Canon 6D vs Sony A700: An Expert Comparison for Advanced Enthusiasts and Professionals

Stepping into the world of advanced DSLRs, the Canon EOS 6D and Sony Alpha A700 - two mid-size SLRs separated by six years but still frequently discussed - represent very different design philosophies and technological eras. With over 15 years testing cameras across genres, I’ve put both through the wringer: measured sensor performance, tested autofocus under pressure, and evaluated usability in diverse workflows. If you’re hunting for a solid camera that delivers quality and flexibility without breaking the bank, this side-by-side comparison will help you cut through specs and marketing buzz to find what truly matters for your photography.

Let’s dive in.

Size, Ergonomics, and Handling: Which Feels Better in Your Hands?

Before discussing pixels or autofocus points, physical comfort and intuitive controls dictate how often you’ll want to pick up a camera. Both the 6D and A700 are “mid-size” DSLRs, but they differ in shape, weight, and control layout, with important implications for extended shooting sessions.

The Canon 6D is slightly taller and chunkier (145x111x71 mm, 770g) than the Sony A700 (142x105x80 mm, 768g), but these numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The Canon’s grip is deep and sculpted, offering excellent balance when paired with heavier lenses, which is crucial for portraits and wildlife work where stability matters. In contrast, the A700 has a shorter grip but a solid build and subtly more aggressive bevels, making it comfortable for street and travel photography where you want a less obtrusive feel.

Comparing top controls reveals Canon’s nod to simplicity with fewer buttons but well-placed dials for quick adjustments, like exposure compensation and ISO. Sony packs more buttons into a marginally more complex layout (top-view image below).

Personally, I appreciated Canon’s intuitive dial arrangement during fast-paced shoots, while the A700’s button-heavy panel rewarded users who invested time mastering its control flow. Both cameras feature fixed 3-inch LCD screens with decent resolution, but neither embraces touchscreen functionality - a drawback if you shoot a lot in live view or video.

Overall, if you prioritize a balanced, confidently gripped DSLR with streamlined controls, the 6D edges out. Sony’s A700 offers a slightly smaller footprint and potentially faster shutter speeds but at the cost of ergonomic refinement.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Full-Frame vs APS-C Debate

At the heart of every camera is its sensor, which defines resolution, noise performance, dynamic range, and color fidelity. Here the Canon 6D flaunts a full-frame 20.2MP CMOS sensor measuring 36x24 mm, a substantial leap over the Sony A700’s 12.2MP APS-C-sized sensor (23.5x15.6 mm) with a 1.5x crop factor.

This difference isn’t just numbers on paper - it fundamentally affects your imaging possibilities.

The Canon’s sensor size and latest generation DIGIC 5+ processor enable superior dynamic range (~12.1 stops vs 11.9), higher color depth (23.8 bits vs 22.3), and more impressive low-light capability (~ISO 2340 vs 581 DXO low-light score). What does that mean in practice?

• Portraits: The Canon’s full-frame sensor delivers smoother tonal gradations and easier background separation, magnifying bokeh quality - critical for flattering skin tones and subject isolation.
• Landscapes: You’ll notice an extended tonal range and more detail retention in shadows and highlights on the 6D files, thanks to its larger sensor and higher resolution.
• Night/Astro: Canon’s higher boosted ISO ceiling (up to 102,400) matches well with quieter sensor performance. Sony’s native max ISO 6400, while respectable, trails behind here.

Of course, the A700’s 12MP APS-C sensor remains respectable for casual or budget-conscious photographers, especially with telephoto cropping advantages for wildlife or sports, but raw image quality suggests Canon’s 6D remains a leader for image fidelity in this comparison.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Precision vs Speed in Action

Autofocus performance is often make-or-break when photographing sports, wildlife, or capturing fleeting moments on the street.

Both cameras offer 11 autofocus points (Canon with 1 cross-type, Sony with quantity but unclear cross-type points), but their AF systems differ vastly in sophistication and real-world performance.

The Canon 6D combines phase-detection AF with face detection in live view, providing reliable subject tracking and accurate eye autofocus - even if it lacks the animal eye AF found in newer models. The Sony A700, designed in an earlier DSLR generation, provides phase detection AF with good responsiveness but no face or eye detection and lacks live view autofocus.

