EOS 5D Mark III or Canon 6D

[Antonrides]

Hi

I'm planning on upgrading to a full frame from my T3i. Most of my photography is outdoor wildlife and landscapes. Usually involves hiking to get there. I was thinking the 6d cause of it's size but I'm reading alot about autofocus not so good. The 5D sounds good but it's biggest con is it's size that could be a problem when hiking.

Any thoughts or suggestion?

Thanks

[twagn · Accepted solution]

If you can afford the 5D3 then get it. It has a much better AF system and fast frame rate for moving wildlife. The Biggest con with the 5D3 compared to the 6D is it's price. The 5D3 is a vastly superior camera

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

Boy did this hit the nail on it's head?  "The 5D3 is a vastly superior camera" 

The 6D is Canon's version of an entry level Full Frame body. A FF version of your T3i, if you will.  Although the 6D is a more robust camera and other features that come will it being a later design.

The EOS 5D Mk III is a nearly full on professional camera.

Do you need or require that level of equipment?  If price is not the driving factor get the 5D Mk III you will never regret it.

There is only one better camera in the Canon line, the 1Dx which is around seven grand and arguably the best camera you can buy.

[Antonrides · Accepted solution]

Thank you. Kind of the way I'm leaning

[chrisschrimsher · Accepted solution]

FWIW, I have the 6D and love it but the AF is my biggest complaint. I do children's' photography a lot, which some would argue isn't that different from wildlife 😉 and the AF is quite often a limiting factor.

[cale_kat · Accepted solution]

Curious about the child photography,  what lens and aperature are combining with the 6D to bother you?

[cale_kat · Accepted solution]

@Helawli, my comments were intended for poster above. I can see why you bristle at the suggestion that the APS-C format isn't worthy... it wasn't meant to be a statement about all APS-C format cameras just those made by Canon going up through the 70D. My bad.

[chrisschrimsher · Accepted solution]

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@cale_kat wrote:

Curious about the child photography,  what lens and aperature are combining with the 6D to bother you?

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Mainly the 70-200mm F/2.8L USM IS II. Sometimes the 24-70mm F/2.8L USM II if working up close. I try not to go less than F/4 to get a workable DOF but sometimes have to go 2.8 since I do a lot with available light.  When I review the images, the focal point can be right on the eyes for successive images but one or more will be slightly out of focus. I've used LensAlign and the lenses seem to be accurately calibrated so I just wrote it off to the less sophisticated AF system not being 100% accurate in a "running and gunning" scenario.

[cale_kat · Accepted solution]

@ebiggs1, that's sage.

[cale_kat · Accepted solution]

@chrisschrimsher, I guess it comes down to priorities. I understand that you prefer natural light but it isn't as though child photography was invented with the addition of the 5D3. If you're a pro, I guess you have your own reasons for not getting the 5D3, if not I'd open the shades a bit. (Please accept this as intended, as a light ribbing and with best wishes for your success.)

[twagn · Accepted solution]

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@cale_kat wrote:

Where APS-C tops out is about where FF begins

Where exactly is that? I'm sorry but that's a bit over my head

[twagn · Accepted solution]

If you can afford the 5D3 then get it. It has a much better AF system and fast frame rate for moving wildlife. The Biggest con with the 5D3 compared to the 6D is it's price. The 5D3 is a vastly superior camera

[ebiggs1 · Accepted solution]

Boy did this hit the nail on it's head?  "The 5D3 is a vastly superior camera" 

The 6D is Canon's version of an entry level Full Frame body. A FF version of your T3i, if you will.  Although the 6D is a more robust camera and other features that come will it being a later design.

The EOS 5D Mk III is a nearly full on professional camera.

Do you need or require that level of equipment?  If price is not the driving factor get the 5D Mk III you will never regret it.

There is only one better camera in the Canon line, the 1Dx which is around seven grand and arguably the best camera you can buy.

[Antonrides · Accepted solution]

Thank you. Kind of the way I'm leaning

[helalwi]

Did you evaluate a DSLM?

I would seriuously evaluate the X-T1 if you do not have too much equipment that you would like to use on the FF.

I post this as you mention the weight. Be aware that a Fuji is probably providing you results that you can not distinguish from a FF as a 6D.

I just are under the impression of an X-E1 that I had today (Sunday) fot the whole day to test. My own camera is a 5D MkIII which of course is an excellent cam. But when you think af changing a would really think of the whole market options. The weight is a big issue.

[cale_kat]

Meh... I don't like the suggestion that entry level products are NG. First off, full frame cams are in an entirely different category than APS-C. Where APS-C tops out is about where FF begins. I don't think anyone would seriously suggest that your move from the T3i to 6D was anything less than substantial.

How much good FF glass, do you have? The price difference between 6D and 5D3 is enough to fund a great new or lightly used lens.

Good luck, it's not an easy decision. (BTDT... bought a 5D2 last summer.)

[helalwi]

What is NG?

By the way: When you say "Where APS-C tops out is about where FF begins" then this is against all facts that you can read in many blogs. Probably you can not make out any difference between the 2 concepts. It is probably more a question of handling. The TO mentioned the weight. I strongly believe that it is absoltely worth evaluating the T1. The technology has changed completely. Please read tests and reviews. You'll come to a fully differen conclusion. And if you decide to test a X-T1 you'll find out that it is an excellent concept under the condition that you do not have invested a fortune in FF Equipment. In the case of the TO this is certainly not the case.

Just to mention that I am an owner of a 5D Mk IIi plus a lot of L lenses and equipment. These are of cours excellent products. There is no doubt about that. 

[cale_kat · Accepted solution]

@Helawli, my comments were intended for poster above. I can see why you bristle at the suggestion that the APS-C format isn't worthy... it wasn't meant to be a statement about all APS-C format cameras just those made by Canon going up through the 70D. My bad.

[ebiggs1]

"Where APS-C tops out is about where FF begins."

This is nonsense.  

[cale_kat · Accepted solution]

@ebiggs1, that's sage.