Canon EOS 6DMKII - Our First Impressions

We have been lucky enough to get hands on with a pre production model of the new Canon EOS 6D MK II to see if the latest ergonomic changes along with the packed new spec will warrant an up-grade from the four year old EOS 6D.

The 6DMKII will sit between the latest 5D MKIV and the 7D MKII and is pitched as Canon's answer to the increasingly popular full frame enthusiast mirrorless offerings from Sony, such as the A7RII.

The 6D MKII is slightly heavier at 765g against the original at 680g, although this is not noticeable in the hand and is certainly lighter than the 5D MKIII and MK IV. It is also fractionally smaller however still holds well with a generous grip and is well balanced with a 24-105mm kit lens on the front. The chassis of the camera is made from aluminum alloy and polycarbonate giving a professional build quality.

The biggest change to the 6D MKII comes at the rear of the camera. The new 3-inch, 1040k dot vari-angle screen is something Canon users have been demanding for sometime now and it is great that Canon have taken customer feedback on board with this one.

The design of the camera has clearly been aimed at the wider enthusiast market, however the spec and features are all there for the pro photographer. The new 26.2MP full frame sensor is guaranteed to deliver stunning results and with the body being dust and drip resistant it can be used in all environments.

Overall we think the new 6D MKII will be a winner. It is certainly a step up from any APSC sensor on the market and gives Canon videographers and travel photographers a new option with the pro spec lightweight body and vari-angle screen. It is also perfect for professionals seeking a second or lighter weight option whilst retaining pro standard quality. It will certainly give Canon a stronger foothold against the growing enthusiast/pro mirror less market.

KEY FEATURES

  • 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor
  • ISO 100-40,000
  • DIGIC 7 image processor
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF
  • 45-point AF system
  • 7560-pixel metering system
  • Full HD (1920 x 1080) video & 4K time-lapse movie
  • 5mm microphone port
  • Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS
  • Built-in intervalometer

Sample images from Canon UK: