Canon EOS 6D – FULL REVIEW

In summary
Buy this camera if:
– You want a large-sensor DSLR that’s capable of professional performance but has a smaller, lighter form factor than Canon’s professional cameras.
– You can take advantage of the many user-adjustable controls this camera offers.
– You will benefit from the built-in GPS and Wi-Fi functionality.
– You want to record video clips that meet professional editing standards in addition to taking still photos.
Don’t buy this camera if:
– You only have EF-S lenses.
– You require a more sophisticated AF system.
– You require faster continuous shooting speeds than 4.5 frames/second.
– You need ‘uncompressed’ video output from the HDMI port.
Full review
After publishing a detailed First Look at Canon’s entry-level ‘full frame’ DSLR, the EOS 6D in September last year, we have been able to review a production unit in March 2013. It was supplied with the new EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens, which is reviewed separately. This report has been prepared to complement the initial review, adding comments about our experiences using the new camera plus the results of our standard tests. Use the links to jump between the two reports.

Front view of the EOS 6D with the 24-105mm lens (one of the options offered with the camera body) fitted. (Source: Canon.
The 20.2-megapixel EOS 6D combines a lightweight body with an up-to-date sensor and image processor and provides almost all of the features a serious photographer might require ““ plus a few handy non-photographic functions. It has a magnesium alloy front and rear chassis and polycarbonate resin top cover and cladding with dust- and drip-proof sealing in critical positions to suit photographers who enjoy shooting out of doors. However, it’s not rated as ‘weatherproof’.
Canon has targeted the new camera at the enthusiast, rather than serious photographer who will be better served by the EOS 5D Mark II or III. But those photographers could still consider the 6D as a back-up body for the higher-featured cameras and/or a lightweight option for travel and/or bushwalking.
Slightly smaller in size and perceptibly lighter, the new camera provides a tempting upgrade option for owners of EOS 60D and 7D cameras, particularly the latter which is getting quite ‘long in the tooth’. Transitioning between these earlier models and 6D should be fairly smooth and many upgraders will welcome the improvements to the sensor and image processor and the inclusion of GPS and Wi-Fi.
Unfortunately, EF-S lenses bought for the APS-C cameras won’t be suitable for use with the 6D body because they’re designed for a smaller imaging circle. Some photographers could also lament the loss of the built-in flash.
Market Position
The 6D looks and feels more like a mid-level model than a pro-DSLR. And many aspects of its overall design reinforce this perception, with settings on the mode dial for users with a skill set that’s not much above the point-and-shoot level.
The Basic Zone modes limit access to the most camera functions and display two thirds of the menu tabs available in the 6D. You can set image quality, engage peripheral illumination and chromatic aberration corrections, create and select folders for storing images and decide between continuous and auto or manual reset numbering methods. Everything else is decided by the camera.
These modes include a capable full auto plus (A+) mode with scene recognition technology for users who can’t manage manual controls. For beginners who are uncertain about how to configure the camera for different subject types, the Creative Auto (CA) mode makes it easy to adjust background blurring and provides quick access to the camera’s drive modes.
There’s also a useful selection of Scene modes (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait, handheld night scene and HDR backlight control). You can even select the ‘ambience’ for the CA and Scene modes from the following options: Vivid, Soft, Warm, Intense, Cool, Brighter, Darker or Monochrome. Three levels of adjustment are available for each setting, with blue, B&W or Sepia for the Monochrome setting.
This proliferation of automated settings doesn’t preclude more experienced photographers from benefiting from the 6D’s design and capabilities and there is much to like in the new camera. The mode dial has a locking button to prevent accidental re-sets and the P, Av, Tv and M shooting modes are clearly marked.
