6D VS 5DMKIII what does 6D lack?

Hello ;

I'm a lifelong Nikon shooter, and am coming to a crossroads? Not to bash Nikon, but I'm no longer excited with current prospects, except new D500! but I'm setting on the fence.

I've been selling off unused gear in anticipation of some major upgrades, I'm 70 and moving into my twilight years in photography. Lighter gear a main interest.

I ask this 6D versus 5D MKIII? I've been a fan of the 5D series body since it first hit the market. I have D700, a fine camera, my wife gave me mine for retirement in 2010, 5DMKII was first choice with 24 105 as kit, funds didn't stretch that far, so elected D700 and my Nikon lens gear.

Now, I'm looking to make a final plunge for my remaining years? I have a friend who just purchased her MKIII, I held it and just a feeling I like, really fit my hand. But! I'm not to sure I can manage funds to get new 5DMKIII before MKIV, is on market and price sets me back further.

So if I should make the jump?? [my friend has a 17 40 she'll sell me] if a look into the difference between 6D and MKIII just what separates them in quality, IQ, and function? I've thought maybe a used MKIII, but this purchase I'd like it new.

So if some of you folks could enlighten me into what separates the two cameras, to hold out for a 6DMKII and 5D MKIV, would mean another year of saving my weekly allowance HA? mine comes from my pension and my S S check.

Please I'm not trying to troll, and I have no ax to grind with Nikon, I'd just like a fresh challenge, and I don't see it with Nikon, and no! no mirror less in my future, either Nikon or Canon, or I learn to play checkers.

Thanks look forward to some great insight to answers.

"dog house riley"

6D = better low light performance, much lower price, a bit smaller and lighter, GPS

5D mkIII : infinitely better Af system, double SD card, more fps

I'd say:

For landscape, macro, astrophotography, walkaround: 6D

For anything that requires fast focusing and higher fps: 5D mkIII

The 5D3 can do pretty much everything that the 6D can, but it costs a lot more and if you don't plan to shoot action/sport/bif you're probably better off spending that money on glass.

If we only consider image quality, the 2 are very similar. 5D3 might have a slight edge due to the higher pixel count, but as soon as ISO is increased the 6D creates images that are much cleaner.

It mostly depends on the the kind of autofocus that you need. The 6D has an af system that is worse (as in: simpler) than many newer apc-s cameras, with very few focus points and only 1 cross type.

You mention that you could get the 17-40 f4. It's not a bad lens and I think that 90% of full frame Canon users had it at some point in time, but the newer 16-35 f4 is in a different league. If you can get the 17-40 at a friendly price it will be a nice walkaround/landscape lens.

--
This is where I write stuff: http://randomibis.wordpress.com/
This is where I upload stuff: http://www.flickr.com/photos/107755637@N06/
Canon 6d + 50mm f1.8 STM + 85mm f1.8 + Samyang 14mm F2.8 + 10mm f2.8 Macro
Panasonic G3 + 12-32 + 35-100 + 14mm

I went through the same decision process recently regarding the 5DmIII and 6D. I chose the 6D based on price, smaller/lighter body, excellent center AF point (especially in low light), I did not need state-of-the-art AF and the better performance at high ISO compared to the 5DmIII. I also like the handling of the 6D and control placement.

I used a 5DmIII for about three weeks before making a decision and while it is a capable camera I would never use all of its bells and whistles for the type of photography I do. I don't think you will be unhappy with either camera. My best advice is to think hard about if you will use all the technology built into the 5DmIII. If you won't then you would be better off with the 6D and using to money saved buy better/more lenses.

TyphoonTW said:

6D = better low light performance, much lower price, a bit smaller and lighter, GPS

5D mkIII : infinitely better Af system, double SD card, more fps

I'd say:

For landscape, macro, astrophotography, walkaround: 6D

For anything that requires fast focusing and higher fps: 5D mkIII

The 5D3 can do pretty much everything that the 6D can, but it costs a lot more and if you don't plan to shoot action/sport/bif you're probably better off spending that money on glass.

If we only consider image quality, the 2 are very similar. 5D3 might have a slight edge due to the higher pixel count, but as soon as ISO is increased the 6D creates images that are much cleaner.

It mostly depends on the the kind of autofocus that you need. The 6D has an af system that is worse (as in: simpler) than many newer apc-s cameras, with very few focus points and only 1 cross type.

Click to expand...

This last point is critical. I think people over-simply the AF differences between the two cameras - it isn't just about moving subjects. It comes down to how often you use non-center AF - especially at wider apertures. I shoot a ton LESS action that I used to - but I rely on off-center AF quite a bit for my photography. The 6d AF array would not be acceptable to me because of that (I came from 1diii to 5diii so the 6d AF array was too far of a regression, IMO).

