| Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Full model name: | Canon EOS Rebel T6s (EOS 760D) |
| Resolution: | 24.20 Megapixels |
| Sensor size: | APS-C (22.3mm x 14.9mm) |
| Kit Lens: |
7.05x zoom
18-135mm (29-216mm eq.) |
| Viewfinder: | Optical / LCD |
| Native ISO: | 100 - 12,800 |
| Extended ISO: | 100 - 25,600 |
| Shutter: | 1/4000 - 30 sec |
| Max Aperture: | 3.5 (kit lens) |
| Dimensions: |
5.2 x 4.0 x 3.1 in. (132 x 101 x 78 mm) |
| Weight: |
36.9 oz
(1,047 g)
includes batteries, kit lens |
| Availability: | 06/2015 |
| Manufacturer: | Canon |
| Full specs: | Canon T6s specifications |
|
24.20
Megapixels |
Canon EF/EF-S |
APS-C size sensor |
|---|---|---|
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T6s Summary
The Canon T6s takes the Rebel series up a notch. With a 24.2 megapixels sensor, the Canon T6s produces excellent images, with tons of detail and accurate colors. The higher ISO performance is also very good despite the higher resolution. The T6s also features a versatile autofocus system, plus improved Live View focusing features and more enthusiast-like controls. Its straightforward functionality is great for an entry-level DSLR shooter, but it also brings over more advanced features and performance from higher-end cameras to satisfy the more experienced photographer as well.
ProsHighest resolution Canon APS-C camera yet; Good high ISO performance for its class; Very fast autofocus; Servo AF in Live View; Quick Control Dial & top-plate LCD screen.
ConsShallow buffer depth with RAW files; Below average battery life; No 60p video frame rate.
Price and availabilityAvailable since April 2015 in the US market, the Canon T6s is sold in two bundle variants -- either body-only for around US$850, or in a kit with 18-135mm STM zoom lens for about US$1,199.
Imaging Resource rating4.5 out of 5.0
Canon T6s Review
by Mike Tomkins, Jeremy Gray and William Brawley
Preview and Tech Info posted 02/05/2015
Updates:
05/11/2015: First Shots posted
07/06/2015: Performance test results posted
07/08/2015: Canon T6s Field Test posted
09/14/2015: Image Quality, Print Quality and Review Conclusion posted
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Special update: The Canon T6s was awarded a Camera of Distinction in the Best Intermediate DSLR category of our 2015 Camera of the Year awards!
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If you're a consumer shopping for a new digital SLR camera, chances are that Canon's Rebel series -- the most popular in the US interchangeable-lens camera market -- is on your shortlist. If not, it may be time to reevaluate that decision, thanks to the Canon T6s. A new flagship model for the line, it's surprisingly fully-featured for a consumer-oriented model, incorporating a wide range of features inherited from the company's mid-range 70D DSLR.
Just one glance at the Canon T6s is enough to set it apart from its predecessors, as on the top deck sits an LCD info panel -- a feature until now reserved for Canon's mid-range and professional cameras. And on the back deck is another Rebel first -- the rear-panel four-way controller is replaced by Canon's Control Dial interface, a nice commonality that will make it easier for the T6s to serve as a second body alongside a higher-end Canon model.
On the inside, the Canon T6s boasts a brand-new 24.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor, the highest resolution ever provided by a Canon APS-C format DSLR. Output is handled by a DIGIC 6 image processor, making its first appearance in a Rebel model. Together, the pairing provide the same ISO 100-12,800 (plus 25,600 boost) sensitivity range and five frames per second burst rate as in the earlier Rebel T5i, despite a one-third increase in the total pixel count.
The same image sensor and processor are shared with the simultaneously-launched Rebel T6i, a more affordable model that shaves off some of the T6s' features in the quest for a lower pricetag. And there's plenty else to differentiate the two cameras, beyond just the info LCD and Control Dial interface we've already mentioned.
For one thing, the Canon T6s can automatically disable the LCD monitor when you bring the viewfinder to your eye, courtesy of a proximity sensor above the eyepiece which the T6i lacks. The T6s also sports a single-axis electronic level function, and offers several live-view and movie-mode capabilities not found in its more affordable sibling.
These include the Rebel T6s's ability to adjust focus between frames in burst-mode live view shooting, to capture high dynamic range movies, and to digitally "zoom" movies during capture by cropping the sensor window from which the video feed is assembled.
So -- that's what separates the Rebel T6s from the T6i, but there are a lot of other features shared by both cameras. Many of these better the earlier Rebel T5i, and in more than a few cases, level the playing field against the more expensive EOS 70D.
Both cameras feature 19-point, all cross-type phase-detection autofocus coupled with the latest-generation Hybrid CMOS AF III autofocus, which yields significantly better performance and tracking in live-view shooting. They also have 7,560 pixel RGB+IR metering sensors, and now sport locking mode dials. And their viewfinders have been upgraded with Canon's Intelligent Viewfinder overlay function, another Rebel-series first. Also new are in-camera Wi-Fi wireless networking with Active NFC pairing, Silent Shooting mode support, flicker detection, and lens distortion correction among others.
Available since April 2015 in the US market, the Canon T6s is sold in two bundle variants -- either body-only for around US$850, or in a kit with 18-135mm STM zoom lens for about US$1,199.
