Just did myself out of a lens and flash upgrade...

So after over six years I finally upgraded my good old 40D to a 6D, I was kind of lucky I didn't own any EF-S lenses so it was a no fuss upgrade.

Also on my to-do list was upgrading a very of 420EX flash (purchased with my EOS30 Film camera!), and maybe toying with my also ageing EF70-200 f/2.8L to the IS model for some more hand hold-ability.

Enter Mr full frame 6D with some very impressive high ISO low light performance.

In the few days I have had it I am quite amazed at the high ISO low light performance, taking photos outside at night handheld at high ISO with less noise than my 40D at ISO1600 (typically with EF24-105 f/4L).

The improvement in hand hold-ability seems to be far greater than what IS was going to give me on the 70-200, and it cost less.

I am very impressed, amazing what several years of technology improvements can do

Might still do those upgrades anyway though

Amen. Don't forget the savings on the tripod.

I got mine about 6 weeks ago and love the low light performance.

I miss the popup flash on my 6D. Just for that tiny bit of fill light. Loved it on my 550D with a 2.8 lens

speedync wrote in post #16994569
I miss the popup flash on my 6D. Just for that tiny bit of fill light. Loved it on my 550D with a 2.8 lens

I hardly ever used the pop-up on my 40D, used to cast shadows from the lens hood on my 24-105 if I forgot to take if off, which was most times!

FlyingPete wrote in post #16994574
I hardly ever used the pop-up on my 40D, used to cast shadows from the lens hood on my 24-105 if I forgot to take if off, which was most times!

Done that a lot too But still less frustrating than having to carry a flash everywhere.

rich-nh wrote in post #16994564
Don't forget the savings on the tripod.

Still need the tripod.

Hey Flying Pete,

I just did the same thing. Owned the 40D since 2007 and today I'd called Canon for information on the 6d and they talked me into a heck of a deal on a refurbished one. They claim that it's a new camera that may have been returned from a store that closed. Being that the box may be opened, they can't sell it as new, but the make sure it meets factory specs and give you a one year warranty. Saved about $350 off the current sale promotion price. So how can you pass that up?

Should expect a huge difference from my old 40D to now new 6D. Can't wait until it arrives.

fmj67 wrote in post #16994631
Hey Flying Pete,

I just did the same thing. Owned the 40D since 2007 and today I'd called Canon for information on the 6d and they talked me into a heck of a deal on a refurbished one. They claim that it's a new camera that may have been returned from a store that closed. Being that the box may be opened, they can't sell it as new, but the make sure it meets factory specs and give you a one year warranty. Saved about $350 off the current sale promotion price. So how can you pass that up?

Should expect a huge difference from my old 40D to now new 6D. Can't wait until it arrives.

Oh, you'll really like it. I had a 40D for a couple years and now, a couple cameras later I have a 6D. The picture quality isn't even close. I got mine refurbished when canon had their 15% off sale and it looked brand spanking new.

Hey Svarley,

My refurbished 6d arrived today, took only two days to get her and it's brand spanking new. What a deal, especially with the Canon loyalty program. Charging the battery now and the memory card is due to arrive tomorrow. Can't wait to try out that bad boy. My 40D is going on the Craigslist now.

Of course the wife said...what do you need that camera for, your other one takes great pictures. She just doesn't understand.

Agree with everything in this thread. Low light performance is amazing. I do miss the pop up flash - I use the camera for casual family pix and so don't want to carry an external flash. A big equalizer without the flash in low light is having good post processing software so you can get the white balance, noise reduction and sharpening right. Nail those and you can get great results without a flash - still miss it though.

A flash, especially off camera, gives you the ability to add very dramatic lighting to a sometimes boring natural light scene. High ISO abilities is fine but it sure does not replace the need for a flash or some other lighting in many instances. Flash just gives you more abilities to enhance or dramatize your images.

