[Review] Latest EOS 6D Reviews And Hands-on Round-Up (7D comparison and interview with Canon exec about 6D)

First week of EOS 6D is behind us. We aforesaid it (though we were wrong on the name), Canon made it. Now let’s see how the community is dealing with Canon’s new, entry level full frame DSLR, of which Canon says it is the smallest and lightest full-frame DSLR to date. The EOS 6D is clearly countering Nikon’s D600 ($2100). The EOS 6D is also Canon’s first EOS DSLR with built-in WiFi and GPS. This means you can change your camera settings, geotag photos and transfer your shots to your smartphone (or ipad, Android tablet etc) using Canon’s free iOS and Android apps. The 6D costs $2100 and can be per-ordered at the following shops (click on shop name):

Btw, I think the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM (around $700, click here) is the perfect lens for this full frame camera, and, with a price of around $700, it is one of the more affordable L lenses in Canon’s line-up.

Cameralabs published a preview and an interview with the European Product Manager, Richard Shepherd (video above). Another preview comes from The Onlinephotographer. If you guess which camera among the EOS 6D and the EOS 7D is the right one for you, then you should have a look at Digitalcameraworld, since they are tackling this very question. Read the article, since it is comparing both cams on a detailed basis. However, here is a short sum-up:

Reasons to buy the Canon 6D

  • Its much larger sensor (more than 2.5x larger than the 7D), and all the creative possibilities it affords
  • Higher sensitivity and better low-light performance
  • Wi-Fi capability
  • GPS functionality
  • HDR function
  • Smaller and lighter

Reasons to buy the Canon 7D

  • Faster continuous shooting rate
  • More cross-type focus points (19 vs 11)
  • More viewfinder coverage (100% vs 97%)
  • Faster maximum shutter speed (1/8000sec vs 1/4000sec)
  • Much cheaper

Next hands-on preview comes from ephotozine, lots of pics of the camera itself. Finally, there is Petapixel’s Michael Zhang who had his hands on the EOS 6D and is sharing its thoughts.

I have also an interview with Mike Owen, Professional Image Marketing Manager for Canon Europe Ltd, made by Imaging Resource founder and publisher Dave Etchells. The interview is rather long and mainly about the EOS 6D (but not only). Regarding the sensor resolution:

We very much feel that that resolution, 20 to 22 megapixels on a full frame sensor is the real sweet spot. It’s the maximum that we can get to without starting to see a conflict between noise performance and resolution. And obviously, what we want to try to do is give you the best possible balance. And over the last few years, what you’ve seen is that other manufacturers have been sort of creeping up with their resolution. But we’ve reached a sort of sweet spot since 5 years ago when we launched the 1DS Mark III. And we think that, at the moment, that is the better place to be in terms of performance, allowing people to have the high ISO capabilities–high as you’re able to get with the current Canon range as well as the high resolution and image quality.

About the auto-focus system and the reasons for having just one cross type sensor:

I mean, yes, there is the cost side of things, but what we’ve tried to do with the autofocus system on the 6D is to actually improve low-light performance. It goes down to EV -3. So when emphasizing low-light performance, we’ve always had to make elements of the AF system larger, which limits our ability to put in more cross-type points.

Finally, below you find a video hands-on review by DigitalCameraWorld.

EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA EF 17-40mm f/4L USM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Click here to open the rest of the article

The Most Iconic Photo Of The Last Century May Be A Publicity Stunt

Copyright: Corbis Images

Who hasn’t seen the pic above! Now The Indipendent came out with an article that suggests the image could have been a perfectly organized photo stunt:

This photograph of construction workers casually eating their lunch on a skyscraper beam suspended high about Manhattan can lay claim to being one of the 20th century’s most recognisable images.

Yet, in the run up to its 80th anniversary today it has emerged that, far from catching the subjects unaware, the image was set up as a publicity shot for the Rockefeller Center.

[…] Ken Johnston, chief historian and archivist for Corbis Images, which owns the rights to the photo, said: “The image was a publicity effort by the Rockefeller Center. It seems pretty clear they were real workers, but the event was organised with a number of photographers.”

Btw, the same seems to apply also for the less known picture below.

[Deals] Ef 24-105 f/4L IS USM For $780, 5D Mark II Bundle $1999, And 5D Mark III For $3039

Three cool deals on eBay today. All in limited quantity, so they will be over soon. As usual, I list only reputable, top rated sellers. Let’s start with the EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM which can be yours for .

Next we have an EOS 5D Mark II bundled with a Pixma Pro 9000 Mark II Photo Printer for .

Finally, there is an EOS 5D Mark III body only offered for .

What Firmware Can Do For You: That’s The Difference Between The EOS 1D C and EOS 1D X

Want this camera for half the price? It may be possible…

This will not make happy many people, and for some it will be utterly irritating. In an interview with EOSHD a Canon Europe product manager said that the main difference between the EOS-1D X ($6,799 – click here for specs) and the EOS 1D C ($12,999 – click here for specs) is…a piece of software.

Canon confirmed me today the 1D C 4K DSLR is a 1D X with a firmware update. Identical hardware. […] I also had a impromptu talk to a Canon Europe product manager who was very open and honest about Canon’s approach with this camera.

The 1D C is a 1D X with a 4K firmware update. Canon’s man told me that the only hardware change was to do with the flash sync jack (or one of the other jacks if my exact memory fails me). So essentially the 1D X hardware – sensor, processor, everything – is capable of 4K video, 100%, no heat or bandwidth issues either.

The first thing that jumps into mind is if it is possible to upgrade the EOS 1D X to a 4K cam through a firmware update. Nope!

Although technically possible, not surprisingly Canon replied that this wouldn’t be happening

There is an issue with European tax laws:

The tax issue is that the 1D C is classed as a video camera, at a much higher import tax tarrif to the 1D X. Any firmware update that would turn a 1D X into a 1D C would not go down well with the tax people.

So, if I got it right…: The EOS 1D C is the same hardware as the EOS 1D X for twice the price. I wonder how long it will take for some skilled hacker to bring all the EOS 1D C features on the EOS 1D X. :-)


[via EOSHD] [shariff]

Wildlife Photography Tutorial with Chris McLennan (For EOS DSLRs)

This cute little 7:35 video comes from Canon Australia (emphasis mine):

Chris McLennan talks about his experiences as an international wildlife photographer and gives hints and tips about flash photography, using natural light, macro shots and how to shoot wide angles for some amazing results. Join in, find the inspiration for your photography and share at www.canon.com.au/worldofeos

[Deal] EOS 5D Mark II Down To $1900 ($1800 on eBay)

B&H (click here) and Amazon (click here) both have the EOS 5D Mark II down to $1,899. $100 less on , where you can have the EOS 5D Mark II for $1,799. As usual I list only reputable, top rated sellers.

  • 21.1 Megapixel Full-Frame Sensor
  • 3.0″ High Resolution LCD Display
  • Live View Mode
  • 1080p Movie Mode
  • Dust & Weather-Resistant
  • Self Cleaning Sensor
  • Broad ISO Range (50-25600)
  • 3.9 fps Burst Mode

EOS 5D Mark II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA