Встречаем!!! Canon EOS 6D

Preview based on a pre-production Canon EOS 6D

One of the key themes of Photokina 2012 is shaping up be the resurgence of the full frame format, with the launch of a raft of cameras featuring 24x36mm sensors. First up was Sony, with its SLR-like Alpha SLT-A99 and Cyber-Shot RX1 fixed-lens compact. Now, just four days after arch-rival Nikon announced what it billed as the 'smallest and lightest full frame DSLR' in the shape of the D600, Canon has revealed its own contender - the EOS 6D.

The EOS 6D is best seen as a full frame version of the EOS 60D - indeed it's very similar in both control layout and dimensions. Its front profile is very similar to the Nikon D600, but it's rather slimmer front-to-back, and lighter too. However it differs from the Nikon in a number of key respects; for example it has Wi-Fi and GPS built-in, while the D600 offers a distinctly higher spec'ed autofocus system, dual card slots and a built-in flash.

Canon EOS 6D key specifications

• 20.2MP full frame CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 5+ image processor
• ISO 100-25600 standard, 50-102800 expanded
• 4.5 fps continuous shooting
• 'Silent' shutter mode
• 1080p30 video recording, stereo sound via external mic
• 11 point AF system, center point cross-type and sensitive to -3 EV
• 63 zone iFCL metering system
• 97% viewfinder coverage; interchangeable screens (including Eg-D grid and Eg-S fine-focus)
• 1040k dot 3:2 3" ClearView LCD (fixed)
• Single SD card slot
• Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS
• Single-axis electronic level

The EOS 6D is built around a new Canon CMOS sensor, which offers a pixel count of 20.2MP (compared to the D600 and A99's 24MP, or the 5D Mark III's 22MP). In concert with the DIGIC 5+ processor it offers a standard ISO range of 100-25600, expandable down to 50 and up to 102,400. The AF system has 11 points, but only the central one is cross-type (i.e. sensitive to both vertical and horizontal detail). However according to Canon to will operate at extremely low light levels; right down to -3 EV – a stop dimmer than the 5D Mark III.
The EOS 6D's most eye-catching additions are integrated GPS and Wi-Fi - their first appearance on a Canon SLR. The GPS unit includes exactly the same functionality as on the company's compacts - it can embed location data into every image, and has a logging function that can keep track of where you've been through the day. This, we suspect, will be most-popular with landscape and travel photographers.
The integrated Wi-Fi unit has the basic functionality you might expect, allowing transfer of images to a smartphone or tablet, and direct upload to social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube. You can also send images directly to a Wi-Fi-enabled printer. But we think more photographers are likely be interested by the fact that it can also be used to turn your smartphone into a wireless remote control via Canon's EOS Remote app for iOS or Android, complete with live view and full control of exposure settings.
The EOS 6D gains Canon's silent shutter mode that we saw on the 5D Mark III, which offers quieter, more discreet shooting. It gets in-camera HDR and Multiple Exposure modes, but disappointingly these are JPEG only, unlike on the 5D Mark III that also records RAW files. There's also a single-axis electronic level to check for wonky horizons.
The 6D doesn't, however, offer the latest goodies Canon introduced on the EOS 650D. There's no on-chip phase-detection to aid autofocus in live view or movie mode, nor does Canon's superb touchscreen interface make an appearance. As usual at this level the screen itself is fixed, rather than articulated as with the 60D the camera is modeled on - Canon says this is for maximum durability and minimum size. So if you really want a full frame camera with an swiveling screen, the Sony A99 is your only option.
Canon hasn't yet offered any firm commitment on pricing or availability for the EOS 6D, but we're led to believe it will be a month or two before it's in the shops. Its price is likely to be in the same ball park as the Nikon D600, placing it between the EOS 7D and EOS 5D Mark III in Canon's lineup.

Key specs compared to EOS 5D Mark III and Nikon D600

In the table below we see how some of the EOS 6D's key specs measure up against its more expensive big brother, the 5D Mark III, and its main rival the Nikon D600.

