Canon EOS M6 Mark II evaluate: Do megapixels matter?
“The M6 Mark II has the highest-resolution sensor of any APS-C mirrorless camera — but that’s not enough to save it.”
32.5 megapixels
Compact, light-weight
Good menu system
Dual Pixel AF works for 4K video
No built-in viewfinder
Poor excessive ISO efficiency
Limited variety of EF-M lenses
Looking for probably the most decision with out going to full body? The new Canon EOS M6 Mark II is likely to be your greatest wager. With 32.5 megapixels, its sensor has nearly a 3rd extra pixels than the way more widespread 24MP and 26MP APS-C sensors from Sony and Fujifilm. It’s the primary large leap in decision for crop-sensor cameras in a number of generations, however that doesn’t essentially make it a worthy funding.
Megapixels alone aren’t sufficient to promote a digicam nowadays, and sadly the $850 M6 Mark II falls quick in different areas. Given stiff competitors from extra established methods, it’s a tough promote.
Design and Usability
The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a really compact and light-weight mirrorless digicam, trying very similar to the corporate’s G Series point-and-shoots. It measures 4.7 x 2.8 x 1.9 inches and weighs 14.4 ounces with no lens It makes use of the EF-M mount, and there are nonetheless solely eight native EF-M lenses from Canon. Fortunately, there’s an adaptor obtainable that permits you to connect the zillions of EF lenses floating round constructed for Canon’s DSLRs, however that gained’t assist the M6 Mark II follow its compact nature.
The M6 Mark II seems like most different aggressive mirrorless cameras. It’s boring however that’s all proper because it has a easy structure and an honest grip. There is one factor that basically stands out, and that’s the shortage of a built-in viewfinder. Without it, you’re restricted to the articulating 3-inch LCD monitor to each body and evaluate your pictures. Since the LCD is a so-so display screen with simply over 1 million pixels — and tends to clean out in vivid sunshine — that is removed from best.
David Elrich/Digital TendenciesFortunately, the package we examined got here with the non-compulsory EVF-DC2 digital viewfinder that slips into the new shoe. This 2.36-million-dot EVF isn’t one of the best, nevertheless it’s definitely useful on vivid day and provides the digicam a retro appear and feel. It additionally prices $200, which pushes the entire value of the digicam to over $1,000 with no lens, making it greater than the Fujifilm X-T30, probably the greatest mirrorless cameras you should buy.
Even so, we might urge anybody contemplating this rig to purchase it with the EVF. We may additionally urge you to keep away from the usual 15-45mm package lens, nevertheless, which is compact and light-weight however doesn’t take one of the best photos.
David Elrich/Digital TendenciesFor a small digicam, there’s a great quantity of buttons and dials to rapidly entry completely different controls. The film document button, nevertheless, is simply too handy — that means you may by chance hit and begin recording a video whenever you don’t imply to. This occurred to us many instances earlier than we realized the problem and have become decidedly extra cautious as to how we dealt with the digicam. Still, it’s a step above Sony’s competing mirrorless fashions that put the document button awkwardly on the aspect of the thumb grip.
USB, HDMI, and microphone ports are all included, however notably absent is a headphone jack.
Performance and picture high quality
The headline characteristic for the M6 Mark II is the 32.5MP APS-C sensor, up from 24.2MP for the older M6. The sensor is paired with a brand new Digic 8 processor, which improves burst fee to 14 frames per second, regardless of the elevated pixel depend. That’s double the speed of the older M6. Video has additionally jumped from Full HD to 4K. If these specs sound acquainted, that’s as a result of they’re the identical as the brand new Canon EOS 90D DSLR.
One factor that’s undoubtedly not the identical because the 90D is the battery life. Rated for simply 305 pictures, the M6 Mark II falls nicely wanting its DSLR counterpart, however is fairly customary for an entry-level mirrorless digicam.
While we all the time sit up for extra megapixels, you don’t need to leap to the 61MP full-frame Sony A7R IV for high quality photographs. Lower decision APS-C sensors are greater than ok for the overwhelming majority of photographers, and the additional little bit of decision the M6 Mark II provides over the unique M6 turns out to be useful if you might want to crop.