TyphoonTW said:

You mention that you could get the 17-40 f4. It's not a bad lens and I think that 90% of full frame Canon users had it at some point in time, but the newer 16-35 f4 is in a different league. If you can get the 17-40 at a friendly price it will be a nice walkaround/landscape lens.

Click to expand...

I have the 17-40. It was a great lens on my aps-h (1.3 crop) 1dIII. On my full frame though? way too much distortion for my tastes - not as much a problem for some landscape work but really problematic for indoor wide angle and such. I would highly recommend considering the 16-35 mentioned above.

TyphoonTW said:

--
This is where I write stuff: http://randomibis.wordpress.com/
This is where I upload stuff: http://www.flickr.com/photos/107755637@N06/
Canon 6d + 50mm f1.8 STM + 85mm f1.8 + Samyang 14mm F2.8 + 10mm f2.8 Macro
Panasonic G3 + 12-32 + 35-100 + 14mm

Click to expand...

Thanks to you who has jumped on to my post so soon? After reading your responses, I Too am thinking of the 6D, its not imperative I have 5 DIII, but I do like its full function.

I'm no longer shooting the things i used too, today its for entertainment, not dead serious. I still shoot for our local zoo, I volunteer my time and photos, no charge to zoo. Lately I've been using my D7100 instead of my D2X or D700 its lighter, and using my 80 400 VR. As a lightweight kit, due to past health issues, I'm using my D3300 as my day to day kit, its a fine little kit.

If you should check my past profiles health is a serious issue, just now getting to where i can walk more than a short distance. I had wanted the Nikon D600 when it appeared? but then the roof caved in, and with all its issues i wanted no part of the D6XX series.

My D700 is a fine camera and heavy, add my grip for the 8 fps rate and its a beast!, I just never warmed up to it. It still after 5 years has less than 20K "clicks"

A lot of your descriptions are more the way i shoot today, more so than years ago, I don't need a high frame rate 5 or 6 is fine, buffer not on top of my list, I shoot RAW, and use LR6, center focus point works for me most times and not fast action like BIF, gave up on that,I shoot song birds in my blind in back yard.

The 17 40 to buy from a friend is just fine for me, she used it on her 60D, for several years, but she just never liked it, now even less.

So information of the 6D, is more to my liking I just never read much, I just kept reading about 5D series.

I'm just a "plinker" anymore, just simple shooting,and out walking, as my health will allow, but I don't want to give up the DSLR, thanks I'll spend more time looking into the 6D, price more to my liking too.

The lens system if I can manage it would be 17 40 and 70 300 L lens[ Jennifer has one] and down the road, I'd like to spring for the 50 1.2? I've looked at that lens, another friend shoots a 5DMKIII and only the 50 1.2. So I do find your help helpful, but I must come to grips to sell some equipment I've had for many years my 300 F4 AD is at least 20 plus years[my bird blind lens] I'm a keeper, hard to part with older equipment still shoot my D200 on pretty days, but I have too much equipment and must adjust.

I post to flickr, no printing, my site is palmerb16, I'm having almost as much fun at 70 as i did back in the 80's.

"dog house riley'

You sound like the target market for the 6D. Especially because you state you frequently use the center AF point (the outer AF points are generally just fine in good light, FYI - most people have never used a 6D and dismiss them but having used them for a year and a half, they're GOOD).

Depending on how quickly you're looking to move on this, (and assuming you live in the US) Adorama has a GREAT deal right now, for $1100 (after $350 rebate) you get:

• 6D
• Pixma Pro 100 printer (you could keep it in the box and sell it - it won't go for retail, but if you can get $50-150 out of it, it'll reduce your investment in the 6D)
• 50 sheets of Canon 13x19 paper (bundle it with the printer when you sell it)
• Camera bag
• SD card (class 10)

Oddly, buying this bundle is CHEAPER than buying the 6D by itself. So, even if you just threw everything away, it's still the better buy.

Deals like this happen fairly often, but no one knows if this is the last one, or the next one, or the next one, or if they'll just continue indefinitely.

Beyond that, I'd definitely consider buying lenses used. I frequently see the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM for sale on my local Craigslist for between $700-900. I also see the 70-300L that you mentioned on there occasionally too.

Here's the link to the deal on Adorama's website

From what you say, the 6D will fit your needs. I shot the 5DIII for over 3 years and sold it last Fall and replaced it with the 6D. Reason was, I got a nice price on the sale and also the purchase and while I loved the 5DIII I really didn't need its AF and FPS capabilities any longer (which is why I bought it in the first place) when my volleyball and basketball playing daughter went off to college.

