SYDNEY, 17 September, 2012 – Canon Australia has today announced the new EOS 6D Digital SLR camera, a versatile and compact mid-range Full-Frame camera offering a level of image quality, performance and creative options that serious photographers crave, but many have regarded as out of their reach.

“The new EOS 6D completes a well-rounded ecosystem of Canon imaging devices from input through to output, allowing us to provide the right combination of features and performance to a broader group of enthusiast photographers,” says Chris Macleod, Brand Manager  ­– Canon EOS, Canon Australia. “The EOS 6D opens up the advantages of Full-Frame photography to a less involved audience by offering an easier-to-use Full Frame camera in a more compact and lightweight body, meaning they can upgrade with ease and enjoy the benefits of Canon Full-Frame photography.

“Together with our new PIXMA Pro printers announced today, the EOS 6D Digital SLR camera will help serious photographers realise and express their creative vision in the highest quality possible.”

Building on the qualities that made the EOS 5D Mark II camera so successful, the new EOS 6D bridges the gap for budget-minded photographers who are eager to step up into the world of Full Frame imaging. Canon has coupled the incredible image quality of a newly designed 20.2-megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor and DiG!C 5+ Image Processor, with the creative potential of built-in Wi-Fi and GPS features. The camera also includes an 11-point AF array and 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering sensor together with 1080p Full HD video capabilities, in an affordable camera body.

Positioned between the EOS 7D and the EOS 5D Mark III, the EOS 6D offers an advanced feature set including full manual options for creative control in addition to new and intuitive automatic settings to help budding photographers capture great images. Among the many advancements in Canon’s new EOS 6D is the proprietary DiG!C 5+ Image Processor, which powers the camera’s fast 14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion for exceptionally smooth colour tones and gradation. The camera offers a Full Frame, 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and continuous shooting up to 4.5 frames per second (fps) for up to 1250 ^IX full-resolution JPEGs or up to 17^IX RAW images in a single burst.

The EOS 6D is the most lightweight Full-Frame D-SLR in the world equipped with a full frame CMOS sensor[1]. Similar in size and weight (only 15g more) to the APS-C sized sensor-equipped Canon EOS 60D[ii], the new EOS 6D’s compact and lightweight design enables an easy step up from lower enthusiast and entry-level cameras.

Thanks to the combination of its new CMOS image sensor and the powerful DiG!C 5+ image processor, the EOS 6D provides a wide ISO range from 100-25600 with a low setting, L: 50 and two high settings, H1: 51200 and H2: 102400. These outstanding low-light capabilities allow the EOS 6D to easily capture dimly lit scenes such as landscapes at dusk, wedding ceremonies or indoor corporate events. To support the ample sensitivity of the new camera’s sensor, the EOS 6D Auto Focus (AF) system includes a newly-developed 11-point AF sensor featuring a high-precision centre cross-type point with an exceptional EV -3 sensitivity rating for accurate focusing even in extremely low-light conditions.

The EOS 6D has a large 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor with 1,040,000 dot VGA resolution and 170 degree viewing angle, with high-transparency multicoating for maximum protection and clarity when viewing images or navigating menu screens. When used for Live View shooting, the camera’s bright high-performance LCD screen provides 100 percent coverage, for easy focusing and framing.

Full-Frame 1080p Full HD Video

Photographers will appreciate the Full-Frame video capabilities of the EOS 6D in an affordable and compact body. Borrowing from the best of the EOS 5D-series, the EOS 6D provides full manual control over exposure and audio levels while recording video. The camera features NTSC and PAL video modes at multiple frame rates, recording 1080p at 30 (29.97), 24 (23.976) and 25 fps, 720p at 60 (59.94) and 50 fps and standard video at 30 (29.97) and 25 fps. The camera provides up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds of continuous recording (with 4GB automatic file partitioning) in selectable All i-frame[iii] or IPB compressions with embedded time code. Especially when used with large aperture lenses, the EOS 6D’s full-frame sensor offers a tremendous degree of creative control over depth-of-field, helping users to achieve pro-quality cinematic effects in Full HD video recordings.

Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS

For the ultimate in DSLR connectivity and control, the EOS 6D features a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter which allows the camera to share images and video with the user’s choice of Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as PowerShot cameras, smartphones, as well as cloud-based destinations including social networking[iv] [v].  The EOS 6D is also capable of direct wireless printing to Wi-Fi enabled printers such as the new PIXMA PRO-100 or PRO-10 Professional Inkjet Printers[vi]. A very intuitive and useful Wi-Fi enabled feature is the new, free Canon EOS Remote app available for iOS and Android systems, which will allow a smartphone or wireless device such as a tablet to remotely connect, control and operate the connected EOS 6D[vii]. This seamless connection and control will open new opportunities for photographers without the need for tethered operation or accessories.

For on-location shooters, landscape photographers or enthusiast photo travellers, the EOS 6D features a built-in GPS receiver to record longitude, latitude, elevation and Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) as EXIF data for seamless geo-tagging while shooting. The GPS coordinates are appended to each image and easily syncs with Canon software or mapping apps on social network sites to show image locations. Use of UTC data allows images to be chronologically mapped and trails plotted and recorded.[viii]

Boundless Creativity

To help photographers unlock their full creative potential and explore all the different avenues of digital photography, the EOS 6D includes several creative modes for image capture.  First is the HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode allowing the camera to capture three separate exposures and combine them in-camera for a stunning image capturing both enhanced shadow detail and bright highlights. Next is the camera’s Multiple Exposure mode where users can combine up to nine individual images into a single composite image, with no need for computer post-processing. Four different compositing methods are provided for maximum creative control, including Additive, Average, Bright and Dark. Compositing results can be viewed in real time on the camera’s LCD monitor, and there is a one-step Undo command that allows photographers to delete an image and try again if desired. The EOS 6D will even allow photographers to specify a previously captured RAW image as the starting point for a new Multiple Exposure composite image. In addition to HDR and Multiple Exposure modes are Canon’s standard Scene Intelligent Auto and special scene modes to capture great images with ease. The camera is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards including the new Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) cards.

To further enhance their creativity, enthusiasts will benefit from access to Canon’s EF lens range, including the L-series range. Most highly regarded among Professional Photographers, Canon L-series lenses provide remarkable optical performance and include technologies such as Ultra-low Dispersion Glass, Fluoride and Aspherical Elements.

Availability

The EOS 6D Digital SLR camera will be sold in a body-only configuration and in a kit version with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens. Both configurations are expected to be available from the beginning of December, 2012 with pricing set at dealer discretion.

For further details, visit the Canon website via: www.canon.com.au