Canon 6D Mark II review: Impressive camera, but not future proof

Rating: ****

Price: Rs 1,32,995 (body only), Rs 2,02,995 (24-150mm kit)

Specifications: 26.2MP full frame CMOS sensor, Digic 7 processor, dual pixel CMOS autofocus, 45 cross type points, 6.5fps continuous shoot, ISO 100-102,400, 1080p video recording, 3-inch touchscreen, optical viewfinder, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, SD card, mini HDMI, mic port, 765 grams

Pros: Top-notch image quality, dual pixel autofocus works great for single shots and videos, articulating touchscreen, wireless connectivity options, fantastic battery life While the Canon EOS 6D Mark II impresses in its photo and video results, the lack of 4k video recording is a big letdown for a camera launched in 2017

Cons: Doesn't offer 4k video recording, lacks headphone port


In 2012, Canon launched the EOS 6D — their lightest full frame DSLR with integrated WiFi. Now after 5 years, the company has launched its successor in the 6D Mark II. Essentially, it brings in a number of much-needed upgrades.

Canon continues the ethos of offering a lightweight, full-frame DSLR with the 6D Mark II. The Mark II body weighs 765 grams which is light for the segment. In comparison, the 5D Mark IV weighs 890 grams. Even with this weight, the camera is weather-sealed for protection against dust and water. You get a 3-inch articulating touchscreen display which is great for shooting at odd angles plus a top LCD for a quick view of the settings.

We found the button layout to be comfortable to use for anyone upgrading from an older canon DSLR but you do need some time getting familiar with the 8-way navigation buttons. Overall, the 6D Mark II feels well built and sturdy. We loved the overall compact size it offers for a full frame DSLR.



We received the 24-150mm lens kit for review and the camera fared as per our expectations. The dual pixel autofocus system works great and since all of its 45 autofocus points and cross type, they offer superior precision. The trouble is that if you have a moving subject, the autofocus system has trouble locking on from a distance. While for most use case scenarios, this is not a big issue, wildlife photographers will not be very happy with the camera's autofocus system in our opinion. Other than that, the camera will not disappoint you.

Image quality is top notch as expected. We were surprised with the images taken at high ISO levels — even at ISO 6400, the images were good enough to view on a larger screen as it was able to capture details.

There was a basic level of noise, but the image was much better than what you will ever get from an APS-C sensor at this ISO level. That being said, we were letdown with Canon sticking to full HD video recording on a camera launched in 2017. It's not just the competitors in the DSLR segment, even smartphones today offer 4k video recording — 4k video recording should have been added in the 6D Mark II in our opinion.



Some of the other things we loved on the EOS 6D include its excellent battery life (roughly 1000 to 1200 photos on a charge), multiple wireless connectivity options (WiFi, NFC and Bluetooth), built-in GPS, fantastic optical viewfinder and ease of use with Canon's smartphone app for wireless remote control.

Overall, the Canon EOS 6D Mark II proves to be an excellent successor the EOS 6D. It fixes a number of issues, offers improved image quality and better battery life. Moreover, it does so while being compact and without raising the price too much compared to the original. However, when compared to the existing competition, especially from mirrorless cameras, it feels lacking. You can also look at the Nikon D750 — at a lower price it offers a 24MP full frame sensor, 51 focus points, 3.2-inch screen, built-in flash, dual card slots and a headphone port with the same overall dimensions and weight.