Just a yr in the past, selecting whether or not to purchase a Canon or a Nikon crop-sensor mirrorless digital camera was a straightforward choice — Canon was the one alternative. That’s modified with the introduction of the Nikon Z 50. A scaled-down model of Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z 50 mixes options from the high-end Z 6 and Z 7 with perks of a crop-sensor DSLR just like the Nikon D7500.
But that “Mark II” within the Canon EOS M6 Mark II says quite a bit. This isn’t Canon’s first try at an APS-C mirrorless digital camera (it makes fairly a number of fashions within the EOS M line past the M6, as nicely). Boasting a 32-megapixel sensor and a compact physique, the M6 II makes enhancements the place Nikon is barely simply getting began.
So which is healthier, the brand new child in school, or the extra skilled graduate? Here’s how these two cameras evaluate.

Nikon Z 50
 
Canon EOS M6 Mark II

Sensor
20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor
32.5 megapixel APS-C sensor
Burst Speed
11 fps
7 fps (14 fps with some lenses and settings)
Shutter Speed
30 sec. to 1/4000, bulb. 1/200 flash sync
30 sec. to 1/4000, bulb. Up to 1/1600 with the digital shutter. 1/200 flash sync
ISO
100 – 51,2000 (204,800 prolonged)
100 – 25,600 (51,200 expanded)
Autofocus
209-point hybrid part/contrast-detection AF. -2 EV sensitivity.
143-point Dual Pixel AF. -5 EV sensitivity.
Image Stabilization
None (out there in some lenses)
None (out there in some lenses)
Video
4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps
4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 120 fps
EVF
0.39 inch 2.36 million dot EVF
None (elective sizzling shoe EVF-DC2 viewfinder with 2.36 million dots)
LCD
3.2 inch, 1.04 million dot tilting touchscreen
3.0-inch, 1.04 million dot tilting touchscreen
Media Slots
Single SD card slot
Single SD card slot
Battery
300 pictures
305 pictures
Dimensions (WxHxD)