Hogloff wrote in post #16999271
A flash, especially off camera, gives you the ability to add very dramatic lighting to a sometimes boring natural light scene. High ISO abilities is fine but it sure does not replace the need for a flash or some other lighting in many instances. Flash just gives you more abilities to enhance or dramatize your images.

Agreed, I had a full studio strobe setup for a while, much prefer high ISO to build in flash though. It is off camera stuff that will eventually get me to upgrade my 420EX (it works as a slave but not master).

Gobeatty wrote in post #16998686
Agree with everything in this thread. Low light performance is amazing. I do miss the pop up flash - I use the camera for casual family pix and so don't want to carry an external flash. A big equalizer without the flash in low light is having good post processing software so you can get the white balance, noise reduction and sharpening right. Nail those and you can get great results without a flash - still miss it though.

Heya,

I never use the pop-up. If you're taking a dSLR with any lens, even the pancake, it's still a big bulky cumbersome device. It's not discreet nor light weight really. I do the same thing, I take my dSLR every where, and have several, but I grip them all. I use wireless off camera flash. I just pack the Yongnuo 560 III with me, it has a built in wireless receiver, with the little plastic shoe they come with so it can stand on it's own in a corner. I use a simple little wireless transceiver (Yongnuo RF 603 C II) to trigger the flash. I then set the flash where ever I want and bounce it off the ceiling. It's not going in anyone's eyes, and the lighting difference is huge. At 1/4th power to 1/8th power, I can fill a normal sized room by using the ceiling. The results are well worth it over pop up. It's just the size of carrying another large lens, and since we're talking dSLR, who cares about one more lens?

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #17001923
Heya,

I never use the pop-up. If you're taking a dSLR with any lens, even the pancake, it's still a big bulky cumbersome device. It's not discreet nor light weight really. I do the same thing, I take my dSLR every where, and have several, but I grip them all. I use wireless off camera flash. I just pack the Yongnuo 560 III with me, it has a built in wireless receiver, with the little plastic shoe they come with so it can stand on it's own in a corner. I use a simple little wireless transceiver (Yongnuo RF 603 C II) to trigger the flash. I then set the flash where ever I want and bounce it off the ceiling. It's not going in anyone's eyes, and the lighting difference is huge. At 1/4th power to 1/8th power, I can fill a normal sized room by using the ceiling. The results are well worth it over pop up. It's just the size of carrying another large lens, and since we're talking dSLR, who cares about one more lens?

Very best,

I take mine (DSLR) on holidays too. But I don't need or want to lug the whole kit around, including a flash, extra batteries charger etc etc. One general purpose zoom, ie 15-85, and a small wideish prime. That's it. Still miles better IQ than a point & shoot. Why should I be forced to carry all that extra gear, for the sake of a tiny bit of fill light? I'd rather pay the 2 dollars extra for a built in flash when I buy the camera. When I'm on holidays, I don't want to pissfart around with extra off camera flashes, setting them up, test shots etc etc etc. I simply don't have the time. Especially if we're part of a tour, and on a reasonably tight schedule. We just want a reasonable quality portrait, including part of background, when visiting historical places. Like this. ALl with my humble T2i

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nYEs​Mj

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/d35R​io

MalVeauX wrote in post #17001923
Heya,

I never use the pop-up. If you're taking a dSLR with any lens, even the pancake, it's still a big bulky cumbersome device. It's not discreet nor light weight really. I do the same thing, I take my dSLR every where, and have several, but I grip them all. I use wireless off camera flash. I just pack the Yongnuo 560 III with me, it has a built in wireless receiver, with the little plastic shoe they come with so it can stand on it's own in a corner. I use a simple little wireless transceiver (Yongnuo RF 603 C II) to trigger the flash. I then set the flash where ever I want and bounce it off the ceiling. It's not going in anyone's eyes, and the lighting difference is huge. At 1/4th power to 1/8th power, I can fill a normal sized room by using the ceiling. The results are well worth it over pop up. It's just the size of carrying another large lens, and since we're talking dSLR, who cares about one more lens?

Very best,

Don't you get "darkish" eyes using flash that way? Just wondeing.