Canon M6 vs Nikon 1 J5

The Canon EOS M6 and the Nikon 1 J5 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2017 and April 2015. Both the M6 and the J5 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (M6) and an one-inch (J5) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 20.7 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Canon M6		Nikon 1 J5
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses		Nikon 1 mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor		20.7 MP – 1" sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/15p Video
ISO 100-25,600		ISO 160-12,800
Viewfinder optional		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
9 shutter flaps per second		60 shutter flaps per second
295 shots per battery charge		250 shots per battery charge
112 x 68 x 45 mm, 390 g		98 x 60 x 32 mm, 231 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 Nikon 1 J5? 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.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon M6 and the Nikon 1 J5. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M6 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the J5 is available in three color-versions (black, silver, white).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon 1 J5 is notably smaller (23 percent) than the Canon M6. Moreover, the J5 is substantially lighter (41 percent) than the M6. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M6 nor the J5 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 following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon M6	112 mm	68 mm	45 mm	390 g	295	n	Feb 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 J5	98 mm	60 mm	32 mm	231 g	250	n	Apr 2015	EUR 449	ebay.com
3.		Canon 77D	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	540 g	600	n	Feb 2017	EUR 899	ebay.com
4.		Canon 200D	122 mm	93 mm	70 mm	453 g	650	n	Jun 2017	EUR 599	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1200D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	EUR 399	ebay.com
6.		Canon 2000D	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	475 g	500	n	Feb 2018	EUR 499	amazon.com
7.		Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	EUR 685	ebay.com
8.		Canon G9 X	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	209 g	220	n	Oct 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
9.		Canon M3	111 mm	68 mm	44 mm	366 g	250	n	Feb 2015	EUR 749	ebay.com
10.		Canon M5	116 mm	89 mm	61 mm	427 g	295	n	Sep 2016	EUR 1 129	ebay.com
11.		Canon M6 Mark II	120 mm	70 mm	49 mm	408 g	305	n	Aug 2019	EUR 929	ebay.com
12.		Canon M50	116 mm	88 mm	59 mm	390 g	235	n	Feb 2018	EUR 779	ebay.com
13.		Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	EUR 479	ebay.com
14.		Nikon 1 J4	100 mm	60 mm	29 mm	232 g	300	n	Apr 2014	EUR 589	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D5600	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	465 g	970	n	Nov 2016	EUR 819	ebay.com
16.		Sony A5000	110 mm	63 mm	36 mm	269 g	420	n	Jan 2014	EUR 399	ebay.com
17.		YI M1	114 mm	64 mm	34 mm	281 g	450	n	Sep 2016	EUR 349	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

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 J5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 49 percent) than the M6, which puts it into a different market segment. 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.

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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon M6 features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon 1 J5 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the J5 is 65 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24MP, the M6 offers a higher resolution than the J5 (20.7MP), but the M6 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 2.37μm for the J5) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the M6 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 10 months) than the J5, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the J5 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon M6 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the M6 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon 1 J5 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS M6 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon 1 J5 are ISO 160 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the M6 is build around a CMOS sensor, while the J5 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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"). Of the two cameras under review, the M6 provides substantially higher image quality than the J5, with an overall score that is 13 points higher. This advantage is based on 2.3 bits higher color depth, 0.6 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.5 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.6	1317	78
2.		Nikon 1 J5	1-inch	20.7	5568	3712	4K/15p	21.1	12.0	479	65
3.		Canon 77D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.3	971	78
4.		Canon 200D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.4	1041	79
5.		Canon 1200D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
6.		Canon 2000D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	11.9	1009	71
7.		Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.8	11.9	260	62
8.		Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
9.		Canon M3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.8	11.8	1169	72
10.		Canon M5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.4	12.4	1262	77
11.		Canon M6 Mark II	APS-C	32.3	6960	4640	4K/30p	24.0	13.5	1848	83
12.		Canon M50	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/24p	23.8	13.3	1684	81
13.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
14.		Nikon 1 J4	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	426	53
15.		Nikon D5600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.1	14.0	1306	84
16.		Sony A5000	APS-C	19.8	5456	3632	1080/60i	23.8	13.0	1089	79
17.		YI M1	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	1030	73
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the J5 provides a better video resolution than the M6. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/15p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The M6 and the J5 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. That said, the M6 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the EVF-DC2. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon M6, the Nikon 1 J5, and comparable cameras.

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 M6	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	n
2.		Nikon 1 J5	none	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 77D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 200D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 1200D	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 2000D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon M3	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
10.		Canon M5	2360	n	3.2 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	n
11.		Canon M6 Mark II	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	14.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon M50	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	n
13.		Canon M100	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon 1 J4	none	n	3.0 / 1037	Fixed	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
15.		Nikon D5600	optical	n	3.2 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
16.		Sony A5000	none	n	3.0 / 461	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
17.		YI M1	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the J5 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon M6 and the Nikon 1 J5 both have 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 J5 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.

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 Nikon 1 J5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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 M6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
2.		Nikon 1 J5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon 77D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Canon 200D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
5.		Canon 1200D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 2000D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon G9 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon M3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon M5	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
11.		Canon M6 Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
12.		Canon M50	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Canon M100	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
14.		Nikon 1 J4	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Nikon D5600	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony A5000	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		YI M1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the M6 has a hotshoe, while the J5 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the M6 and the J5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The M6 was replaced by the Canon M6 Mark II, while the J5 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the M6 and J5 can be found, respectively, in the Canon M6 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon 1 J5 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon M6 or the Nikon 1 J5 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS M6:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 20.7MP) with a 8% higher linear resolution.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (13 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• Richer colors: Generates images with noticeably better colors (2.3 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.6 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (1.5 stops ISO advantage).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• More framing options: Can be equipped with a hotshoe-mounted accessory-viewfinder.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (295 versus 250) on a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 10 months after the J5).

Arguments in favor of the Nikon 1 J5:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/15p vs 1080/60p).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (60 vs 9 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (98x60mm vs 112x68mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 159g or 41 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (49 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2015).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M6 is the clear winner of the match-up (12 : 8 points). 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 wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M6 and the Nikon 1 J5 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 technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the M6 and the J5 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon M6	..	..	..	80/100	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 J5	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	EUR 449	ebay.com
3.		Canon 77D	4.5/5	..	4/5	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	EUR 899	ebay.com
4.		Canon 200D	4/5	+ +	4/5	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	EUR 599	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1200D	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	EUR 399	ebay.com
6.		Canon 2000D	3/5	o	3.5/5	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	EUR 499	amazon.com
7.		Canon G7 X Mark II	4.5/5	+ +	..	81/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	EUR 685	ebay.com
8.		Canon G9 X	3.5/5	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	EUR 499	ebay.com
9.		Canon M3	4/5	o	..	75/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	EUR 749	ebay.com
10.		Canon M5	4/5	+	4/5	82/100	4/5	4/5	Sep 2016	EUR 1 129	ebay.com
11.		Canon M6 Mark II	..	+	4.5/5	85/100	4/5	4/5	Aug 2019	EUR 929	ebay.com
12.		Canon M50	..	+	4/5	79/100	..	3.5/5	Feb 2018	EUR 779	ebay.com
13.		Canon M100	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Aug 2017	EUR 479	ebay.com
14.		Nikon 1 J4	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Apr 2014	EUR 589	ebay.com
15.		Nikon D5600	4/5	..	4/5	79/100	4.5/5	4/5	Nov 2016	EUR 819	ebay.com
16.		Sony A5000	3/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2014	EUR 399	ebay.com
17.		YI M1	..	..	..	69/100	..	..	Sep 2016	EUR 349	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. 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

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