Canon EOS
6D
 vs
Nikon
D600

Nikon D600

100

  
Canon EOS 6D

89

  
Winner

Nikon D600

Reasons to buy the Nikon D600

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,980 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
94.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.2 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.2 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 6D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 6D

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 6D
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 6D's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
 The 6D's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Thickness Much thinner 2.8" vs 3.2"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Size Smaller 145x111x71 mm vs 141x113x82 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.71x vs 0.70x
Help
 Almost the same
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 980 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 125 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 770 g vs 850 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon EOS 6D Learn more about
the Canon 6D

Advantages of the Nikon D600
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 94.0 vs 82.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,980 ISO vs 2,340 ISO
Help
 The D600 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.2 EV vs 12.1 EV
Help
 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Focus points Significantly more focus points 39 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
True resolution Higher true resolution 24.2 MP vs 20.9 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 25.1 bits vs 23.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 97%
Help
 Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 260 ms vs 290 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.5 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D600 Learn more about
the Nikon D600
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 6D
89 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D600 Nikon D600
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D600.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
6D:2,340 ISO
D600:2,980 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
6D:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D600:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
6D:0.71x
D600:0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
6D:290 ms
D600:260 ms
Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
slower focusing
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
6D:145x111x71 mm
D600:141x113x82 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
6D:$1,999.00
D600:$1,996.95
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
6D:1
D600:9
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
6D:4.5 fps
D600:5.5 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the EOS 6D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D600
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 6D
Compare the D7100 vs the D600
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the EOS 6D
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D600
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,699 with 28-135mm lens
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 7D vs the EOS 6D
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D600
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D800 vs the EOS 6D
Compare the D800 vs the D600
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 6D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D600
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,500 body only
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D700 vs the EOS 6D
Compare the D700 vs the D600

Canon EOS 6D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 6D.

Nikon D600 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D600.

appearance

Canon EOS 6D Nikon D600
Canon EOS 6D Nikon D600
Canon EOS 6D Nikon D600

discussion

Showing 20 comments

Avatar for Renato Schetter Campos Renato Schetter Campos (9:22 PM, May 17, 2013)
Yeah, why? tks
 
Gemo (6:22 PM, May 07, 2013)
one card slot (billion dots) oh yeah thats most important thing to make PHOTO quality much better (3 billions dots). btw i ,ove childs comments (10 billions dots)
 
Avatar for jiju atheena jiju atheena (5:50 PM, April 27, 2013)
u r right....
 
Avatar for abavera abavera (5:20 PM, April 14, 2013)
Any info on the oil spill on sensor for D600? Is it fixed? http://www.flickr.com/groups/d600club/discuss/72157631688454226/
 
psraj (10:41 PM, March 08, 2013)
This review doesn't add up. Looking at Nikon website d600 is rated 3.5 starts, lowest among all Nikon DSLRs. Too many issues reported by real users. I am debating between 6D and D600. Reading this review, I almost decided on D600. But looking at Nikon site, and other user ratings, D600 seems to have some very serious quality issues. I am in the fence.
 
Engineer (0:58 PM, March 08, 2013)
Dynamic range and resolution results are from DxOmark. If you are shooting in low light, the high ISO dynamic range is actually something what matters. Here you can see the dynamic range of these cameras as a function of ISO speed:


http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/canon-6d-1098126/review/5


It can be seen, that higher ISO levels than 800, 6D has better dynamic range. Also the SNR of raw files is pretty much equal with both cameras, but after ISO 3200, 6D is the winner.


The real downside for 6D is the AF with other than middle point. The comparison 9 cross-types versus 1 cross-type is pretty much in vain, because all the cross-types in Nikon are also in the middle (3x3 squares in the middle of AF points). SO just use middle point and crop afterwards. The performance of middle point AF with both cameras is about the same, when the AF assist light is on (Actually you have to have Speedlite attached to Canon for this), but without AF assist light, the 6D is the winner. Okay, usually the assist light of Nikon works, but if the target is out of range of the light, this cause problems. Also, in some situations you are not allowed to use the AF assist (weddings, museums), bit marginal, I admit. However, making landscape photos in night / dawn the target might be out of the range of AF assist.


The color depth of 6D might be poorer than with Nikon, but not sure about that. I have done some serous raw comparison, and colors of Canon photos seem somehow pleasing. They are by default little reddish, but nothing that cant be fixed. The Nikon samples are usually little greenish.


The most critical problem for D600 is the dust issue, can I take the risk?


Something more about dynamic range, it is sensational in both cameras. I mean, you can underexpose 4EV and still get the detail and colors recovered. I would gladly share the compared samples, but I do not own the rights. "For personal use only".


Let me be clear, I do not own either of these cameras yet, but I am seriously going to by one. At the moment the scale is tipping towards the 6D, but still have some research / testing to do.
 
Avatar for Ryan Hursh Ryan Hursh (8:02 AM, March 08, 2013)
DP Review also chose the Nikon...
 
Avatar for Alexander L Alexander L (2:46 PM, February 17, 2013)
u can use ND4 filter and no problem
 
Avatar for Radha Krishna Radha Krishna (2:47 AM, February 09, 2013)
Snapsort Always Recommends Nikon Products Awesome Reviews From A Nikon Fanatic
 
timBexton (7:55 PM, January 10, 2013)
one card slot....... only 11 focus points......... 97% viewfinder......... no dedicated WB button........... weird eight way numb pad....... wrong placement of depth of field preview button............no flash were the reasons i bought Nikon D600 over Canon 6D.........

but

i am not super loving my Nikon D600................ the ISO and WB buttons are still in wrong position....................the screen is too green .....................doesn't fit well in hands.......................... the 39 points vs 11 points doesn't make any difference, all 39 points are in the center...................................... over 3200 iso, photos are very usable but not up to the mark.......................................... dual mode dial lock is a serious pain................................. and most importantly issues. I already have sent my first copy because of the dusty sensor. i've also seen people complaining about oil and back focusing issues. So, be careful before you buy
 
Mark R B (2:11 AM, December 29, 2012)
You need to recheck your price for the Canon 6D. The price you list ($2,699.99) is the kit price with a 24-105 lens attached. The body-only price is MUCH closer to the D600 at $2,099.99
 
PTC (2:06 AM, December 22, 2012)
^^ poop!
 
Lizardan (5:18 AM, December 16, 2012)
Lol.... What the heck is maximal diafragm!?
 
Avatar for ptl ptl (7:24 AM, December 08, 2012)
Ah yes, maximal diafragm mode. You are clearly a professional.
 
Avatar for Klimets Aleksey Klimets Aleksey (3:25 PM, November 21, 2012)
I have 3 fix-lens: sigma 30mm /1.4 , canon 50mm /1.4 , samyang 85mm /1.4 Everyday i shoot on maximal diafragm
 
sup (9:49 AM, November 11, 2012)
nikon d600 is not that good video camera. check the test here http://vimeo.com/50199647
 
Chris (0:22 AM, November 02, 2012)
How many times have you really needed faster than that? I shoot sports in broad daylight (@2.8), and never once have I ever even needed 1/4000.
 
Avatar for Klimets Aleksey Klimets Aleksey (4:23 PM, September 21, 2012)
why joke?
 
ertan (10:36 PM, September 20, 2012)
This comparison is a joke! Please correct this page completely.
 
Avatar for Klimets Aleksey Klimets Aleksey (5:49 AM, September 19, 2012)
Both cameras have a shutter speed of 1/4000. This is sad