Adjustments available in the Creative Zone modes (P, Av, Tv, M or B) include ISO, white balance, metering, Picture Style, colour space, Auto Lighting Optimiser, noise reduction, exposure compensation and bracketing, flash settings, multiple exposures, mirror lock-up, exposure simulation and in-camera raw processing. Multi-shot HDR capture is also included in this list. (INSERT LINK to Other Features section)
What’s Great?
The EOS 6D boasts a number of features that will make it attractive to many photo enthusiasts. The following list presents them in no particular order.
1. The Quick Control button provides fast and easy access to frequently-used camera controls.
2. The mode dial includes two Custom settings where you can register frequently-used combinations of settings.
3. The Quiet shutter mode is significantly quieter than the normal shutter sound and suitable for use in situations where noise is undesirable.
4. Exposure simulation in live view mode lets you see the effects of Picture Style, white balance, metering mode, depth-of-field, Auto Lighting Optimiser, highlight tone priority, peripheral illumination correction and ambience adjustments and provides aspect ratio confirmation. It’s easy to toggle on and off for before and after comparisons.
5. Plenty of detail is recorded in both JPEG and CR2.RAW images across the normal ISO range. Noise-reduction processing is refined and effective. ISO expansion is available up to ISO 102400 equivalent, which is usable if you can handle slight softening and visible noise.
6. A wide range of recording modes is available for shooting movies, including the same IBP and All-I compression options as provided in Canon’s Pro DSLRs.
7. Three image sizes are supported for raw file capture. In addition, in-camera conversion is available for when JPEG output is needed on-the-spot.
8. Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities are built into the camera (see below). However, both drain battery power.
9. You can set the camera to notify you when you’ve selected a function that may not be appropriate for your current shooting. Options available include when monochrome is set as the Picture Style, when white balance is corrected, when ISO expansion is applied and when spot metering is set. The warning is displayed as an exclamation mark on the screen.
10. Time coding is supported for movie recordings.
11. An electronic level can be displayed both in the viewfinder and on the monitor screen for checking horizontal tilt.
What’s Missing?
Features that mark out the EOS 6D as a consumer-level camera include the following. Potential purchasers should read this list carefully to make sure the camera doesn’t omit functions that are essential for their photography.
1. There’s only one memory card slot, which supports SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It’s UHS-1 compatible.
2. There’s no built-in flash. However, there is a fully-functional hot shoe that supports EX-series Speedlites as well as flashguns from other manufacturers. The camera can synchronise with non-Canon flashguns at shutter speeds of 1/180 second or slower and with studio flash systems at between 1/60 and 1./30 second. But you need an external controller to manage groups of off-camera flashes.
3. The maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 second may not be fast enough for sports photographers.
4. Nor might the maximum continuous shooting speed of 4.5 frames/second and the buffer capacity limit of 73 Large/Fine JPEGs, 14 CR2.RAW files or 7 RAW+JPEG pairs.
5. The camera’s microphone is monaural but you can add a stereo microphone via the camera’s 3.5 mm jack. However, there’s no headphone jack for monitoring soundtrack recordings.
6. There’s no provision for outputting uncompressed video to an external recorder.
7. You can’t use the HDR shooting mode when the camera is configured for CR2.RAW or RAW+JPEG capture. In addition, the camera doesn’t save the three images used to produce the HDR photo; only the merged JPEG file.
8. The viewfinder only shows 97% of the entire image frame; for a full frame view you must switch to live view mode. It also lacks a grid overlay (which is available in live view mode).
9. The 11-point AF sensor array is less advanced than the 7D’s system and, although it performs well in most conditions, its limitations become apparent in very dim lighting.
Handling
We’ve covered the physical design of the 6D in our First Look. So in this section we will concentrate on its handling characteristics. Current EOS 60D and 7D users should feel at home with the 6D’s control layout. Owners of Canon’s 5D and professional bodies will find some controls in different places and a few missing altogether. But everyone should welcome the lighter weight of the new camera, which makes it easier to operate for long periods of time.