When it comes to burst shooting, the Sony A700 supports a speedier 5fps compared to Canon’s 4.5fps. That might seem marginal, but in fast sports or wildlife scenarios, every tenth of a second counts.

However, autofocus speed and accuracy are more crucial than raw burst numbers. In practice, the Canon 6D’s AF system strikes a better balance between speed and reliability under varying lighting conditions, especially in low light; Sony’s system is less forgiving there.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Ready for Any Assignment?

Durability is essential for professional and outdoor photographers alike. Both cameras market environmental sealing, but how robust are they really?

• Canon 6D: Its magnesium alloy body features comprehensive weather sealing against dust and moisture, proving trustworthy during landscape hikes in misty or windy conditions. I’ve tested this camera in light rain and dusty environments without issue.
• Sony A700: Also offering environmental sealing, the older A700 shows sturdy construction but with a slightly less advanced sealing approach. While resistant to occasional splashes and dust, it’s less confident against heavy rain or harsh conditions.

Weight is essentially identical, but Canon’s larger chassis accommodates a bigger battery and more extensive sealing layers.

If you’re a professional who sometimes shoots weddings outdoors, travel landscape, or wildlife in unpredictable weather, the Canon 6D’s build inspires more confidence.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Checking Your Shot

The Canon 6D sports a 3-inch Clear View II TFT LCD screen with 1,040k-dot resolution, a sharp display for image review and menu navigation. Sony A700’s 3-inch fixed screen offers a 920k-dot resolution and a narrower gamut.

Neither camera features touch sensitivity or articulating screens, limiting live view comfort and video framing flexibility - a few years after Sony’s release, Canon at least upgraded to a better panel technology for more accurate colors.

Looking through the optical viewfinder, Canon’s 6D offers approximately 97% coverage with 0.71x magnification, giving a slightly larger, more immersive framing experience over Sony’s 95% coverage and 0.6x magnification. This can be critical in manual-focused macro shots or landscapes where composition precision is vital.

Lens Ecosystems and Compatibility: The Glass You Can Grow With

A camera’s body is only as good as the lenses it supports. Canon’s EF mount benefits from a vast and mature ecosystem - over 250 compatible lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes, professional telephotos, high-quality macros, and third-party options.

Sony’s Alpha A700 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, compatible with approximately 143 lenses. Though respectable, this ecosystem is narrower with fewer premium fast primes and super-telephoto options compared to Canon’s.

Considering future-proofing, Canon’s well-developed lineup offers better choices for:

• Portraiture (fast 85mm f/1.2 or f/1.4 lenses for creamy bokeh)
• Macro (dedicated EF macro lenses with image stabilization)
• Wildlife (professional super-telephotos and teleconverters)
• Landscape (ultra-wide, tilt-shift lenses)

If you are investing long-term, Canon’s lens ecosystem will provide broader creative possibilities.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power in the Field

Battery longevity impacts how much you can shoot without swapping power packs or carrying spares.

The Canon 6D boasts an excellent battery life rating of approximately 1090 shots per charge (CIPA standard), significantly surpassing many competitors in the enthusiast full-frame category. The LP-E6 battery is robust and widely available.

Sony A700, meanwhile, uses the NP-FM500H battery but lacks official CIPA-rated battery life figures from Sony, though field reports suggest roughly 470-600 shots per charge. This smaller margin can matter when you’re out all day shooting events, wildlife, or travel.

Storage-wise, the Canon 6D employs a single SD card slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC but lacks dual slots for redundancy. The Sony A700 features two slots - CompactFlash and Memory Stick Pro Duo - allowing simultaneous dual format recording or overflow, favored by pros in fast-paced shooting.

Connectivity and Video Features: Modern Needs and Limitations

Here the Canon 6D moves decades ahead of the Sony A700.

• Canon 6D includes built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, enabling instant image transfer to smartphones and precise geotagging of your photos. This is invaluable for travel photographers or those who want to share images fast.
• Sony A700 lacks any wireless connectivity, reflecting its 2007 genesis.

In terms of video, only the Canon 6D supports video capture - not 4K, but solid 1080p HD recording at various frame rates, with an external microphone input enhancing audio quality. The A700 offers no video capability at all, focusing on stills alone.

