5d mark ii or eos 6d?

Which would you rather have? Thanks.

Oooo, hard call, 6D, higher IQ and better low light performance, AF not much in it....

Personally, I was disappointed by MII acting AF, more plastic build and nothing special rendering after letting old 5Dc go. Some time it would just refuse to focus and google search returned it as known MKII issue. I never had this serios problem with 5Dc or any other Canon (D)SLR.
In 2016 I get rid off MKII and 50L (another disappointment by Canon Canada Service), updated my trusty 500D with quick to focus and punchy colors 24 pancake and was lucky to get Leica M-E for very sharp images under good light.

If I have to switch back to FF DSLR is will be 6D. Weather sealed, less bulky and significantly better high ISO performance. While MKII was not significantly better on high ISO comparing to 5DC for me.
Man, I never seen ISO1600 as clean and organic as from 5DC....

I do not own a 6D but just yesterday I took my kids out to Cates Park in North Vancouver, British Columbia with my 5dmk2 and 85Lmk2.

Even using the lowest ISO settings I was well over 1/4000 shutter speed shooting wideopen in open shade. I choose to shoot f/1.2 for a specific effect I wanted. Stopping down or slapping on ND filters is not an option I want to take.

If I was using a 6D indoors or where 1/4000 isn't an issues the 6D is simply a better performer in low light.

"If" I'm outdoors and owned a 6D I'd rather be shooting with my Fuji X-t2 with 56mm f/1.2 for an almost similar effect I get with my 5dmk2/3 with 85L for portraits outdoors. I just cannot tolerate 1/4000 cripped shutter speeds. My preference is a 1/8000 headroom camera body. It all depends on your needs/wants.

As a 5DII owner, if I lost it and had to replace, choosing between the 5DII and 6D it would be the 6D without question. That said, as a 5DII owner given the option to upgrade, I passed as the two cameras are so close. The 6D is better in nearly all areas but not enough to make me upgrade.

6D is a better camera in most measurable regards.

That said, when I wanted an FF IR camera I got a used 5D2 for less $, and it's controls felt more familiar to me.

Thanks everybody for the replies. I'm currently using the 5d mark ii and I see really nice photos with the 6d. Looking at the two on dxomark they are very similar. If I'm using my camera for portrait photography and considered upgrading what do you recommend? Hope all is well.

welshwizard1971 wrote in post #18430152
Oooo, hard call, 6D, higher IQ and better low light performance, AF not much in it....

I may be hyper-sensitive about the AF on my 6D, but this sounds like the 5D2 can keep up with the 6D wrt AF. It most certainly cannot.

Center point: 5D2 to 0EV, 6D to -3EV. Huge advantage to the 6D.
AI-SERVO (both suck, really, compared to better AF): 5D2 no adjustments, 6D tracking sensitivity, accel/decel tracking, 1st & 2nd image priority. Huge advantage to the 6D.

When I owned a 6D and 7D at the same time. I compared AF performance in AI-Servo between the two. Since the 6D is limited to center point, I used the 7D in center point. The 6D tracks noticeably better than the 7D, and switches targets faster than the 7D.

Comparatively (1DIV, 80D) the 6D is a pig in AI-Servo. But don't insult it by equating it with a 5D2.

Someone mentioned the 1/4000 limitation of the 6D. I've had mine almost 5 years and I have never run into that limitation... with the 6D. I just picked up an Elan 7NE (again), and was out last week with my 85 1.8. Damn if that thing isn't limited to 1/4000, too! My first reaction was to (try to) lower the ISO! I was using ASA 200 film.

Bassat wrote in post #18430278
I may be hyper-sensitive about the AF on my 6D, but this sounds like the 5D2 can keep up with the 6D wrt AF. It most certainly cannot.

Center point: 5D2 to 0EV, 6D to -3EV. Huge advantage to the 6D.
AI-SERVO (both suck, really, compared to better AF): 5D2 no adjustments, 6D tracking sensitivity, accel/decel tracking, 1st & 2nd image priority. Huge advantage to the 6D.

