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Canon EOS 6D vs Nikon D600 – Which One to Buy?

It doesn’t take me back many years to remember how Nikon with their D2X were adamant that digital SLRs does not need to be full frame for professional needs. Not many years down the line, we have full frame DLSRs capturing serious attention again but this time for “enthusiasts”… I was tempted to say “amateurs” but that would be going to far. Let’s be honest, if you wanted a good camera with all of, or at least most of, the tech for a very good camera, the Canon EOS 7D or the Nikon D7000 have your court covered. So why invest in a 6D or D600 when you can get so much more from a 5D Mark III or D800 if you want to be serious with your full frame? The reason is price of course. That raises the question as to what do you get for your money?

Canon EOS 6D vs Nikon D600 – You get what you paid for?

A quick look at the specs pretty much shows you what you would expect after looking at the price. The Nikon D600 has a lot less megapixels than the D800… a steep drop from 36.3 to 24.7. In comparison, while the Canon 6D has a lower megapixels count at 20.2 megapixels; it is still very much comparable to the 5D Mk III’s 22.3 megapixels. Base on this alone, you could well believe that you are getting a better deal with the 6D. Of course, that’s until you look at the autofocus system. The Canon 6D sports a 11-point AF system with just a single central cross-type sensor, which doesn't even compare with the 7D. The Nikon D600 gets more points here with its 39-point AF system with 9 cross-types sensors, which is at least the same as that of the D7000.

I quick look at the other specs are more acceptable but the 2 critical features already opens a big divide for these two cameras when compared to their “older” brothers.

Canon EOS 6D vs Nikon D600 – What are you going to shoot?

All digital SLR users must have heard the argument of whether full frame is better than APS-C sized sensors. Obviously, the bigger sensors have certain advantage but it’s the overall feature set of the camera and what you are using it for that makes the answer meaningful. I personally love the 5D3 but I won’t use if for sports/action shoot… I prefer the 7D for it. That doesn’t make the 7D better and that is exactly the same light we need to consider when looking at the 6D and D600. They will never be as good as the full frame models higher up, so what are they good for? Personally, I think these two models would make for great landscape/architectural shooting. A full frame sensor will deliver more clarity for the image and given that both Nikon and Canon did not shortchange the metering system, you have two very good cameras for the job with their feature set.

Canon EOS 6D vs Nikon D600 – A Question of Noise and Focus

Many have noticed that the Canon EOS 6D has a better noise handling performance which the expanded ISO range going a full 3-stop higher that the Nikon D600. Furthermore, the mention that the AF system can focus down to -3 EV also makes for some serious thoughts on its application in low light situations. I personally don’t have much experience with shots needing that type of settings so I don’t see much use in it. Most of my landscape night shots are done with bulb shooting where the ISO is at 400 and my remote trigger spares me from cramp. So both cameras would do well. That of course also negates the superiority of the AF system from the D600, as the landscape is not about to give you any autofocusing issues… you won’t want to stay in the area if it does.

Canon EOS 6D vs Nikon D600 – Versatility for Different Shooting

My viewpoint above is very much based on a specific type of photography that you may be heavily interested in, but it may be too much to ask for that you don’t do much of anything else or that you only buy these cameras as a “cheap” second camera so that you can also have the full frame option from your bag of equipment. If you were to only have one of these DSLRs, which would be the better, more versatile choice? Well, let’s look at the general features such as memory card slots as well as “advanced” features such as GPS and WiFi…

Nikon has always earned a lot of goodwill from me (a Canon user) for their dedication to giving two memory card slots whenever possible. Believe me, it’s a great feature to have even if you are not a pro. Having your shoots either backed up on a secondary card or to have the JPEGs stored separately from the RAW files are both very handy features.

While’s Canon’s embrace of an internal GPS is a nice touch, it pales to the brilliant introduction of built-in WiFi functionality in the EOS 600D. If you have an Android or Apple phone, then simply download an App to turn your phone into a wireless remote. Now that is something all cameras should be offering. Given the market these cameras are targeting, the fact you could buy a wireless trigger is just not as “cool”.

Canon EOS 6D vs Nikon D600 – My Conclusion

To be honest, I think with the oversimplified AF system of the 6D, Canon has very much marginalized the 6D to be a second camera to complement a good APS-C camera such as the 7D. I can’t see someone using the 5D mark III going to the 6D for anything… it would fell awkward and much less responsive. However, the D600 seems to have much more going for it as a standalone product. The AF will feel good and so what if you don’t have a high ISO that allows you to “paparazzi” in the night… you can get over it eventually with all the other fun you can have with the Nikon D600. Have a different opinion? Please share it with me in the comments below.