If video is relevant to your workflow - even casual b-roll or occasional YouTube clips - Canon is the obvious choice.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s get practical and consider how each camera stands up in specific photography disciplines.

Canon 6D front Canon 6D screen back Sony A700 front Sony A700 screen back

Portrait Photography

The Canon 6D, with its full-frame sensor, excels in skin tone rendition, shallow depth of field, creamy bokeh, and natural color science. Eye detection autofocus adds precision in focus-critical portraiture.

Sony’s A700, smaller sensor and less sophisticated AF lacking face or eye detection, struggles to isolate subjects softly, leading to less separation from backgrounds. Bokeh is punchier but less natural.

Landscape Photography

Canon’s larger sensor and wider dynamic range capture breathtaking detail in shadows and highlights, essential for landscapes. Weather sealing and GPS support bolster outdoor usability.

Sony remains capable, especially with ultra-wide lenses, but the smaller sensor limits tonality and ISO flexibility.

Wildlife Photography

Sony A700’s 5fps and APS-C crop offer some telephoto advantage, stretching lens reach, but AF less sophisticated.

Canon’s slower 4.5fps burst is balanced by better low-light autofocus and superior noise control.

Sports Photography

High-speed precision favors Canon’s dependable AF system in challenging lighting. Sony’s quick shutter (up to 1/8000s) offers flexibility, but Canon’s frame rate and tracking are overall better suited to sports.

Street Photography

Sony’s smaller footprint and silent built-in flash make it slightly more discreet. Canon’s bulkier body is sometimes a giveaway, but superior image quality and low-light autofocus compensate if you don’t mind the size.

Macro Photography

Canon’s lens selection includes superb Image Stabilization-equipped macro lenses, and larger sensor helps with fine detail capture. Sony lacks comparable macro lens choices, limiting its appeal here.

Night/Astro Photography

Canon’s exemplary ISO performance and long exposure capacity take the edge. Sony’s elevated noise at ISOs above 1600 restricts ultimate image quality for astro enthusiasts.

Video Capabilities

Only the Canon 6D doubles as an HD video camera with external mic input - handy for hybrid shooters.

Travel Photography

Canon’s GPS tagging and connectivity win out for documenting trips. Battery life again favors Canon. Sony’s dual card slots and smaller frame can be handy, but overall, Canon suits long-term travel better.

Professional Workflows

Canon’s RAW format compatibility, superior image fidelity, and ergonomics cater well to professional studios and event shooters. Sony’s dual storage options are a plus, but image quality limits high-end commercial use.

Summarizing Scores and Practical Recommendations

Here’s a balanced visual summary based on DXO Mark data and my hands-on testing:

Looking deeper into genre-specific strengths:

Final Thoughts: Who Should Pick Which?

Choose the Canon 6D if:

• You crave excellent image quality, particularly for portraits, landscapes, and low light.
• You want built-in Wi-Fi and GPS for travel convenience.
• Your workflow benefits from a vast lens selection and professional-grade ergonomics.
• Video capability - even at 1080p - is a plus.
• Battery life and weather sealing are important.

The Canon 6D represents a leap forward in sensor technology, usability, and connectivity, making it my recommendation for serious enthusiasts and professionals on a moderate budget.

Consider the Sony A700 if:

• Budget constraints are tight and you value burst speed and robustness.
• You need dual memory card slots for extra security.
• You prefer a slightly smaller DSLR footprint for discreet shooting.
• Video isn’t a priority and you can accept APS-C image quality.
• You already own Sony/Minolta Alpha lenses or want access to a niche lens collection.

Sony’s A700 is a solid workhorse, especially for sports and action photographers who prioritize speed, but its aging sensor and no video support limit broader appeal today.

Choosing between these cameras depends heavily on your priorities and style. While the Canon 6D feels modern, versatile, and ready for professional use, the Sony A700 offers respectable features in a less modern package but could appeal as a budget backup or for specific speedy shooting needs.

Either way, both DSLRs reward patient learning and promise years of service - but I hope my insights enable a confident, informed decision tailored to your photography journey.

Happy shooting!

End of article.