Canon EOS Rebel T6 Review: A Cost-friendly Entry-Level DSLR

Last updated on 2022-09-22
By Yvonne

Canon EOS Rebel T6: An Affordable Entry-Level DSLR. The Canon EOS Rebel T6 makes a great entry-level DSLR for those who are looking to take better photos than smartphones. Unfortunately, the video quality of its recording was not up to par after a month of testing.

Canon EOS Rebel T6

We like this

Very low cost
Sharp image quality
Mount for EF or EF-S lenses

The Things We Hate

Not great video quality
No microphone jack
9-point AF System
There is no 4K video record

Canon EOS Rebel T6 is a cheaper option than most DSLRs, which makes it an attractive choice for anyone interested in photography or wanting to make a small investment.

The Canon EOS Rebel T6 was purchased by us so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

If you want to capture better photos than your smartphone's cameras, digital single-lens reflex (DSLR), cameras will be the best option. Canon's EOS Rebel T6 DSLR is an excellent choice for beginners looking for an inexpensive and user-friendly option. EOS Rebel T6 features an 18-megapixel sensor and 1080p video. It also has Wi-Fi. It comes with an EF or EF-S mounting, making it a good place to begin and grow a collection of lenses before you upgrade to a better quality, more expensive DSLR body.

Design: A larger body, but lighter

Without a lens the EOS Rebel T6 is a pound, while the 18-55mm standard lens comes as part of the package weighs close to two pounds. The EOS Rebel T6 is larger than most other DSLR models and feels heavier in the hands when compared to Canon's EOS Rebel SL2. It fit comfortably in our hands and the ergonomic grip was perfect. The correct places for our thumb and pointer fingers were also found.

A lens mount is included with the Rebel T6 that can be used to attach both EF-S and EF lenses. It's great as Canon's vast range of lenses can be used on the more economical body. This is also great as all lenses that were purchased with the T6 will work on a higher-end Canon body.

A lens mount is included with the Rebel T6 that can be used to attach both EF-S and EF lenses. It's great as Canon's vast range of lenses can be used on the more economical body.

Canon made every effort to reduce the number of buttons on its external controls. They are intended to provide most settings options without needing to go through menus. It's great because it is often the external controls that cause new DSLR owners to feel overwhelmed. The menu contains specific settings that can be viewed on the 3-inch live view screen. The screen cannot be touched and is non-touch. This is unfortunate as many newer models have at least one of these features.

Although the T6 comes with a hotshoe and a flash, it does not have an external mic jack. This is not a problem for those who only shoot photos. However, if the T6 is being considered to be used as a video camera, it will be disappointing in terms of sound quality. You should consider purchasing an external microphone.

Installation: Simple and straightforward

It is easy to setup the EOS Rebel T6. The kit came with an 18-55mm zoom lens. It also included a DSLR body, charger, battery, a USB cable to Mini B, standard 18-55mm lenses, and a neck band. We plugged it in immediately after receiving the battery. The charge took approximately two hours. Simply insert the SD card and battery in the bottom to charge the camera. A door will then open.

To make it easier to carry and handle the camera, you can also attach the neck strap. The T6 will prompt you to enter the time and date. Once you have done this you can start to shoot. With the viewfinder, the battery lasts about 500 shots. If you are using the live screen, and messing around with menus between shots, it will only last half as long.

Photographed with Canon EOS Rebel T6

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Quality Photo: Clear, easy to spot noises.

EOS Rebel T6 has an 18-megapixel, APS-CCMOS sensor with a 5184x3456pixel image resolution. The T6 can only capture 3 frames per second (fps), which in reality is a disappointment compared to the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 that can record up to 5fps. When we were shooting, the T6 came with the basic 9-point automatic focus system. This was sufficient for us. The T6 took us a little longer than DSLRs equipped with 24-megapixel sensors, especially in low-light situations.

Even with its slight drawbacks in terms of sensor and AF, the T6's photo quality is excellent. We could clearly see the individual hairs and cracks in animal skin when inspecting photos of them. Subjects in focus were sharp when zoomed out. The T6 was disappointing only after closer inspection. We noticed a lot of noise when zooming in on photos and looking into dark areas. The highlights were also less bright than shots made with other cameras and there was less contrast. The T6 was a little less sharp than the SL2 in our comparison of photos taken with the T6 and SL2. The images were not as sharp.

