Canon EOS M6 Review: Is This Compact Mirrorless Camera Still Worth Buying?

The Canon EOS M6 is a compact 24.2-megapixel APS-C mirrorless camera with more direct controls and stronger performance than the simpler EOS M100. It combines Dual Pixel autofocus, twin control dials, a tilting touchscreen and a body small enough for everyday travel.

It can still produce excellent photographs, but it belongs to Canon’s discontinued EF-M system. That changes the buying question. The EOS M6 should now be judged as an affordable used camera with access to an existing selection of compact lenses—not as the beginning of a system Canon will continue expanding.

Short verdict: the EOS M6 remains appealing for travel, street photography, family use and general stills when portability and physical controls matter. It is less suitable for buyers who require a built-in viewfinder, 4K video, in-body stabilisation, advanced subject tracking or a long-term upgrade path.

Canon EOS M6 key specifications

• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• Canon EF-M lens mount
• DIGIC 7 image processor
• Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus
• ISO 100–25,600
• Up to 9 fps with focus locked
• Up to approximately 7 fps with continuous autofocus
• 3-inch, 1.04-million-dot tilting touchscreen
• Full HD video up to 60p
• 3.5mm external microphone input
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC
• SD, SDHC and SDXC card support
• Optional EVF-DC1 or EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder support
• LP-E17 battery
• Approximately 390g with battery and memory card
• No built-in viewfinder
• No 4K video and no in-body image stabilisation

Image quality

The 24.2MP APS-C sensor is the EOS M6’s strongest feature. It offers enough resolution for detailed prints, cropping and normal commercial use while retaining good high-ISO performance. With a sharp lens and careful exposure, the camera can create results that remain competitive with many newer entry-level models.

Canon’s JPEG processing produces attractive colour and generally convincing skin tones. Beginners can obtain pleasing images without editing, while RAW files provide more flexibility for recovering highlights, lifting shadows and adjusting white balance. Understanding the exposure triangle helps extract considerably more from the camera than relying only on its automatic modes.

Low-light quality depends heavily on the lens and shutter speed. The EF-M 15–45mm kit lens keeps the package small but has a modest maximum aperture. A brighter prime such as the EF-M 22mm f/2 allows lower ISO settings indoors and creates stronger subject separation.

The body has no sensor-shift image stabilisation. Lenses with Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer technology can compensate for camera movement, but unstabilised lenses receive no physical correction from the camera. A stable stance, suitable shutter speed or tripod therefore remains important in dim light.

Autofocus and continuous shooting

Dual Pixel CMOS AF provides fast phase-detection focusing across much of the image area. Touching the rear screen offers an intuitive way to position the autofocus point, and face detection is helpful for portraits and family photographs. For everyday subjects, focus is generally quick and dependable.

The EOS M6 can shoot at up to 9 frames per second when focus is locked and approximately 7 fps with continuous autofocus. Those figures make it faster than the EOS M100 and useful for children, pets and predictable movement. Buffer depth and tracking sophistication remain below modern action cameras, so it is not the ideal tool for extended sports or wildlife sequences.

Newer Canon RF bodies can identify and follow people, animals and vehicles more effectively. The M6 instead rewards a photographer who selects an appropriate autofocus area and anticipates where the subject will move.

Controls and handling

The EOS M6 is notably more photographer-focused than the Canon EOS M100. Twin control dials, a dedicated exposure-compensation dial and additional buttons allow important settings to be changed without repeatedly entering the touchscreen menu.

The grip is modest but gives the fingers a clear purchase on the body. With small EF-M lenses, the camera feels balanced and remains easy to carry throughout the day. Large adapted DSLR lenses work, but they shift the weight forward and reduce the main advantage of this compact system.

The 3-inch touchscreen tilts upward through 180 degrees and downward for high-angle framing. It is responsive and works well for focus selection, menu navigation and image review. When turned fully forward, it helps with self-portraits and filming yourself, although accessories mounted above the camera can obstruct it.

No built-in viewfinder—but an external option exists

The EOS M6 does not include an electronic viewfinder. Photographs are normally composed on the rear screen, which can become difficult to see in strong sunlight and provides less physical stability than holding a camera to the eye.

Unlike the M100, however, the M6 can accept Canon’s optional EVF-DC1 or EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder through its accessory connection. The EVF-DC2 is the more compact option and can make the camera much more comfortable for outdoor still photography.

Adding an external finder increases the total cost and occupies the hot shoe, preventing simultaneous use of a shoe-mounted flash or microphone. Used-camera listings do not normally include the viewfinder unless it is specifically shown and described.

Video and audio

The EOS M6 records Full HD video at up to 60 frames per second. Dual Pixel autofocus gives smooth transitions and allows the operator to select a subject by touching the screen. For family clips, interviews, straightforward tutorials and online Full HD content, it remains usable.

There is a 3.5mm microphone input, an important advantage over the M100. An external microphone can produce much clearer speech than the built-in stereo microphones. There is no headphone output, so audio cannot be monitored directly from the camera while recording.

The camera does not record 4K. Buyers who need high-resolution video, advanced codecs, modern stabilisation or slow-motion options beyond its basic Full HD modes should choose a newer model. The EOS M6 is principally a stills camera with useful but dated video capability.

The discontinued EF-M mount

Canon has ended development of the EOS M line and moved its mirrorless system to the RF mount. Existing EOS M cameras and EF-M lenses continue to work exactly as before, but buyers should not expect new Canon bodies or lenses for this mount.

The available EF-M range covers general photography surprisingly well. The EF-M 15–45mm is compact, the EF-M 22mm f/2 makes an excellent small everyday combination, and wider, telephoto and macro choices are available. Third-party manufacturers also produced useful EF-M lenses.

Canon EF and EF-S DSLR lenses can be used through an EF–EOS M adapter with electronic aperture control and autofocus. This gives access to a huge used-lens market, but many DSLR lenses are physically large beside the M6.

RF and RF-S lenses cannot be attached, and EF-M lenses cannot be carried forward to a Canon RF body. The M6 therefore makes the most sense as a complete compact kit rather than the first stage of a long upgrade plan.

Battery, storage and connectivity

The EOS M6 uses the LP-E17 battery. Endurance is adequate for casual use but modest compared with a DSLR, particularly when wireless communication, continuous autofocus or frequent screen review is active. A spare battery is advisable for travel or a full day of photography.

Images and video are stored on a single SD card. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC provide options for transferring photographs and controlling the camera through Canon’s mobile app. Compatibility and connection behaviour may vary with current phone operating systems and app versions.

What you need besides the camera

• An EF-M lens: confirm whether a used listing includes a lens or is body-only.
• A reliable SD card: buy from an established retailer to reduce the risk of counterfeit storage.
• A spare LP-E17 battery: particularly useful for travel and long sessions.
• An optional EVF-DC2: worthwhile if you prefer eye-level composition, but check its price before committing.
• An EF–EOS M adapter: required only when using EF or EF-S DSLR lenses.
• For video: an external microphone can take advantage of the camera’s 3.5mm input.

Who should buy the Canon EOS M6?

The EOS M6 suits photographers who want APS-C image quality, direct controls and a very small travel system. It can serve street, family, portrait, food and everyday photography particularly well when paired with a compact EF-M lens.

It is less suitable for buyers who need a built-in viewfinder, 4K video, IBIS, dual card slots or current-generation action tracking. Anyone intending to invest steadily in new lenses and upgrade bodies over time should normally begin with an active mount rather than EF-M.

Buying a used EOS M6

Test both control dials, the exposure-compensation dial, every touchscreen area and the complete tilt mechanism. Inspect the lens mount, sensor, hot shoe, memory-card slot, microphone input and battery compartment. Confirm that autofocus works correctly with a known lens and that the LP-E17 charger is included.

If an external viewfinder is included, mount it and test its display and eye sensor. Check the price of the entire package—body, lens, battery, charger and any adapter—rather than judging a cheap body in isolation.

DPReview’s detailed Canon EOS M6 review and laboratory testing provides additional information about its autofocus, controls and image quality.

The 30-second decision

Buy it if you want a compact stills camera with good image quality, physical controls and inexpensive used availability, and you are satisfied with the existing EF-M lens selection.

Skip it if you require a built-in viewfinder, 4K, in-body stabilisation, modern subject recognition or a system with future Canon development.

The price rule: the M6 is attractive only when its complete cost is clearly below a newer RF-mount alternative. Remember to include the price of a lens, spare battery and external viewfinder if you need one.

Final verdict

The Canon EOS M6 remains a capable compact photographic tool. Its 24.2MP sensor, Dual Pixel autofocus, strong touchscreen and direct controls make it more satisfying for an enthusiast than the simpler M100, while its small body preserves the portability that defined the EF-M system.

Its limitations are now impossible to separate from its value. There is no built-in finder, no 4K, no IBIS and no future development for the mount. Bought carefully as an affordable used kit, it can still deliver excellent photographs. Bought as the foundation of a growing system, it is difficult to justify against current alternatives.

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