When I owned a 6D and 7D at the same time. I compared AF performance in AI-Servo between the two. Since the 6D is limited to center point, I used the 7D in center point. The 6D tracks noticeably better than the 7D, and switches targets faster than the 7D.

..

Those advantages do nothing for portrait photography as well as the 6D's high ISO performance improvement. I'm in a similar boat as the OP. AF improvement, don't need them as I manually focus 90% of the time and very rarely shoot over ISO1600 with most in the 100~400 range. Hence, the 6D and 5DII perform identically for me.

gjl711 wrote in post #18430283
Those advantages do nothing for portrait photography as well as the 6D's high ISO performance improvement. I'm in a similar boat as the OP. AF improvement, don't need them as I manually focus 90% of the time and very rarely shoot over ISO1600 with most in the 100~400 range. Hence, the 6D and 5DII perform identically for me.

Understandable. Each shooter has specific needs and tolerances. I bought the 6D as an upgrade to my 5Dc. For what it is, I am completely happy with it. But..., it is still a pig when it comes to AI-Servo. I've been spoiled by the 1D3/4 and 80D.

Given the choice of 5D2 or 6D, I'd get another 6D. Given the choices that currently exist, I'd likely go with a 1DX, but that is me.

OP,

In 2017 I'd probably say buy a 6D or higher model if your budget allows.

As I mentioned earlier I was doing Personal family portraits and decided to lug my 5dmk2 with 85Lmk2. No way would I could shoot wideopen without ND filters with a Canon 6d with an 85L f/1.2 wideopen.

If you really think about it the 5dmk2 or 6D was never intended for tracking using AF-C. Both camera's using center focus point both can capture spontaneous "moments" during events. Otherwise the 5dmk2 era a person would probably be using a 1dmk4 for faster tracking and good IQ from an APS-H sensor.

There is no real definition of what type of light environment is present when doing portraits. So naturally if your shooting low light portraits which isn't a typical common situation for your average portrait session the 6D would definitely have an advantage.

If your shooting with studio lights or good available light environments both 6d and 5dmk2 would work. I will say for some situations it's nice to have accurate outer focus points from a 5dmk3,4 or 1D series for posed photo sessions.

I will say I'd take my 5dmk2 for portraits before grabbing my Canon 80D. If I had to choose crop sensor formats I'd grab my Fuji X-T2 with 56 f/1.2 over my 80D with 85Lmk2!!!! Heck the Fuji would even automatically go into electronic E shutter if I go over my mechanical 1/8000 max shutter speed.

As you can see we all have preferences and shoot in different scenarios.

If I compare my 5dmk3 and 5dmk2 for outdoor portrait sessions I cannot tell the difference at all. However both have a 1/8000 max shutter speed headroom so fast glass is seldom an issue. Just yesterday if I was shooting with a 6d I would have hit 1/4000 easily.

The 6D low light performance with decent dynamic range is a very nice feature. Don't hesitate either body for your portrait sessions.

AlanU wrote in post #18430473
OP,

In 2017 I'd probably say buy a 6D or higher model if your budget allows.

As I mentioned earlier I was doing Personal family portraits and decided to lug my 5dmk2 with 85Lmk2. No way would I could shoot wideopen without ND filters with a Canon 6d with an 85L f/1.2 wideopen.

If you really think about it the 5dmk2 or 6D was never intended for tracking using AF-C. Both camera's using center focus point both can capture spontaneous "moments" during events. Otherwise the 5dmk2 era a person would probably be using a 1dmk4 for faster tracking and good IQ from an APS-H sensor.

There is no real definition of what type of light environment is present when doing portraits. So naturally if your shooting low light portraits which isn't a typical common situation for your average portrait session the 6D would definitely have an advantage.

If your shooting with studio lights or good available light environments both 6d and 5dmk2 would work. I will say for some situations it's nice to have accurate outer focus points from a 5dmk3,4 or 1D series for posed photo sessions.

I will say I'd take my 5dmk2 for portraits before grabbing my Canon 80D. If I had to choose crop sensor formats I'd grab my Fuji X-T2 with 56 f/1.2 over my 80D with 85Lmk2!!!! Heck the Fuji would even automatically go into electronic E shutter if I go over my mechanical 1/8000 max shutter speed.

