Canon 6D Mark II Full-Frame DSLR Officially Announced

The new budget full-frame Canon 6D Mark II was officially announced today with a new 26.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, a new swivel touch screen, Dual-Pixel AF, and sadly only 1080p/60 video. After plenty of rumours, the 6D Mark II is now a fact. It will cost $1,999 US (and oh, how funny £1,999 in the UK) and for that money you do get some really great and interesting features depending on which side of the fence you sit primarily – the photo or video.

The new Canon 6D Mark II is yet another confirmation of Canon’s strategy for pro video – they already have a healthy, (though costly), very capably and expanding Cinema EOS line of “proper” cameras, and certainly don’t want to give enthusiasts and professionals the features they deserve. At least not in a mid-level DSLR. Or any DSLR below the Canon 5D Mark IV.

canon 6d mark ii lcd touchscreen

But this isn’t a camera meant for “pro” video? Or is it? To me the new Canon 6D Mark II is pretty much the perfect vlogging camera – there is finally a swivel touch screen on a Canon DSLR! Yeah, and it only took them like 5 years to do it.

You do however get good old vanilla flavoured 1080p/60, which for a daily vlogger is more than enough; keeping the workflow quick and not too storage heavy. The addition of the amazing Canon Dual-Pixel AF with Movie Servo is probably the best thing about this camera – keeping your mug in focus when you stroll, run, do whatever in your boring daily vlogs (as you can tell, I am not of fan of such video fads).

However, this same-old-song approach, brings me to my obvious point – Canon’s stubbornness to include some form of 4K video recording format of any kind in a sub-5D Mark IV DSLR is getting to the point of trolling the very customers that have been loyal to the brand for many years. Present company included. There was a time when Canon DSLRs were the only game in town for enthusiast/start-up video work.

But the game changed; long time ago, and it changed quickly. And I think that Canon saw that, and made a decision to focus on their CinemaEOS line and keep their mid-range and low-end DSLRs basic on the video side of features.

For 2 grand today, I can buy a Panasonic GH5 (which I do own, and love) and I can not only have 1080/60p video, but also 4K, UHD, Anamorphic, 180fps Full HD slow-mo, a more compact form factor, etc. Not to mention the other even cheaper options for decent 4K video today in a compact/DSLR-like mirrorless form factor…

Canon 6D Mark II 26 MP full-frame sensor

 

No, there is no Canon LOG in the 6D MK II – here are the available picture profiles:

  • Auto,
  • Standard,
  • Portrait,
  • Landscape,
  • Fine Detail,
  • Neutral,
  • Faithful,
  • Monochrome,
  • User Defined (x3)

B&H have an informative First Look video on the new Canon 6D Mark II, which you can check out below.

canon 6d mark ii back touch screen

Canon 6D Mark II Features

  • 26.2 Megapixel Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor
  • 45-Point All-Cross Type AF System
  • 1080p/60 fps; Electronic IS
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
  • Max ISO up to 40,000 (Expanded to 102,400)
  • 6.5 fps Shooting; Time-Lapse & HDR Movie
  • Built-In GPS, Bluetooth, & Wi-Fi w/ NFC
  • Dust and Water Resistant
  • Single SD Card Slot
  • Price: $1,999 Body (B&H, Adorama)
  • Canon 6D Mark II + 24-105mm f4 II – $3,099 (B&H, Adorama)
  • Canon 6D Mark II + 24-105mm f3.5-5.6 – $2,599 (B&H, Adorama)

4K video isn’t everything in a camera spec these days, but in 2017 for a camera that costs 2 grand, it pretty much should be a standard feature. But alas, this is Canon we’re talking about here, so I am not surprised at all.

And this is coming from someone who has owned a Canon 7D, 5D II, 550D, 2 x C100’s and is about to get a Canon C200… The 6D Mark II could have been the prefect B-cam to it, but sadly it appears that Canon have made a really nice vlogging DSLR. Oh, and I am sure it will take amazing photos too… For the photographers out there – best to check out the full specs of the 6D II here.

Again, not having used the camera, I am not saying anything about the camera’s performance, I can’t possibly know this without testing it first, but knowing Canon’s quality – I am sure it will do pretty well.

But it is 2017, and the whole photo/video convergence/hybrid BS is real. 4K video is mandatory in any DSLR or mirrorless camera over $1000…

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