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The limited warranty set forth below is given by Canon U.S.A., Inc. (Canon U.S.A.) in the United States or Canon Canada Inc., (Canon Canada) in Canada with respect to the Canon brand EOS Digital Camera (the “Product”) *, when purchased and used in the United States or Canada. The Product purchased with this limited warranty is the only EOS Digital Camera to which this limited warranty applies.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Canon Canada Inc. (collectively "Canon") warrant to the original end-user purchaser, when delivered in new condition in its original container, that the Product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Product returned to a Canon repair facility and proven to be defective upon inspection will, at Canon’s sole discretion and without charge, be (a) repaired utilizing new, remanufactured, repaired and/or recycled parts; (b) exchanged for a new Product or; (c) exchanged for a refurbished Product, as determined by the Canon repair facility. Warranty exchange or replacement does not extend the original warranty period of the Product.

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ANY ACCESSORIES. This limited warranty shall only apply if the Product is used in conjunction with compatible computer equipment and compatible software, as to which items Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, shall have no responsibility. Non-Canon brand equipment and software that may be distributed with the Product are sold "as is" and without warranty of any kind by Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, including any implied warranty regarding merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties are disclaimed. The sole warranty, if any, with the respect to such non-Canon brand items is given by the manufacturer or producer thereof.

Loss of or damage to the Product due to abuse, mishandling, improper packaging by you, alteration, accident, electrical current fluctuations, failure to follow operating, maintenance or environmental instructions prescribed in Canon U.S.A."s or Canon Canada"s user"s manual or services performed by someone other than Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, or a Canon authorized service provider for the Product. Without limiting the foregoing, water damage, sand/corrosion damage, battery leakage, dropping the Product, scratches, abrasions or damage to the body, lenses or LCD display or damage to the any of the accessories mentioned in the first paragraph above will be presumed to have resulted from misuse, abuse or failure to operate the Product as set forth in the operating instructions

Use of parts or supplies (other than those sold by Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada) that cause damage to the Product or cause abnormally frequent service calls or service problems

NO IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, APPLIES TO THE PRODUCT AFTER THE APPLICABLE PERIOD OF THE EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY STATED ABOVE, AND NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY OR GUARANTY, EXCEPT AS MENTIONED ABOVE, GIVEN BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT SHALL BIND CANON U.S.A. OR CANON CANADA (SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU)..NEITHER CANON U.S.A. NOR CANON CANADA SHALL BE LIABLE FOR LOSS OF REVENUES OR PROFITS, INCONVENIENCE, EXPENSE FOR SUBSTITUTE EQUIPMENT OR SERVICE, STORAGE CHARGES, LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA, OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE EOS DIGITAL CAMERA, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY ON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED, AND EVEN IF CANON U.S.A. OR CANON CANADA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL RECOVERY OF ANY KIND AGAINST CANON USA OR CANON CANADA BE GREATER IN AMOUNT THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT SOLD BY CANON USA OR CANON CANADA AND CAUSING THE ALLEGED DAMAGE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGE OR INJURY TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY AND TO OTHERS AND THEIR PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE PRODUCT NOT CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF CANON USA OR CANON CANADA (SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU). THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL NOT EXTEND TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE PRODUCT, OR THE PERSON FOR WHOM IT WAS PURCHASED AS A GIFT, AND STATES YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.

When you call, have your Product serial number and your date of purchase available to expedite service. A Canon Customer Care representative will attempt to diagnose the nature of the problem and correct it over the telephone. If the problem cannot be corrected over the telephone, you will be asked to follow the applicable procedures for MAIL-IN SERVICE. Note that a dated proof of purchase is required at the time of service. This requirement will be satisfied by providing a copy of your dated bill of sale.

MAIL-IN SERVICE is a program under which your Product is repaired by a Canon U.S.A. or a Canon Canada authorized service center for the Product. Authorized service center information can be obtained by visiting www.canontechsupport.com (US customers only) or by contacting the Canon U.S.A., Customer Care Center or Canon Canada Customer Information Centre at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666). You will be given the name, address and phone number of an authorized service center.

The limited warranty set forth below is given by Canon U.S.A., Inc. (Canon U.S.A.) in the United States or Canon Canada Inc., (Canon Canada) in Canada with respect to the Canon brand EOS Digital Camera (the “Product”) *, when purchased and used in the United States or Canada. The Product purchased with this limited warranty is the only EOS Digital Camera to which this limited warranty applies.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Canon Canada Inc. (collectively "Canon") warrant to the original end-user purchaser, when delivered in new condition in its original container, that the Product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Product returned to a Canon repair facility and proven to be defective upon inspection will, at Canon’s sole discretion and without charge, be (a) repaired utilizing new, remanufactured, repaired and/or recycled parts; (b) exchanged for a new Product or; (c) exchanged for a refurbished Product, as determined by the Canon repair facility. Warranty exchange or replacement does not extend the original warranty period of the Product.

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ANY ACCESSORIES. This limited warranty shall only apply if the Product is used in conjunction with compatible computer equipment and compatible software, as to which items Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, shall have no responsibility. Non-Canon brand equipment and software that may be distributed with the Product are sold "as is" and without warranty of any kind by Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, including any implied warranty regarding merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties are disclaimed. The sole warranty, if any, with the respect to such non-Canon brand items is given by the manufacturer or producer thereof.

Loss of or damage to the Product due to abuse, mishandling, improper packaging by you, alteration, accident, electrical current fluctuations, failure to follow operating, maintenance or environmental instructions prescribed in Canon U.S.A."s or Canon Canada"s user"s manual or services performed by someone other than Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, or a Canon authorized service provider for the Product. Without limiting the foregoing, water damage, sand/corrosion damage, battery leakage, dropping the Product, scratches, abrasions or damage to the body, lenses or LCD display or damage to the any of the accessories mentioned in the first paragraph above will be presumed to have resulted from misuse, abuse or failure to operate the Product as set forth in the operating instructions

Use of parts or supplies (other than those sold by Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada) that cause damage to the Product or cause abnormally frequent service calls or service problems

NO IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, APPLIES TO THE PRODUCT AFTER THE APPLICABLE PERIOD OF THE EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY STATED ABOVE, AND NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY OR GUARANTY, EXCEPT AS MENTIONED ABOVE, GIVEN BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT SHALL BIND CANON U.S.A. OR CANON CANADA (SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU)..NEITHER CANON U.S.A. NOR CANON CANADA SHALL BE LIABLE FOR LOSS OF REVENUES OR PROFITS, INCONVENIENCE, EXPENSE FOR SUBSTITUTE EQUIPMENT OR SERVICE, STORAGE CHARGES, LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA, OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE EOS DIGITAL CAMERA, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY ON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED, AND EVEN IF CANON U.S.A. OR CANON CANADA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL RECOVERY OF ANY KIND AGAINST CANON USA OR CANON CANADA BE GREATER IN AMOUNT THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT SOLD BY CANON USA OR CANON CANADA AND CAUSING THE ALLEGED DAMAGE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGE OR INJURY TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY AND TO OTHERS AND THEIR PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE PRODUCT NOT CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF CANON USA OR CANON CANADA (SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU). THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL NOT EXTEND TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE PRODUCT, OR THE PERSON FOR WHOM IT WAS PURCHASED AS A GIFT, AND STATES YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.

When you call, have your Product serial number and your date of purchase available to expedite service. A Canon Customer Care representative will attempt to diagnose the nature of the problem and correct it over the telephone. If the problem cannot be corrected over the telephone, you will be asked to follow the applicable procedures for MAIL-IN SERVICE. Note that a dated proof of purchase is required at the time of service. This requirement will be satisfied by providing a copy of your dated bill of sale.

MAIL-IN SERVICE is a program under which your Product is repaired by a Canon U.S.A. or a Canon Canada authorized service center for the Product. Authorized service center information can be obtained by visiting www.canontechsupport.com (US customers only) or by contacting the Canon U.S.A., Customer Care Center or Canon Canada Customer Information Centre at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666). You will be given the name, address and phone number of an authorized service center.

** Compatible with iOS® versions 8.4/9.3/10.2, Android™ smartphone and tablet versions 4.1/4.2/4.3/4.4/5.0/5.1/6.0/7.0/7.1. Data charges may apply with the download of the free Canon Camera Connect app. This app helps enable you to upload images to social media services. Please note that image files may contain personally identifiable information that may implicate privacy laws. Canon disclaims and has no responsibility for your use of such images. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images through this app.

The new EOS 6D is the smallest and lightest full-frame Canon DSLR. The 6D features a 20.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, built-in wireless transmitter, integrated GPS module, DIGIC 5+ image processor, an 11-point autofocus array, 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering sensor, an expanded ISO range of 50-102,400, 3.0-inch LCD monitor with 1,040,000 dots, continuous shooting speed of 4.5 frames per second and 1080p Full HD video capabilities. The Canon EOS 6D is available body-only for $2,099 / £1,799 or in a kit version with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens for $2,899.00 / £2,519.99.

The Canon EOS 6D brings the full-frame DSLR experience to the masses, with a lower price-tag, smaller and lighter body, and a more simplified control layout than the popular 5D Mark III. It also has a couple of features, most notably built-in wi-fi and GPS, that its bigger brother doesn"t offer, although there are inevitably some big compromises too, including only 11 AF points, 97% viewfinder coverage and slower 4.5fps burst shooting (the 5D Mark II has 61 AF points, 100% viewfinder and 6fps burst shooting). The EOS 6D is also up against some strong competition from the better-specified Nikon D600, which takes a somewhat different approach to make full-frame more affordable.

The EOS 6D weighs 755g and measures 144.5 x 110.5 x 71.2mm, making it quite a lot lighter and smaller than the 5D Mark III and therefore better suited to life as a travel camera. The 6D still has a part-magnesium alloy body, which should make it more durable in the longer term than plastic-bodied cameras, and it also adds a welcome level of weather-proofing for protection against dust and moisture. There"s a textured area on both the deep hand-grip and around the thumb-rest on the rear of the camera, and size-wise the 6D is perfect for everyone with small to normal-sized hands. On the front of the 6D is an infrared port on the grip, rather too small and awkwardly placed depth-of-field preview button, self-timer lamp and a monaural microphone.

Like other semi-pro cameras, the Canon EOS 6D offers two control wheels; a small one on the top of the handgrip, and a large, spinning dial on the back of the camera. This rear "quick control dial" is characteristic of all high-end Canon EOS cameras, used to apply rapid exposure adjustments. It"s a bit of an acquired taste compared to more conventional control dials, but you quickly get used to it and it is easy to "spin". There"s a dedicated Lock switch underneath which toggles this dial on and off.

Instead of the 5D Mark III"s small joystick on the rear, the 6D employs a conventional four-way controller set within the rear control wheel. It"s a little "spongy" in use, but perhaps a better fit for the 6D"s target audience than the love-it or loathe-it joystick. Just above is the useful Quick button which opens the Quick Control screen. Depending on which shooting mode you"re using, this lets you quickly set various parameters via the LCD screen, using the four-way controller to move around the various options. The Quick Control screen is particularly well-suited to beginners and tripod work, letting you see and adjust the camera"s key controls at a glance.

On the top-right of the Canon EOS 6D, positioned above the large monochrome status LCD display, are four buttons, each of which has a single function. You press a button and then turn either the top control dial or the rear control dial to change the corresponding setting. The 6D also shows the settings on the main LCD screen as well as the status LCD. There"s a smaller fifth button which activates the status LCD display light so that you can use it in the dark.

There are two LCD displays on the EOS 6D; the 3-inch colour LCD on the rear and the smaller status panel on the top. On cheaper DSLR cameras, the LCD on the rear usually has to do both jobs, but on this model all of the camera"s main settings are visible from above on the smaller panel. This makes the Canon EOS 6D quicker to use and also helps to extend the battery life. The main LCD screen offers a fantastic VGA resolution with 1,040K dots, so you may find yourself using it more often than you thought. Importantly it also allows you to judge the critical sharpness of your photos using the LCD screen. The optical viewfinder has a magnification of 0.71x and dioptre correction, but only offers 97% coverage compared to the 5D Mark III"s 100%, which means that you can"t quite be sure of everything that the camera is capturing (although you quickly learn to anticipate what it will include in the final image).

Like most DSLRs aimed at prosumers, the EOS 6D offers all the usual serious manual and semi-automatic shooting modes for users who want more advanced exposure control, via a chunky and positive dial on the top-left of the camera body, including a central lock button to prevent the dial from inadvertently moving. Canon refers to these advanced operations as the "creative zone" and provides all the normal settings including Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority and the full Manual mode. There is also an auto shooting mode aimed at beginners called Scene Intelligent Auto which allows you to change just a few key settings using the LCD screen, setting both the aperture and shutter speed for you, with the Creative Auto mode additionally offering the ability to alter the Picture Effect and aperture. The Scene menu offers 7 beginner-friendly modes, including the useful Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight control. The 6D"s power switch is located underneath the shooting mode dial, as on the 5D Mark III, although the latter"s handy Multi-Function button has been completely removed.

Once the EOS 6D is in one of the "creative zones", users can adjust the ISO setting into one of 12 positions from 50 to 102,400 (you need to to enable the ISO 50, 52000 and 102,400 modes via the "ISO Speed Settings" menu option). This massive ISO range allows you to shoot in almost any lighting conditions without having to resort to using flash, which is good news as the 6D doesn"t actually have a built-in pop-up flash (you"ll need to budget for an external flashgun). The EOS 6D offers a range of three Auto focus modes (One Shot, AI Focus and AI Servo), and there are six preset, auto, kelvin and custom white balance options.

The viewfinder displays all key exposure information including the ISO speed, and there are four metering modes including a tighter 1.5% Spot metering mode, useful in tricky lighting conditions as an alternative to the excellent and consistent Evaluative metering system. The 6D uses a rather rudimentary 11-point auto-focus system with only one cross-type point in the middle, which doesn"t compare well to either the 5D Mark III"s 63 point system, 41 of which are cross-type points with five being the extra sensitive double-cross type, or the Nikon D600"s 39-point AF module. The 6D does have one ace up its auto-focusing sleeve though - the centre point remains operational down to -3EV, the equivalent of moonlight, making it the most sensitive in low-light of any DSLR on the market. This was borne out in practice, with the 6D locking onto the subject in almost pitch-black lighting conditions. So while it"s limited number of AF points make it less well-suited to tracking moving subjects, if you mostly use the central AF point then you"ll love its ability to quickly and accurately focus in almost any situation.

The Canon EOS 6D is the first DSLR on the market to feature built-in wi-fi connectivity. The new wi-fi capabilities allow you to share images during playback via the Wi-Fi menu option. Enable the Wi-Fi menu option and the Wi-Fi Function option appears underneath, which contains six icons. The 6D can connect to another camera, a smartphone, a computer, a printer, the internet and a DNLA device respectively. Setup is long-winded but relatively straight-forward for each scenario, although you"ll need a basic understanding of the protocols involved (or consult the supplied User Guide). Note that you need to install the dedicated and free EOS Remote app to connect the 6D to the world"s most popular smartphone, or the Apple iPad, iPad 2 and fourth-generation iPod Touch, or an Android device. You can then use your smartphone or tablet to remotely control almost every aspect of the camera"s operation, review images on a larger, more detailed screen and to transfer images between devices.

The 6D can tag your images with GPS data (latitude, longitude, altitude and shooting time) just like many of the company"s compact cameras. We prefer having GPS built into the camera rather than having to sync it with an additional device, as on the recent PowerShot S110, although it does consequently suffer from the issue of negatively affecting battery life.

The 6D"s menu system is similar to most EOS cameras, utilising a simplified tab structure that does away completely with scrolling. There are 6 main menu options, each containing up to 4 individual tabs of options. You can even setup your own customised menu page for instant access to frequently used settings via the My Menu setting. The documentation that comes with the 6D is clear enough, as it is with all Canon cameras, if a little light on detail. You do get a basic manual in English throughout and you"ll find most things that you need to know about the camera"s operation in here, although you"ll need to refer to the supplied CD for an "electronic" manual. There"s also a separate instruction manual for the camera"s Wi-Fi and GPS functions, again with a longer version on the CD.

We tested the EOS 6D with the popular EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens, which is offered as a kit lens in some regions. This combination offered fast, positive autofocus, can track moving subjects very well and is also near-silent, and we"d recommend that you choose this kit if you"re buying into the Canon system for the first time. The 24-105mm lens also crucially features image stabilisation. This is important for Canon, as some competitors image stabilisation that"s built-in to the camera body. The main difference between Canon (and Nikon) and the other manufacturers is that Sony (plus Olympus and Pentax) have opted for stabilisation via the camera body, rather than the lens, which therefore works with their entire range of lenses. Canon"s system is obviously limited by which lenses you choose, but it does offer the slight advantage of showing the stabilising effect through the viewfinder. Canon and Nikon also claim that a lens-based anti-shake system is inherently better too, but the jury"s out on that one.

The EOS 6D features the latest DIGIC 5+ image processor, which produces noticeably fast image processing, start-up and image review times and great noise reduction in high-ISO images (jump to the Image Quality page for ISO samples). DIGIC 5+ also allows the 6D to shoot attain a speed of 4.5fps for up to 1,250 full-sized JPEGs with a UHS-I memory card or 17 RAW images. 14-bit A/D conversion, in-camera HDR processing, multiple exposure function and in-camera RAW processing are also enabled by the Digic 5+ processor. Battery life is rated to CIPA standards at around 1,000 shots using the viewfinder, but this is greatly reduced if you exclusively shoot in live view mode or use the Wi-Fi and GPS features. This can be doubled by using the optional BG-E13 battery grip (£249.99) which takes two batteries.

The 6D has an identical Live View system to the 5D Mark III. If you"re new to DSLRs and don"t understand the terminology, basically Live View allows you to view the scene in front of you live on the LCD screen, rather than through the traditional optical viewfinder. This is an obvious attraction for compact camera users, who are familiar with holding the camera at arm"s length and composing via the LCD screen. It"s also appealing to macro shooters, for example, as it"s often easier to view the screen than look through the viewfinder when the camera is mounted on a tripod at an awkward angle.

Live View is easy to turn on via a dedicated switch on the back of the camera which toggles between Live View and Movie recording and a self-explanatory Start/Stop button. A grid line display, dual-axis electronic level and very useful live histogram can be enabled to help with composition and exposure, and you can zoom in by up to 10x magnification of the image displayed on the LCD screen. Focusing is achieved via the AF-On button, or you can half-press the shutter-button. Live View can also be controlled remotely using the supplied EOS utility software, which allows you to adjust settings and capture the image from a PC.

