So in considering which wide angle or "portrait" fixed FL lens to consider for my 7d ii, I failed to consider an alternative...For wide angle shots and non sports/WL/BIF, go full frame.
What I would do is leave my 100-400 ii on my 7d ii, and use my 24-105 on a full frame. The 24-105 would be more "usable" as a landscape lens and for portraits if it is on a full frame body. I would still consider alternative lenses for these situations, but I wouldn't be as "desperate" for them. And having two bodies has a convenience advantage.
But the main reason for having FF is to have better low light performance when necessary. So how do the 6d, 5d ii and 5d iii compare? I know the 5d iii is most likely superior, however used it costs 600-700 more than the 6d. As a second body (not a professional, just hobby), is it worth saving for the 5d iii? Or can the 6d (or 5d ii) be a good second body FF?
For low-light the 6d would be the best of those three. The 5d3 would be most well rounded with better focusing and higher frames per second. 5d2 is great camera, but just older tech. 6d is a very capable camera body, i used one professionally since it came out roughly up to about a month ago.
I think the 6D is better than the 5DII in every meaningful way. Some folks don't like the 6D multi-controller embedded in the quick control dial, that replaces the thumb-joystick on the 5DII and 5DIII, but it doesn't bother me at all. The 5DIII has a more sophisticated AF system than the 6D, although the 6D has a more sensitive (and probably more accurate) centre AF sensor in low light. If you often use off-centre AF points, then the 5DIII might be the better choice; however, if you plan to use the camera on a tripod with LiveView focus, then the 6D is hard to beat (at around 20MPx). I also have a 1DIV, and so the relatively constrained AF system on the 6D is not an issue for me. It actually works fine with action subjects, if you can keep the centre AF sensor on the subject. In 2012, I went from a 5DII to a 6D, and then I bought a second 6D.
The 5D II is not acceptable for any kind of action--its single greatest flaw. I used two professionally for several years and the primary reason I upgraded to the 5D III bodies was the autofocus. Absolutely night and day difference. But if all you do is shoot landscapes, portraits, studio and motionless objects, the 5D II is a marvelous camera.
The 5D III has more rugged, weather sealed build quality, infinitely better autofocus, a very useful "quiet" shooting mode and 6 fps. Image quality under normal light is about the same as the 5D II, but easily one or more stops superior under low light.
The 6D is enormously popular, comparatively inexpensive and by all accounts slightly better than even the 5D III under low light. That said, its build quality and professional operational capabilities are below the 5D III.
I've had no regrets going with the 6D when it came out. I'm still happy , but I'll consider the mkIV in the future when the price comes down. That offers up enough of a difference to me that I'd consider an upgrade.
Have all four of these cameras. 6D definitely for non-action, low-light photography.
use it for macro mainly. Used 6D at a nighttime outside performance.
outperformed the 5D III I have.
I will also vote 6d. I have had mine since almost release and even though it initially was knocked as a FF rebel, I think that it is a super image taker for non action stuff and I don't feel like I am lacking anything with it today.
I am not surprised by the ISO noise chart, I think that sensor having less MPs also translates to less noise somehow but I could be wrong. When considering bang for buck, 6D I think really comes out for your needs.
6D has a slight better sensor than 5Diii for low light, noise and dynamic range. If you don't need the autofocus feature of the 5Diii go 6D without esitation.
So the 6d wins the noise contest by quite a bit. May be the better bang for the buck if I'm only doing more or less static shots.
While not the best camera for birds, the 6D is still usable for a lot of wildlife work, including birds. It's an excellent platform on which to learn BIF, too. A lot of BIF shooters still use the center point only. For bears and stuff, and things that don't move super fast, the center point can bring home some bacon.
Having said that, I will probably move away from the 6D if Canon doesn't beef up the AF system on the 6D2. I just want some off-center cross-type AF points for compositional reasons. If they put at least a 70D AF system in the 6D2 then I'm good. I only ever used the center-point on the 70D for BIF. An 80D AF system would make me very happy. In 2017, we need more than just one cross-type point for $2000. Period.
This isn't one of my better shots of the series artistically, but it does demonstrate the excellent center point focus. Bird isn't moving with plane of focus and there's a busy background. Lens was Tamron 150-600 which isn't a very fast lens and the tracking was still very good.
My tracking results with the 70-200 2.8 were much higher than expected.
Had all of them. I want the 6D's sensor and wi-fi geolocation, the thumb/joystick control, and the 5D3's focus system and weather sealing. Sigh.
Settled on the 5D3 for the thumb control and focus system and weather sealing - I frequently shoot with off-center focus, compose free hand, and shoot moving targets - i.e. children. I like shooting in misty or rainy conditions. While I love landscape photography, where the 6D excels, the shots I have to get are still family. Kids and pets move.
I loved the 5D2 before the others were available, but its only appeal now is price. I've seen them getting near the $500 mark here on FM.
If low light landscape/stationary targets is where your heart is, it's the 6D. It will deliver more of that deep evening blue sky color after sunset, softer flesh tones. General purpose, video and weather sealing (I don't worry about shooting in the rain) - the 5D3. It's more work to understand the complicated focusing system, but will deliver sharper action shots.
Good luck - and try not to waste too much time dithering!
I don't know how anyone is still recommending the 5D2 in 2017. The autofocus performance is slow and inaccurate for even the simplest things and the 6D is just a much better camera (without the 5D badging).