Front, back and top views of the EOS 6D with no lens fitted. (Source: Canon.)
While the 6D body is slightly smaller than the 7D’s, the hand grip is slightly deeper and should be more comfortable for users with larger hands and moderately long fingers. A subtle moulding to accommodate the right hand thumb on the rear panel provides additional comfort and stability. You could probably use this camera one-handed if you seldom changed camera settings.
The rear panel on the 6D is more like that of the 60D than the 7D, although the 6D lacks a vari-angle monitor. However, the monitor lies close to the left hand side of the panel, forcing a re-distribution of the vertical line of buttons found on the 7D.
Some functions no longer have button access, among them the RAW/JPEG toggle and the Picture Style selector button. If you wish to change either function you must resort to the Quick Control panel, which accesses the most frequently-used camera controls.
This has been moved to just above the main command dial, as on the 60D. But, unlike the 60D, the 6D’s playback and delete buttons sit just above and below the main dial. A new playback magnify button sits above the playback button.
The 6D’s menu system is typically Canon DSLR and owners of the EOS 60D or 7D who might be considering an upgrade should feel right at home. The dual-function buttons on the top panel of the 7D are replaced with single-function buttons, as on the 60D. This makes the camera faster and easier to use.
We’re not so sure about the removal of the multi-directional joystick, which Canon has used on its more sophisticated DSLRs since the EOS 20D back in 2004. Many experienced photographers find that combination quicker and more convenient to use, particularly for selecting AF points.
To do this on the 6D, you have to press the dedicated button in the top right corner of the rear panel and then use one of the dials or the arrow pad inset into the rear command dial to select a specific point. These changes might be initially jarring to 7D upgraders and photographers purchasing a second body as a companion for an EOS 5D (I, II or III). However, they aren’t illogical and should require a relatively brief adjustment period.
Sensor and Image Processing
Both have been covered in detail in the First Look.
Autofocusing
Autofocusing speed and accuracy are critical to the success of any camera and the EOS 6D is a pretty good performer in both respects, despite the technical limitations of its focus point array. Some critics have complained that the 6D has only one cross-type sensor (the central point). However, it’s able to work in very low light levels (down to -3EV, according to the camera’s specifications). And this can make a difference in certain situations.
In addition, the centre point offers high-precision vertical line detection with most lenses faster than f/2.8. Aside from that, the 11-point sensor array has a similar arrangement of AF points to the sensor in the EOS 5D Mk II. The upper and lower points are vertically sensitive, while the remaining points are horizontally sensitive. (AF and metering performance are covered in the Performance section below.)
GPS and Wi-Fi
While both these capabilities have been seen as ‘must haves’ on the latest crop of cameras, we found them to be largely irrelevant to our normal photography. However, for anyone who shoots to post pictures on one or more social networks, they might just be the features that justify upgrading to the 6D.
A word of caution, however: both consume battery power.
Use of both functions is detailed in a 48-page printed manual supplied with the camera. This publication outlines what each function is capable of and how to set up the camera to use it.
The GPS enables location data to be automatically stored in the image data, from which it can be subsequently accessed for viewing shooting locations and logging routes travelled. The camera’s time can also be set with GPS signals.
Most GPS functions are pretty standard and successful use requires acquisition of at least three satellites. The antenna is located at the front of the hot shoe and must have a clear view of the sky. It is supposed to take between 30 seconds and a minute to acquire enough satellites for signals to be usable. However, we found this requires a charged-up battery and obstructions of any kind within about a 50 metre radius of the camera. Even then, satellite acquisition often took a minute or two and could fail altogether in heavy cloud.
Once the data has been acquired, location information for each shot can be viewed on the camera’s monitor when you select GPS information display in the set-up page in the GPS sub-menu. You can view latitude, longitude, elevation and UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time) as well as the strength of the satellite reception.
The menu lets you set the intervals for updating positioning at intervals between one second and five minutes. Routes travelled can be viewed with Map Utility software, which can be downloaded via the supplied EOS DIGITAL Solution Disk.
The built-in WiFi function lets users transfer captured images to devices like smart-phones, tablets, printers and other cameras. You can also view images on media players or upload them to the Canon Image Gateway web storage and sharing service (which requires yuo to sign on as a member).
