Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon Z6

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Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon Z6

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35mm 861.6mm²
26.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 40,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 6D Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 6D Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 6D Mark II.
Compare Canon 6D Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 6D Mark II conclusion.

35mm 858.0mm²
24.5 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Nikon Z6 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon Z6 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the Z6.
Compare Nikon Z6 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon Z6 conclusion.

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Differences

Canon 6D Mark II advantages over Nikon Z6

Less expensive
$1599 vs $1899
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1200 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
105 mm vs 70 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Bigger JPEG buffer
98 vs 47 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Nikon Z6 advantages over Canon 6D Mark II

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
Z6 test data on DxO Mark 6D Mark II test data on DxO Mark

3,299 vs 2,862 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
Z6 test data on DxO Mark 6D Mark II test data on DxO Mark

14.3 vs 11.9 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Lighter weight
1175g vs 1560g
Lighter weight
More dots on screen
2100k vs 1040k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.80x vs 0.71x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
12.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
35 vs 20 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
204800 vs 102400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read Z6 User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 6D Mark II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm IS II USM lens
Kit with 24-105mm IS STM lens

All 6D Mark II Deals

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Buy the Nikon Z6

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-70mm f/4 S lens
Kit with 24-70mm lens and FTZ adapter

All Z6 Deals

Review Excerpt

Great vari-angle touchscreen; Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Good image quality in most situations; Impressive performance for its class.
Disappointing dynamic range; No 4K video; Optical viewfinder comes up short; Narrow AF point coverage through viewfinder.
Read our Canon 6D Mark II Review

Great image quality; Terrific high ISO performance; Fast AF speeds; Eye AF; Swift 12fps burst shooting; In-body image stabilization; High-quality 4K video; Robust build quality; Familiar Nikon design.
Single XQD card slot; Default high ISO NR a bit strong; No 4K 60p; 1/200s x-sync speed; Limited native lens selection (at this time).
Read our Nikon Z6 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D610

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon D610

$1332
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1198
35mm

Fast startup
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D610

Nikon Z6

Nikon D610

$1396
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1198
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon Z6 vs Nikon D610

Compared to Nikon D750

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon D750

$1332
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1698
35mm

More dynamic range
Internal flash

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750

Nikon Z6

Nikon D750

$1396
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$1698
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon Z6 vs Nikon D750

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Canon 6D Mark II

Pentax K-1 II

$1332
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Pentax K-1 II

Nikon Z6

Pentax K-1 II

$1396
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

$1747
35mm

High resolution composite
Built-in GPS

Compare Nikon Z6 vs Pentax K-1 II

Compared to Sony A7 III

Canon 6D Mark II

Sony A7 III

$1332
35mm

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1865
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony A7 III

Nikon Z6

Sony A7 III

$1396
35mm

Top deck display
More dots on screen

$1865
35mm

NFC
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon Z6 vs Sony A7 III

Compared to Canon EOS R

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon EOS R

$1332
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$1499
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon EOS R

Nikon Z6

Canon EOS R

$1396
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1499
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Nikon Z6 vs Canon EOS R

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