Canon EOS M6 Review: Digital Photography Review

Canon EOS M6

Traditionally the big beasts of the camera world are Canon and Nikon which are glacier like in embracing the mirrorless compact system camera format and that’s let the likes of Panasonic, Sony, Olympus and Fujifilm run riot in the CSC playground.

Nikon remains reluctant to leave its DSLR nest. On concord, Canon has finally woken up and stepped up. The EOS M5 flagship CSC was a solid effort. It’s been swiftly followed up by the arrival of the mid-range EOS M6.

This comes with a lot of the same attractions that includes a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor. On concord, ditches the viewfinder for an even smaller bosy. It might just be Canon’s best CSC yet but can it go toe-to-toe with its more established rivals?

Canon EOS M6 design: pocketable with a pancake lens

Some compact system cameras aren’t very compact at all. That’s not a criticism you could level at the EOS M6. It’s genuinely pocketable when paired with a pancake lens along with the Panasonic Lumix GX800 and Sony A6000. Although we are talking jacket rather than jeans.

Canon sent my review sample with an 18-150 mm zoom lens. Though which juts out a long way and somewhat lessens that impact. Still, even with that barrel of glass bolted on. I found the M6 a breeze to carry around all day. Quite discreet even by CSC standards. Little wonder Canon’s marketing bods are keen to play up its suitability as a street photography camera.

The metal body is clad in a textured rubbery material and a small protruding grip on the right side gives your fingers something to wrap around. So the tininess of the camera doesn’t translate into trickiness when it comes to holding it up. There’s a solid, premium feel to the M6 that puts it on a level with the Sony A6000. I think above the slightly budget-feeling Panasonic GX800.

Canno EOS M6 in use: viewfinder required

The lack of an integrated electronic viewfinder is probably the most disappointing thing about the EOS M6 for me. You could argue that the camera’s dinky size and square-off frame leaves no space. On concord, Sony has managed to fit one in its A6000, which is roughly the same size as and £100ish cheaper than the M6.

A viewfinder is a valuable asset because holding a camera up to your eye is still the best way to compose images. It acts as a natural form of image stabilisation for starters. When you’re shooting outdoors and the sunlight is too bright to see the screen clearly, a viewfinder’s shielded shade is virtually essential.

Canon’s optional EVF-DC1 and EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinders works with the EOS M6, but that means shelling out over £200 extra.

The M6’s screen isn’t bad by any means. It’s bright and sharp has touch capabilities click to focus is the best and quickest way to set a focus point. It is able to tilt up and down and flip 180 degrees forward should you want to engage “selfie mode”. I found it handy for composing videos too. I would just rather have a built-in electronic viewfinder as an alternative.

Canon EOS M6 performance: a solid street shooter

The M6’s imaging performance is the one thing that doesn’t disappoint. A walk around the harbour on a beautifully clear day showed as it’s capable of crisply detailed 24 MP stills that pop with colour and contrast.

I was using Canon’s 18-150 mm lens as mentioned above. A versatile zoom with built-in image stabilisation and a £419 price tag. I suspect few will find cause to moan about the M6 from a performance point of view as its cheaper lens might not deliver such great images.

This focusses quickly and accurately. It can also shoot at speeds as high as 7 fps all of which helps to cement its status as a good camera for street photography.

Canon EOS M6 controls: beginner-friendly layout

The EOS M6’s control layout which manages to give you four accessible dials despite the camera’s small size. The exposure dial is great and securely locks into place between each setting such as you’re shifting between some nicely calibrated bike gears.

The camera will produce clean detailed shots when being used handheld if you are the type who likes to shoot in full manual mode even in the dim light of a pub after dark. You can safely push the ISO up to 3200 without having to worry too much about noise.

The M6’s 1080p 60fps videos are nice as crisp, smooth and stable with the camera kicking in an extra level of electronic image stabilisation to combat your less than steady hands. That said, most rival cameras are able to record in 4K. So Canon is still lagging behind somewhat in at least one area.

Canon EOS M6 verdict

It’s overall a very impressive camera especially given its size while I have some reservations about the EOS M6. While the Panasonic GX800 is cheaper and records 4K video, the Sony A6000 might be a bit quicker to focus and have that all-important viewfinder. On Concord, Canon has made a camera that almost matches up to both.

It might not be the best small CSC on the market. On concord, I think it’s the best CSC Canon has made so far and a sign that the company’s future mirrorless models might be a match for anything made by Panasonic, Sony, Fujifilm or Olympus.

Pros:

Fast Dual Pixel AF
Great build quality
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
Good still image quality
Enthusiast-friendly control layout

Cons:

Very limited lens ecosystem
Digital stabilization lowers video quality
No 4K video
Optional EVF raises price above EOS M5

Specifications:

ISO range: 100-25600
Sensor: 24.2MP APS-C CMOS
Battery life: 290 shots
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC, micro USB, micro HDMI, 3.5mm microphone jack
Video modes: 1080p/720p at up to 60fps
Dimensions: 12×68 x44.5mm/390g

Comparison:

Canon EOS M3	Canon EOS M6	Canon EOS M5
24mp	24mp	24mp
4.2fps continuous	9fps continuous	9fps continuous
3inch tilting touch-screen (1040K)	3inch tilting touch-screen (1040K)	3.2inch tilting touch-screen (1.62m)
– optional EVF	– optional EVF	Built-in EVF
49 AF points	49 AF points	49 AF points
ISO100-25600	ISO100-25600	ISO100-25600
FullHD video (30fps), mic socket	FullHD video (60fps), mic socket	FullHD Video (60fps), mic socket
Wi-Fi, NFC	Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth
Front dial	Front and rear dials	Front and rear dials
250 shots	295 shots	295 shots
RRP £599 with 18-55mm	RRP £839 with 15-45mm	RRP £1149 with 15-45mm