Canon EOS 6D and Canon EOS 80D are often recommended for people who want to upgrade from entry-level cameras. Both of the two models offer impressive features for still images as well as videos. So, which one is actually better for you? Read the comparison of Canon EOS 6D vs 80D below to find the answer!
Continue reading to learn further about:
– The size, weight, and ergonomics of each camera
– The comparison of their display screens and viewfinders
– The comparison of their image sensors and image quality
– What lenses that are compatible with these cameras
– The performance of Canon EOS 6D vs 80D
– Which Canon camera that is generally more recommended
Dimensions and Ergonomics
If you haven’t found out about this yet, take note that these Canon cameras have different sensor sizes. Canon EOS 6D is a full-frame camera, just like Sony A7 III vs Canon 5D Mark IV, whereas Canon EOS 80D is an APS-C camera. Even so, despite having different sensor sizes, their overall dimensions actually don’t differ too much from each other.
Canon EOS 6D is indeed the one that is bigger and heavier. However, it is only 40 grams heavier than Canon EOS 80D. It weighs about 770 grams without the lens. It is also fairly compact, as it measures 145mm x 111mm x 71mm.
Canon EOS 6D has a fixed 3.0-inch display screen. It doesn’t support touchscreen control, so you need to rely on the buttons and dials. For some people, this is not a problem, as they prefer to use buttons and dials anyway. However, touchscreen control can be quite handy for quickly adjusting AF points and shooting videos.
Canon EOS 80D is a little bit smaller and lighter, but the differences are rather marginal. This camera weighs 730 grams without the lens. It measures 139mm x 105mm x 79mm. Both Canon EOS 6D vs 80D are weather-sealed, so you can use either camera without worrying about dust, rain, or snow.
Canon EOS 80D is equipped with a fully articulated 3.0-inch LCD with touchscreen support. You will find the touchscreen very handy for shooting videos. The display provides sharp and pretty much accurate images, and the adjustable viewing angle will allow you to shoot easily from various positions. However, there are also several buttons and manual dials for quick access and more accurate adjustments.
Viewfinder
Since these are DSLR cameras, they indeed come with optical viewfinders. Both Canon EOS 6D and Canon EOS 80D have pentaprism viewfinders. The advantage of optical viewfinders over the electronic ones typically found in mirrorless cameras is that the images provided by optical viewfinders are very accurate and without any delay. You are seeing exactly what the lens is capturing, instead of a reconstruction on a display.
However, the viewfinder of Canon EOS 6D only provides 97 percent coverage. As the effect, when you are shooting while using the viewfinder, there are small parts on the edges that you can’t see. This can be a minor inconvenience, especially when you are taking landscape shots.
Meanwhile, the viewfinder of Canon EOS 80D truly provides 100 percent coverage. So, you can actually see the entire field of view of the lens. There is no part that is hidden or obscured. The full coverage will allow better framing and control.
Image Sensor
The next important difference between Canon EOS 6D vs 80D is their image sensors. As mentioned above, these two cameras have different sensor sizes. As the effect, you should expect different characteristics and image quality from them.
Canon EOS 6D should be your choice if you want the absolute best image quality. It is equipped with a 20MP full-frame image sensor. Although the resolution is lower than Canon EOS 80D, the bigger size is more than enough for improving the image quality to a higher level.
Canon EOS 6D has excellent sharpness and detail. The color quality is great. The brightness is good, and the colors appear solid and vivid. More importantly, the low light performance is more than twice better. When shooting in low light, the image sensor is still able to gather light and capture sharp enough images. It is really great.
Canon EOS 80D is more of a jack-of-all-trades. It comes with a 24MP APS-C image sensor. The high resolution ensures sharp, detailed images. You will also benefit from this camera if you often need to print your images in large sizes, as the high resolution will help to keep the quality good after a zoom or enlargement.
Canon EOS 80D actually has decent image quality. It also delivers sharp and detailed images. The colors are also solid, accurate, and vivid. However, the performance is considerably worse than Canon EOS 6D in low light situations. It is less efficient in capturing light due to the smaller sensor size, so shooting in a dim or darkened environment will be a challenge.
Lens Compatibility
The next thing that you need to consider when choosing between Canon EOS 6D vs 80D is their lens compatibility. Of course, they have different lens mounting systems. But you also need to be careful because lenses are often designed for specific sensor sizes.
Being a full-frame camera, Canon EOS 6D is compatible with Canon EF, TS-E, and MP-E lenses. These lenses offer a true 35mm viewing angle. However, these lenses are not typically used by entry-level cameras, so people who are just about to upgrade from entry-level models may need to spend some money to get either of these lenses. The options are more limited.
On the other hand, the APS-C camera Canon EOS 80D is ideal for people who are upgrading from entry-level models. It can work with most lenses that are designed for crop sensors. It is compatible with Canon EF-S, EF, TS-E, and MP-E lenses. If you already have some Canon lenses which you used for an entry-level digital camera, you probably can use them on this camera as well, hence allowing a seamless transition. There are more lens options, too.
Autofocus and Continuous Shooting
The autofocus system on Canon EOS 6D is good, but not great. It only has 11 focus points, and there is only one cross-type focus point. The AF performance is pretty good for landscapes and portraits, but it will definitely struggle when tracking fast-moving subjects.
The photo burst capability of Canon EOS 6D is also limited. The maximum continuous shooting speed is only 4.5 fps. This is only barely good for sports and wildlife photography. The maximum shutter speed itself is only 1/4000s. Nevertheless, this camera is still quite reliable when you need photo burst.
The autofocus system of Canon EOS 80D is more advanced and sophisticated. You can actually see the currently active AF mode and AF points on the viewfinder. There are 45 cross-type focus points for fast and reliable tracking. In addition, the AF system is very smooth and quiet. You won’t hear any harsh click even when the AF is working hard. It is quite impressive.
You will love Canon EOS 80D for sports and wildlife photography. In addition to the powerful AF system, the camera also has 7.0 fps continuous shooting and 1/8000s maximum shutter speed. This camera is more capable if you need to freeze quick moments in order to get sharp, blur-free images from fast-moving subjects.
Connectivity
Finally, there is the connectivity aspect to consider. Canon EOS 6D and Canon EOS 80D have different connectivity features. One thing is certain, though. If you need to use the DSLR for recording film projects, you should go with Canon EOS 80D.
Canon EOS 60D has built-in Wi-Fi which will allow you to transfer files to laptops or mobile devices easily. You can also connect your smartphone wirelessly and use the Canon EOS Remote app to control the camera from afar. However, this camera doesn’t support NFC or Bluetooth.
There is a hotshoe port and a microphone port that will allow you to use an external microphone to capture high-quality audio. Unfortunately, Canon EOS 60D doesn’t have a headphone port for monitoring. This can be a problem for people who need to monitor the audio during the recording.
Canon EOS 80D supports both Wi-Fi and NFC for easy pairing. Connecting a mobile device to the camera only takes a few seconds. Then, you can also transfer files wirelessly or use your mobile device as a remote control via the Canon EOS Remote app.
You can also find a hotshoe port and a microphone input port on this camera. What makes Canon EOS 80D better suited for doing film projects is the headphone jack. With the headphone jack, you can monitor the audio quality directly while the recording takes place.
Canon EOS 6D vs 80D
Conclusion
In general, Canon EOS 80D is more recommended. It has a better viewfinder, and it is compatible with a wider range of lenses. The AF performance is fast, smooth, and quiet. If you need a DSLR that can tackle film projects, Canon EOS 80D is also a good choice, as it comes with a headphone port. The overall image quality is good, and it can deliver sharp large-sized images.