There are three types of focusing system on offer in Live View mode. The first, Quick AF, works by physically flipping the camera mirror to engage the auto-focus sensor, which then momentarily blanks the LCD screen and causes a physical sound, before the image is displayed after about 1 second. The other methods, Live AF and Live AF with Face Detection, use an image contrast auto-focus system, much like that used by point-and shoot compacts, the main benefits being the complete lack of noise during operation, and no LCD blackout. Unfortunately these are much slower than the Quick AF mode, taking over 3 seconds to focus on a clearly-defined subject in bright light, which will put off most users that are attracted by the promised point-and-shoot experience. On a more positive note, you can move the AF point around the screen, and the 6D successfully detected faces in most situations.

Live View is also used for the EOS 6D"s 1080p movie mode. The 6D records high-definition 1080p, wide-screen video in 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, at either 30fps, 25fps or 24fps in the MOV format. There is also 720p 1280x720 pixel recording at 50/60 fps and and standard video at 30fps and 25 fps. The maximum size of a single video clip is one second below 30 minutes with 4GB automatic file partitioning. You can also take either single or continuous stills during recording, with video capture continuing after the final still frame has been taken. Audio is recorded in linear PCM format without any compression. There"s a built-in microphone on the front of the camera for mono recording and a socket on the side for connecting an external stereo microphone. It also has an HDMI port for playing back movies and stills on a HD TV. It uses the industry-standard HDMI mini-out connection, but note that you"ll need to purchase a suitable cable separately. You can also still connect the 6D to a standard TV set via NTSC/PAL.

The EOS 6D implements the same dust-removal technology as other EOS cameras, where the sensor is shaken briefly at high frequency to dislodge any dust particles from its surface. This could delay the need for manual sensor cleaning, perhaps indefinitely, but it won"t be able to remove "sticky" deposits like salt spray, pollen or the smears left behind by careless sensor cleaning or the wrong kind of solvent. The 6D also inherits the internal Dust Delete Data system from the 5D Mark III, which can map the position of visible dust on the sensor. This can then be deleted automatically after the shoot with the supplied Digital Photo Professional software.

Peripheral Illumination Correction is a feature that"s actually a lot simpler that it initially sounds. Basically it corrects the unwanted effects of vignetting, typically seen in wide-angle photos in the corners of the frame. The 6D contains a database of correction data for various Canon lenses and, if Peripheral Illumination Correction is enabled, automatically applies it to JPEG images. For RAW images the correction is applied later in the Digital Photo Professional software. Up to 40 lenses can be programmed into the 6D, with over 80 currently available to choose from. Peripheral Illumination Correction is a useful and effective addition, particularly for JPEG shooters, and can safely be left turned on all of the time.

Even more useful, especially if you have a number of older lenses, is the AF Microadjustment feature that has trickled down from 5D Mark III and other pro DSLRs. This allows you to alter the focus of each lens, then use a focusing target to test if the lens focuses correctly, and if it doesn"t, alter it slightly using the AF Adjustment option, then test again until perfect focus is achieved. With most other DSLR systems you"d have to send the camera and lens off for calibration (and maybe even have to pay for it), but with the 6D, you can calibrate all of your lenses in the comfort of your own home (up to 20 lenses can be stored in the camera). The EOS 6D also features a silent shooting mode that reduces the sound of both the shutter and mirror, perfect for situations where you don"t want to draw unwanted attention to yourself. A continuous silent mode is also available, although it"s at a slightly slower rate of 3fps than the headline 4.5fps mode.

Once you have captured a photo, the Canon EOS 6D has an average range of options for playing, reviewing and managing your images. More information about a captured image can be seen on the LCD by pressing the Info button, which brings up a brightness image histogram and all the shooting Exif data, including aperture, shutter speed and the time and date it was captured, with a second press displaying an additional RGB histogram. Highlight Alert and AF Point Display can also be turned on via the Playback menu. It"s simple to get a closer look at an image as you can zoom in up to 15 times, and it is also possible to view pictures in a set of nine contact sheet. You can also delete an image, rotate an image, view a slideshow, protect images so that they cannot be deleted and set various printing options. Unlike some competitors, there are no digital styles or effects that can be applied to an image after it has been taken - the more subtle Picture Styles are the only way of tweaking your JPEGs in-camera, before they are captured. In-camera image rating makes it easy to organise your images ahead of post-production, with the rating maintained in IPTC-friendly software, and you can also edit RAW files in-camera with 10 parameters available.

The Canon EOS 6D"s software suite is very good. Admittedly, photographers who"ve graduated to a camera like this one will almost certainly have chosen image browsing and editing software already, so they won"t need the basic image browsing program included here, but there"s more than that. You also get Canon"s simple but effective PhotoStitch application for making panoramic shots, EOS utility for using the 6D remotely (while tethered to a PC), ImageBrowser EX image management software program, and Canon"s Digital Photo Professional application for converting RAW files. This is a big bonus, because other makers don"t always include such good RAW conversion software. Digital Photo Professional certainly isn"t the best RAW converter on the market, but importantly does mimic the camera"s Picture Styles "retrospectively". In addition the supplied Picture Style Editor software can be used to create custom Picture Styles on your computer instead of in-camera.

The Canon EOS 6D produced images of amazing quality during the review period. This camera produces noise-free JPEG images from ISO 50 all the way up to ISO 3200, with noise first appearing at ISO 6400 - an incredible performance for a 20 megapixel, 35mm SLR. The faster settings of 6400, 12,800 and 25,600 display relatively little noise, with ISO 51,200 suitable for small prints and web images and the fastest setting of 102,400 best reserved for emergenices. The JPEG images were a little soft straight out of the camera using the default Picture Style and ideally require some further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you can change the in-camera setting. The night photograph was very good, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and Bulb mode allowing you to capture enough light in all situations. The 6 different Picture Styles and the ability to create your own are a real benefit to JPEG shooters, as are the Highlight Tone Priority and Auto Lighting Optimizer custom settings when used in the right conditions. The HDR mode combines three images taken at different exposures to create a single image with greater dynamic range.

There are 11 ISO settings available on the Canon EOS 6D which you can select at any time. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting, with the JPEG version on the left and the RAW on the right:

The Canon EOS 6D has 2 different JPEG file quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality JPEG option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

The Canon EOS 6D"s maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there"s a Bulb mode for even longer exposures, which is excellent news if you"re seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds, aperture of f/11 at ISO 100.

Canon"s Picture Controls, similarly to Nikon"s Picture Styles, are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone settings. The six available Picture Controls are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. There are also three User Defined styes so that you can create your own look.

