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Canon M6 Comparison Review

The Canon EOS M6 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was officially introduced in February 2017 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.

camera

Is the Canon M6 a good camera? The M6 has a Camera Elo of 2396. This rating puts the M6 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the M6 ranks among the top 30 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3.5-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Canon M6
Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/60p Video
ISO 100 - 25 600
Viewfinder optional
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen
9 shutter flaps per second
295 shots per battery charge
112 x 68 x 45 mm, 390 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Canon M6 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Canon M6 vs credit card front
M6 versus credit card top view
M6 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon M6 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M6 Mark II 120 mm 70 mm 49 mm 408 g 305 n Aug 2019 849ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 2000D 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon M50 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 390 g 235 n Feb 2018 779ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 200D 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
9.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon M6 was launched in the US market at a price of $779. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Canon M6 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon M6 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Canon M6 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of alternative cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
2.
 
Canon M6 Mark II APS-C 32.3 6960 46404K/30p24.013.5184883
3.
 
Canon 2000D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.611.9100971
4.
 
Canon M50 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p23.813.3168481
5.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
6.
 
Canon 200D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
7.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
8.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
9.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
10.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
11.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The M6 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the M6 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon M6 and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon M6 Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 14.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 2000Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon M502360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 200Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
8.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Canon EOS M6 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the M6

One convenient feature of the M6 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS M6 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
2.
 
Canon M6 Mark IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 2000DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon 200DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
7.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
10.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
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It is notable that the M6 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the M6 can be found in the free online Canon M6 Manual or on the Canon support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the M6 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M6 Mark II..+4.5/585/1004/54/5 Aug 2019 849ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 2000D3/5o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon M50..+4/579/100..3.5/5 Feb 2018 779ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 200D4/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
9.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Canon M6 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the M6.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the Canon M6 based on?

The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Canon M6 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Canon equipped the M6 with the DIGIC 7 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon M6?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.

Can the Canon M6 be equipped with an optional viewfinder?

Yes, Canon provides the EVF-DC2 as an accessory (here on amazon) that can be mounted on the hotshoe.

Does the Canon M6 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the M6 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS M6?

Canon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the M6. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the M6 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Canon M6?

Canon embeds the number of shutter actuations in the camera firmware. You can check the number of shots that your M6 has taken up to now by using a third-party app, as described on the Canon M6 shutter count page.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Canon M6?

No, the Canon EOS M6 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Canon M6?

The M6 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Canon M6 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon M6 for flash photography?

The M6's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Does the Canon M6 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Canon M6 use?

The camera gets its power from the LP-E17 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Where can I find the best deals for the Canon M6?

Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from Canon.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Canon M6
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF-M mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2017
    Launch Price USD 779
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6 000 x 4 000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 78
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.6
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1317
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 9 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type LP-E17 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)295 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 112 x 68 x 45 mm
    (4.4 x 2.7 x 1.8 in)
    Camera Weight 390 g (13.8 oz)

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