	Canon EOS 6D	Canon EOS 5D Mark III	Nikon D600
Effective Pixels	• 20.2 MP	• 22.3 MP	• 24.3 MP
ISO Range	• 100-25600 standard  • 50-102800 expanded	• 100-25600 standard  • 50-102800 expanded	• 100-6400 standard  • 50-25600 expanded
No of AF points	• 11	• 61	• 39
Screen	• 3.2"  • 1,040,000 dots	• 3.2"  • 1,040,000 dots	• 3.2"  • 921,000 dots
Viewfinder	• 97% coverage  • 0.71x magnification	• 100% coverage  • 0.71x magnification	• 100% coverage  • 0.7x magnification
Built-in flash	•  No	• No	•  Yes
Continuous drive	• 4.5 fps	• 6 fps	• 5.5 fps
Storage	• SD	• Compact flash	• SD  • 2 slots
Weight  (inc batteries)	• 770g (1.7 lb)	• 950g (2.1 lb)	• 850g (1.9 lb)
Dimensions	• 145 x 111 x 71 mm    (5.7 x 4.4 x 2.8")	• 152 x 116 x 76 mm    (6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0")	• 141 x 113 x 82 mm    (5.6 x 4.5 x 3.2")
Wi-Fi + GPS	•  Built-in	•  Optional	•  Optional

Size and design compared to the EOS 5D Mark III

The EOS 6D slots in below the EOS 5D Mark III in the range, and not surprisingly gives up a few features in comparison. The much-simpler AF system is perhaps the most glaring difference, but it also shoots more slowly. However 6D owners do get Wi-Fi, GPS and interchangeable focusing screens.

This front view shows just how much more compact the 6D is compared to the 5D Mark III. The overall family resemblance is striking though; about the only obvious difference is that the 6D's depth of field preview button is on the side of the lens throat rather than the front of the body.
There are a lot of similarities from the back, but some key differences too. The joystick multicontroller on the 5D Mark III is replaced by a 60D-like 8-way pad inside the rear dial, and the column of buttons down the left side of the LCD have moved to its right, with the upper two disappearing altogether (Rate and Picture Style/Effect).
From the top, the 6D's slightly lower-level aspirations are reflected by the mode dial, which is more-crowded with extra automatic modes. The buttons along the front of the LCD panel also serve only a single function rather than two, and there's no customizable M.Fn button beside the shutter release. But overall this is very familiar EOS stuff, and the two cameras behave very similarly during normal shooting.

Body type Body type Mid-size SLR Body material Magnesium alloy, polycarbonate top plate Sensor Image ratio w:h 3:2 Effective pixels 20.2 megapixels Sensor size Full frame (36 x 24 mm) Sensor type CMOS Processor Digic 5+ Color space sRGB, Adobe RGB Color filter array RGB Color Filter Array Image ISO Auto, 100 - 25600 in 1/3 stops, plus 50, 51200, 102400 as option White balance presets 6 Custom white balance Yes Image stabilization No Uncompressed format RAW JPEG quality levels Fine, Normal File format JPEG (Exif 2.3), RAW (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition) Optics & Focus Autofocus Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Selective single-point Single Continuous Face Detection Live View Autofocus assist lamp by optional dedicated Speedlite Manual focus Yes Number of focus points 11 Lens mount Canon EF mount Focal length multiplier 1× Screen / viewfinder Articulated LCD Fixed Screen size 3.2" Screen dots 102,400 Touch screen Yes Screen type Clear View II TFT LCD Live view Yes Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder coverage 97 % Viewfinder magnification 0.71× Photography features Minimum shutter speed 30 sec Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 sec Built-in flash No External flash Yes (Hot shoe) Continuous drive Yes (4.5 fps) Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Metering modes Multi Center-weighted Spot Partial Exposure compensation ±5 EV (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) AE Bracketing ±3 (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) WB Bracketing Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) Videography features Format H.264 Microphone Mono Speaker Mono Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) Videography notes 1080 and 720 intra or inter frame, 480 inter frame Storage Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC Connectivity USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) HDMI Yes (HDMI Mini) Wireless BuiltIn Remote control Yes (Remote control with N3 type contact, Wireless Controller LC-5, Remote Controller RC-6) Physical Environmentally sealed Yes (Splash and dust resistant) Battery Battery Pack Battery description Lithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger Weight (inc. batteries) 770 g (1.70 lb / 27.16 oz) Dimensions 145 x 111 x 71 mm (5.71 x 4.37 x 2.8") Other features Orientation sensor Yes Timelapse recording Yes (by cable and PC) GPS BuiltIn GPS notes Image tagging and tracking modes