5 x  3.7 x  2.4 inches

4.71 x 2.76 x 1.94 inches
Weight
14 ounces (physique solely)
12.73 ounces (physique solely)
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Nikon Z 50 Review
Canon EOS M6 Mark II Review
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Canon EOS M6 Mark IISensor
Right out of the gate, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II impresses with a 32-megapixel sensor. That’s a substantial bump over the Nikon Z 50’s 20MP sensor. You might make an entire 2000’s period digital camera with the additional pixels the M6 II has over the Z 50.
But, picture high quality isn’t about pixels alone. While the M6 II has extra decision, the Z 50 excels at excessive ISOs. Noise was certainly one of our chief complaints in regards to the M6 II, probably a results of cramming so many megapixels on that APS-C sensor. The Z 50, however, snapped spectacular photographs in restricted lighting with minimal grain, even at ISO 6400.
The winner right here, then, is dependent upon precisely what you need out of a digital camera. Each has greater than sufficient decision for Instagram or different on-line companies, however the M6 Mark II could make larger prints. The Nikon Z 50 has an edge indoors or in low mild. In any state of affairs, nonetheless, the variations in picture high quality will likely be delicate.
Winner: Tie
Lenses
Being the extra established system, there are extra APS-C-specific lenses out there for the Canon EOS M6 Mark II. However, there’s an enormous purple flag, and that’s the EF-M lens mount. There’s nothing flawed with it, per se, however it’s utterly completely different and incompatible with Canon’s RF mount used on its full-frame mirrorless cameras, just like the EOS R.
That means if you wish to improve from APS-C to full-frame down the street, you’ll must spend money on utterly new lenses. Likewise, you possibly can’t put together for an eventual improve right this moment by shopping for full-frame RF lenses and mounting them to your M6 II. They merely received’t match, neither is there any technique to adapt them.
Nikon solely has two APS-C lenses within the Z-mount up to now, however as a result of it shares that mount throughout each APS-C and full-frame cameras, it’s also possible to use any full-frame Z-mount lens on the Z 50, increasing your selections to 10 lenses (on the time of writing). This is an enormous benefit if you would like to have the ability to spend money on a system and never fear about throwing that funding away must you determine to maneuver to full-frame sooner or later.
Nikon Z 50Winner: Nikon Z 50
Speed
There’s one other perk to fewer megapixels — velocity. The Z 50 can shoot at 11 frames per second with steady autofocus, though it wants a breather after a number of seconds when working with RAW information. The digital camera can also’t show a stay view picture at charges sooner than 5 fps.
The M6 Mark II is technically sooner as it could actually hit 14 fps, additionally with out stay view. However, steady autofocus at that velocity solely works with the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens (on the time of writing). Shutter velocity, temperature, and battery degree may also restrict that velocity. The M6 II’s normal high-speed fee of 7 fps doesn’t have such limitations.
Under the precise circumstances, the M6 II is the winner right here — however the Z 50 is the extra constant performer, and achieves the next normal burst with out the Canon’s limitations.
Winner: Tie
Canon EOS M6 Mark II David Elrich/Digital TrendsAutofocus
We’ve lengthy been followers of Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus — its model identify for its on-chip phase-detection AF — and the M6 II is not any exception. It locks on to topics shortly, even in powerful lighting due to -5 EV sensitivity. Eye AF is included too, and whereas it’s not the most effective we’ve seen, it’s nonetheless a useful characteristic.
The Nikon Z 50 can sustain due to its personal hybrid part and contrast-detection AF — till, that’s, you attempt to focus in a darkish room. In good mild, the Z 50 carried out simply as we’d anticipate, and the Eye AF was respectable, too. The low mild autofocus, with simply -2 EV sensitivity, was a significant sticking level for us, although. Nikon gives a particular low mild focusing mode which expands sensitivity all the way down to -4 EV, however this comes at a value to focus velocity.
Winner: Canon EOS M6 Mark II
Nikon Z 50Video
For video, each cameras provide 4K, however whereas the Z 50 can shoot at both 30 fps or the extra cinematic 24 fps, the M6 II can solely shoot at 30. A firmware replace is deliberate that can carry 24p to the Canon in 2020, however for now it’s a characteristic that’s missing.
The M6 II can hit the next framerate in Full HD for sluggish movement, at 180fps in comparison with the Z 50’s 120 fps. However, it doesn’t keep autofocus on this mode.
The M6 II’s autofocus efficiency in any other case transfers nicely to video, however the Z 50’s isn’t far behind. The Nikon additionally lets you trim clips in-camera and ship them wirelessly to a sensible system, making it extra handy for the informal video shooter. Both cameras have microphone jacks, however neither has a headphone jack.
Winner: Nikon Z 50
Canon EOS M6 Mark II David Elrich/Digital TrendsDesign
The Nikon Z 50, just like the Z 7 and Z 6 earlier than it, gives a great steadiness between dimension and luxury. The Z 50 is smaller with fewer controls than Nikon’s full-frame choices, however the ergonomics and management format are straightforward for any Nikon DSLR person to adapt to. With the tiny equipment lens, the Z 50 feels exceptionally mild and simple to journey with.
The M6 II is even smaller than the Z 50, however that’s partly as a result of it lacks a viewfinder. You can add the EVF-DC2 viewfinder, however it hogs the recent shoe so you possibly can’t use an exterior flash or different equipment on the identical time (it additionally provides $200 to the associated fee). Other than the shortage of a viewfinder and a badly positioned report button, the design of the M6 II is fairly good.
Winner: Nikon Z 50
Is there a transparent winner?
If we might Frankenstein the autofocus system of the Canon EOS M6 Mark II into the Nikon Z 50, we’d have the best mid-level mirrorless digital camera. While the Z 50 doesn’t have as many megapixels, it makes up for that discrepancy with spectacular velocity and low mild picture high quality. The drawback is that the restricted autofocus sensitivity means low mild efficiency is hampered.
The M6 II is the higher alternative for capturing motion in restricted mild and printing high-resolution information from its 32MP sensor — however the Z 50 continues to be the digital camera we’d decide. It’s merely the higher worth, principally due to together with a built-in viewfinder, and the decision distinction merely doesn’t matter outdoors of prints and has some advantages like dependable high-speed taking pictures and low noise at excessive ISOs. We additionally recognize that Nikon makes use of the identical lens mount throughout all of its mirrorless cameras, giving Z 50 house owners a straightforward improve path to full body ought to they need it.
Want an alternative choice? Check out our evaluations of the Fujifilm X-T30 and Sony A6100, two of our favourite mid-level mirrorless cameras.

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