Finally picked it up on Wednesday after DDP were out of stock for over 4 weeks! They said it would only be a week or so - very disappointed when them. Usually they're good, not this time.
Woke up at Thursday morning to unexpected clear skies, so rushed outside with the camera after I found a charged battery and an SD card.
Yes, it takes the same battery as the 5D Mk 2 (thank goodness), but I was surprised to find it didn't take a CF - just an SD card.
I went through the menu quickly to set the quality to RAW and turn High ISO and Long exposure noise reduction off, but that's all I did.
The feel is much lighter than the 5D Mk 2 - no buttons to the left of, or underneath the LCD screen. Takes some getting used to. Zooming in on and scrolling around an image is a bit more annoying - they've combined the up/down/left/right control with the main dial on the back (one inside the other, with another button in the middle).
Anyway, I've got some other comparisons with high iso noise reduction on, long exposure noise reduction on, but I haven't got around to them yet. A quick preview in Lightroom shows literally no difference. Need to look deeper or try some other tests.
This was just a quick process of the ISO6400 image - I'm not overly happy with how it looks. Might need to revisit some of the processing routine for the 6D @ ISO6400, but it's definitely more sensitive at ISO6400 and there's about the same amount of noise as the 5D Mk 2 at ISO3200.
Topaz De-Noise really cleans it up, even at ISO6400.
30s exposure, f/2.8.
1. Processed, ISO6400. Large.
2. Unedited, just resized. ISO6400. Large.
3. Unedited, just resized. ISO3200. Large.
It's pretty cool, Mike. Just did a 2 day shoot of Comet LEMMON with it. Amazing noise performance at iso 6400. I haven't quantified it yet, but it seems better than the 5D3.
Here's a 10 second exposure straight out of DPP (with DPP NR applied). 50mm, f/2.5, iso 6400.
As Colin has done, try processing in Digital Photo Professional. The default NR for the ISO should do a decent enough job in that specific software.
D&D has gone to absolute rubbish. I ordered a Nikon lens for a fellow photographer which took 3 weeks to arrive. My 70-200mm took 4 weeks to arrive. They used to have items shipped in just three days. I have a feeling since the new owners have taken over, that they're running a JIT system rather than keeping inventory of expensive items. Time to look elsewhere.
Congrats on your new camera Mike. I think you have chosen very well.
ISO6400 is a very handy and these next gen cameras handle it well.
I find 4200K for white balance works well with my Nikon D800E. It may be close for the 6D as well but of course you'd need to experiment. Pehaps the images look a bit too warm that you are seeing?
5D2 images posted here often have a nice bluish look but that would also be a cool white balance temperature.
The 6D has one of the lowest read noises plus very large well depth which could mean retaining colour in stars in longer exposures at high ISO better than 5D2 can.
I wonder if it can do ISO12800 or is there no gain in that? I did a mosaic with the D800E at ISO12800 and whilst noisewise it was fine and it was brighter I did notice dynamic range was falling and damaging the image so I settled on ISO6400.
I look forward to a nice nightscape from you with this as we will be able to see clearly how well this camera works. I looked at one at a shop and I liked the way it felt. It has a nice feel to it.
It's pretty cool, Mike. Just did a 2 day shoot of Comet LEMMON with it. Amazing noise performance at iso 6400. I haven't quantified it yet, but it seems better than the 5D3.
Here's a 10 second exposure straight out of DPP (with DPP NR applied). 50mm, f/2.5, iso 6400.
I think ISO6400 is the new 3200!
More light, same amount of noise as at 3200.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Octane
Mike,
D&D has gone to absolute rubbish. I ordered a Nikon lens for a fellow photographer which took 3 weeks to arrive. My 70-200mm took 4 weeks to arrive. They used to have items shipped in just three days. I have a feeling since the new owners have taken over, that they're running a JIT system rather than keeping inventory of expensive items. Time to look elsewhere.
H
Yeh was very disappointed with their service this time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Logieberra
Mike, welcome to the club! I love the wifi, no usb cable! I hope you run wifi 'N' at home, big files to move across. Wifi 'G' was too slow for me
At the moment I'm still using a card reader. I haven't gone through the settings to turn Wifi on etc yet
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
Congrats on your new camera Mike. I think you have chosen very well.
ISO6400 is a very handy and these next gen cameras handle it well.
I find 4200K for white balance works well with my Nikon D800E. It may be close for the 6D as well but of course you'd need to experiment. Pehaps the images look a bit too warm that you are seeing?
5D2 images posted here often have a nice bluish look but that would also be a cool white balance temperature.