This is a selection of sample images from the Canon EOS 6D camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

The Canon EOS 6D enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We"ve provided some Canon RAW (CR2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

On paper the new Canon EOS 6D seems rather poorly specified compared to its main rival, the Nikon D600, and its big brother, the 5D Mark III, but in reality it proves to be a very capable DSLR that delivers outstanding pictures in both good and bad light.

The key difference between the 6D and the main alternatives are the number and type of AF points. The 6D"s 11-point system, with only one extra-sensitive point in the middle, means that it struggles a little with fast-moving subjects, so if this is your bread and butter photography, consider the 5D Mark III or even the APS-C EOS 7D instead. On a more positive note, that centre AF point remains operational down to -3EV, the equivalent of moonlight, beating both the D600 and 5D Mark III and ensuring that the 6D can accurately autofocus in almost any lighting conditions. The 6D is also the only DSLR on the market to offer built-in GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity (both are optional extras for the Nikon D600), although there"s the inevitable drain on battery life if you leave them permanently switched on.

The new 20 megapixel sensor in conjunction with the Digic 5+ processor results in seriously impressive low-light performance, with an almost noise-free range of ISO 50-6400 and perfectly usable 12800 and 25600 settings. The video side of things is also excellent, with an accessible interface, manual exposure, better control of sound and cutting-edge compression rates. We would have liked to have seen an articulated LCD screen for easier composition, and the auto-focus system for movies is still decidedly clunky when compared to mirrorless cameras, but otherwise the 6D handles both stills and video with aplomb.

Compared to the 5D Mark III"s official price of £2999 / $3499, the 6D is something of a bargain at £1799 / $2099, especially as it delivers very similar image quality to its big brother. The only fly in the ointment in terms of price is the Nikon D600, which due to being released earlier now typically undercuts the 6D by a couple of hundred pounds / dollars. Still, the EOS 6D should also drop in price once the novelty has worn off. We"d advise you to choose carefully though if you"re pitting the 6D against the D600 - they"re quite different cameras in their approach, with the 6D having the edge in low-light performance and the D600 offering a more versatile auto-focusing system. Thanks to both cameras though, full-frame has never been more affordable, and the new Canon EOS 6D is a real contender if you"re looking to step-up from a smaller format.

The long-awaited Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR has finally arrived, boasting improvements to virtually every aspect of its popular predecessor, the breakthrough 5D Mark II. It"s cost has also increased significantly, so does the new 5D Mark III offer enough to justify the £2999 / $3499 asking price? Read our detailed Canon EOS 5D Mark III review to find out.

The Canon EOS 7D is a brand new 18 megapixel DSLR camera, complete with 8fps continuous shooting, high-res 3 inch LCD screen, Live View and Full HD movies. The Canon 7D also features a number of significant improvements to its auto-focusing, metering, viewfinder and flash systems, which all add up to make this one of the best-ever specified EOS cameras. Find out if the Canon EOS 7D can also take great pictures by reading the World"s first expert review...

The Sony A77 is the flagship model in the second generation of Sony"s SLT camera range. The A77 offers a 24.3 megapixel sensor, 12fps burst shooting, 1080p Full HD movies, high-resolution OLED viewfinder, 3-inch free-angle LCD, 19-point auto-focus with 11 cross-sensors, built-in GPS and an ISO range of 50-16000. Can it really challenge Nikon and Canon in the discerning prosumer market? Read our detailed Sony A77 review to find out...

In many ways the Canon EOS 6D is the Canon"s first true enthusiast level full-frame digital camera. While the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EOS 1DX also have a full frame sensor, the Canon EOS 6D"s design and handling is far closer to that of the APS-C format Canon EOS 60D.

The Canon EOS 6D might sound like the dream ticket for full-frame DSLR aspirers. It"s the first time that Canon"s dipped its toe into the "budget" full-frame pond. But, to be realistic, its £1600 body-only asking price is still more the cash equivalent of a dive than a doggy-paddle.

The Canon EOS 6D is the smallest and lightest full frame sensor format Canon DSLR camera ever (as of review time). The image quality benefits of Canon"s full frame CMOS sensors are big, while the footprint of the 6D remains small - as does the relative impact on your wallet. The image quality the 6D delivers is impressive.

Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB.

Canon Speedlites (90EX, 220EX, 270EX, 270EX II, 320EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, 600EX, 600EX-RT, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT)

³ Based on Canon"s testing conditions, JPEG, ISO 100, Standard Picture Style. Varies depending on the subject, memory card brand and capacity, image recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, Custom functions etc.

The Canon EOS 6D full frame DSLR very closely resembles the EOS 60D crop sensor DSLR in terms of size, weight and control layout. Probably the biggest physical difference is that the EOS 6D has a fixed 3.2" LCD while the 60D has a 3" LCD which swings out, tilts and swivels. The EOS 60D also has a popup flash, while the EOS 6D (in common with all Canon full frame DSLRs) does not have a built in flash.

The shooting mode control dial and on/off switch on the the left side of the camera as shown above. The dial on the 6D is self-locking and the center button has to be depressed to change modes. M(anual), Tv, Av, P and B modes are available along withwo programmable positions, scene intelligent auto (�green square�) and creative auto modes.

On the right side is the LCD which shows the camera settings including exposure, metering mode, ISO setting, focus mode, drive mode, remaining card capacity, battery status and GPS and WiFi status. Forward of the LCD are 5 single function buttons allowing setting of the AF mode, metering mode, ISO, Drive mode and LCD illumination. On a number of other Canon DSLRs (e.g. EOS 7D, 5D MkIII, 5D MkII) the buttons in front of the LCD are dual function, so if you are used to them, be aware of the difference here.

The rear controls are very similar to those found on the EOS 60D as previously mentioned. The functions of some of the buttons have been swapped, but the basic layout is the same. Both the 60D and the 6D use an 8-way controller integrated into the rear control dial rather than having the separate 8-way controller found on the EOS 7D, 5D MkII and 5D MkIII. The major difference between the 60D and 6D in this area is that the 60D has a 3" swing-out, tilt and swivel LCD, while the 6D has a slightly larger 3.2" LCD which is fixed in place.

The DOF preview button on the EOS 6D is on the right side of the lensmount (like the 60D), not on the left as is found on the EOS 7D and 5D series bodies. Since I"m used to the 7D and 5D, I thought at first that Canon hadn"t put a DOF button on the 6D but I was wrong. It"s just on the other side of the camera, something I"m sure you get used to fairly quickly.