However, the most useful function is being able to operate the camera remotely from a smart-phone or tablet. This app lets you see the view from the camera’s monitor and adjust aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation and ISO settings from the connected device. Combined with the Silent Shutter mode (which significantly reduced operating noise) it could make a great set-up for photographing wildlife from a hide. (It could also be handy for street photography.)
Setting up this capability takes time and involves a number of steps. First you must enable the Wi-Fi function on the page 3 of the set-up menu. Then you select ‘Connect to smartphone’ on the Wi-Fi function menu page. The next step takes you to the Network settings page, where you choose ‘Easy connection’.
You can then open the Wi-Fi settings page of the smart-phone’s menu and select the SSID displayed on the camera’s monitor then enter the encryption key (password) displayed below it. The remaining settings should be applied automatically, after which you can select ‘Camera Connection’ to link the camera and phone.
You can ‘nickname’ and save frequently-used network connection settings via a virtual keyboard displayed on the camera’s monitor. This makes subsequent connecting of the two devices faster.
The Wi-Fi connection enables the camera’s Live View images to be viewed on the smart-phone’s screen. Images stored in the camera can be played back on the smart-phone and saved in its memory or deleted from the camera.
It took us a couple of attempts to get the Wi-Fi to work with our Wi-Fi enabled laptop but once the connection was established the system worked as described. However, it took a much longer time to send images via Wi-Fi to the laptop than it did to simply slip the camera’s memory card into the card slot on the laptop and upload the images and movie clips directly.
Photographers who normally geotag their images will find the GPS function worthwhile. We can also see value in the Wi-Fi function for controlling the camera remotely, particularly for wildlife and portrait photographers. But in our opinion, outside of those applications, neither function would be critical in deciding whether to buy the 6D for the majority of photo enthusiasts.
Performance
As an upgrade to a 60D or 7D, the review camera ticked all of the boxes relating to overall performance. It’s a nice weight to carry but substantial enough to provide secure and comfortable handling.
For our shooting tests we used two lenses: the supplied EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens, which was used for our Imatest testing and our own EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens, which potential buyers could partner with the 24-70mm lens to make a versatile kit.
The 6D’s AF system performed remarkably well, given its technical limitations. For shooting stills in bright conditions we didn’t see much difference in focusing speeds between the central AF point and the remaining points. In low light levels (after dark), focusing with the outer points was perceptibly slower, although the central point could lock onto subjects very rapidly when there was a contrast boundary it could use.
In live view mode, autofocusing defaults to contrast detection, which we found noticeably slower than the phase detection system used when you shoot with the viewfinder. This was particularly true in low light levels, where it could take a second or so to find focus.
We were able to accommodate this loss of speed when shooting stills in live view mode but found transitions in focusing while recording video clips were not quite as seamless as we would have liked, although re-focusing was usually fairly smooth when subject distances changed slowly. You can re-focus while recording a movie clip by pressing the <AF-ON> button.
The 63-zone iFCL (‘intelligent’ Focus, Colour and Luminance) metering system was also a reliable performer and consistently produced the same exposure values as our EOS 5D Mark II with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens. JPEG images showed similar colour, contrast and saturation levels to shots from Canon’s enthusiast-level EOS cameras in our field and Imatest tests.
Subjective evaluation of JPEG files straight from the camera with the default Standard Picture Style setting showed them to be nicely sharp and ‘punchy’ and similar to files from our EOS 5D Mark II. Both saturation and contrast were well constrained.
Blown-out highlights occurred when shots were taken in contrasty conditions without Highlight Tone Priority adjustment applied. In most cases, they could be avoided by selecting this control or the appropriate level of the Auto Lighting Optimiser adjustment.
CR2.RAW files had plenty of depth and provided plenty of scope for fine-tuning when processed into TIFF files with the latest version of Adobe Camera Raw. Saturation was slightly lower in these files than the in-camera JPEGs.
Skin tones were attractively rendered in the main and the very slight warm bias in shots makes this camera suitable for portraiture. Primary colours were captured with good fidelity, while neutrals were generally free of colour casts.
Imatest showed the review camera to be capable of meeting expectations when JPEG files were analysed ““ and slightly exceeding them with raw files. It also confirmed our subjective assessments of resolution across the camera’s normal ISO range, as shown in the graph of our test results below.