Canon Rebel T6s Field Test
A beefed-up entry-level DSLR bridges gap toward enthusiasts
Introduction. At $849 USD (body only), the Canon Rebel T6s provides a lot of performance for the price. It's about $100 more expensive than the T6i, but it brings a handful of notable improvements over the T6i while sharing many key features. The T6s includes the same sensor, AF system, and processor as the T6i, but brings numerous improvements to the camera body itself, including a top LCD display and a rear 'quick control' dial. The T6i continues in the footsteps of prior Rebel DSLR cameras, whereas the higher tier T6s further bridges the gap between entry-level and mid-range cameras, making the T6s Canon's new flagship Rebel model.
Key Features. With a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the T6s (and the T6i) are the highest resolution Rebel cameras to date, besting the T5i's 18 megapixel sensor. The T6s has a new autofocus system with 19 cross-type phase-detection AF points, can shoot continuously at up to 5fps, and has a native ISO range of 100-12,800 (which expands up to ISO 25,600). Metering has also improved with a 7,560 pixel RGB + IR metering sensor with skin tone detection.
Canon T6s Technical Insights
Let's take a closer look under the hood, and see what's new!
Sensor. At the heart of the Rebel T6s is a newly-developed, 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor. Developed in-house by Canon, it's the company's highest resolution APS-C imager to date, and offers a total of around one-third more pixels than the 18-megapixel image sensor in the earlier Canon T5i. The image sensor is overlaid with a low-pass filter that subtly blurs the finest details to help fight moiré and false-color effects, a sensible choice in a camera aimed at consumers.
Processor. To help handle the higher pixel count, the Canon T6s also sports a new DIGIC 6 image processor in place of the DIGIC 5 chip used in the T5i. It's the first time that we've seen DIGIC 6 used in a Rebel-series camera.
Canon T6s Image Quality Comparison
The T6s goes head-to-head against its rivals!
Here we have crops from our laboratory Still Life target comparing the Canon T6s's image quality to its predecessor, the T5i, as well as against several competing APS-C models -- and one Micro Four Thirds camera for good measure -- which all sit at similar price points or product categories: the Nikon D5500, Olympus E-PL7, Samsung NX500 and Sony A6000.
NOTE: These images are from best quality JPEGs straight out of the camera, at default settings including noise reduction and using the camera's actual base ISO (not extended ISO settings). All cameras in this comparison were shot with our very sharp reference lenses.
Canon T6s Print Quality
How does the T6s stack up on paper?
Print quality and image quality are similar but not identical, because what you see on a print isn't always the same as what you see on the screen. Our print quality analysis answers the important question: "Just how big can I print my photos at higher ISOs?"
Sporting the highest-resolution APS-C sensor ever packed into a Rebel-series camera, the 24-megapixel Canon T6s has an impressive showing in the print department. Surprisingly, prints from ISO 100 up to 400 look practically identical with tons of detail and great colors. Hitting the middle ISO ranges, the T6s does very well to control noise and balance NR processing with a good amount of fine detail. And even at the tip-top of the ISO scale, this new Canon Rebel achieves usable results.
Canon T6s Conclusion
The Canon T6s takes the Rebel series up a notch
Offering a more enthusiast-inspired design, particularly with the top-deck info screen and the Control Dial interface typically seen on higher-end EOS cameras, the new Canon T6s sits in new, more advanced entry-level spot in Canon's DSLR lineup, and is the most enthusiast-oriented Rebel model to date. Under the hood, the T6s shares many features and specs with its slightly less expensive sibling, the Canon T6i.
Higher resolution brings T6s closer to competitors.
The main big-ticket item for the Canon T6s (and T6i, for that matter) is the brand new, higher resolution 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor. The highest resolution sensor ever offered in a Rebel-series camera, the Canon T6s provides a sizable upgrade compared to the 18MP chip in the T5i and previous Rebel models. As we mentioned in our T6i conclusion, the move into 24MP territory puts the Canon T6s more in-line with competing cameras from both Nikon and Sony. Like the T6i, the new Canon T6s produces very detailed images, however, based on both our real-world and laboratory testing, images straight from the camera appear slightly soft. That said, opting to shoot in RAW mode and applying some sharpening in post helps to bring out more fine detail.
In the Box
The Canon T6s retail box ships with the following items:
- Canon EOS Rebel T6s (760D in Europe) body
- Body cap
- Ef Eyecup
- 18-135mm IS STM lens (depending on bundle and market)
- Front and rear lens caps
- LP-E17 battery pack
- LC-E17 battery charger
- IFC-130U USB interface cable
- EW-100DB V wide shoulder strap
- EOS Digital Solution Disk CD-ROM
- Camera Instruction Manual booklet
Recommended Accessories
- Large capacity SDHC/SDXC memory card. Look for at least a Class 6 speed grade card if you plan on shooting video, and consider a fast UHS-I card to minimize buffer clearing times.
- Extra LP-E17 battery pack for extended outings
- BG-E18 battery grip
- ACK-E18 AC adapter kit or DR-E8 DC coupler if you already have a suitable AC adapter (for studio shooting)
- Additional lenses
- External Speedlite flash, or other shoe-mount accessory flash
- Dioptric lenses for viewfinder (if built-in diopter adjustment is insufficient for your prescription)
- External monaural or stereo microphone
- HTC-100 or other Mini-HDMI cable
- Medium size camera bag
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