The EOS 6D is very responsive. The shutter lag is specified as less than 60ms, which puts it about even with the EOS 5D MkIII. The maximum frame rate is close to 4.5fps. Not superfast by today"s DSLR standards, but probably fast enough for the vast majority of photographers (including me!). There"s also a quiet shutter mode which significantly lowers shutter noise and is limited to a maximum frame rate of around 3fps.

The EOS 6D has a relatively simple AF system consisting of 11 AF zones, with the center zone being a cross configuration (with high vertical line precision at f2.8) and the outer zones being sensitive to either horizontal or vertical lines to f5.6. This is similar to the AF system found on the EOS 5D and 5D MkII, but less complex than that found on the EOS 7D and EOS 5D MkIII. However the center AF zone can AF at -3EV @ ISO 100, that"s 2.5 EV dimmer than the 0.5EV sensitivity of the EOS 5D MkII and even 1 stop dimmer than the -2EV sensitivity of the EOS 5D MkIII. It"s the highest sensitivity of any Canon EOS DSLR, regardless of price.

In actual testing I was getting positive AF lock at a light level which required 1/8s at f4 at an ISO setting of 102400. That"s pretty dim light! It corresponds to Canon"s claim of -3EV at ISO 100. Under the same conditions with the same lens, I could not get AF with an EOS 7D or my original EOS 5D. AF is slower in such low light, but still much faster and more accurate than could be done by eye. AF time was well under 1s.

In normal use I had no issues with AF, which was fast, positive and accurate. My normal shooting method is to use the center AF zone, so I personally didn"t have much concern over the fact that the peripheral AF zones have linear sensors. I did test them and found that they too provided fast and accurate AF under most conditions. However there will be some subjects that may give them problems. Most of the outer AF zones are horizontal line sensitive, so using them to focus on a subject with only vertical features could result in a drop in AF performance. For example using the leftmost AF zone, which is sensitive to horizontal features, AF on a set of horizontal windows blinds was perfect with the camera held normally (landscape orientation). However if the camera was rotated 90 degrees (portrait orientation), AF consistently failed. AF with the center zone cross type sensor gave the expected excellent AF performance regardless of the camera orientation. If all the AF zones are activated and the camera is allowed to chose, again AF is excellent with all camera orientations. The EOS 5D and 5D MkII also only had a center cross AF zone and linear peripheral zones and showed similar AF characteristics, so the 6D shouldn"t be regarded as too limited in AF capability. However the multiple cross zones of the EOS 7D and EOS 5D MkIII do allow for single peripheral zone selection which isn"t sensitive to camera orientation. The 7D and 5D MkIII also have more zones and more options on how the zones are grouped together and allow a greater selection of AF tracking options.

AF microadjustment is available on the 6D, with the same functionality as is found on the 5D MkIII. You can make separate adjustments for the short and long end of zoom lenses and you can save setiings based on the lens serial number, which I guess could be useful if you have two copies of a lens which needed different levels of AF microadjustment.

The EOS 6D uses the same iFCL 63-zone Dual-layer Metering Sensor as the EOS 7D and EOS 5D MkIII. "FCL" stands for Focus, Color and Luminance and indicates that the metering system not only measure the light intensity in each of the 63 metering zones, but also takes color date and information from each AF zone into account when determining the best overall exposure

Should you worry that the 6D has "only" 20MP while the 5D MkIII has 22MP. How important is the pixel count? The answer is "not very important", at least not when the pixel count of two sensors is small. In fact I chose to compare the 20MP EOS 6D resolution with that of the 13MP EOS 5D - because I have a 5D myself and wondered what the difference would be!

Purely from the point of view of pixel size and spacing, you can calculate that the theoretical resolution of the 20MP sensor in the EOS 6D is 25% higher than that of the EOS 5D. Now when I say "theoretical resolution" I"m talking about the Nyquist sampling limit, a somewhat esoteric term. It means that any information from the sensor above that limit is spurious, i.e. doesn"t represent real detail. Most DSLRs (including the EOS 5D and EOS 6D and all other Canon DSLRs) have a low pass filter in front of the sensor so that any image is blurred just enough not to have information above that sampling limit. This slightly lowers the resolution in the image, but prevents false colors and moire patterns.

I looked at EOS 6D vs EOS 5D resolution with various techniques from slanted edge MTF determination to visual inspection of USAF 1951 and NBS 1010A resolution test charts. Looking at MTF 50 results using an EF 85/1.8 at f4, f5.6 and f8 and picking the highest resolution numbers (which were at f4), the 6D scored about 16% higher resolution than the EOS 5D. Note that this isn"t limiting resolution, it"s the point at which the MTF curve drops to 50%, but it"s a good guide to relative resolution estimates.

From a visual examination of resolution test charts I"d say that the EOS 6D resolution appears to be approximately 18% higher than the EOS 5D. That number depends on my subjective evaluation of line patterns, so it"s just an estimate.

Whatever numbers you pick, the EOS 6D certainly can provide higher resolution images than the EOS 5D, though in practice the difference between the images is actually quite small and not really noticeable unless you "pixel peep" quite closely. The sharper the lens the more obvious the difference may be, but the 85/1.8 is a very sharp lens at f4-f8 so it"s a pretty good test lens.

Here"s a "real world" sample. I shot with an EF 85/1.8 lens at f4, f5,6 and f8. With both the 5D and 6D the shot at f5.6 was maybe just a touch sharper than the shot at f4 and the shot at f8 just a little less sharp, so I picked the f5.6 images for comparison. First looking at 100% crops (note 100% crops from the EOS 6D appear larger than those from the EOS 5D because of the higher pixel count. In each case the crop area is approximately 300x300 pixels).

At this level of examination the superiority of the EOS 6D image becomes clearer. The bottom line is that, as expected, the 6D can outperform the 5D in terms of resolution and image quality, but you may have to be making pretty large prints (or heavily cropping the image) for the difference to be noticeable.

What about the 5D MkII and 5D MkIII? The pixel counts are so close (~20 MP for the 6D, ~21MP for the 5D MkII and ~22MP for the 5D MkIII) that you really wouldn"t expect to see any significant difference in resolution. Remember the original 5D is just 13MP, and even that doesn"t show a huge difference.

The following figure shows 100% crops from an EOS 6D image from ISO 50 to ISO 102400. These were converted from RAW files using no noise reduction so that you can see the sensor noise rather than how well the NR algorithms work!

