6D for $2,100 or 5D2 for $1,583?

For photographers who do primarily landscape, portrait and low light events, which would you prefer:

A 5D2 with less than 100 shots on it (refurbished from Canon w/90 day warranty) for $1,583

or

A new 6D for $2,100?

Given the 6D has not been released, we can, of course, only guess as to whether it will fulfill its claimed low light and AF capabilities.

But, on paper, which deal seems better?

The limitations of flash ss (180) and highest ss (4000) and the slightly less impressive control wheel are not of much a concern to me. The smaller size of the 6D compared to the 5D2 makes no difference one way or the other.

Intrigued by the Wi-Fi possibilities of the 6D but not so much by the GPS.

I do intend to use it for video from time to time.

if both were on the shelf right now, and I had to make a decision right now, the 5D2 would win because of these:
- CF card (I have a ton of them, don't want to buy/manage a 2nd set of cards)
- Joystick for AF point selection
- 1/8000

The WIFI/GPS offerings in the 6D are intriguing, but they're no substitute for me on the above...

and then you'd have an extra $500 to spend on other gear

TOUGH ONE...
I'M TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN THE BOTH AS WELL.

6D because:

- i prefer new
- i have never needed 1/8000 shutter speed
- the live view AF is much faster
- digic 5

The only advantage of the 5Dii for me is the very slightly faster sync speed of 1/200. I actually prefer the 8-way d-pad for selectin AF on my 60D. Once you adapt to it you may even prefer it.
But in the end i wouldnt go for either because of a lack of outer cross focus points. I never use the center point, who composes a portrait with the eyes over the center point lol!

I'm having the same problem deciding! Looking forward to hearing more input.

Low light I will probaby look at 6d more.

boerewors wrote in post #15044666
6D because:

- i prefer new

Just to be clear about this, refurbished is not the same thing as USED. In most cases, other than the lack of the full one year warranty and the lack of the original box, (and the tiny pinhole on the bottom of the camera), refurbished means - for all practical purposes -brand new.

I always think it's funny how people looking for a used Canon EOS seem to want to make sure it's not a dreaded "refurbished" model. LOL. 99 times out of 100 you should prefer a Canon refurbished model to anything but new in box. And never would I consider new in box to be worth a 10% to 20% premium for it.

Has there even been a 6D review?

Tommydigi wrote in post #15044802
Has there even been a 6D review?

Plenty of them.

But, nothing of much use to any of us until December.

That's the reason I indicated the evaluation of the question has to be based on specs/paper rather than real use.

But, see for example: http://www.dpreview.co​m …D-preview-20MP-full-frame

The 6D looks like a toy compared to the 5D II.

I own the 5D II and i am a new "professional" and have been using it for 1 1/2 years for over 100 shoots. I always use 2 cameras, and the 5D has ALWAYS been attached to my 24-105mm or 16-35mm. The other camera was a 40D when i started for a few months, to a 1D II for a few months and than a 1D III for the last 4 months. So i have a lot of experience "professionally" with 1D, 40D and 5D.

Yesterday i decided to leave the 5D in the bag and use my old 1D II instead. I must say i loved not shooting with my 5D. I really hate the autofocus of the 5D, especially when you are used to the 1D. It is so easy to miss your focus while using a 5D or xxD compared to the 1D.

Can you really not control the autofocus with a joystick on the 6D? How about using the 8 direction pad? That is the one nice thing about the 5D. The 1D II does not have it but the III does. With the 5D you can quickly go from all focus points to center only or right only with just one thumb stroke, that is a really amazing feature when shooting action of needing to focus on a certain point very quickly, that can mean missing or making a shot.

70% of my shots are used with a single autofocus point, autofocus just doesn't cut it for me on any of them for most situations, but having only 9 little tiny autofocus points can be really tough, but i don't think the 6D will be much better.

Right now i hate my 5D and kind of regret buying it, but will probably keep it for low light and when i need it for full frame, or if i need to possibly record video.

6D could be much better at low light, that is the only reason i would take it over the 5D. The back reminds me of a rebel.. i would really stay away from this.

inernets wrote in post #15044818
The 6D looks like a toy compared to the 5D II.

Well, your photo is comparing the 6D to the 5D3 not the 5D2. But I agree with much - if not all - of what you say.

i went for 5d markii for the sheer fact i dont want to wait til december and in my hands both pictures will produce the same image. I just wanted the FF

The longer lasting shutter of the 5D2 is something to consider. 100k to 150k. Considering the cost used ( if you don't mind used ) you can probably save a lot of money with the 5d2 which was and still is an excellent camera.

So many people freak out about the autofocus but many photographers I know often use manual focus with great results ( you can also use the EG-S focus screen in a 5d2 ) IMO the 5d2 autofocus is not that bad but maybe I am just used to it, I am very curious to try a 5d3 to see what I am missing.

I would go 5D2 hands down. I really don't see anything better in the 6D to warrant the extra money put into it.

Eastport wrote in post #15044779
Just to be clear about this, refurbished is not the same thing as USED. In most cases, other than the lack of the full one year warranty and the lack of the original box, (and the tiny pinhole on the bottom of the camera), refurbished means - for all practical purposes -brand new...

This is not quite true. Referb simply means that the camera has gone to some Canon authorized location and brought back into spec. The camera can be one that was pulled off of the production line for quality testing (likely early in a cameras life cycle), or it can be a returned camera, or it can be a store demo that has been returned. There is no way of knowing what you get.