M6ii in 2025?

I've been looking around for a small(ish) camera to supplement my Sony RX10iv which I like a great deal but want something smaller and lighter.

Compacts are obviously a good choice (Leica DL8, Sony RX100vii or lately the new Canon V1) but all have some drawbacks, especially the lack of EVF on the V1.

An alternative is the Canon R50 with a kit lens but I've also seen recently on Amazon a M6 Mark II + EF-M 15-45mm IS STM + EVF-DC2 Black for £982 (UK) in allegedly as new condition.

In favour is the megapixel count which would allow cropping, some decent M series lenses and the ability to take off the EVF when not needed thus reducing the size.

Against is older technology and never being able to have repaired or find new lenses.

I'd add that I have zero interest in video but want an easily carried camera for general purpose (urban, landscape, people etc) and I'm happy to post-process Raws in LrC if needed although good jpegs as well would be welcome.

Is it worth considering guys, do you think,

Thanks,

John


Image of item from web

Not at that price....no, imo.

Absolutely. Pair it with an EF-M 22mm or EF-M 32mm prime (or the 11-22mm UWA zoom). There's nothing like it. I have two of them.

--
- M4M
“I ain't afraid of no noise.”

...and the sick Sigma 56/1.4

JohnNewman said:

In favour is the megapixel count which would allow cropping

Click to expand...

32 megapixels is only 1.16 times the linear resolution of 24mp.

944play said:

JohnNewman said:

In favour is the megapixel count which would allow cropping

Click to expand...

32 megapixels is only 1.16 times the linear resolution of 24mp.

Click to expand...

And 24 megapixels is only 1.16 times the linear resolution of 18mp.

--
- M4M
“I ain't afraid of no noise.”

I think there are better alternatives to the M6 Mk II in 2025 but not when combined with the EF-M 32MM F/1.4 – unless you are willing to spend a lot more money on a much larger setup. You can get this combo used for well under $1k and it’s incredible. As an added bonus, EF-M adapts well to other mounts so it’s flexible as a secondary camera that lets you experiment with all kinds of lenses. The Sigma primes are also amazing but they are available for other mounts, too, including RF. If you are not into primes, I’d get something else as the native zoom lenses are underwhelming.

Thank you all. Some useful and differing opinions (which is what I was looking for). I am still a little worried about the long term viability and the spares/repairs situation with an older model but the actual camera model is one that for some reason I’ve always overlooked.

The enthusiasm you all show for the camera demonstrates I think the fact that it has a lot of merits and, although I understand Canon probably couldn’t keep 3 different lines going once they introduced the R line, it does seem a shame it was dropped.

Thank you all again, I won’t jump straight in but I will keep it under consideration.

Regards,

John

I would be truly devastated if anything happened to my M6ii, which I have had and enjoy using since late 2019. The longest I have ever kept a camera. I upgraded from the M6 purely for the ‘Focus Bracketing’ feature which gets a fair bit of use.

My lens collection consists of the 28mm macro. 18-150. 11-22 and bought on a whim - 55-200. They all slip neatly into a modest shoulder bag with polariser, 3 spare batteries, and a couple of lens cloths. The no named bag measures 9 inches by 4½ by 5½, which this 81-yr old codger manages on a day out, without any stress. I use the DC2 viewfinder about 80% of the time. And the versatility of the 18-150 is perhaps my most used lens.

Warmest regards

Keith

JohnNewman said:

Thank you all. Some useful and differing opinions (which is what I was looking for). I am still a little worried about the long term viability and the spares/repairs situation with an older model but the actual camera model is one that for some reason I’ve always overlooked.

The enthusiasm you all show for the camera demonstrates I think the fact that it has a lot of merits and, although I understand Canon probably couldn’t keep 3 different lines going once they introduced the R line, it does seem a shame it was dropped.

Thank you all again, I won’t jump straight in but I will keep it under consideration.
Regards,

John

Click to expand...

One thing to look out for if you do get a M6 II, is a dead internal battery (the non replaceable one on the motherboard). Some say it was a bad batch, others a common issue. It's more an annoyance than anything....having to reset the time and date when changing out batteries.

I bought an M6ii in early 2023 and it was a huge mistake. I wouldn't advise buying one at any price.

The EVF is awkward and while useful in bright outdoor light, it doesn't add the same stability that a built-in EVF will because of the way it protrudes over the camera. I ended up leaving mine in the hotel room for most of the trip where I used this camera.

The sensor in my camera, which I bought new direct from Canon, is noisy compared to my older Nikon D5500 and even my Canon M200 (where I can use the same lenses for a fair comparison).

The autofocus is poor by modern standards. It's fine for still subjects. For travel, the AF was acceptable for me. For the dog park it was not, even though my dog is old and slow.

EF-M zoom lenses are lousy, soft and slow to focus. This was the killer problem for me because I bought the camera for travel photography where zooms help keep my kit flexible and compact.