The EOS 6D also has an in-camera multishot noise reduction mode where the camera takes 4 shots in succession and averages the resulting images. This is limited to a JPEG only (RAW is disabled in this mode) and requires a static subject. You can, of course, do the same thing yourself by just shooting 4 (or more) images and using external software, and if you do, you can save both the original JPEG files and RAW files.

The EOS 6D doesn"t break any new ground with respect to dynamic range. The sensor appears quite similar in design and fabrication to those used in Canon"s other full frame DSLRs and DR performance is on a par with that of the EOS 5D MkIII. So while the 6D breaks no new ground for Canon, it doesn"t take a back seat to the more expensive FF DSLRs. The EOS 6D has around 3.5-4 EV of "headroom" above a mid-tone grey, with up to maybe another 1 EV when HTP (highlight tone priority) is used. The HDR mode can extend this further, but requires three exposures.

The EOS 6D can shoot in-camera HDR images, but with a significant number of restrictions when compared with the 5D mkIII. For example the 6D can only shoot HDR in JPEG mode. The individual images are not saved, just the final HDR image. The 5D MkIII can also save the individual images and RAW files.

The EOS 6D has a built-in GPS function which is similar to that found on a number of Canon Powershot digicams. It can add GPS data to the EXIF information attached to images, plus there is a function to log the camera"s position at user selected intervals (from 1 second to 5 minutes). Canon provide a Map Utility which allows you to display location information of a Google Map. The GPS data is also compatible with many other commercial and freeware programs which can provide similar functions.

The EOS 6D has WiFi built in. This can be used to connect to WiFi enabled printers, share images between compatible WiFi equiped cameras, view images stored in the camera on a PC or media device, upload images to the web or remotely control the EOS 6D from a smartphone or computer.

Below is a screenshot of my Samsung Galaxy 4.0 media player connected to the EOS 6D via a WiFi link. With the Canon Android app it is possible to view images stored on the camera"s memory card, view the Live View screen, change exposure setting and focus and release the camera"s shutter.

Setting up the WiFi connection is fairly easy. First you select WiFi from the 6D menu and assign a name (e.g. "EOS6D") to the camera. The camera will then provide a WiFi password. From the smartphone you then access the camera"s WiFi signal by selecting the name of the network (e.g. "EOS6D") and entering the password provided by the camera. Once you have the connection setup, you can launch the Canon app and take control of the camera.

The EOS 6D does not have a built in flash, nor does it have a PC sync socket for a hard wired connection to a studio flash. It does support all the standard Canon Speedlites and Speedlite accessories via the built in hot shoe of course. Flash sync speed is 1/180s. If required, a PC sync socket can be added via a hot-shoe mounted adapter. Speedlites settings can be controlled from the camera"s menu system.

Like all current EOS DSLRs, the EOS 6D is well equipped for shooting video, at least on an amateur level. The format options are 1080p at 30, 24 or 24fps, 720p at 50 or 60 fps and VGA (640x480) at 25 or 30 fps. Clip length is limited to either 4GB or 30 minutes, whichever comes first.

The EOS 6D has an internal mono microphone for audio recording or you can plug in an external stereo microphone. Audio level can be either manually controlled or set to auto, but no audio monitoring is avialable since the 6D lacks an output for headphones.

The EOS 6D does not track focus while shooting. In AF mode, focus is determined at the start of shooting. Monual control of both focus and zoom is available of course and the IS function of IS lenses can be used.

Overall image quality is excellent, but perhaps not quite as good as the EOS 5D MkIII. The 6D does suffer a little more from the effects of aliasing (Moire Fringing) than the 5D MkIII. It"s not enough to bother the causal videographer, but might be an issue for serious cinematography. An external video aliasing filter (Mosaic Engineering VAF-6D) is available which can minimize aliasing effects.

I really liked the EOS 6D. Yes, it is a bit "stripped down" compared with the 5D MkIII, but it costs around $1899 vs. around $3299, so that"s not surprising. However the 6D retains all the essential functions of the 5D MkIII, plus it has GPS and WiFi built into the camera. The 5D MkIII might be more rugged, shoot faster, have a more sophisticated AF system and a faster shutter, but not everyone needs all those (or wants to spend the extra $1400 to get them). The image quality of the 6D is right up there with the 5D MkIII and the 6D is capable of AF in even lower light then the 5D MkIII is (when using the center AF zone).

So who would the EOS 6D suit and who would it not suit? I"d say that the EOS 6D would be an excellent choice for anyone shooting in the studio, portraits, weddings, landscape, travel and art. Basically situations that don"t require extreme speed or sophisticated AF tracking. The 5D MkIII would likely be a better choice for sports photographers and anyone who wanted to capture action with rapidly moving subjects and who needs the best possible AF tracking system. The EOS 6D is "weather sealed", but I believe the 5D MkIII may have enhanced weather sealing. Exactly what the difference is I don"t know, but the 5D MkIII might stand up better in harsh environments (dust, rain).

Overall I think the EOS 6D give a pretty big bang for the buck. You get a 20MP full frame DSLR with GPS and WiFi built in for $1399. Only 10 or so years ago you"d have paid $1500 for an 8MP EOS 20D, and if you"d bought an EOS 5D MkII in 2008 you"d have paid $2700 for it. Compared with the prices and specifications of those cameras, the EOS 6D is quite a bargain. I have one myself and I love it.

Sometimes those deciding which camera to buy in the 6D price range consider the 5D MkII and 7D as possible alternatives. Clearly the EOS-1D X and EOS 5D MkIII could also be included, but price usually rules them out of consideration. The 5D MkII has, of course, been discontinued. A few new or refurbished bodies may still be available and they aren"t too hard to find on the used market.

The table below compares specifications. The 6D certainly has a number of advantages over the 5D MkII including a faster and more powerful Digic 5+ processor, higher ISO settings, built in GPS and WiFi, a faster frame rate, more metering zones and can AF (using the center AF zone) in light that 2.5 stops dimmer. The 5D MkII has a faster sync and shutter speed, a 100% viewfinder, a PC flash sync socket. The 7D is cheaper, has a much faster frame rate, a more complex AF system with more zones and more cross sensors, faster shutter and sync speeds, along with a built-in flash capable of acting as a wireless controller plus a PC sync socket. Of course the 7D has an APS-C sized sensor, so for some that rules it out.