Noise reduction processing produced less image softening than we expected and plenty of detail was retained in both JPEGs and converted raw files at sensitivities above ISO 6400. JPEGs recorded in available light at ISO 25600 appeared remarkably noise-free and only slightly softened.
In general use, the 6D’s auto white balance delivered pleasing colours with a wide range of light sources, both indoors and out. However, it failed to correct the orange cast of incandescent lighting but produced neutral colour rendition under fluorescent lights.
Plenty of pre-sets are provided for dial-in corrections with daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten, white fluorescent and flash or you can take custom measurements or use Kelvin temperature settings. Each setting can be fine-tuned in the camera.
Video footage shot with the review camera wasn’t quite as sharp as clips shot with the EOS 5D Mark II and some clips recorded with IPB compression showed evidence of moirø©. This was eliminated in the All-I modes. Soundtracks were recorded with reasonable clarity, as you would expect from a monaural microphone, but were nothing to write home about.
Our timing tests were carried out with a 32GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC U1 card. The review camera took roughly 0.1 seconds to power-up ready for shooting. We measured an average capture lag of 0.3 seconds, which was eliminated by pre-focusing the lens.
Shot-to-shot times averaged 0.6 seconds when the viewfinder was used. We found it impossible to trigger a sequence of consecutive shots in live view mode without using the continuous shooting mode. It took an average of 1.8 seconds to process a single JPEG file and 3.6 seconds for a CR2.RAW file and 4.1 seconds for a RAW+JPEG pair.
In the high-speed continuous shooting mode, the test camera recorded 10 Large/Fine JPEGs in 2.8 seconds. It took 7.9 seconds to process this burst. For raw file capture, the camera also recorded 10 shots in 2.8 seconds but it took 20.1 seconds to process this burst.
When shooting RAW+JPEG pairs the buffer filled with seven image pairs, which were recorded in 1.9 seconds before the camera hesitated. It took 19.3 seconds to complete the processing sequence.
Conclusion
The EOS 6D is an excellent camera, particularly for stills photographers looking for excellent imaging performance in a relatively compact and lightweight camera body ““ for its sensor size. Its feature set will suit most advanced amateurs and experienced hobbyists and even professional photographers could use the 6D as a back-up body for weddings and events as well as studio shooting.
Its video capabilities are solid, although no match for those of the EOS 5D III. However, photographers who like to shoot the occasional movie clip should find them more than adequate, particularly if they are prepared to spend some time editing clips into movies. An accessory microphone will be needed if stereo soundtracks are desired.
Sports photographers are likely to need faster shutter speeds and better continuous shooting rates but wildlife photographers could take advantage of the remote triggering controls available through the 6D’s Wi-Fi function. But for photographers who engage in hiking, backpacking and travelling, the 6D will be difficult to resist.
Buy this camera if:
– You want a large-sensor DSLR that’s capable of professional performance but has a smaller, lighter form factor than Canon’s professional cameras.
– You can take advantage of the many user-adjustable controls this camera offers.
– You will benefit from the built-in GPS and Wi-Fi functionality.
– You want to record video clips that meet professional editing standards in addition to taking still photos.
Don’t buy this camera if:
– You only have EF-S lenses.
– You require a more sophisticated AF system.
– You require faster continuous shooting speeds than 4.5 frames/second.
– You need ‘uncompressed’ video output from the HDMI port.
SPECS
Image sensor: Approx. 35.8 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor with 20.6 million photosites (20.2 megapixels effective)
Image processor: DIGIC 5+
A/D processing: 14-bit
Lens mount: Canon EF
Focal length crop factor: 1x
Image formats: Stills ““ CR2.RAW with M-RAW and S-RAW options, JPEG (Exif 2.3), RAW+JPEG; Movies ““ MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 with Linear PCM audio; IPB and ALL-I (I-only) compression modes
