Introduction Canon's just officially launched the newest member of its APS-C mirrorless lineup, the EOS M6 Mark II. We were a little surprised to hear from Canon that the M6 II effectively replaces both the EOS M5 and EOS M6 models, so you're looking at the newest flagship for the EOS M system (and two of three M6 II US bundles include an external EVF, which helps to mitigate the most prominent difference between the two previous models anyhow).
And while it's true that from the outside this looks like a relatively minor update, Canon's been awfully busy on the inside, making the M6 II into a compelling and competitive option for those who don't want or need the bulk of a bigger full-frame system. Let's dig in and take a closer look.
The EOS M6 Mark II will begin shipping in late September 2019, priced at $849 US body-only, $1099 US with the 15-45mm kit lens and an electronic viewfinder, and $1349 with the 18-150mm kit lens and an electronic viewfinder. More on the electronic viewfinder in a bit.
A new sensor
Let's start with the heart of the EOS M6 Mark II: the new 32. 5MP APS-C sensor with Canon's Dual Pixel autofocus. First off, this is the highest resolution APS-C sensor we've seen – ever. We haven't yet been able to test dynamic range compared to Canon's previous 24MP APS-C sensor, but initial samples from the camera look great, with a good amount of detail and the JPEGs showing the pleasing Canon color we've come to expect.
Backing up that sensor is the latest Digic 8 processor, which helps unlock a number of capabilities that the original EOS M6 can't match. To start, we get new CR3 Raw files and the new C-Raw format. These compressed Raw files do start to show some disadvantage to the full Raw images as you push images multiple stops, but for most users and use cases, we would just leave C-Raw on all the time.
But outright speed another area in which this new sensor/processor combination really shines. The camera is incredibly responsive, with some new video and burst-shooting capabilities that should be appealing to all types of users.
Full-width 4K video
The biggest video news on the EOS M6 Mark II concerns its capture of 4K video, using the full width of the sensor. We've been hammering Canon in our latest reviews for a lack of decent 4K video across their consumer camera product line, and it looks like they've really worked at addressing that here.
There is no 24p option on the EOS M6 II
Well, sort of. If you were eyeing this camera as a budget 'B-cam' on set, well, we can't wholeheartedly recommend it for that. Regardless of whether you're capturing Full HD or 4K footage, there is no 24p option on the EOS M6 II, and thus no way to get the more cinematic look of everyone's favorite Hollywood movies. And unlike many competitors, the EOS M6 Mark II comes with no in-body image stabilization, relying instead on in-lens stabilization. This could be a pain for anyone hoping to adapt older or non-stabilized lenses who also doesn't want the camera locked off on a tripod all the time.
The EOS M6 Mark II does come with a microphone port for capturing better audio internally than using the tiny built-in mics, but unfortunately, we don't get a headphone socket for monitoring that audio like we do on the EOS 90D. So in the end, the EOS M6 II looks like a good, compact camera for shooting some decent video – but it's still not the best option around.
Burst rates and autofocus
An obvious clue that Canon is taking the EOS M6 Mark II a bit more seriously as an all-around option is the dedicated AF/MF switch on the rear of the camera, with a good-sized (and customizable) AF-ON button within it. Indeed, in my time shooting with the camera, I relied on back-button autofocus exclusively, and the AF-ON button placement and travel is really great in this class of camera.
And in preliminary shooting, we've found the autofocus to perform well, even using subject tracking with Servo (continuous) autofocus, and shooting at burst speeds of either 7 or 14 frames per second. The lower burst speed (seen in the menus as 'High') is plenty fast for many uses, and get you a 'live feed' of your subjects in-between shots, more like a DSLR experience. The higher 14fps burst speed (seen in the menus as 'High+') shows you a slideshow of the last image taken.
The most significant drawback to shooting fast action on the M6 II is the small buffer
There's also a new 'Raw Burst' option, which records Raw images at 30 frames per second with an option to pre-buffer 15 frames: meaning you save a half-second of images to sort through from before you pressed the shutter. You don't get JPEG capture in this mode, but you can process those Raw images in-camera for quick social sharing. It bears mentioning that you also get a 1. 33x crop in this mode, resulting in 18MP files.
The most significant drawback to shooting any fast action on the M6 II is the buffer. With full Raw and high-quality JPEG capture, you can expect to capture fewer than 20 shots before the buffer fills and the camera slows. Switch to C-Raw and you still get fewer than 30 shots. It's something to keep in mind if you plan to shoot fast action with the M6 II – but it must be said, the impressively wide spread of autofocus point coverage on Canon's Dual Pixel sensor makes it easy to get well-focused shots without feeling like you're compromising on your composition.
Total controls
In any case, it's not just the autofocus controls that Canon's tweaked on the EOS M6 II. We've lost a dedicated exposure compensation dial, but gained the 'Dial Func' option that we saw on the older EOS M5. This is really handy, and you can assign a number of functions to it for quick access – the function of the dial changes each time you press the button, cycling through whichever functions you've assigned to it.
There's still a customizable M-Fn button on the top shoulder to the right of the shutter release, the power switch is in a decent spot that is reachable but won't get easily bumped, and the dial around the shutter release is well-textured. The grip is also well-textured, and a bit upsized compared to its predecessor for better comfort with larger lenses. The pop-up flash on the left-most portion of the top plate isn't big, but it's better than nothing, and of course the hot-shoe works with Canon's own TTL flashes or with external triggers.
But that hot-shoe does hold a bit of a secret on the EOS M6 Mark II, which will help satisfy a broad number of photographers who just can't compromise on this one particular feature. . .
There's still a viewfinder
Yes, this replacement for the viewfindered EOS M5 is compatible with Canon's EVF-DC2, which was also available as an add-on for the viewfinderless EOS M6. What's more, this external electronic viewfinder retails for $250, but if you buy either of the kit lens bundles of the M6 Mark II, you get the viewfinder thrown in for free (if you go body-only, well, they really do mean body-only). *
It's not the biggest viewfinder we've seen, but the image quality is reasonably good with solid contrast and response times, and honestly, it's nice being able to detach it for a smaller overall package depending on what you're shooting.
*It's worth stressing that these packages and pricing are for the US only, and we don't have access to international options at the time of writing.
Rear screen, remaining ports
The EOS M6 Mark II comes with a very similar tilting screen mechanism to its predecessor. It tilts up 180 degrees for selfie enthusiasts and down 45 degrees for shooting from high angles, and comes with the same 1. 04M-dot resolution as the older EOS M6. From this view, you can also see the right-hand port door, which hides a micro HDMI output and a USB Type-C connector. That USB connector only supports USB 2. 0 transfer speeds, but does allow for USB charging given a high-power wall adapter (the camera is choosy about chargers).
Speaking of charging, the EOS M6 Mark II uses the same LP-E17 battery as its predecessor and a handful of other Canon cameras, which offers quite decent if not groundbreaking performance. In our own shooting at the launch event, the battery lasted a full day of heavy shooting, totaling ~750 shots (much of it burst shooting), while still showing full bars. The official CIPA rating is 305 shots per charge, which isn't terrible, but isn't outstanding, either.
The wrap
So there you have it - Canon's new EOS M6 Mark II looks to us to be a solid and compact mirrorless camera. You get good quality 4K video recording, fast burst speeds and great image quality from an all-new, high-resolution 32. 5MP sensor. We're looking forward to a review unit that we can put in front of our studio test scene to see what's what, but for now, we're optimistic that the M6 Mark II makes for a capable camera for all types of photographers.
But the site is nothing without you, our readers – let us know what you think of the M6 Mark II in the comments below.
. dpreview.com2019-8-28 07:00
