70D or 6D? Please help me choose.

I think gabebalazs is right.

Line up the advantages of the two cameras side by side and see which list is better for YOUR uses. Yes, FF has advantages, but you can get truly superb images from modern APS-C cameras. (I have both.) So chose based on which is best for your particular uses.

As I see it, the Canon 6D and the Nikon 600 are the manufacturer's way of giving people a FF that has been made cheaper by stripping out some of the features in higher-end APS-C cameras. For some people, that is a very good choice. For example, if you were doing night photography, where the advantages of the 6D sensor would matter quite a bit and the weaker AF system wouldn't, then I would go with the 6D.

For your list of uses, I think I would go with the 70D or maybe a 7D, but then again, I do almost all of my indoor candids of kids with bounced flash and a bounce card, so low-light performance really is not much of an issue.

timrocks311 wrote in post #16575993
I appreciate these comments. I have a bad habit of always wanting the best even if I don't need it. I do want something more professional than the Rebel I have because I'm getting more and more use out of it. I do feel that maybe the 6D is way more than I need but I don't upgrade very often, so I do want something I can get many years from. Perhaps I'm looking for verification that something like the 70d will suit me well. In reality, a 60d will probably be a significant upgrade from what I have.

based on your wants, a 6D is MUCH better for you for a few reasons:

1. Better high iso
2. Better high iso
3. Better image quality at ANY iso
4. the 24-105 was tailor made for FF cameras, not crop cameras.
5. the price difference between 6D and 70D is not much. Has to do with the 6D being the best value FF in all of photography, and the 70D the most expensive crop camera. Just a point in time.
6. The full frame sensor is more than twice as large as the crop sensor, size matters
7. If you can afford a FF, and choose to buy crop, you're doing a horrible disservice to yourself. You're buying a big chunky DSLR for image quality right? Get the best image quality you can afford!
8. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a casual shooter using FF.
9. FF > crop for people photography, and it's not even close. You'll get finer details, better skin tones, and better separation if you choose.
10. AF Issues ---> we're talking about family moments. Lets say the 70D gets you 80% keeper, then the 6D would get you 60%. I'de take the 6D keepers over the 70D keepers anyday. Good thing about family shots is that there are many many do-overs, I have no issues shooting with the 6D + 85L combo for my kids, which brings the missed shots to a new level Obviously, the keepers are simpy on another level. Quality > quantity!!!

Wow! 60% keepers? 80% keepers? Perhaps I really stink at this photography thing. Or maybe I experiment WAY too much. I would guess my keeper rate to be about 25%. But I know a whole slew of things that don't work! If I stuck to things I was sure of I'd get a lot more keepers. My guess is, they'd be pretty boring. I kind of equate it to coloring outside the lines, intentionally.

Depending on how much action you will be shooting (family days at the park, kids old enough for sports......) I would choose the 70D. If there is less action and more portraits and family vacation stuff, i'd choose the 6D. You might not want to count out a nice used 5D2 either.

Another reason I lean towards the 70D is that you'll get a 580EX. I don't like my 430EX II because of the button control. For me personally, the extra money is well spent on the control wheel of the 580EX II

There really is nothing wrong with crop. I only moved to FF because I wanted weather sealed ultra wide lenses for my hiking landscape pictures. I don't want to risk water or dirt getting in to a 10-22mm and damaging it. That said, I have been thinking about getting an SL1 for ultra light hikes, and the 70D sounds very appealing to me for the awesome AF and higher FPS.

EOS5DC wrote in post #16577081
Wow! 60% keepers? 80% keepers? Perhaps I really stink at this photography thing. Or maybe I experiment WAY too much. I would guess my keeper rate to be about 25%. But I know a whole slew of things that don't work! If I stuck to things I was sure of I'd get a lot more keepers. My guess is, they'd be pretty boring. I kind of equate it to coloring outside the lines, intentionally.

I think he means keepers from a technical standpoint (in focus, properly exposed). In which case, my keeper rate is actually closer to 80-90% with the 6D (and that's mostly with MF glass). However, I'm like you, in actuality I only keep 25-40% of the shots I take usually... unless it's of a gathering with friends or something.

Scrumhalf wrote in post #16576664
6D if you listen to your heart, 70D if you listen to your brain.

nice
i sold my 6D and I'm asking canon shop about the price of the 6D everyday

and today I bought the lens of my dream
the EF 70-200 f/2.8L II IS
and I need a full frame body now

moltengold wrote in post #16577181
and today I bought the lens of my dream
the EF 70-200 f/2.8L II IS
and I need a full frame body now

Congratulations! Prepare to be amazed, twice. I was blown away by the Sigma 70-200 OS; your new lens is a step (or two!) better than that. The second surprise will come when you see how much better 70-200 works on full-frame. I don't mean better IQ, I just think the zoom range is more practical on FF.

Thanks EOS5

Why not get a t2i? Doesn't it have the same sensor as the 7D? I can't find a whole lot of low light performance of the 60D, 70D over a t2i. You already have a Rebel, so you're used to it. You can get the t2i for dirt cheap.

Here are some shots, http://www.imaging-resource.com …/canon-70d/canon-70dA.HTM

For what you want to shoot, to me save some money and go buy a new canon 60d at b h photo, currently $599.....

T2i doesn't have near the AF system of the 60D, 70D or 7D. The only Rebel with all cross points is the T5i. I don't know if that point is relevant here.

From the needs mentioned, another Rebel sounds fine. Maybe. You can get a t4i. Just make sure the serial isn't one of the chemical reaction ones.

Even if I own a 6D, I'd still recommend the 70D primarily for its versatility. Sure, the 6D's IQ is superior but it's not like the 70D takes bad photos. If your needs don't demand FF, by all means go with the 70D. The money you can save can be put to better glass too...or just more money for yourself and your family. You don't have to buy something just because you can afford it.

So how significant is the difference in dynamic range between the 70D and 6D. And for that matter, between the 6D and the Nikon/Sony? I'm trying to make the same decision as the OP but I find one serious limitation I face is trying to photograph choral events where the performers are in black on a platform with decent lighting, but backed by a white sound board that is well lit. Flash is not an option.

To be more clear, my situation is like having a bright hair light on the upper half of the head while the lower half is only receiving average or less light.