D, mainly for moving subjects and when I need the reach. The 6D will become my "go everywhere" body, along with the f1.8 lenses, and perhaps the 24-105.
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This is what i have done, kept 7D for reach and 6D with 24-105 and 28mm f1.8 for the rest. Currently 7D is getting a lot more use due to zoo / bird park visits.
 
I've got both, and 24-105 and 17-55. At least on my copies of the lenses the differences don't concern me. The 6D is great for low light of any kind, and areas where FF wins out (landscape, portrait etc). The 7D is still my main lens for action, and other tricky focus situations, and like others here have said, for the extra reach when coupled with EF lenses. I swap between them quite happily without too much thought as to the differences - worth setting up the custom controls and menu setting carefully though.
 
Had some bad news last week. My plans are all put on hold as the cash that's paying for it won't now arrive until September :thumbsdown:

However, I may be able to buy it on the credit card knowing that the cash is coming (it's a commission payment from work, and the deal slipped from July and into August, but at least the order is in and confirmed...)

I'm still having thoughts about the main lens to use it with. The 24-70 f4 or the 24-105. I may decide to sell the 17-55 f2.8 to fund the extra for the 24-70 f2.8, but that then leaves the 7D without a "walkabout" lens..

Decisions decisions.....
 
Jelster said:
I'm still having thoughts about the main lens to use it with. The 24-70 f4 or the 24-105. I may decide to sell the 17-55 f2.8 to fund the extra for the 24-70 f2.8, but that then leaves the 7D without a "walkabout" lens..

Decisions decisions.....
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There is not enough difference between the Canon 24-105 & 24-70 F/4's to warrant paying the extra for shorter a focal range. Although I find a 24-70 F/2.8 to be the prefect companion for a 6D, why to buy a 6D + 24-105 kit, and see whether you like the 24-105 first. Purchased as part of a kit you will not lose any money on the 24-105 should you decide you are not 100% happy and sell it on.

My personal opinion is that a 7D + 17-55 and 6D + 24-105 are too similar to use together, and that substituting the 24-105 with a 24-70 F/4 will make things even closer (worse in fact due to loss of the 24-105's long end).

See how you go with the 6D + 24-105. Lot's of people on here are very happy with this combo, and you may notice a bigger difference than I did over my 7D + 17-55.
 
Jelster said:
I've also looked at that new 40mm f2.8 pancake jobbie. That looks great as a lightweight travel lens.
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Yes I have one and its just great for a walkabout combination - not much thicker than a lens cap!

Mel
 
I'm in a similar boat and looking to trade my 7d & 17-55mm for a 6d and 24-105mm. I never need the extra auto focus features and frames per second as I mainly shot portraits. There are a few things that put me off the 6d but I couldn't justify the extra £900 for the 5d mkiii.
 
I've done it, I've made the jump!!! Just traded my 17-55mm for 24-105mm, sold my 7d and ordered a 6d. Arrives Tuesday and can't wait. Just need to sell my tokina 11-16mm and then I'm fully framed up.
 
Check out the 6d thread in this forum, it has some good info in it.
 
Jelster said:
Had some bad news last week. My plans are all put on hold as the cash that's paying for it won't now arrive until September :thumbsdown:

However, I may be able to buy it on the credit card knowing that the cash is coming (it's a commission payment from work, and the deal slipped from July and into August, but at least the order is in and confirmed...)

I'm still having thoughts about the main lens to use it with. The 24-70 f4 or the 24-105. I may decide to sell the 17-55 f2.8 to fund the extra for the 24-70 f2.8, but that then leaves the 7D without a "walkabout" lens..

Decisions decisions.....
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Just been reading this thread, sorry to hear that you may have to delay getting your new camera. There are a couple of places doing interest free credit at the moment. I Know it doesn't sit comfortably with a lot of people, but thought worth a mention. Internet search through camera pricebuster will show them up for you.
 
6d also currently has a new cashback offer of £150 commenced today until October>
 
Well I've decided to get the 6D, and I want it for the meet at Whipsnade in September, so I'll just have to use the credit card to bridge the cash until payday :-)

Big commission payment in September's pay, but I think the Mrs has already decided where most of it is going so I'd better get in quick.

I still can't decide on a new lens to go with it. I may flog my EFS 17-55 2.8 to fund a 24-70 f2.8...
 
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