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.
Is the Canon M6 a good camera? The M6 has a Camera Elo of 2611. This rating puts the M6 among the top 40 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the M6 ranks among the top 20 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4-star performance rating.
| 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.
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.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon M6 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon M6 | 4.4 in | 2.7 in | 1.8 in | 13.8 oz | 295 | n | Feb 2017 | 779 |  | |
| Canon M50 Mark II | 4.6 in | 3.5 in | 2.3 in | 13.7 oz | 305 | n | Oct 2020 | 599 | | |
| Canon M6 Mark II | 4.7 in | 2.8 in | 1.9 in | 14.4 oz | 305 | n | Aug 2019 | 849 | | |
| Canon M50 | 4.6 in | 3.5 in | 2.3 in | 13.8 oz | 235 | n | Feb 2018 | 779 | | |
| Canon T7 | 5.1 in | 4.0 in | 3.1 in | 16.8 oz | 500 | n | Feb 2018 | 449 | | |
| Canon 77D | 5.2 in | 3.9 in | 3.0 in | 19.0 oz | 600 | n | Feb 2017 | 899 | | |
| Canon M100 | 4.3 in | 2.6 in | 1.4 in | 10.7 oz | 295 | n | Aug 2017 | 499 | | |
| Canon SL2 | 4.8 in | 3.7 in | 2.8 in | 16.0 oz | 650 | n | Jun 2017 | 549 | | |
| Canon T7i | 5.2 in | 3.9 in | 3.0 in | 18.8 oz | 600 | n | Feb 2017 | 749 | | |
| Canon M5 | 4.6 in | 3.5 in | 2.4 in | 15.1 oz | 295 | n | Sep 2016 | 979 | | |
| Canon M3 | 4.4 in | 2.7 in | 1.7 in | 12.9 oz | 250 | n | Feb 2015 | 679 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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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.
Check Ebay offers
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.
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 comparator-cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon M6 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon M50 Mark II | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/24p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon M6 Mark II | APS-C | 32.3 | 6960 | 4640 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon M50 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/24p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon T7 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon 77D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.6 | 13.3 | 971 | 78 | |
| Canon M100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.5 | 12.9 | 1272 | 78 | |
| Canon SL2 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.6 | 13.4 | 1041 | 79 | |
| Canon T7i | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Canon M5 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.4 | 12.4 | 1262 | 77 | |
| Canon M3 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 11.8 | 1169 | 72 |
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.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon M6 | optional | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon M50 Mark II | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 10.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon M6 Mark II | optional | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 14.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon M50 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 10.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon T7 | optical | n | 3.0 | 920 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon 77D | optical | Y | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon M100 | none | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 6.1 | Y | n | |
| Canon SL2 | optical | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon T7i | optical | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon M5 | 2360 | n | 3.2 | 1620 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0 | Y | n | |
| Canon M3 | optional | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 4.2 | Y | n |
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.
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.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon M6 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon M50 Mark II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| Canon M6 Mark II | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| Canon M50 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | Y | |
| Canon T7 | Y | mono | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Canon 77D | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon M100 | - | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon SL2 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon T7i | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon M5 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canon M3 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
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.
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 (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon M6 | .. | 80/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2017 | 779 | |
|
| Canon M50 Mark II | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | Oct 2020 | 599 | |
|
| Canon M6 Mark II | + | 85/100 | 4/5 | .. | 4/5 | Aug 2019 | 849 | |
|
| Canon M50 | + | 79/100 | .. | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | Feb 2018 | 779 | |
|
| Canon T7 | o | .. | 3.5/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | Feb 2018 | 449 | |
|
| Canon 77D | .. | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2017 | 899 | |
|
| Canon M100 | + | .. | 4/5 | .. | 3.5/5 | Aug 2017 | 499 | |
|
| Canon SL2 | + + | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jun 2017 | 549 | |
|
| Canon T7i | .. | 80/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2017 | 749 | |
|
| Canon M5 | + | 82/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Sep 2016 | 979 | |
|
| Canon M3 | o | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Feb 2015 | 679 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
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.
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 M6 based on?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used 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 M6?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.
Can the camera 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 camera 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.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences?
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 flash?
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 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 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.
- Canon G15 vs Canon M6 Mark II
- Canon G3 X vs Canon M6 Mark II
- Canon G9 X vs Canon M6 Mark II
- Canon M100 vs Canon M6
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Canon T3
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Nikon D100
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Nikon D850
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Olympus E-1
- Canon M6 Mark II vs Sony HX80
- Canon M6 vs Canon SX510
- Canon M6 vs Fujifilm X100F
- Canon M6 vs Olympus E-M10 II
| 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 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1040k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 9 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Fill Flash | Build-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | 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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