The 6D well serves my travel, landscape, and family needs. Don't miss the FPS but do miss the extra AF points a little. Plus the low light capability of the 6D is fantastic and the smaller size is nice.

They are both so compromised by today's standards I wouldn't choose either.

I am waiting for a single replacement before moving to full frame.

You will love the 70-300L lens. Its my favorite lens. For a zoom its not heavy compared to the 70-200 2.8L lens. Good luck with your decision.

Sorry that is my rant over. Having said that the 6D is really attractively priced right now. If you don't mind focus and recompose with the middle focus point the 6D would be my choice.

I just looked at all the replies, and maybe I missed it, but I don't think anybody mentioned that the 6D shutter speed tops out at 1/4000th of a second.

I like to shoot at wide apertures to have a limited DOF, and I was worried that in bright light I might regret that I can't go to 1/8000th, but so far, it's never been an issue.

So I'd say it's a minor loss. In theory, I could just get a ND filter to lessen the light, but I won't even need that, I think.

ISO 50

There's a way to get to ISO 50 ? If so, thanks. I'll take a look at the manual.

dmartin92 said:

There's a way to get to ISO 50 ? If so, thanks. I'll take a look at the manual.

Click to expand...

Yup! Third camera menu, 2nd option is "ISO speed settings". Select it and then the 2nd option on the next screen is "ISO speed range". Change the minimum setting to "L(50)".

Then when pressing the ISO button on the shoulder, it looks like this:

Auto L 100 | | 200 | | .... and so on.

I've used it once but it was nice to have it there when I needed it as I keep the option enabled all the time. For me it's one of those set it and forget it options.

Goodwood said:

They are both so compromised by today's standards I wouldn't choose either.

I am waiting for a single replacement before moving to full frame

Click to expand...

something is only obsolete when it won't do something you asked of it and something new will

Thanks folks, all this gives me a mountain of uncertainty to think about. Number one, I'm not swimming in money! a adjustment like this will require a lot of thought.

So thanks, I'll be spending a lot of time going over you tube videos, trying to learn as much as i can about the 6D.

Whatever happens I thank all who were trying to help me in a tough decision.

"dog house riley"

dog house riley said:

I ask this 6D versus 5D MKIII? I've been a fan of the 5D series body since it first hit the market. I have D700, a fine camera, my wife gave me mine for retirement in 2010, 5DMKII was first choice with 24 105 as kit, funds didn't stretch that far, so elected D700 and my Nikon lens gear.

Click to expand...

AF, especially tracking, 2x card slot, burst rate is a bit faster with the 5D3, video is a little better on the 5D3, ISO performance is a bit better with the 6D, DR and banding is a bit better on the 6D, interface is better on the 5D3 if you ask me.

dog house riley said:

Now, I'm looking to make a final plunge for my remaining years? I have a friend who just purchased her MKIII, I held it and just a feeling I like, really fit my hand. But! I'm not to sure I can manage funds to get new 5DMKIII before MKIV, is on market and price sets me back further.

Click to expand...

The 6D is a touch smaller but shouldn't be a huge difference in feel. The multi-controller thing I don't like when compared to the 7D/5D/1D setup. If it's a huge deal to you I'd say go somewhere if you can and hold them.

dog house riley said:

So if I should make the jump?? [my friend has a 17 40 she'll sell me] if a look into the difference between 6D and MKIII just what separates them in quality, IQ, and function? I've thought maybe a used MKIII, but this purchase I'd like it new.

Click to expand...

Burst rate and AF capabilities are better with the mk3, center AF point in low light better on the 6D, IQ is very close with the nod going to the 6D. Both are excellent cameras, but as has been pointed out closer to the end of their life cycle. If you expect you might want a mk4 down the road I'd go for the 6D, get into the ecosystem, enjoy yourself, and see what shakes out.

dog house riley said:

So if some of you folks could enlighten me into what separates the two cameras, to hold out for a 6DMKII and 5D MKIV, would mean another year of saving my weekly allowance HA? mine comes from my pension and my S S check.

Click to expand...

Hard to beat the capabilities of the 6D for the price at this point. But I am glad to have my mk3's AF module at times.

Why aren't you considering the Nikon D750?

The Nikon D750 just doesn't light my fire! besides so many new Nikons seem to come with issues? oil, off color LCDs, I was excited about the DF? but its turned out to be just a deluxe, D610 with a D810 price, I get more enjoyment with my little D3300 than the thought of any new Nikon body.

D H R

I'm thinking of buying a new camera, and I am thinking of geezer-knees

If you think you'll find yourself kneeling down to frame shots, to photograph kids, etc., you might find a tilty back useful.

You cannot buy a full frame tilty-back Canon, but you can buy a Nikon D750. And you get a built-in fill flash.

BAK