Canon M50 vs. M6 - A Complete Comparison

Introduction

Canon is one of the most revered manufacturers of imaging and optical goods, and it is with good reason. The Japanese multinational has been able to produce products that can be purchased at different levels of the price spectrum depending on a user’s purchasing power. The Canon M50 and the Canon M6 are good examples of such products. If we were to rate them based on the company’s press statement, they would be categorized as entry-level and mid-range cameras, respectively. If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably considered purchasing one over the other, and you may be wondering what sets them apart. In this article, we analyze the specifications of the two cameras to help you come to an insightful conclusion.

Comparison – At a Glance

Canon M50 vs. M6 – Design

We first looked at the physical appearance of the cameras as aesthetics typically contribute to an individual’s final decision. These two cameras have pretty much the same design with several noteworthy differences. The first one being that the Canon M50 is slightly larger but a couple of milligrams lighter than the Canon M6. The dimensions of the two cameras are 116.3 x 88.1 x 58.7mm and 112 x 68 x 44.5 mm for the Canon M50 and M6 respectively. Secondly, the dials and buttons of the two cameras are slightly different. The M50 has less advanced shooting dials in comparison to the Canon M6 whose dials include one for exposure compensation and two more for custom modes. The On/Off switches of the cameras are also positioned differently. The video recording button on the M6 is positioned at the rear of the camera rather than the top. Overall, the M50 has four fewer function buttons. Lastly, the Canon EOS M50 has an overly pronounced grip, unlike its counterpart.

Canon M50 vs. M6 – Capabilities

One of the main similarities between the two cameras is that they both have an APS-C 332.3mm 24.0 MP resolution sensors. Since the sensor size is the same, the cameras will have the same resolution. Which translates to users having similar control levels when shooting at the same aperture and focal length as far as depth of the field is concerned. You, however, notice a difference in the capabilities of the cameras when shooting videos. This is because the Canon M50 can shoot 4K video at 24 frames per second while the M6 can only manage full HD quality videos and below. The M50 is also capable of shooting slow-motion videos which is a fete that cannot be said for the M6. Despite its capabilities, the M50 regrettably does not use its sensor’s entire width and creates a 1.6x crop in its imagery.

Additionally, its autofocus only functions with contrast detection

The second significant and noticeable difference when comparing the camera’s capability is the ISO range. The Canon M50 has a higher ISO range that can be easily extended, unlike the M6 whose ISO range is limited. This difference in ISO range sensitivity means that the M50 functions better and has more flexibility, especially when it is being used in low light situations.

Canon M50 vs. M6 Autofocus

Canon has an innovative Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus which is used in both the M50 and the M6. However, the Canon M50 brags 94 more focus points than the M6, which means more focus area. The M50 has 99 native autofocus points which can be expanded to 143 points with some select camera lenses such as the 55-200mm, 150mm, and 28mm macro. On the other hand, the M6 only has 49 native autofocus points which cover only 80% of its sensor. The Canon M50, which is the newer of the two cameras, has the “Eye AF (autofocus)” mode that can be used only with S-AF lenses.

Similarities between the Canon M50 and M6

• Even with all the differences discussed above, these two cameras have several similarities and strengths. The similarities include;
• Similar connectivity options as they both utilize NFC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
• An articulated LCD screen of 1.040k dots resolution that facilitates the ability for users to shoot in different positions.
• They both have inbuilt flash capabilities and an external flash shoe which aids in settings with low light and in improving flash photography.
• During continuous shooting, both cameras have relatively fast shooting speeds of 9 and 10 frames per second, respectively.
• Both cameras support capturing of RAW imagery for stills which means that the image quality is much better than it would typically be.
• Both cameras had focus peaking capabilities which means they highlighted the subject that they were focused on.

Downsides of the Canon M50 and M6

Before deciding on your camera of choice, there are some disadvantages that we felt needed highlighting so users could be fully aware of them. Just like the cameras had some notable similarities, we noted several similar disadvantages between them.
The first one being that both cameras lacked in-body stabilization which means that users would experience camera shakes when shooting at slower shutter speeds.

Secondly, the cameras were not adequately sealed for shooting in harsh weather conditions. Finally, the cameras had only one card slot, which meant that users did not have as much storage flexibility as they would with cameras that had two card slots.

Final Thoughts

These two cameras have the same base retail price, which of course increases depending on the lens that an individual decided to choose. Depending on the lens, the M50 will likely cost more than the older M6. However, even with the additional lens cost driving up the M50’s price, I would personally opt for it as it has several advantages and feature sets that the M6 lacks. From more autofocus points to a better viewfinder, I do not need to explain why I find myself leaning in the direction of the M50. But if you are a user who may have budgetary limitations, the Canon M6 will serve the purpose. It is not a shabby device, and it will still get the job done despite the notable advantages that the M50 may have over it.