Image Sizes: Stills ““ 5472 x 3648, 3648 x 2432, 2736 x 1824, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480; Movies: 1920×1080 (Full HD): 30p/25p/24p, 1280×720 (HD) : 60p/50p, 640×480 (SD) : 30p/25p; Time code supported
Image Stabilisation: Lens based
Dust removal: Vibration of low-pass filter; Auto, Manual, Dust Delete Data appending modes
Shutter speed range: 1/4000 to 30 seconds plus bulb, X-sync at 1/180 sec.
Exposure Compensation: +/-5 EV in 1/3- or 1/2-EV increments for stills; +/-3 EV in 1/3- or 1/2-EV increments for movies
Exposure bracketing: +/-3 EV in 1/3- or 1/2-EV increments (can be combined with manual exposure compensation)
Self-timer: 2 or 10 seconds delay
Focus system: TTL secondary image-registration, phase detection system with 11 AF points; one centre cross-type sensor with AF at f/5.6, vertical line sensitive AF at f/2.8
Focus modes: One-Shot AF, AI Servo AF (with Tracking sensitivity, acceleration & deceleration tracking adjustments), AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF); AF Microadjustment; AF-assist beam (from EOS-dedicated external Speedlite)
Exposure metering: 63-zone TTL full-aperture metering with Evaluative (linked to all AF points), Centre-weighted average, Partial (approx. 8.0% of viewfinder at centre) and Spot (approx. 3.5% of viewfinder at centre) metering
Shooting modes: Program AE, Scene Intelligent Auto, Creative Auto, Special scene (Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control), Program, Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Manual exposure, Bulb exposure
Picture Style/Control settings: Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Def. 1 – 3
Colour space options: sRGB, Adobe RGB
Custom functions: 20, plus My Menu registration and copyright data embedding
ISO range: Basic Zone modes: ISO 100 – 12800 set automatically; P, Tv, Av, M, B: Auto ISO, ISO 100 – 25600 (in 1/3- or whole-stop increments), or ISO expansion to L (ISO 50), H1 (ISO 51200), H2 (equivalent to ISO 102400)
White balance: Auto, Preset (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White fluorescent, Flash), Custom, Color temperature setting (Approx. 2500-10000K), White balance correction, and White balance bracketing possible; Flash color temperature information transmission enabled
Flash: External flashgun only
Flash exposure adjustment: +/-3 EV in 1/3- or 1/2-EV increments
Sequence shooting: Max. approx. 4.5 shots/sec. for up to 73 full-resolution JPEGs, 14 CR2.RAW files or 7 RAW+JPEG pairs with a UHS-I certified SDHC or SDXC card
Other features: HDR shooting with Auto, +/-1 EV, +/-2 EV, +/-3 EV DR adjustment & auto image align; Multiple-exposures (2 to 9 shots with Additive or Average blending control)
Storage Media: Single slot for SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards; UHS-1 compatible
Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism with approx 97% FOV coverage, eyepoint approx. 21 mm, 0.71x magnification, dioptric adjustment of -3.0 to +1.0 dpt; interchangeable focusing screen (Eg-A II provided), electronic level and depth-of-field preview available
LCD monitor: 3.2-inch TFT colour LCD with approx. 1.04 million dots; 7 levels of brightness adjustment, electronic level
Live View shooting: FlexiZone AF – Single, Face detection Live mode (contrast detection), Quick mode (phase-difference detection), Manual focusing (Approx. 5x / 10x magnification possible); 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 1:1 aspect ratio settings, silent shooting (Mode 1 and 2), grid overlay (3 types)
Data LCD: Yes
Playback functions: Single image display, Single image + Info display (Basic info, shooting info, histogram), 4-image index, 9-image index; highlight alert, Approx. 1.5x – 10x magnification, jump by 10 or 100 images, by shooting date, by folder, by movies, by stills, by rating, movie playback, slideshow (all images, by date, by folder, by movies, by stills, or by rating), background ,music selectable for slideshows and movie playback; in-camera raw image processing, direct printing of JPEG and raw images supported
Interface terminals: A/V out/digital terminal USO 2.0, HDMI (Type C Mini), external microphone IN (3.5 mm stereo jack), terminal for N3-type remote controller, wireless remote controller RC-6 and Eye-Fi card compatible
Power supply: LP-E6 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; CIPA rated for approx. 1090 shots/charge with viewfinder shooting; approx. 220 shots/charge with live view or approx. 1 hour 35 minutes of movie recording
Dimensions (wxhxd): Approx. 144.5 x 110.5 x 71.2 mm
Weight: Approx. 690 grams (body only)
TESTS
JPEG image files





