In addition to its new 800D and 77D DSLRs, Canon unveiled the EOS M6. As the name suggests, it is Canon’s sixth mirrorless camera. Announced five months after the M5, the new M6 shares basically the same specifications. The only difference is the lack of a built-in viewfinder (but a new optional EVF-DC2 is available) and the fact that the rear screen tilts 180° up instead of down.
Inside we find the same 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as the M5. The good news is that the M6 also gets phase detection autofocus like the higher end model with Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology and 49 points. The DIGIC7 processor is the same and the camera has an ISO sensitivity range of 100 to 25600. RAW files are 14-bit.
The continuous shooting speed is 9fps with autofocus locked on the first frame and 7fps with continuous AF. The buffer is of 26 frames in JPEG and 17 frames in RAW according to the official specifications. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000s.
Like the M5, there is no 4K capabilities and video shooting goes up to Full HD and 60p. You can use electronic stabilisation during movie recording, which is what Canon calls 5-axis but it is only the optical stabilization of the lens combined with software stabilization.
The design of the camera resembles the M5 expect for the built-in viewfinder on top. The various dials, buttons and controls are similar. Only the dials on top have been re-arranged and are all found on the right side to leave space for the built-in flash on the left. You can find the mode dial, the exposure compensation dial and two control dials, one around the shutter release button and the other below the exposure compensation dial. There is also one less function button on top in comparison to the M5.
The rear LCD monitor is a 3.0 inch type with 1,040k dots of resolution. You can tilt it up 180° and down 45°. It is touch sensitive. Canon also released an optional EVF: the EVF-DC2 is a 0.39-inch type with an OLED panel, 2.3 million dot and 120fps refresh rate (just like the one built into the M5).
Finally, you get Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth connectivity. The last option allows you to keep a constant connection between the camera and your mobile device.
The new EOS M6 will be available in black or silver in April 2017 with the following prices and kit lenses:
- $780/£730/€990 body only
- $900/£840/€1,140 with EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
- $1280/£1,080/€1450 with EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
The EVF-DC2 will cost $250/£220/€280.