Canon 7D Mark II vs Canon 6D Mark II

Cameras
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Canon 7D Mark II vs Canon 6D Mark II

APS-C 337.5mm²
20.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Canon 7D Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 7D Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 7D Mark II.
Compare Canon 7D Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 7D Mark II conclusion.

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.

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Differences

Canon 7D Mark II advantages over Canon 6D Mark II

More telephoto lens reach
216 mm vs 105 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More cross-type AF points
65 vs 45
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
65 vs 45
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
9.5 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.5 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon 6D Mark II advantages over Canon 7D Mark II

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.67 vs 4.11 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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.
6D Mark II test data on DxO Mark 7D Mark II test data on DxO Mark

2,862 vs 1,082 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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 670 shots
Capture more photos
Newer
7 years vs 9 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Less shutter lag
0.17 vs 0.25 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.71x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
26.2 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 29 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 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
Built-in GPS
Both provide
Geotag your photos
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
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
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

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Canon 7D Mark II

Body Only

Body Only
Body with W-E1 Wi-Fi Adapter
Kit with 18-135mm Lens
Kit with 18-135mm Lens and Wi-Fi Adapter

All 7D Mark II Deals

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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

Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality; High ISO performance improved over predecessor; Excellent burst speeds (up to 10fps); Significantly improved buffer depths; 65-pt AF system; Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Can focus down to f/8 (great for teleconverters); 1080/60p video; Headphone and mic jacks; Rugged build quality.
Autofocus speed (AF shutter lag) slower than 7D and 70D; Mediocre battery life for a pro DSLR; Dynamic range at low to moderate ISOs not as good as competitors; Phase-detect AF did not perform as well as expected in our low-light AF tests; No built-in Wi-Fi; No autofocus for 1080/60p video.
Read our Canon 7D Mark II Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 7D

$1647
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Built-in GPS

$1499
APS-C

Less expensive
Less shutter lag

Compare Canon 7D Mark II vs Canon 7D

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 7D

$1399
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$1499
APS-C

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon 7D

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 6D

$1647
APS-C

On-sensor phase detect
More telephoto lens reach

$1699
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 7D Mark II vs Canon 6D

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 6D

$1399
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$1699
35mm

Bigger pixels
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 70D

Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 70D

$1647
APS-C

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 7D Mark II vs Canon 70D

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 70D

$1399
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Canon 70D

Compared to Nikon D610

Canon 7D Mark II

Nikon D610

$1647
APS-C

Built-in GPS
On-sensor phase detect

$1271
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 7D Mark II vs Nikon D610

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon D610

$1399
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$1271
35mm

Fast startup
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D610

Compared to Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II

Sony A77 II

$1647
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 7D Mark II vs Sony A77 II

Canon 6D Mark II

Sony A77 II

$1399
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony A77 II

Compare Other Cameras?