The 6D has one of the lowest read noises plus very large well depth which could mean retaining colour in stars in longer exposures at high ISO better than 5D2 can.
I wonder if it can do ISO12800 or is there no gain in that? I did a mosaic with the D800E at ISO12800 and whilst noisewise it was fine and it was brighter I did notice dynamic range was falling and damaging the image so I settled on ISO6400.
I look forward to a nice nightscape from you with this as we will be able to see clearly how well this camera works. I looked at one at a shop and I liked the way it felt. It has a nice feel to it.
Greg.
Thanks Greg, I think you're right about white balance. The other day I went to Forresters Beach for a morning shoot, and had the 5Dmk2 running as well (with a 24mm lens) and even on the back of the camera, the 5D images were much cooler.
Starting to get used to it after having a morning out with it - still not used to the preview/zoom buttons in a different spot, as well as no little thumb toggle for moving around. Even the on/off button is in a different spot.
The shutter sounds quieter than the 5D too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Logieberra
Be sure to download EOS Remote from the Google Play store. Free. Camera control (and image viewing) via wifi direct to your phone. Love it!
I don't have an android phone. Is there an iPhone equivalent?
Starting to get used to it after having a morning out with it - still not used to the preview/zoom buttons in a different spot, as well as no little thumb toggle for moving around. Even the on/off button is in a different spot.
Seems every new body now has buttons and dials moved. Kinda annoying.
Took me a while to get used to the 60Da but now it's the 40D that feels weird when I pick it up.
Have been seriously thinking about the 6D as my first foray into fullframe, but while some items are the same as the 60Da (on/off, combined jog wheel/thumb toggle) the move of the menu and info buttons will have me subconsciously pressing preview/zoom, and where I'm used to the preview is now the delete button!
One of the most annoying button moves (so far) is the INFO button.
You used to be able to use the left thumb to preview and press info. Now, preview is on the right thumb and info is on the left thumb. So can't do it one-handed anymore.
I think ISO6400 is the new 3200!
More light, same amount of noise as at 3200.
I shot the asteroid at iso 8000 and the noise was still very well controlled. Also did some side by side comparisons with 6D vs 5D2. I'll post the RAW files later in the week.
I got mine on Friday too ! (also from DDP) and was also shooting Comet Lemmon over the weekend. Great price for a full-frame camera and much lighter weight means it might even end up in an overnight pack more often. I'm also finding the button swap annoying but hopefully I'll get used to it.
I shot the asteroid at iso 8000 and the noise was still very well controlled. Also did some side by side comparisons with 6D vs 5D2. I'll post the RAW files later in the week.
Nice, can't wait to see them! Don't be long now, you hear
Quote:
Originally Posted by philiphart
I got mine on Friday too ! (also from DDP) and was also shooting Comet Lemmon over the weekend. Great price for a full-frame camera and much lighter weight means it might even end up in an overnight pack more often. I'm also finding the button swap annoying but hopefully I'll get used to it.
Phil
Can't wait to hear your experiences and comparisons.
Nice, can't wait to see them! Don't be long now, you hear
I've uploaded some RAW files comparing 5D2 and 6D. Included is 1 5D2 file at ISO 3200 (our favourite setting ) and 6D from 3200 -> 12800. All NR off and Colour Temp set to 4300.
Based on similar tests last year between 5D2 and 5D3 I concluded 5D3 was around 0.5 stops better at 3200 in terms of noise size and improved quality in terms of less red.
Looking at the attached RAWs, I'd say 6D is now 0.9 stops better at 3200, with similar quality improvement cw. 5D2 (less red).
Really interested in this thread, I'm leaning towards the 6D and would like to grab one before going overseas at the end of the year.
One feature I wish it had is the swivle LCD screen. Perhaps there is a good reason for it, but I find it really usefull and it saves me from bending down or trying to twist my neck in an awkward position. I mainly use the LCD at night to fine focus on stars. Otherwise it's the view finder during the day.
The thing with swivel screens is that they are prone to breaking.
A full frame camera is typically considered a prosumer system that needs to be able to take a knock or two without falling to pieces. It's a build/weight compromise.
A camera with an articulating screen fully retracted falls to the ground and breaks the LCD if it manages to fall on the screen. A typical fixed LCD screen would likely survive; it might smash the cover, but, this can be replaced at minimal cost.
I, personally, hope they never introduce articulating screens on the full frame cameras.
First light - Canon 6D @ ISO6400
! (also from DDP) and was also shooting Comet Lemmon over the weekend. Great price for a full-frame camera and much lighter weight means it might even end up in an overnight pack more often. I'm also finding the button swap annoying but hopefully I'll get used to it.
