Canon 6D Mark II Comparison Review
The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera that was officially introduced in June 2017 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 26 megapixel.
Is the Canon 6D Mark II a good camera? The 6D Mark II has a Camera Elo of 2693. This rating puts the 6D Mark II among the top 10 percent of all digital single lens reflex cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the 6D Mark II ranks among the top 40 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4.5-star performance rating.
| Canon 6D Mark II |
|---|
| Digital single lens reflex |
| Canon EF mount lenses |
| 26 MP, Full Frame Sensor |
| 1080/60p Video |
| ISO 100 - 40 000 (50 - 102 400) |
| Optical viewfinder |
| 3.0 LCD, 1040k dots |
| Swivel touchscreen |
| 6.5 shutter flaps per second |
| Weathersealed body |
| 1200 shots per battery charge |
| 144 x 111 x 75 mm, 765 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
The physical dimensions of the Canon 6D Mark II relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon 6D Mark II alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 6D Mark II | 144 mm | 111 mm | 75 mm | 765 g | 1200 | Y | Jun 2017 | 1,999 |  | |
| Canon R | 139 mm | 98 mm | 84 mm | 660 g | 370 | Y | Sep 2018 | 2,299 | | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | 151 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 890 g | 900 | Y | Aug 2016 | 3,499 | | |
| Canon 80D | 139 mm | 105 mm | 79 mm | 730 g | 960 | Y | Feb 2016 | 1,199 | | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | 152 mm | 116 mm | 76 mm | 950 g | 950 | Y | Mar 2012 | 3,499 | | |
| Canon 6D | 145 mm | 111 mm | 71 mm | 770 g | 1090 | Y | Sep 2012 | 2,099 | | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | 152 mm | 114 mm | 75 mm | 850 g | 850 | Y | Sep 2008 | 3,499 | | |
| Nikon D750 | 141 mm | 113 mm | 78 mm | 750 g | 1230 | Y | Sep 2014 | 2,299 | | |
| Nikon D610 | 141 mm | 113 mm | 82 mm | 850 g | 900 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,999 | | |
| Nikon D600 | 141 mm | 113 mm | 82 mm | 850 g | 900 | Y | Sep 2012 | 2,099 | | |
| Sony A7 III | 127 mm | 96 mm | 74 mm | 650 g | 610 | Y | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon 6D Mark II was launched in the US market at a price of $1,999. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Check Amazon price
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Canon 6D Mark II features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon 6D Mark II among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.
For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 6D Mark II | Full Frame | 26.0 | 6240 | 4160 | 1080/60p | 24.4 | 11.9 | 2862 | 85 | |
| Canon R | Full Frame | 30.1 | 6720 | 4480 | 4K/30p | 24.5 | 13.5 | 2742 | 89 | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | Full Frame | 30.1 | 6720 | 4480 | 4K/30p | 24.8 | 13.6 | 2995 | 91 | |
| Canon 80D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.6 | 13.2 | 1135 | 79 | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | Full Frame | 22.1 | 5760 | 3840 | 1080/30p | 24.0 | 11.7 | 2293 | 81 | |
| Canon 6D | Full Frame | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/30p | 23.8 | 12.1 | 2340 | 82 | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | Full Frame | 21.0 | 5616 | 3744 | 1080/30p | 23.7 | 11.9 | 1815 | 79 | |
| Nikon D750 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.5 | 2956 | 93 | |
| Nikon D610 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/30p | 25.1 | 14.4 | 2925 | 94 | |
| Nikon D600 | Full Frame | 24.2 | 6016 | 4016 | 1080/30p | 25.1 | 14.2 | 2980 | 94 | |
| Sony A7 III | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 25.0 | 14.7 | 3730 | 96 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The 6D Mark II indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the 6D Mark II can use is 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the 6D Mark II has an optical viewfinder that provides a field of view of 98% and a magnification of 0.72x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Canon 6D Mark II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 6D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.5 | n | n | |
| Canon R | 3690 | Y | 3.2 | 2100 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 8.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1620 | fixed | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 80D | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 7.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1040 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0 | n | n | |
| Canon 6D | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 4.5 | n | n | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | optical | Y | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 3.9 | n | n | |
| Nikon D750 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1229 | tilting | n | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Nikon D610 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Nikon D600 | optical | Y | 3.0 | 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 5.5 | Y | n | |
| Sony A7 III | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y |
One useful feature of the 6D Mark II is a presence of a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 6D Mark II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon R | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.1 | Y | - | Y | |
| Canon 5D Mark IV | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Canon 80D | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Canon 5D Mark III | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Canon 6D | Y | mono | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Canon 5D Mark II | Y | mono | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Nikon D750 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Nikon D610 | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Nikon D600 | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Sony A7 III | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.1 | Y | Y | Y |
It is notable that the 6D Mark II has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the 6D Mark II in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon 6D Mark II | + | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2017 | 1,999 | |
|
| Canon R | o | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2018 | 2,299 | |
|
| Canon 5D Mark IV | + + | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2016 | 3,499 | |
|
| Canon 80D | + + | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2016 | 1,199 | |
|
| Canon 5D Mark III | + + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2012 | 3,499 | |
|
| Canon 6D | + + | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 2,099 | |
|
| Canon 5D Mark II | 91/100 | 79/100 | 4/5 | 5/5 | .. | Sep 2008 | 3,499 | |
|
| Nikon D750 | + + | 90/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | 2,299 | |
|
| Nikon D610 | + + | 87/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,999 | |
|
| Nikon D600 | + + | 87/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2012 | 2,099 | |
|
| Sony A7 III | + + | 89/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2018 | 1,999 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.
Canon 6D Mark II FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the 6D Mark II.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the 6D Mark II?
The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Canon equipped the 6D Mark II with the DIGIC 7 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the 6D Mark II?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 40000, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400.
Does the camera have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the 6D Mark II is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS 6D Mark II?
Canon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the 6D Mark II. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the 6D Mark II over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences?
No, the Canon EOS 6D Mark II has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Does the Canon 6D Mark II feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The 6D Mark II's flash sync speed is 1/180 sec.
Does the Canon 6D Mark II support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the 6D Mark II use?
The camera gets its power from the LP-E6N (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the 6D Mark II?
Yes, Canon offers the BG-E21 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Does the Canon EOS 6D Mark II support geotagging?
The 6D Mark II has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) module and can embed location information in the EXIF data of the captured image.
Where can I find the best deals for the 6D Mark II?
Grey imports from Asia, as found on eBay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Canon.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 60D vs Canon 6D Mark II
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon M6
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon Rebel
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Fujifilm X-E2S
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D40
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D7200
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon P7800
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Olympus TG-6
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Panasonic FZ2000
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony A7C
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony NEX-6
- Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony RX0 II
| Camera Model | Canon 6D Mark II | |
| Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
| Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | June 2017 | |
| Launch Price | USD 1 999 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | Full Frame Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 35.9 x 24.0 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 862 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 43.2 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 1.0x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 26 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 6 240 x 4 160 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 5.76 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 3.01 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 40 000 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 50 - 102 400 ISO | |
| Image Processor | DIGIC 7 | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 85 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.4 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.9 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 2862 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 98% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.72x | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1040k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 6.5 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Fill Flash | no On-Board Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
| Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
| Geotagging | GPS built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | LP-E6N power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 1200 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
144 x 111 x 75 mm (5.7 x 4.4 x 3.0 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 765 g (27.0 oz) |
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