The 6D bears a strong family resemblance to recent EOS designs - it's perhaps best-described as a fixed-screen 60D with a bit of 5D Mark III mixed in. It gets all of Canon's latest design touches, including the power switch below the mode dial, combined live view/movie control beside the viewfinder, and Quick Control 'Q' button. The buttons are clustered for operation mainly by your right hand, with only the Menu and Info buttons on the left below the mode dial and power switch. The magnify button for checking focus in live view or playback occupies a new position placed for operation by your right thumb, but this means there's no place for the joystick multicontroller to move the AF point that's seen on other high-end EOSs. Its functions are taken by a 60D-like 8-way controller within the rear dial, with a SET button in its centre. The disadvantage of this design is that the AF point selector is no longer directly under your thumb, but rather lower down the body. Construction is solid, if perhaps not offering quite the same bullet-proof feel as the 5D Mark III or 7D. In part this is because the 6D has a plastic top plate, which is necessary to allow the WiFi and GPS to work. The rest of the body uses a magnesium alloy shell, and Canon describes it as 'dust and drip-proof'. In what's sure to be controversial move in some quarters, the EOS 6D becomes Canon's first full frame SLR to rely solely on SD cards for recording, rather than Compact Flash. Chances are, though, that if you're buying a new body you'll be getting new cards for it anyway, and fast high-capacity SD cards are readily available and affordable. Top of camera The top of the 6D closely resembles that of the EOS 60D, which means it's subtly different from the EOS 7D or 5D Mark III. The buttons along the top of the LCD screen each serve a single purpose rather than doubling-up, meaning that White Balance and Flash Exposure Compensation have to be changed using the Q button on the back. Note that there's no customisable M.Fn button next to the shutter release either. In your hand The EOS 6D has a good-sized grip and sits solidly in your hand; anyone who's used a recent twin-dial Canon EOS should be able to pick it up and feel right at home. Most of the key controls are well-placed for operation with the camera to your eye, but if you want to move the focus point using the multicontroller, this requires a fairly large movement of your thumb downwards. You can also move the AF point with the front and rear dials, but have to press the AF point selection button first. Viewfinder One of the big attractions of full frame SLRs is the viewfinder, and the EOS 6D offers the kind of large, bright view that will come as a revelation to photographers who've previously only shot with APS-C cameras. Its magnification is ~0.7x, similar to other full frame Canons, and while the coverage is 'only' 97%, this tends to be more of a theoretical than practical disadvantage in real-world use. Unlike recent high-end Canons like the EOS 7D, 5D Mark III and 1D X, the 6D doesn't use an LCD overlay on the focusing screen to show gridlines etc. Instead it offers interchangeable focusing screens, using the same type as the EOS 5D Mark II. On offer are the Eg-D grid screen, or the Eg-S screen that's designed for more-precise manual focus with fast lenses. However, like other full frame SLRs, one disadvantage is that the autofocus points are rather clustered towards the centre of the frame (increasing the coverage would require a larger body to accommodate the larger relay optics needed). Disappointingly the layout doesn't offer any expanded coverage compared to the 9-point system on the EOS 5D Mark II - the additional points are squeezed-in to a similar diamond layout. Only the center point is cross-type, too; but Canon does say the system will work in vanishingly low light (-3 EV). Overall though, this appears to be the 6D's weakest point in terms of specification. The EOS 6D does, however offer the same AF microadjust as the 5D Mark III. Adjustments can be made separately for the wide and telephoto ends of zoom lenses, and can also be made per serial-numbered lens (should you have two copies of the same lens that require differing amounts of adjustment). Battery Grip BG-E13 The EOS 6D gets a new battery grip, the BG-E13. It will take either two LP-E6 batteries to double the camera's endurance, or AA batteries. It also has duplicate controls for portrait format shooting.

