Comments on: A Quick 6D AF Test

By: Milan

Milan — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:24:37 +0000

One thing that many people demand on new cameras is focus peaking. But then some people say that it’s not that reliable. I wonder if it would be possible to test some Sony NEX with focus peaking vs. AF accuracy. It would be an interesting data point.

By: Fabio Bernardino

Fabio Bernardino — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:06:04 +0000

David B, I used one in last Photo Plus Expo in NY for about 20 min.
The specs I would say are really lacking for a $2,100 camera; I’d buy a D600 if I were starting now (and considering only the features of the camera).

BUT, a big but here, the camera is lighter and smaller than the 5D MK2.
It can be a big difference for those wanting a camera just for travel or which won’t be used that much. I enjoyed using the camera.

I would buy one if it were $1,400 or less. But at the current price I do think as you, I would also go to a 5D mk2.

Regards,

By: David B

David B — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:57:15 +0000

there have been $1499 deals on new 5DM2 several times over the last couple months, there have been $2499 deals on 5DM3 (BigValue) and $3300 on 5DM3+24-105L kit (Amazon).

So since the AF is the same as in 5DM2, doesn’t it make more sense to pick up a used 5DM2 for $1300-1400 than to pay $2000 for a 6D which is not much better?

By: IMHO

IMHO — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 13:41:30 +0000

I like the idea of a less expensive FF. But the quote from Canon marketing notwithstanding the AF system alone is a deal breaker. I’ll be waiting to see the price point for the proposed 7D II and a year or two later for a pro level mirrorless. It’s cruel to stick an 11 pt system with one cross type in a FF so u can still charge for the sensor. I think buyers who know ahead of time what they’re getting will enjoy it. That being said Canon is exploiting a market that will not be as rewarding as they hoped. They’ve put the 5D3 in at 3299 but u can bundle a 1049 dollar medium tele and get both for 3699. That means they don’t value the lens and I’d be a sucker to buy it alone. It also says asking too much for the new FF. Of course there will be those who disagree. It all depends on what u think u can get out of camera and what your needs are. For my perspective if the forums are any indication of the buying public the only buyers will be people who own three or more L lenses and two or more cameras looking to add to their profile. I will say the average shots I’ve seen with the Mark3 are very good but not by a large margin. Many are actually awful by any objective standard. And than a crowd joins in to praise what could only be described as completely blown highlights. Well that’s why marketing managers make the big bucks.

By: Roger Cicala

Roger Cicala — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:55:36 +0000

Ralph, I guess I was writing from the ‘is the 6D as good as the 5D III. The standard deviation the 5DIII and 1Dx were in the teens, which is exactly where live view or careful manual focusing is.

The 6D at 29 is actually almost exactly the same as the T4i, so it’s not as good as Live View. But it is better than the 5D II and other older cameras.

And, of course, with most of the lenses in the lineup the difference doesn’t show up, only the newer lenses are capable of the more accurate AF.

By: Ralph Conway

Ralph Conway — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:19:23 +0000

Thank you for the explanation Roger. Lifeview is of no use for my style of shooting. So I just compared AF between the two charts. And here again it looks to me like the spread is less at 6D than 5D II. What am I missing?

Ralph

By: Ryan Bavetta

Ryan Bavetta — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:33:25 +0000

I think you need more datapoints for any type of conclusion – that one low datapoint is could be really messing with the StdDev.

By: Tony Smyth

Tony Smyth — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:39:48 +0000

Carl,

The 6D does not have a transmissive LCD focussing screen similar to the 7D, 5D3 and 1DX. Thus, the focus points should be easier to see

By: Roger Cicala

Roger Cicala — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:35:24 +0000

Rob,

We’re looking at individual lens-camera combination. The absolute numbers will vary with every lens-camera combination. The variation of a single camera-lens with AF versus MF is what we’re looking at, not absolute numbers.

I grabbed the best example to post, another 6D – 28 IS combination has the same pattern, but 60 points lower on average.

By: Roger Cicala

Roger Cicala — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:33:54 +0000

John,

That absolute number variation is just normal range of looking at a couple of different lens=camera combinations.