Autofocus update: v1.1.0 Firmware for EOS M6 II

After playing around a bit with the 32mm and the M6 II and the newly updated firmware courtesy of Canon UK I'm pleased to say the magic is back... Initial AF lock behaves more like it's predecessor the M5-50 (6 and 100 included which I've never shot the M100, but it should behave same), which is what I personally prefer.

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This is just an initial impression of course, however it is notably changed it's not just a placebo effect it's quite different. I'd describe it as smarter.

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I've gotten used to the M6 II how it was pre v.1.1.0, but, one shouldn't have to. Part of the special sauce of Canon is that it just does it... Colors, ergonomics, and now (Auto) autofocus is back, but, with the improvements of the M6 II with sticky tracking I gather perhaps even improved.

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I personally feel a camera should be fun, not just a tool, and with the M6 Mark II although a powerful tool, it felt more Sony-like, less fun. This definitely brings back the fun with just being able to point it at something and it magically knew what I wanted. Wonderful!

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Btw, in case you missed it, there is a note acknowledging round-about that they "fixed", I put that in quotes as they don't fess up that auto switching wasn't working between modes, but it's implied based off the note if you prefer the previous autofocus behavior to use mode 2, that presumably means it wasn't in fact switching between mode 1 and 2 as it should've pre-1.1.0 in mode 0 (the default which I didn't change), which has been my observation and one of my major complaints about the M6 Mark II and some of Harold's reasons for returning it, although I personally didn't connect the dots that was the issue, however based off the note, that sounds like the problem and based off my initial impressions, they addressed it.

https://www.canon.co.uk/support/consumer_products/products/cameras/digital_slr/eos-m6-mark-ii.html?type=important&faqdetailid=tcm:14-1901673

My guess is while they were flipping the rocks over in the AF code as a whole, they discovered the other phenomena that was fixed-fixed. Canon's support team did acknowledge they had received many complaints about AF from the new Mark II, so this isn't surprising they addressed it alongside the 24P compliant and perhaps that's what took this update so long (vs the near instant 90D 24P firmware fix).

Kudos Canon.

If for some reason I find it behaves even better or worse, I'll report back but it's pretty safe to say those who didn't like the M6 II's AF behavior in v.1.0.0-1.0.1 may want to revisit it post-1.1.0 in mode 0 which behaves like a M50 on steriods if you ask me.

Now if only they can improve the AWB behavior a smidge (sometimes skin tones come out a hair yellow requiring daylight WB to be outright specified, no biggie to post)... Granted I'm nitpicking here and that's totally fixable if you shoot RAW (you should), but hey, I can dream. If I find that's improved too, I'll report back, but that was my other it should just do it complaint that I suspect will be addressed in the R5 and M5 II if it doesn't get fixed via firmware update to the M6 II.