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Canon M6 vs M5

The Canon EOS M6 and the Canon EOS M5 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2017 and September 2016. Both the M6 and the M5 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon M6
versus
Canon M5
Canon M6   Canon M5
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses Canon EF-M mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-25,600 ISO 100-25,600
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.2" LCD – 1620k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting touchscreen
9 shutter flaps per second 9 shutter flaps per second
295 shots per battery charge295 shots per battery charge
112 x 68 x 45 mm, 390 g 116 x 89 x 61 mm, 427 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M6 and the Canon EOS M5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon M6 and the Canon M5 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M6 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the M5 is only available in black.

Size Canon M6 vs Canon M5
Compare M6 versus M5 top
Comparison M6 or M5 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon M5 is notably larger (36 percent) than the Canon M6. Moreover, the M5 is markedly heavier (9 percent) than the M6. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M6 nor the M5 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image 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 M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M6 Mark II 120 mm 70 mm 49 mm 408 g 305 n Aug 2019 849ebay.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 M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SL2 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
9.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T6i 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon T6s 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699ebay.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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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The M6 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 20 percent) than the M5, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels 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.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Canon M6 and Canon M5 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the M6 and the M5 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the M6 is a somewhat more recent model (by 5 months) than the M5, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS M6 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The Canon EOS M5 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

M6 versus M5 MP

For many 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 Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image 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 M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
3.
 
Canon M6 Mark II APS-C 32.3 6960 46404K/30p24.013.5184883
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 M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
7.
 
Canon SL2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
8.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
9.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
10.
 
Canon T6i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
11.
 
Canon T6s APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
12.
 
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 cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the M5 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the M6 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the M6 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the EVF-DC2. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon M6 and Canon M5 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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 M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M6 Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 14.0/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 M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
7.
 
Canon SL2optical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
9.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
10.
 
Canon T6ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon T6soptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
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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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The Canon M6 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M6 and the M5 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity 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 Canon EOS M5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image 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 M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon M6 Mark IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
7.
 
Canon SL2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon T6iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon T6sYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
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Both the M6 and the M5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The M6 was replaced by the Canon M6 Mark II, while the M5 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the M6 and M5 can be found, respectively, in the Canon M6 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon M5 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon M6 better than the Canon M5 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Advantages of the Canon EOS M6:

  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (112x68mm vs 116x89mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (20 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 5 months after the M5).


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS M5:

  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the match-up finishes in a tie (4 points each). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

M6 04:04 M5

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M6 and the Canon M5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M6 or the M5 perform in practice. 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.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-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]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  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 M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M6 Mark II..+4.5/585/1004/54/5 Aug 2019 849ebay.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 M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SL24/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
9.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T6i5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon T6s5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, 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 comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Canon M6 vs Canon M5

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon M6 Canon M5
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF-M mount lenses Canon EF-M mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2017 September 2016
    Launch Price USD 779 USD 979
    Sensor Specs Canon M6 Canon M5
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm 3.72 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2 7.22 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 7
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 78 77
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.4 23.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.6 12.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1317 1262
    Screen Specs Canon M6 Canon M5
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification .. x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1620k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon M6 Canon M5
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 9 shutter flaps/s 9 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon M6 Canon M5
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon M6 Canon M5
    Battery Type Canon LP-E17 Canon LP-E17
    Battery Life (CIPA)295 shots per charge295 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 112 x 68 x 45 mm
    (4.4 x 2.7 x 1.8 in)
    116 x 89 x 61 mm
    (4.6 x 3.5 x 2.4 in)
    Camera Weight 390 g (13.8 oz) 427 g (15.1 oz)
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