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Canon EOS M6 Review

Canon EOS M6 Review


The Canon EOS M6 is a compact 24MP APS-C mirrorless digital camera with twin dial controls and a touch screen interface. Starting at $779 for the body, it takes the guts of the EVF-equipped EOS M5 and puts them in an updated version of the M3 body. It sits in Canon's M lineup between the M3 and M5, and is sold with the 15-45 and 18-150mm lenses as kit options for $899 and $1,279 respectively.

Key Features:

  • 24MP APS-C sensor with max ISO of 25600
  • Dual Pixel on sensor PDAF
  • Electronic video stabilization combines with in-lens IS to give 5-axis IS
  • 7 fps continuous shooting (9 fps with focus and exposure locked)
  • Wi-Fi with always-connected Bluetooth
As usual, Canon has a different view of the market from everybody else, leaving the M6 as either an expensive, better-built alternative to entry-level mirrorless rivals or as a mid-level/enthusiast model shorn of a viewfinder. Either way, it looks a bit pricey. Its level of build and controls puts it up against the throwback style of the Olympus PEN F, Panasonic's 4K-capable GX85/80, Sony's value-tastic a6000 and Fujifilm's rather aged X-E2s.
It's also interesting to compare it with Canon's own Rebel series. With its twin control dials and very similar underlying hardware, the M6 is essentially an EOS 77D but without the bulk/utility of an optical viewfinder and with a smaller choice of lenses (unless you forfeit some of the size benefit and use an adapter). The difference in list price is $120 or you can get an M6 kit for the price of a body-only 77D.
 Canon EOS M6Sony a6000Panasonic GX85Canon EOS 77D
MSRP
(base kit lens)		$899$599$799$1049
Sensor24MP APS-C24MP APS-C16MP Four Thirds24MP APS-C
Image stabilizationLens-basedLens-basedIn-bodyLens-based
AF systemDual Pixel AFOn-sensor phase-detectContrast-detect with DFDDual Pixel AF + phase-detect
LCD typeTiltingTiltingTiltingFully articulating
TouchscreenYesNoYesYes
ViewfinderOptional1.44M dot EVF2.76M dot equiv. EVF*OVF
Burst rate
(with AF)		7 fps11 fps6 fps6 fps
Mic/headphone
jacks		Yes / NoYes / NoNo / NoYes / No
Video1080/60p1080/60pUHD 4K @ 30p1080/60p
WirelessWi-Fi w/NFC + BLEWi-Fi w/NFCWi-FiWi-Fi w/NFC
Battery life295 shots360 shots290 shots600 shots (OVF)
Weight (body)343 g344 g426 g540 g
*Uses field sequential update to give resolution equivalent to 2.76M dots
Years ago, I assisted a fashion and editorial photographer who had pre-ordered the EOS M plus an EF adapter the moment the cyber gates opened. They were excited to have a point and shoot sized APS-C second camera that took up less space than a lens in a camera bag.
In their imagination was a camera with AF capabilities, controls, and image quality similar to a midrange APS-C DSLR, but with the size advantages of a mirrorless system. It was returned immediately after adapting it to one of their existing EF lenses. The slow CDAF system meant it couldn't come close to being a second body that could be counted on in a pinch.
The EOS M6 comes with great autofocus performance, even in macro mode.
Canon EF-M 28mm F3.5 Macro | ISO 100 | 1/400 sec | F5
Photo by Samuel Spencer
I'm happy to say the camera they were originally hoping for has been released. The $780 (body only) Canon M6 may be a bit larger and more upmarket than the original M, but it has the controls, image quality, and AF performance that can keep up with DSLRs in many situations. It is also currently the smallest package in which you can find Canon's Dual Pixel Autofocus.
In this review we'll look at the camera through the eyes of a series of potential buyers. To begin, let's see how the EOS M6 really stacks up as an addition to an established Canon shooter's larger kit.
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