Canon gains mirrorless momentum with EOS M6

Canon looks to be getting the hang of this mirrorless camera thing. The latest arrival is the EOS M6 which is essentially an M5 in a new – and very pretty – bodyshell, minus the EVF.

No built-in EVF? Before you decide to move off to read something else, let us tell you that there is an all-new clip-on electronic viewfinder, but more importantly, the M6's configuration tells us Canon is really thinking about its mirrorless camera range. Leaving out the built-in EVF allows for a more compact design and the EOS M6 really fits the bill in terms of attracting users who want something better than a smartphone for taking pictures, but don't want a D-SLR, no matter how compact.

On the inside is the same 24.2 megapixels (effective), 'APS-C' size 'Dual Pixel CMOS' sensor as is used in the M5 mated with Canon's latest 'DiG!C 7' processor. The sensitivity range is equivalent to ISO 100 to 25,600. The 'Dual Pixel' sensor's design delivers phase-difference detection autofocusing which is impressively fast. The AF system employs 49 selectable measuring points and has both face-detection and subject tracking facilities. Exposure control is based on a 384-zone metering system which drives the standard choice of 'PASM' control modes plus a selection of subject/scene modes. The M6 also has choice of 'Creative Filter' special effects and various JPEG processing options offered on Canon's D-SLRs such as 'Auto Lighting Optimiser' and 'Highlight Tone Priority' (HTP). Continuous shooting is possible at up to 9.0 fps with the AF/AE locked to the first frame and 7.0 fps with frame-to-frame adjustment. The video capabilities are pretty standard fare with Full HD recording in the MP4 format at 50 or 25 fps (PAL) with stereo sound and the option of plugging in an external mic. Not surprisingly there's built-in WiFi (with NFC connectivity), but also Bluetooth for maintaining a connection with a mobile device.

The new EVF-DC2 optional viewfinder uses a 0.39-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2.36 megadots, and a refresh rate of 120 fps. It is both more compact and lighter than the previous DC1 model. The EOS M6 is available in black or silver finishes and sells for around $1299 (estimated average street price) with the EF-M 15-45 f3.5-4.5 IS STM zoom lens. Canon Australia says the EOS M3 model will continue to be available locally. 

Source: Canon gains mirrorless momentum with EOS M6