As you can see we all have preferences and shoot in different scenarios.

If I compare my 5dmk3 and 5dmk2 for outdoor portrait sessions I cannot tell the difference at all. However both have a 1/8000 max shutter speed headroom so fast glass is seldom an issue. Just yesterday if I was shooting with a 6d I would have hit 1/4000 easily.

The 6D low light performance with decent dynamic range is a very nice feature. Don't hesitate either body for your portrait sessions.

Thank you! I really appreciate your input.

James Crockett wrote in post #18430477
Thank you! I really appreciate your input.

If you can get a fantastic price on a 5dmk2 I'd say go for it.

I will say if you do alot of indoor prime lens photography (paid/family documentation) you will appreciate the 6D for it's much better low light high iso performance.

So if you do not shoot with fast glass often 1/4000 will not be an issue. In some situations you may find even f/2.8 aperture may hit the 1/4000 max shutter speed limitation so you will need to stop down or use ND filters. I'm just assuming you'd be using the lowest Iso setting in bright light situations.

If you can manage the budget for a 5dmk3 it will give you wonderful AF capabilities as well as very good high iso performance. As you know new tech from the 5dmk4 is ridiculously awesome but $$$$.

AlanU wrote in post #18430497
If you can get a fantastic price on a 5dmk2 I'd say go for it.

I will say if you do alot of indoor prime lens photography (paid/family documentation) you will appreciate the 6D for it's much better low light high iso performance.

So if you do not shoot with fast glass often 1/4000 will not be an issue. In some situations you may find even f/2.8 aperture may hit the 1/4000 max shutter speed limitation so you will need to stop down or use ND filters. I'm just assuming you'd be using the lowest Iso setting in bright light situations.

If you can manage the budget for a 5dmk3 it will give you wonderful AF capabilities as well as very good high iso performance. As you know new tech from the 5dmk4 is ridiculously awesome but $$$$.

I'm currently using a 5dmkii. It had roughly around 4k shutter count I believe when I bought it off ebay. It's in nice shape. I'm new to this forum and learn with this stuff everyday. I see these awesome pictures and was curious if I needed to upgrade since this camera was released in 08' I think it was. I don't do any studio work or use any special lighting outside. Thanks Alan!

Bassat wrote in post #18430278
I may be hyper-sensitive about the AF on my 6D, but this sounds like the 5D2 can keep up with the 6D wrt AF. It most certainly cannot.

Center point: 5D2 to 0EV, 6D to -3EV. Huge advantage to the 6D.
AI-SERVO (both suck, really, compared to better AF): 5D2 no adjustments, 6D tracking sensitivity, accel/decel tracking, 1st & 2nd image priority. Huge advantage to the 6D.

When I owned a 6D and 7D at the same time. I compared AF performance in AI-Servo between the two. Since the 6D is limited to center point, I used the 7D in center point. The 6D tracks noticeably better than the 7D, and switches targets faster than the 7D.

Comparatively (1DIV, 80D) the 6D is a pig in AI-Servo. But don't insult it by equating it with a 5D2.

Someone mentioned the 1/4000 limitation of the 6D. I've had mine almost 5 years and I have never run into that limitation... with the 6D. I just picked up an Elan 7NE (again), and was out last week with my 85 1.8. Damn if that thing isn't limited to 1/4000, too! My first reaction was to (try to) lower the ISO! I was using ASA 200 film.

And when you're not using the center point?? For example, birds in flight, the 5D mkII locked on quicker than the 6D, in fact my 6D was next to useless for this unless I could get the center point on the bird immediately, very hard to do! Hence my comment, not a lot in it, AF wise pro's and con's to both, depends on the circumstances etc. Another way of looking at this is now I own a5D mkIII which of those two cameras do I miss not owning anymore, easy, the 6D, I quite often wish I had some of it's features on my current camera, notably low light performance and physically being lighter, I don't miss anything about the 5D mk II.