Potato Jet’s review below shows the M6II video looking amazing!
I’m not a video guy so here’s my initial thoughts having the camera for a week. The camera looks like a winner and brings order to the M lineup. The M50 struck me as an odd camera since I would probably buy it over both the M5 and M6 so the line doesn’t make sense. A M200 ($549), M50 ($649), M6 Mark II ($849 body) makes much more sense price and feature set wise.
What most reviews exclude is that the sensor may hopefully hint that Canon will launch some L series or just more EF-M lenses of high quality like the 22 F.2.0, 28 F/2.8, and 32 F/1.4. This would be an amazing development over the next few years. Sigma is also shipping three EF-M mount lenses.
It makes sense that the camera with a higher resolution sensor would come first and then the lenses that take advantage of that resolution afterwards though Canon has done the opposite with the R bodies and RF lenses.
Pros:
- Same battery as the EOS RP and M3, M5, M6
- MF/AF switch. Didn’t expect Canon to add this since the AF/MF switch is on the rear dial at 9:00 o’clock on the M3 and M50
- Rear AF button
- Higher resolution sensor
- Metal knurled rear dial. The one feature I hate about the M50 is the plastic rear dial is actually a plastic D pad controller.
- $849 price is very competitive with Fuji XT-30 ($800) and Sony A6400 ($898) and only $70 more than the M6 was when it launched in 2017.
- Ergonomics. Grip is bigger than an M3 or M50 and feels better to my hand.
- UI – excellent
- Focus Stacking! (I need to test this out and will add it here or in the macro page)
- Image Quality – Will compare to RP and update soon
Neutral:
- The video lacks 24p. The lack of 24p is a strategic omission, though Canon has announced they will add it in a 2020 firmware update. Why wasn’t it included at launch? At least they plan on fixing. It’s fixed in April 2020 so download the firmware upgrade.
- The buffer filling up and the camera being locked up until it clears has always been an issue with the M line. It was more acute with the M5 and M6 since they advertised 9 FPS, but they didn’t say for only 1-2 seconds. Users find this out the hard way. So at this price point this is what we can expect from an M camera. I’ll test out and update.
Cons:
- None so far. I need to shoot it more.
Competition:
The Fuji XT-30 and Sony A6400 are both $800 and $900 so at the same price point, but the Fuji lenses are much more expensive, full frame expensive. The 32.5MP sensor would also indicate a focus on the stills market.
Notes:
MSRP of the M5 $979 in Sept 2016. The M6 $779 in Feb 2017. The M50 $779 in Feb 2018. The M6II in Sept 2019 was $849. In September 2019 the Amazon and bandh prices are M5 $679, M6 $579, M50 $629. The M6II is priced reasonably since it’s only $70 more than the M6 at launch yet has significant upgrades to the UI and sensor. Canon refurbished has some great deals in Sept 2019, $440 for the M5 or M6 and $464 for the M50.
