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A “cheap” full-frame DSLR geared for pro-sumer and hobbyist photographers is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II. It replaced the nearly four-year-old EOS 6D, Canon’s initial attempt at a less expensive full-framer, when it was unveiled in June 2017. Similar to its predecessor, it sits below the EOS 5D series but offers several special advantages not seen elsewhere in Canon’s lineup.
The EOS 6D Mark II is notable for being Canon’s first full-frame DSLR featuring a fully-articulated touch-screen panel. This is a significant improvement over the original 6D, whose screen was fixed in place and lacked touch functionality. Canon has improved the sensor, autofocus, burst speed, and connectivity on the inside.
It now has a new 26.2 Megapixel sensor (compared to the 6D’s 20.2 Megapixel sensor) and Dual Pixel CMOS AF for assured and smooth refocusing in live view and movies. The EOS 80D’s 45-point, all-cross-type AF sensor has been optimised for usage with full-frame cameras, which is a significant improvement over the original 6D’s 11-point, single-cross-type array. The existing Wifi and GPS are now supplemented with Bluetooth and NFC, not to mention support for the Russian GPS network in addition to the US and European systems. Continuous shooting has increased from a pedestrian 4.5fps to a more practical 6.5fps.
The 6D Mark II, at least in standard movie mode, does not support 4k video, which is annoying but not unusual for Canon.
With the DIGIC 7 upgrade, 4k in-camera timelapse movies are now supported; however, standard video is still only capable of 1080/60p, and while there is a microphone connector, there is still no headphone connectivity or twin SD slots. While not having 4K is a risky move given that it has long since been the norm in the mirrorless market, it makes some sense in Canon’s universe to set it apart from the 5D Mark IV. At least it still appeals to filmmakers with to its Dual Pixel CMOS AF, full-frame sensor, and fully articulating touchscreen.
Controls and design of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Only the badge at the front serves as a distinguishing feature between the Canon EOS 6D Mark II and its predecessor from the front and top. It is almost the same width and height as the 6D Mark I, and only a tad thicker and a few grammes heavier — both mostly due to accommodating the fully-articulated screen. It measures 144x111x75mm and weighs 765g with battery and memory card.
Given that one has a full-frame sensor and the other has an APS-C sensor, you’ll find the 6D Mark II body to be slightly wider, taller, and heavier if you’re coming from the EOS 80D (technically 5mm wider, 5mm taller, and 30g heavier), but you won’t really notice a difference if you’re already used to carrying the 80D. Below, I’ve depicted them next to one another.
