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Home → Cameras and Lenses

Canon M6 vs M6 Mark II

Here's how the M6 Mark II - Canon's most advanced APS-C mirrorless camera - stacks up against the previous version.

By Spencer Cox No Comments
Published On August 28, 2019

Canon EOS M6 vs EOS M6 Mark II
Canon EOS M6 (left) compared to Canon EOS M6 Mark II (right), to scale

Now that Canon has released the new EOS M6 Mark II mirrorless camera, I wanted to take a look at how this camera compares to its predecessor, the EOS M6. Both are highly capable cameras, but they have more differences than similarities. Here’s how each one stacks up.

First up, let’s take a look at the specifications of both cameras.

M6 vs M6 Mark II Specifications

Camera FeatureCanon EOS M6Canon EOS M6 Mark II
Sensor Resolution24.2 megapixels32.5 megapixels
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor Size22.3 × 14.9 mm22.3 × 14.8 mm
Sensor Pixel Size3.72 µm3.2 µm
Low Pass FilterYesYes
Low Pass Filter Dust ReductionYesYes
Image Size6000 × 4000 pixels6960 × 4640 pixels
Image ProcessorDIGIC 7DIGIC 8
Viewfinder TypeNone; compatible with separate EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder (and included in most M6 II kits)None; compatible with separate EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder (and included in most M6 II kits)
Viewfinder CoverageEVF-DC2 has 100% coverageEVF-DC2 has 100% coverage
Viewfinder MagnificationEVF-DC2 has 1× magnification (0.63× 35mm equivalent)EVF-DC2 has 1× magnification (0.63× 35mm equivalent)
Built-in FlashYes, no flash commander modeYes, no flash commander mode
Storage Media1× SD, UHS I Compatible1× SD, UHS II Compatible
Continuous Shooting Speed7 FPS (9 FPS with focus locked)14 FPS (30 FPS RAW burst with electronic shutter, locked exposure, locked focus)
Buffer Size (RAW, Max FPS)1723
Electronic ShutterNoYes
Shutter Speed Range1/4000 to 30 sec1/16,000 to 30 sec (electronic); 1/4000 to 30 sec (mechanical)
Live View Exposure Meter384-zone sensor output metering384-zone sensor output metering
Base ISOISO 100ISO 100
Native ISO SensitivityISO 100-6400ISO 100-25,600
Boosted ISO SensitivityUp to ISO 25,600Up to ISO 51,200
Focus Points49 selectable positions5,481 manually selectable positions; 143 automatically selected positions
On Sensor Phase Detection (Dual Pixel AF)YesYes
Focus BracketingNoYes
Live View Eye AFNoYes
JoystickNoNo
Flicker DetectionNoYes
Video Maximum Resolution1920 × 1080 up to 60 fps4K at 30 fps; 1920 × 1080 up to 120 fps
LCD Size3″ diagonal LCD3″ diagonal LCD
LCD Resolution1,040,000 dots1,040,000 dots
Tilt-Flip LCDNo; tilt onlyNo; tilt only
TouchscreenYesYes
Built-in GPSNoNo
Built-in BluetoothYesYes
Built-in Wi-Fi / NFCYesYes
BatteryLP-E17LP-E17
Battery Life295 shots (rear LCD only); 295 shots (EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder only); 425 shots (ECO mode on, rear LCD only)305 shots (rear LCD only); 250 shots (EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder only); 410 shots (ECO mode on, rear LCD only)
Weather Sealed BodyNoNo
USB Version2.0 Micro-B2.0 USB-C
Weight (Body Only, Includes Battery and Card)390 g (13.8 oz)408 g (14.4 oz)
Dimensions112.0 × 68.0 × 44.5 mm (4.4 × 2.7 × 1.8 in)119.6 × 70.0 × 49.2 mm (4.7 × 2.8 × 1.9 in)
AnnouncedFebruary 2017August 2019
Current Price (Body Only)$579$849
Current Price (With 15-45mm Kit Lens)$700 (viewfinder sold separately for $200 extra)$1099 (includes EFV-DC2 viewfinder)

That’s a lot of improvements for the Mark II! The biggest differences are the new 32.5 megapixel sensor, 4K video capability (at full sensor width), and 14 FPS shooting. Clearly, the M6 Mark II is the more advanced camera.

Is it worth the extra price? Personally, I would say so, especially if you buy new. There’s less than a $300 difference between the two cameras, and only a $200 difference if you’re buying a kit with the 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 lens and electronic viewfinder.

However, keep in mind that the original Canon M6 has been on the market for more than two years now, so there are plenty of photographers selling used copies for less than the standard asking price. I’ve seen it go for $450 with a kit lens, and $550 with the kit lens plus viewfinder, on sites like eBay and FredMiranda.

Next, let’s take a look at the controls of both the M6 and the M6 Mark II:

Camera Layout Comparison

To start, here is the back of each camera (to scale):

Canon M6 vs M6 Mark II Back

The only meaningful change is the MF/AF switch on the M6 Mark II, which is not present on the original M6. If you look closely, you will notice that two of the buttons on the multi-select dial have changed as well. The top button on the Mark II is now an exposure compensation button instead of ISO, while the left-hand button has changed from a manual focus button to a burst selection option.

Here is the top of each camera for comparison:

Canon M6 vs M6 Mark II Top

Here, the big difference is that the M6 has an exposure compensation dial on top of a customizable command dial, while the M6 Mark II only has the customizable command dial. Otherwise, the two cameras have otherwise the same button layout.

Who Should Get Each One?

Both the Canon M6 and M6 Mark II are good cameras. If you can’t take the photos you want with one, it’s unlikely that the other will change things very much. That said, there are a number of differences between these two cameras, starting first with price.

New, the M6 is somewhat overpriced in my opinion, especially if you want the add-on electronic viewfinder. A full kit – camera, lens, EVF – costs $900, while the significantly more advanced M6 Mark II is only $1100 for the same kit.

However, things change if you’re on a budget and willing to buy used. In that case, the Canon M6 is certainly a better value than the M6 Mark II, coming in around $550 for the full kit (half the new price of the Mark II). Sure, the M6 is the older camera, but it has most of the things that photographers want in a mirrorless camera: light weight, good image quality, and interchangeable lenses.

That said, there are reasons to get the M6 Mark II instead. It has some serious upgrades compared to the M6 – plenty of them. If you’re a video shooter, or you photograph sports and wildlife that can benefit from the 14 FPS setting, I’d say the Mark II is worth the money.

Hopefully this article gave you a good idea of which camera is right for your needs! If you have any questions, please let me know below.

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Filed Under: Cameras and Lenses Tagged With: Canon, Canon Mirrorless, Canon M6 Mark II, Canon M6

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer better known for my macro photography! My photos have been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and exhibitions in London, Malta, Siena, and Beijing. These days I'm active on Instagram and YouTube.

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