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 Feature | Canon EOS M6 | Canon EOS M6 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution | 24.2 megapixels | 32.5 megapixels |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 22.3 × 14.9 mm | 22.3 × 14.8 mm |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 3.72 µm | 3.2 µm |
| Low Pass Filter | Yes | Yes |
| Low Pass Filter Dust Reduction | Yes | Yes |
| Image Size | 6000 × 4000 pixels | 6960 × 4640 pixels |
| Image Processor | DIGIC 7 | DIGIC 8 |
| Viewfinder Type | None; 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 Coverage | EVF-DC2 has 100% coverage | EVF-DC2 has 100% coverage |
| Viewfinder Magnification | EVF-DC2 has 1× magnification (0.63× 35mm equivalent) | EVF-DC2 has 1× magnification (0.63× 35mm equivalent) |
| Built-in Flash | Yes, no flash commander mode | Yes, no flash commander mode |
| Storage Media | 1× SD, UHS I Compatible | 1× SD, UHS II Compatible |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | 7 FPS (9 FPS with focus locked) | 14 FPS (30 FPS RAW burst with electronic shutter, locked exposure, locked focus) |
| Buffer Size (RAW, Max FPS) | 17 | 23 |
| Electronic Shutter | No | Yes |
| Shutter Speed Range | 1/4000 to 30 sec | 1/16,000 to 30 sec (electronic); 1/4000 to 30 sec (mechanical) |
| Live View Exposure Meter | 384-zone sensor output metering | 384-zone sensor output metering |
| Base ISO | ISO 100 | ISO 100 |
| Native ISO Sensitivity | ISO 100-6400 | ISO 100-25,600 |
| Boosted ISO Sensitivity | Up to ISO 25,600 | Up to ISO 51,200 |
| Focus Points | 49 selectable positions | 5,481 manually selectable positions; 143 automatically selected positions |
| On Sensor Phase Detection (Dual Pixel AF) | Yes | Yes |
| Focus Bracketing | No | Yes |
| Live View Eye AF | No | Yes |
| Joystick | No | No |
| Flicker Detection | No | Yes |
| Video Maximum Resolution | 1920 × 1080 up to 60 fps | 4K at 30 fps; 1920 × 1080 up to 120 fps |
| LCD Size | 3″ diagonal LCD | 3″ diagonal LCD |
| LCD Resolution | 1,040,000 dots | 1,040,000 dots |
| Tilt-Flip LCD | No; tilt only | No; tilt only |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in GPS | No | No |
| Built-in Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Wi-Fi / NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | LP-E17 | LP-E17 |
| Battery Life | 295 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 Body | No | No |
| USB Version | 2.0 Micro-B | 2.0 USB-C |
| Weight (Body Only, Includes Battery and Card) | 390 g (13.8 oz) | 408 g (14.4 oz) |
| Dimensions | 112.0 × 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) |
| Announced | February 2017 | August 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):
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:
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.
Comment Policy: Although our team at Photography Life encourages all readers to actively participate in discussions, we reserve the right to delete / modify any content that does not comply with our Code of Conduct, or do not meet the high editorial standards of the published material.