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Canon 6D vs Nikon D500

Portability
59
Imaging
68
Features
70
Overall
68
Canon EOS 6D front
 
Nikon D500 front
Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Key Specs

Canon 6D
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 770g - 145 x 111 x 71mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • Replacement is Canon 6D MII
Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Superseded the Nikon D300S
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Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Canon 6D versus Nikon D500, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the 6D (20MP) and the D500 (21MP) is fairly close but the 6D (Full frame) and D500 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The 6D was brought out 3 years earlier than the D500 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short overview of how the 6D matches up versus the D500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 6D over the Nikon D500

 6D D500 

Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Canon 6D

 D500 6D 
IntroducedJanuary 2016February 2013More modern by 35 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution2359k1040kClearer display (+1319k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 6D and Nikon D500

 6D D500 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon 6D offers exterior dimensions of 145mm x 111mm x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") having a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) while the Nikon D500 has sizing of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") having a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs).

Check out the Canon 6D versus Nikon D500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the 6D and the D500.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 6D and D500 is 59 and 56 respectively.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 top view buttons comparison

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 6D and D500.

As you can see, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 6D because of its larger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Nikon D500 will render greater detail having its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged 6D will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 sensor size comparison

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 6D
Portrait photography with Nikon D500
80
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detection focus
supports RAW files
79
has manual focus
good MP (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon 6D Street photography details
Nikon D500 Street photography details
63
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
68
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
features touch to focus
environment proofing
great ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 6D
Sports photography with Nikon D500
69
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proof
great battery pack (1,090 per charge)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.5 fps)
does not have image stabilization
76
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
good MP (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery life (1,240 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 6D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D500 as a Travel photography camera
61
great battery pack (1,090 CIPA)
environment proof
megapixel count decent (20MP)
missing Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
68
good battery life (1,240 shots)
environment proofing
supports bluetooth
features touch to focus
good MP (21 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon 6D
Landscape photography with Nikon D500
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
great battery pack (1,090 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
77
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3.2")
good MP (21MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
good battery life (1,240 per charge)
2 card slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 6D Vlogging advice
Nikon D500 Vlogging advice
30
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
31
touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
comes with external mic support
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
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Canon 6D vs Nikon D500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 6D and Nikon D500
 Canon EOS 6DNikon D500
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 6D Nikon D500
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-02-12 2016-01-05
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5+ Expeed 5
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 21MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 5568 x 3712
Highest native ISO 25600 51200
Highest enhanced ISO 102400 1640000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 153
Cross focus points 1 99
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF Nikon F
Number of lenses 250 309
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3.2"
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 2,359k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 97 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.66x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.5fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 770g (1.70 lb) 860g (1.90 lb)
Dimensions 145 x 111 x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 82 84
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.1 14.0
DXO Low light score 2340 1324
Other
Battery life 1090 pictures 1240 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant)
Card slots One 2
Price at release $1,699 $1,497