We noticed quite a lot of noise as we zoomed in to images and looked in the darkest areas.

The T6 can be used if you don't care about these small image variations. The autofocus system is not fast enough to pick up moving objects. However, this problem can be common with lower-end DSLRs like the SL2. Low light was more difficult than normal, taking it longer to focus but only a few seconds. Flash is also a problem. However, this can be fixed by adjusting the settings quickly.

Canon's T6 includes the following standard modes of shooting: scene intelligent auto, aperture priorityAE, shutter priorityAE and programAE. No flash, creative auto, portrait, landscape and close-up. Although it does not come with many effects, the T6 has a range of filters that can be used to enhance each mode, such as bright, vivid, warmer, intense, cooler, brighter and darker. The portrait and food modes were our favorite, since they allowed us to focus on the subject without having to mess with too many options.

Quality of : Insufficient in Focus

Although the T6 records in 1920x1080 resolution, it can only record 30 frames per second. The T6 doesn't have 4K video like the more advanced and expensive DSLRs. Although we weren't too bothered that the T6 did not have 4K video, it was disappointing to see it only offer 60 frames per second. Although this made the videos less smoother, it is not our main complaint about T6's video quality.

We were most disappointed with the T6's lack of Canon Dual Pixel autofocus. Although it might seem minor, when reviewing the footage, we noticed that focus could shift while filming, blurring the image. Refocusing was possible, but it required you to touch the focus button. If you were filming, this could be uncomfortable.

We were most disappointed by the T6's lack of Canon Dual Pixel autofocus.

For content creators who want to create videos by themselves without the aid of a Dual Pixel autofocus, it is a major drawback of T6. The video quality can still be maintained if the subject is still stationary and the focus is not lost too often. The camera looks great, with no visible noise unless you zoom in. The T6 is a great camera for recording others, like home videos.

Software: Standard Canon Menus

EOS Rebel T6 software uses the same Canon menu system that is used on all DSLRs. The dial at the top allows you to switch between modes. You can make more choices about the shots within each one if that's what you desire. These menus are easy to navigate and require the use of some direction buttons close to your thumb.

With Wi-Fi, Near Field Communication (NFC) and Canon Connect app, the T6 makes it easy to transfer photos from your smartphone. Both Wi-Fi as well as NFC were tried. NFC proved to be easier especially for those who are on the go and have no stable Wi-Fi. You will be directed to the app to find your model of camera and then to ask for how to connect. To use NFC, you must hold the phone up against the side to the camera. The phone will then prompt you for a still position as the connection occurs. It was simple to see the photos from the camera and to select images to be uploaded to email or social media.

Price: An affordable DSLR body

Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR body is one that's still affordable and worth looking into. The basic 18-55mm lens is included in the $549 price. Amazon frequently puts this camera on sale for as low as $419. The T6 was once a cheaper option that made it worth looking at. The T6 may not be worth it now, considering the advances in DSLR cameras. The SL2 Kit costs $549, comes with full HD recording at 60 fps and a 24-megapixel sensor. It's only $130, but it's the SL2's upgrades, that can make the difference between a camera you will be using for a while and one that you need to replace in six months.

Canon EOS Rebel T6 vs. Canon Rebel EOS T7

While the Canon Rebel EOS T6 camera is designed for beginners, there is also Canon's Rebel EOS T7 camera (view on Amazon). This camera is identical but has better features and is not as expensive. Amazon's T7 is $30 cheaper than its T6 counterpart ($449 versus $419). The upgrade will allow you to go from an 18-megapixel sensor to a stronger 24-megapixel sensor. It just makes sense to pay $40 more to get the upgraded DSLR.

Final Verdict

This is a cheaper DSLR, but it may not be worth the cost.

It is not uncommon to spend more than $500 on a DSLR. Although the T6 may seem appealing due to its savings, a comparison between the T6's photos and those of the Canon Rebel EOS T7 or Canon EOS Rebel SL2 will show you why the extra $50-$100 might be worthwhile. The T6 lacks in video quality and photos, making it a great choice if you are looking for strong photo and video.