But as we acknowledged upfront, decision isn’t every little thing, particularly these days when so lots of our photographs are consumed solely through Instagram and its 1,080-pixel decision. Fortunately, the sensor isn’t the one new factor within the Mark II. It additionally has an improved Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system with Eye AF, a characteristic discovered on nearly each new digicam. We’ve raved about it in our Sony evaluations and it really works nicely right here, too, however inferior to Sony’s extra superior system. We have been in a position to check the Canon M6 Mark II alongside the Sony A6100 in a darkish inside scene, the place the Sony achieved sharper outcomes of the identical topic utilizing Eye AF.
Another new characteristic is the 14 fps framerate. It’s a significant promoting level of the M6 Mark II, and as such Canon took us to the Road Atlanta Motor Sport Center to try it out (we have been company of Canon, however all opinion is our personal). There we had the chance to {photograph} sports activities automobiles zooming across the observe in addition to extra static, human topics. We used the native 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 zoom and the very cool 32mm f/1.4 prime. We cherished this little lens because it makes for a enjoyable strolling round digicam with good depth of subject management; it’s the one actual portrait lens Canon makes for the EOS M system.
David Elrich/Digital TrendsTypical for Canon, the M6 Mark II has a menu system that’s slam-dunk straightforward to make use of and a responsive touchscreen. Everything is geared towards novices who could not perceive digicam terminology; if you happen to flip the mode dial to Tv (Time worth, extra generally known as shutter precedence) the digicam will present examples of what sluggish and quick shutter speeds do. Other exposures modes are illustrated likewise, making the superior controls extra approachable to new photographers.
Unfortunately, when it truly involves producing good photographs, the Mark II is a disappointment — particularly with the package lens. Although it labored nicely in vivid sunshine, dim interiors have been its downfall. However, the outcomes we bought with the 32mm f/1.4 have been a lot better because of its wider aperture.
After the racetrack, we took the Mark II and package lens to an indoor rodeo; a difficult scenario for any digicam. Due to the f/6.3 most aperture of the package lens, we had needed to crank the ISO to 25,600 to hit a shutter pace quick sufficient to freeze movement. For the document, the ISO vary is 100 to 51,200, however the noise will stop you from desirous to go that top.
This sensor coupled with the package lens is simply too starved of sunshine to make clear outcomes. Our customary check confirmed the Mark II isn’t in the identical ballpark as competing fashions just like the Sony A6100. As we mentioned up entrance, there’s extra to any digicam than megapixels, and low mild efficiency is commonly extra necessary.
On a extra constructive observe, the 4K/30p movies look good. We’ve all the time favored the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system and it did a great job monitoring fast-moving topics resembling horses racing on an indoor observe. This isn’t billed as a video digicam, however it’s going to do an honest job for vlogging and residential films.
Our Take
This just isn’t one in all Canon’s greatest efforts, though its shortcomings could be overcome with the proper lens. Sadly, Canon has a dearth of wide-aperture lenses for the EF-M mount, however the 32mm f/1.4 that we cherished is at the very least reasonably priced at $479.
EOS M is hardly new, nevertheless it stays an immature system that fails to stay as much as the usual set by the likes of Sony and Fujifilm, which have much more lenses and supply built-in EVFs in fashions at comparable costs to the M6 Mark II. We are puzzled as to why Canon provides two mirrorless methods primarily based on completely different mounts (EF-M and RF), in comparison with Sony which makes use of the identical mount for its APS-C and full-frame fashions. Canon’s newer R collection is unquestionably its favourite youngster, and EOS M simply doesn’t appear to be a clever funding at the moment.
Are There Better Alternatives?
Yes. The Sony A6100 ($750, physique solely) has a built-in viewfinder and state-of-the-art autofocus and topic monitoring. It’s “only” 24MP, however its photographs are fairly good. There are additionally over 50 E-mount lenses obtainable, and Sony additionally makes full-frame cameras that use the identical mount, that means you might have a straightforward improve path must you need it.
The $900 body-only Fujifilm X-T30 is 26MP, additionally has glorious picture high quality, a built-in EVF, glorious video specs, and a cool retro design. There are additionally near 30 XF-mount lenses obtainable, together with many primes with extensive apertures for good low mild efficiency.
How Long Will It Last?
The authentic M6 was available on the market for over two years, so a Mark III gained’t arrive anytime quickly. This digicam isn’t constructed for professionals, however we’ve all the time been happy with Canon’s construct high quality and the M6 Mark II ought to simply offer you a few years of use.
Should You Buy It?
No. The M6 Mark II is an entry-level mirrorless digicam with leading-level decision, however is in any other case behind the instances. The system as a complete can be missing lenses, and Canon appears to be extra targeted on its R collection of full-frame mirrorless cameras.
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