Mirrorless cameras almost always present stories of balance and adaptation to modern demands. Image quality, portability, high-definition video, a reasonable cost. The people at Canon are no strangers to those stories, but the feeling among the public is that despite recommendations, their mirrorless cameras fall one step below. The Canon EOS M6 Mark II seeks to break that feeling. A large sensor, more than decent Burst modes, 4K video, and a 180-degree tilting screen define this review that is shaping up to be one of the best in the Canon house. Will it succeed?
Mirrorless for beginners, mirrorless for enthusiasts, mirrorless for professionals. It's not a few who believe we are asking too much of this format, but at the same time, a good part sees it as "the future" of photography, and everything we have observed so far is nothing more than its natural evolution. Of course, some companies assimilated mirrorless better than others (Sony and Fujifilm are two of the most cited examples), however, the logical thing is that sooner or later all will place themselves at least at a competitive level.
Thus we come to the Canon EOS M6 Mark II. I have recommended several Canon mirrorless cameras in the past, including the previous generation of this same camera, but a sector of the public expected to see firmer specifications, without so many compromises along the way. The EOS M6 Mark II tries to respond starting with the basics: Sensor, image quality, portability, and vlogging functions. What exactly does it offer? Let's find out.
An Appropriate "Mark II"
Originally announced in August of last year, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II features a 32.5-megapixel effective APS-C CMOS sensor, backed by the eighth version of the DIGIC 8 image processor. Its ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 25,600 with a higher Boost of 51,200, while the shutter speed ranges from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds, or 1/16,000 with the electronic system.
Its three-inch screen is touch-sensitive and tilting with a built-in selfie mode (180 degrees up, 45 degrees down) and 1.04 million definition points. In its standard configuration, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II does not come with a viewfinder, but it is an optional module in one of its kits, with 2.36 million points and 100 percent coverage.
The autofocus system on the Canon EOS M6 Mark II is based on a system with 143 contrast detection points, a considerable jump compared to the traditional EOS M6. The general area modes are four: Face + Tracking, Spot, 1 Point, and Zone. In most cases, the user will not need to leave "Face + Tracking", but the camera also allows you to define the initial point under that mode, and with the continuous system, you get a fairly effective combination.
We can say something similar about eye tracking. It is not the fastest in this category of cameras, but it is not a disaster as many anti-Canon suggest. In essence, the closer the eyes to detect are to the camera, the better it will work. There is room to experiment here, and future firmware updates will surely manage to polish the entire system.
The maximum speed for Burst under continuous autofocus is 14 FPS (7 FPS using live view), with a buffer of 54 frames in JPEG and 23 in uncompressed RAW. The alternative in higher action situations is to activate the 30 FPS RAW burst, which drags some special conditions (lower resolution, only electronic system, 12-bit processing, and more) and requires a high-speed card, but it could save more than one user at the exact moment.
The design of the pop-up flash and the selfie mode of the screen make the interface of the Canon EOS M6 Mark II favor the right side of the body, but beyond its similarities to the previous version, it is impossible to ignore some details, starting with the removal of the exposure compensation dial. Now, compensation is one of nine functions available under the "Dial Func" button that modifies the behavior of the dial, and allows us to register a maximum of five. The autofocus mode switch uses a lever, and has a button in the middle that we can reassign.
As for the mode dial, the options there are "pure Canon", with some interesting additions: We have Full Auto and Hybrid Auto, Scene mode "SCN", Creative Filters (the overlapping circles), Video, Programmable Automatic "P", Shutter Priority "Tv", Aperture Priority "Av", Manual "M", Flexible Priority "Fv" (a combination of the previous four, setting manual and automatic values), and customizable C1 and C2 entries. The rest you will find in the manual, which extends for more than 600 pages (don't worry, they are small).
The good news is that the Canon EOS M6 Mark II has 4Kp30 and p25 support at 120 megabits per second. The bad news is that Canon made (once again) the mistake of ignoring the 4Kp24 mode, and will have to include it through a firmware update. It is hard to understand the reason behind its absence, and since it is not the first time it happens, it is logical that users feel a bit frustrated.
On the other hand, the quality of the 4K can be defined as "standard": The videos are not impossible to use (and the compression when uploading them online ends up killing any detail), but there are direct competitors that already offer 4K with oversampling, which translates into a higher level of detail. The other side of the coin reveals that the 4K video of the EOS M6 Mark II practically does not suffer from the effects of rolling shutter. Autofocus is quite good here, and if you want to stabilize, you'll have to prepare for a significant crop, or just cut your losses and use a tripod.
Accessories for Canon EOS M6 Mark II
The complete kit that includes a 15-45 lens and the EVF-DC2 viewfinder raises the cost of the Canon EOS M6 Mark II to an average of 1,300 euros, but if you decide to search for the body only, the options could go down to 850 or 900 euros. When looking for compatible accessories, the numbers remain very reasonable, and it is most likely that you will find something interesting in our list of suggestions.
Batteries and Power
With an average of 305 shots per full charge, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II manages to improve the performance of its predecessor, but not by much. In fact, 305 shots could cause a bit of anxiety among some users, and for that reason I recommend adding a second original Canon LP-E17 battery. It costs 55 euros, but having that "extra cartridge" in your bag is an advantage you shouldn't deny yourself.
Tripods and Supports
Thanks to its 408 grams (with battery installed), finding a tripod for the Canon EOS M6 Mark II is not something difficult. In fact, today I am going to lean towards compact and ultra-portable solutions, in line with the dynamics of the mirrorless. First, let's go with a classic, the Clampod Takeway T2. Definitely overkill for the EOS M6 Mark II, but it's a long-term companion, with a maximum load of 40 kilograms, and excellent adaptability. And secondly, we have the Manfrotto Pixi. Its maximum load does not exceed one kilogram, but you can carry it and use it anywhere, and don't forget its selfie stick mode with the legs closed.
Bags and Backpacks
Full equipment, or a casual outing? Mirrorless cameras are usually associated with the second option, but our selection can cover both cases without difficulty. On one hand, the Gloxy Pro AW backpack has ample space to receive the EOS M6 Mark II and any other secondary element that accompanies it. Its interior is padded and modifiable, has wide and comfortable straps, and the waterproof cover protects all contents from moisture. And on the other hand, the Genesis Gear Orion bag maintains the variable interior profile, with a special place for tablets. Its overall design is very compact, and the exterior does not attract attention, something we always appreciate for security reasons.
Memory Cards
Yes, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II wants a fast card. No, we really don't see another option with a better cost-benefit ratio than the SanDisk Extreme Pro 128 gigabytes. V30 certification, 170 MB/s read and 90 MB/s write form the perfect combination to receive all that 4K video, or to squeeze the most out of the camera's Burst modes.
Lenses
If you decide to buy the body of the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and set aside the kit lens, you will need one or two alternatives. The first one is very economical, ideal for experimenting, making mistakes, and trying again. The Meike f/2.0 lens has a fixed focal length of 50 millimeters, a reasonable value for a large number of applications, and fits wonderfully in the EF-M mount. The second alternative is the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3, an impressive wildcard that enables the jump from wide angle to telephoto without headaches. If you plan to take the EOS M6 Mark II out of its comfort zone, this is the lens to do it.
Is the Canon EOS M6 Mark II superior to its predecessor? Yes. Is it "the great mirrorless" we expected from the Japanese giant? Well... it depends. The strange decisions in video, the "firmware pains" and the battery limits haven't gone anywhere, but that doesn't erase the fact that we are facing a solid camera, and those who enjoy shooting with Canon (or want to learn to do so) will take advantage of it from end to end. It is the right path, without a doubt. Good luck!
