Canon Announces EOS 6D – Budget Full Frame DSLR
I have never quite understood how some companies decide on product names and often, just as you get it figured out, the company does something that makes you scratch your head. Thus is the case with the new EOS 6D. We where off on a good roll with the 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, but then then 60D was a bastard child of sorts that was more of enhancement of the Rebel line than the x0D line..so then Canon throws out what should have been called the 60D and labels it as the 7D which is a step down from the 5D series. To make things even more confusing, the new EOS 6D logically doesn’t fit between the 5D and 7D, it should probably be called the 4D. The EOS 6D is being labeled as “As 7D with a Full frame sensor” which is quite accurate given the specs since it doesn’t compete against the higher end features of the 5D Mk III and has more of the same features as the 7D.
Besides the full-frame sensor, the 6D is also a step up from the 7D with the integrated WiFi and GPS, 20 megapixel sensor, and newer Digic 5+ processor. One of the more surprising twists is the switch from CF card to SD card storage. I personally am not too bummed about that, SD cards are smaller and less expensive than CF cards and my laptop and desktop machines have built-in SD card readers, so not that big of a deal at this point as I already use SD cards in my Sony NEX 5n and camcorder.
Specifications
- A new 20mp sensor
- Full Frame
- 4.5fps
- ISO Range 100-25600
- DIGIC5+
- APS-C Sized body
- Weathersealed
- SD Card
- Built-in Wifi & GPS
- 11 AF Points, f/2.8 Cross-type in the center.
- 3″ LCD
- Full HD (1920×1080)
- Available December 2012
- Price: $2099 USD Body Only
Full-Frame 1080p Full HD Video
Videographers, student filmmakers, and creative independent spirits will appreciate the full-frame video capabilities of the EOS 6D in an affordable and compact body. Borrowing from the best of the EOS 5D-series, the EOS 6D provides full manual control over exposure and audio levels while recording video. The camera features NTSC and PAL video modes at multiple frame rates, recording 1080p at 30 (29.97), 24 (23.976) and 25 fps, 720p at 60 (59.94) and 50 fps and standard video at 30 (29.97) and 25 fps. The camera provides up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds of continuous recording (with 4GB automatic file partitioning) in selectable All i-framei or IPB compressions with embedded timecode. Especially when used with large aperture lenses, the EOS 6D camera’s full-frame sensor offers a tremendous degree of creative control over depth-of-field, helping users to achieve pro-quality cinematic effects in Full HD video recordings.
Built-in Wireless and GPS
For the ultimate in DSLR connectivity and control, the EOS 6D features a built-in wireless transmitter which allows the camera to share images and video with the user’s choice of wireless devices such as select PowerShot cameras, smartphones, or tablets, as well as cloud-based destinations including social networking sites through the Canon iMAGE GATEWAYii iii. A very intuitive and useful wireless feature is the new, free Canon EOS Remote app available for iOS and Android systems which will allow a smartphone or wireless device such as a tablet to remotely connect, control and operate the connected EOS 6Div. This seamless connection and control will open new opportunities for professional photographers shooting weddings or remote wildlife, without the need for tethered operation or accessories.
For on-location shooters, landscape photographers or enthusiast photo travelers, the EOS 6D features a built-in GPS receiver to record longitude, latitude, elevation and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as EXIF data for seamless geo-tagging while shooting. The GPS coordinates are appended to each image and easily syncs with Canon software or mapping apps on social network sites to show image locations. Use of UTC data allows images to be chronologically mapped and trails plotted and recorded.
Santa (or anonymous donor), if you are listening, I would sure like to find a 6D under my Christmas tree this year. I’ve been pretty good (in general) this year.
Sample Images and video: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/samples/eos6d/
Pre-Order at BHPhoto: Body Only $2,099 | Kit Package $2,899
Pre-Order at Amazon: Body Only $2,099 | Kit Package $2,899
Finally! 2000 USD full-frame camera: both Nikon and Canon users waited for this cameras. Looks like big sensors become cheaper? Or just a battle of marketers?