The mode dial has a central lock button, and rotates freely through 360 degrees. The SCN position consolidates the various scene modes, and there are two user-programmable positions (C1/C2). Underneath it is a large power switch of the type now found across most of the EOS range. There's an IR remote control receiver on the front of the handgrip, where it's reasonably accessible when working from behind the camera. The red lamp beside it is the visual indicator for the self-timer. The 6D has no built-in AF illuminator, but according to Canon can focus under moonlight anyway. The depth of field preview button is on the handgrip side of the lens throat, and designed to be operated by the second finger of your left hand. It can be customized to operate a range of other functions. This is Canon's live view / movie controller. With the switch in the stills position (as shown), pressing the central button engages and disengages live view. Flick the switch into the movie position and the camera enters movie mode live view, with the corresponding controls and 16:9 preview display. The Start/Stop button then starts and stops recording. The 6D gets Canon's now-standard Q button, as well as the Magnify button for checking focus in live view and playback. Both are well-placed for operation by your thumb, meaning you can change all key shooting settings with your right hand alone, and without moving it too far from the shooting position. The 6D has a 60D-style 8-way multicontroller within its rear dial, that's used for moving the autofocus point, navigating menus, and scrolling around images in playback etc. In addition to the usual left/right and up/down keys, the diagonals are also active. As usual there's a hotshoe on top of the pentaprism, that accepts Canon's EX series flash units from the tiny Speedlite 90EX to the top-of-the-range Speedlite 600EX-RT. Like other Canon full-frame DSLRs, the 6D doesn't have a built-in flash and therefore can't control external flash units remotely - you need to use the ST-E2 or new ST-E3-RT transmitters (or a controller hotshoe flash). The 6D is the first full-frame Canon to use SD cards only, and unlike many other high-end cameras such as the Nikon D600, has only a single slot. The camera's various connectors are placed under rubber flaps on the side of the body. On the left are sockets for N3-type remote releases and a stereo microphone, while beside them under a separate cover are the USB and HDMI ports. The 6D is CEC-compatible, and supports control of playback using the remotes of most modern TVs when connected via HDMI. Three small holes below the nameplate conceal the 6D's monaural microphone. Meanwhile the speaker for sound during movie playback can be found on the side of the camera, above the covers for the connectors, hidden behind an artfully-designed grid. The 6D uses the same 7.2V, 1800mAh LP-E6 battery as the 5D Mark III. As with most Canon SLRs, it's housed in the handgrip. The compartment sufficiently far from the tripod socket for the battery to be changeable on many heads. The tripod socket is positioned in-line with the lens axis, surrounded by a ridged area for a quick release plate to grip.