All in all, I"d say the certainly offers the best "bang for the buck" when it comes to a full frame DSLR from Canon. However the 7D (now updated to the ) might well be an alternative for those who want to capture fast moving action, but don"t want to spend well over $3000 on a camera body.

Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB.

Rumours began as long ago as September last year that Canon was developing an affordable EOS body with a ‘full frame’ sensor. Its name was even specified back then. That buzz has now become reality with the announcement of the EOS 6D today. At just 15 grams heavier than the EOS 60D, the 6D is positioned between the EOS 7D and the EOS 5D Mark III and comes with a new 35.8 x 23.9 mm, 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+ Image Processor.

The 6D is smaller and lighter than the three-year-old EOS 7D (which has an APS-C sized sensor) and the recently-released ‘full frame’ EOS 5D Mark III. The table below compares key features of the EOS 6D with the other cameras.

With its magnesium alloy front and rear chassis and polycarbonate resin top cover and cladding, the EOS 6D is built to the same high standard as the EOS 7D. Although it’s not classed as ‘weatherproof’, it has dust- and drip-proof sealing in critical positions, as shown in the diagrams below.

The body design is typical of the EOS ‘family’ and photographers considering the 6D as an extra body will find most controls in familiar locations. The 6D is similar in size and weight (only 15g more) to the 60D and has a generous (though marginally shallower) grip that we found slightly more comfortable than the 60D’s.

Like the EOS 5D   and its successors, the EOS 6D lacks a built-in flash and its mode dial contains fewer settings than the EOS 60D (10 vs 15). But otherwise the top panel control layouts on both cameras are identical, as shown in the illustrations below.

Front views of the top panels of the EOS 6D (top) and the EOS 60D (below) with no lens fitted, showing the similarities in their control layouts. (Source: Canon.)

In line with Canon’s high-end cameras, the EOS 6D has a top panel data LCD. It’s monochrome-only but includes built-in illumination that can be switched on in dim lighting, as shown in the illustration above.

There has been some button shuffling on the rear panel of the 6D that results in a layout that combines features of the 7D and 60D and is simpler than the 5D cameras. The monitor screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio that reflects the camera’s frame format better than the 4:3 aspect ratio of the 5D II’s screen.

Like the 5D models, the 6D’s monitor   is non-adjustable. It also supports the same Live View modes as the EOS 5D III. Interestingly, the 6D’s rear panel lacks the other cameras’ line-up of buttons along the left hand side of the monitor, resulting in a clean, uncluttered look.

The Pentaprism viewfinder is similar to the finder in the EOS 5D II and has an eyepoint of 21 mm. It covers approximately 97% of the sensor’s   field of view (0.01% less than the 5D II’s finder) at a magnification of 0.71x, the same as in the   5D II. The new Eg-A II focusing screen supplied has been developed specifically for the 6D and is interchangeable with the Eg-D and Eg-S screens developed for the 5D II.

Interface terminals include the standard Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and HDMI/VIDEO ports as we;; as an N3 terminal for the optional remote controller and a stereo jack for an external microphone. A wireless remote controller is available and the 6D can accept any of Canon’s EX Speedlites.

The LP-E6 battery pack is shared with a number of other EOS cameras, including the EOS 60D, 7D, 5D II and 5D III. A new battery grip (BGE13) has been developed for the 6D. It accepts two LP-E6 batteries or six AA batteries.

In the Creative Auto (CA) mode, users can obtain some control over image brightness, depth-of-field, Picture Style setting and Drive mode but not the degree of control provided by the P, Tv, Av, M and B modes. In most cases, sliders are displayed on the Quick control screen, along with an explanation of the parameter being adjusted. For example,   moving the Background slider to the left (Blurred) reduces depth of field, while moving it to the right (Sharp) brings everything into sharp focus by stopping down the lens aperture.

Like its siblings, the 6D supports in-camera raw file processing, although only to JPEGs. Adjustments are available for brightness, white balance, Picture Style and the Auto Lighting Optimiser settings. Changes can also be made to the settings for High ISO speed noise reduction, JPEG image-recording quality and colour space. Corrections can also be applied for peripheral illumination, distortion and chromatic aberration.

Other noteworthy features in the 6D include the provision of a silent shooting mode the suppresses the noise made by the mirror bouncing up and down when shooting with the viewfinder and reduces the level of the shutter noise in Live View mode. Grid overlays and an electronic level can be overlaid on the monitor to assist shot composition in Live View mode.

The 6D comes with a built-in GPS receiver that can record location data and display a GPS log with images. Information recorded as EXIF data for seamless geo-tagging while shooting includes longitude, latitude, elevation and Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) In situations where GPS reception is weak, the optional GPS Receiver GP-E2   can be used to augment the camera’s receiver. It also includes an electronic compass.

The AF system in the 6D is different from the systems in the 60D   or 7D and has an 11-point AF sensor array with a similar arrangement to the sensor in the EOS 5D Mk II. Two additional sensor points are located on either side of the central point. The AF points are displayed in the viewfinder using a transparent LCD overlay.

The overall sensitivity of the 6D’s AF system reaches down to -3EV, which is a first for an EOS camera. The central point is a ‘high-precision’ cross type sensor that is fully functional with lenses whose maximum aperture is f/2.8 or slower. When a brighter lens is used, this sensor is assisted by the two additional points.

The   6D provides most of the same video functions as the 5D III and uses the same MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 recording format with a choice between the high-quality, high-compression IPB format and the ALL-I compression format. Note: a UHS-I Card is required for All i-frame compression. The table below shows the options available.

Photographers can take full manual control over exposure and audio levels while recording video and the 6D includes an audio level display. In-camera time-coding is available following the industry standard format of Hour:Minute:Second:Frame as defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). The frame count runs from 00 to 29 frames and the time code can be set in four ways:   Count Up (the default), Start time setting,   Movie Rec. Count Movie play count.

Time codes are displayed on the monitor while recording when the Movie Rec. Count is selected and the time code will flash for around 30 seconds before the file size reaches 4GB. Each 4GB file has to be played back individually and, if Movie play count is selected, the   associated time code for the recording is displayed during playback.

The 6D also allows users to attach an external stereo microphone and monitor sound levels on the monitor screen while recording movies. Many in-camera effects are alaso available in movie mode.

The EOS 6D is the first Canon DSLR with a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter that allows JPEG images and video clips to be sent to the user’s choice of Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Options include PowerShot cameras, smart-phones, Wi-Fi enabled printers and cloud-based destinations including social networks (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc) and storage systems