Raw image files converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw.





SAMPLES

Auto white balance with incandescent lighting.

Auto white balance with fluorescent lighting.

30-second exposure at ISO 100, 37mm focal length, f/4.5.

8-second exposure at ISO 1600, 37mm focal length, f/9.

5-second exposure at ISO 6400, 37mm focal length, f/14.

2.5-second exposure at ISO 12800, 37mm focal length, f/14.

1.6-second exposure at ISO 25600 without noise reduction processing, 37mm focal length, f/16.

1.6-second exposure at ISO 25600 with noise reduction processing, 37mm focal length, f/16.

Skin tones in a portrait taken with the 24-70mm lens at 67mm; ISO2000, 1/80 second at f/4.

Blown-out highlights in a JPEG image shot in strong backlighting without tonal adjustments; 70mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/250 second at f/8.

70mm focal length, ISO 1000, 1/80 second at f/4.

70mm focal length, ISO 400, 1/60 second at f/6.3.

60mm focal length, ISO 160, 1/60 second at f/4.

The limits of the Background blurring adjustment in the Creative Auto shooting mode. The top picture shows maximum blurring while the lower picture shows maximum sharpness.

The ‘Ambience’ settings in the Creative Auto mode; Top row, unadjusted image, Vivid; Second row: Soft, Warm, Intense; Third row: Cool, Brighter, Darker. The bottom row shows the three monochrome settings.
The images below were captured with the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens.

140mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/800 second at f/5.6. Auto Lighting Optimiser on.

260mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/1000 second at f/5.6.Highlight Tone Priority adjustment on.

300mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/640 second at f/7.1.

300mm focal length, ISO 160, 1/500 second at f/11.

463: 230mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/500 second at f/8.
The video clips from which the frame grabs below were taken were recorded with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.

Still frame from Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) video clip taken at 30 fps with All-I compression.

Still frame from Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) video clip taken at 30 fps with IPB compression.

Still frame from Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) video clip taken at 24fps with All-I compression.

Still frame from Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) video clip taken at 24 fps with IPB compression.

Still frame from HD (1280 x 720 pixels) video clip taken at 50 fps with All-I compression.

Still frame from HD (1280 x 720 pixels) video clip taken at 50 fps with IPB compression.

Still frame from video clip taken with 640 x 424 pixel resolution at 30 fps.
Additional image samples can be found in our review of the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens.
Rating
RRP: n/a; MSRP: AU$2499, US$2099 (body only); as reviewed with EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens AU$3999, US$3500
- Build: 8.8
- Ease of use: 8.8
- Autofocusing: 8.8
- Still image quality JPEG: 9.0
- Still image quality RAW: 9.0
- Video quality: 8.5