The EOS 6D's right hand top-plate has essentially the same control layout as the 60D. The front dial, that's placed immediately behind the shutter button, changes the primary exposure parameter for the selected mode - program shift in P, aperture in Av, and shutter speed in Tv and M. Behind it are a strip of buttons giving direct access to autofocus and drive modes, metering pattern and ISO (the latter being markedly better-placed for operation with the camera to your eye than the D600's), along with one that illuminates the top-plate LCD. Next to the viewfinder is a switch-and-button control that's used to enter live view and initiate video recording. The AF-ON button activates the camera's autofocus, and the 'Star' button next to it is a customisable autoexposure lock. Beside it is the AF point selector - press this and you can move the focus point around using either the front and rear dials, or the directional pad inside the rear dial. Top of camera controls (left) On the other side of the pentaprism you'll find the power switch and mode dial. This has the familiar four exposure modes - Program, Aperture priority, Shutter Priority and Manual - plus Bulb shutter mode and two custom positions into which you can save camera settings for specific commonly-encountered scenarios. There's also 'Auto+' and 'Creative Auto' modes, the latter offering results-orientated creative control, and a new SCN position that consolidates Canon's long-running scene modes (sport, landscape etc.) in one place. One change compared to previous EOSs is that the mode dial rotates freely though 360 degrees, with no end-stops. Below these, there are two buttons to access the camera's menus and change the amount of information displayed on the rear screen. Rear Controls The rest of the 6D's major shooting controls are on the back, arranged for operation by your thumb. The Q button brings up an interactive control screen while shooting, allowing you to change camera parameters that can't necessarily be accessed directly through external buttons. It also brings overlaid option menus in Live View and Playback modes, offering rapid access to features such as in-camera RAW conversion. Above and to the left of this is the magnify button, which is used to zoom in and check focus in live view and playback. Below that is the playback button itself, with the delete key underneath it towards the bottom of the camera. The rear dial is used to change exposure compensation in P, Av and Tv modes, and change the aperture in M. Set within it is an 8-way controller that's used for such things as changing the focus point, navigating menus and scrolling around images in playback. The rear dial can be locked against accidental settings changes by sliding the switch below it to the right. Front of camera controls The only control on the front of the EOS 6D is the depth of field preview button, which is customizable to operate other functions if you prefer. At first sight we're not totally convinced by its placement; like the 60D's we suspect it might be relatively difficult to reach when shooting in portrait format.

We've not spent enough time with the EOS 6D to fully get to grips with it yet, but there's little doubt that it looks like a highly-competent camera on paper. The addition of built-in Wi-Fi and GPS probably won't immediately grab traditionalists, but we can envisage all sorts of situations where they'll be useful, from geotagging your travel shots to remote-controlling your camera from your smartphone. The elephant in the room, though, is the Nikon D600 - a camera that offers a higher spec in several key areas, with its 39-point AF system (including 9 cross-type), 100% viewfinder, 2016 pixel colour-sensitive metering, faster 5.5 fps shooting, dual card slots and excellent movie spec (including such things as clean HDMI output and a headphone socket for sound monitoring). In many areas the 6D just comes up slightly short in comparison, and the question is whether merely being highly competent will be enough to win the hearts and cash of buyers. This is further complicated by the fact that, in principle at least, you can buy (or at least order) a D600 today, whereas the 6D won't be in the shops for some time yet. The counter-argument is that many of the D600's advantages won't make a whole lot of difference for the majority of users - how often do you really need to record files to two different cards, for example? - and in our estimation a lot will hinge on how well the 6D's autofocus system behaves in practice. If it proves positive and accurate with off-centre subjects (a clear weakness of the EOS 5D series prior to the Mark III), then many users will probably be very happy with it. The 6D is clearly aimed at tempting APS-C owners to upgrade to full frame, but here Canon has given itself another problem. Its EF-S lenses simply won't fit on the 6D, so users with a decent collection - perhaps the 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM - will have to buy a new lens set to use with it. At which point the barrier to switching systems becomes rather lower, and the temptation to change brands stronger. On the other hand, let's not forget that Canon's EF lens lineup is very strong indeed, with a large number of reasonably-affordable fast primes to go alongside the workhorse 'L' series zooms, and more-esoteric optics such as the unique MP-E 65mm f/2.5 1-5x Macro. Overall, though, it's difficult to shake the feeling that the EOS 6D simply lacks the 'wow' factor of its main rival. Whereas Nikon seems to have taken the approach of taking away as little as possible from D800 when creating the D600, Canon appears almost to have gone the other way, removing as much as it thinks it can get away with at the price. The result is the kind of conservative, slightly unimaginative design that's become the company's hallmark. It's still bound to be a very good camera, of course; just perhaps not quite as good as it could be.