The only good EF-M lenses are primes, and they are quite good, but that makes it a poor camera for travel. It's not great to have to carry multiple lenses on vacation, changing lenses while on a tour is awkward and can get you left behind, and you may not get close enough to a subject for 22. 32, or 56 mm to be enough reach), but travel is where you most want to use such a compact system. If my system isn't going to be compact, it may as well be full-featured and full-frame.

If I were buying an APS-C camera today in your apparent price range with similar portability, I'd get a Nikon Z30 or Z50 because the kit zooms are quite good and the AF in my experience is marginally better than the M6ii's (or maybe the zoom lenses are just faster to focus, but the effect is the same).

With a larger budget I'd consider Canon R50/R10 or Sony A6400/A6700 with the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 zoom or the Z50ii or Fuji X-S20 with respective kit lenses.

I usually shoot primes with my M-cameras. But this was shot with the original M6 and the EF-M 55-200mm zoom, 8 years ago:

(Btw. She was really fast.)



Learn to know your equipment I'd say.

The M6II is much faster.

--
- M4M

JohnNewman said:

I've been looking around for a small(ish) camera to supplement my Sony RX10iv which I like a great deal but want something smaller and lighter.

Compacts are obviously a good choice (Leica DL8, Sony RX100vii or lately the new Canon V1) but all have some drawbacks, especially the lack of EVF on the V1.

An alternative is the Canon R50 with a kit lens but I've also seen recently on Amazon a M6 Mark II + EF-M 15-45mm IS STM + EVF-DC2 Black for £982 (UK) in allegedly as new condition.

Click to expand...

For that kind of money, there are multiple options available that are brand new, with a kit lens, and with a warranty. Canon, Fuji, Nikon, and Sony all have multiple bodies to choose from. If the M6 II were half that price, it might be worthwhile, but £982 is basically what they went for new 6 years ago. On top of this, the 15-45mm does not have a stellar track record. Good copies are decent, but there are a lot bad copies. If this kit has one of the numerous bad copies, you are pretty much stuck returning everything.

Basically, too expensive, too much risk, and too many other new options for the same money.

For the money and looking for a very capable compact camera, consider the OM 5 and the excellent Oly 12-45 f4 pro lens. May still be on sale or consider used. The m4/3 sensor gets a bad rap with FF fixations. Unless you’re making very big prints or shooting fast action in low light, you should be fine. Plus there is wide selection of lenses for every need.
greg

Would you buy one new for $769?

Definitely some attractions in getting all those in one package (and this does sound quite a good example) - but I do see that Wex for example are selling the pieces separately - with currently three 9+ rated M6 IIs, one EVF-DC2, and three 15-45 lenses.

Think you'd be able to throw in their one 11-22mm, and still have enough left to get a bag for the same money?

Peter

PS Still kicking myself for not spending £450 - I think it was - some 18 months ago (just before prices started to recover) for this Mk1 M6 with kit lens and EVF from London Camera Exchange..

nnowak said:

JohnNewman said:

I've been looking around for a small(ish) camera to supplement my Sony RX10iv which I like a great deal but want something smaller and lighter.

Compacts are obviously a good choice (Leica DL8, Sony RX100vii or lately the new Canon V1) but all have some drawbacks, especially the lack of EVF on the V1.

An alternative is the Canon R50 with a kit lens but I've also seen recently on Amazon a M6 Mark II + EF-M 15-45mm IS STM + EVF-DC2 Black for £982 (UK) in allegedly as new condition.

Click to expand...

For that kind of money, there are multiple options available that are brand new, with a kit lens, and with a warranty. Canon, Fuji, Nikon, and Sony all have multiple bodies to choose from. If the M6 II were half that price, it might be worthwhile, but £982 is basically what they went for new 6 years ago.

Click to expand...

It goes for around $800 on MPB in like new condition. Body only. The EVF-DC2 seems to be hard to find (especially in my part of the world). That has to be taken into consideration.

nnowak said:

On top of this, the 15-45mm does not have a stellar track record. Good copies are decent, but there are a lot bad copies.

Click to expand...

Not "a lot" when considering how many that are sold worldwide in kits etc. I have had 5 (still have 4) good copies.

nnowak said:

If this kit has one of the numerous bad copies, you are pretty much stuck returning everything.

Click to expand...

Exaggerating a lot as usual.

Very little chance as I see it. About the same chance as with every "cheep" kit lens from other manufacturers.

nnowak said:

Basically, too expensive, too much risk, and too many other new options for the same money.

Click to expand...

No risk if the seller has a good return policy. I would buy any camera if the seller didn't have that.

--
- M4M

Took me quite a while to get the "details" on the listing of that M6 II to appear - but the vendor writes that there have been no shots taken at all...



Peter

M4Mobility said:

944play said:

JohnNewman said:

In favour is the megapixel count which would allow cropping

Click to expand...

32 megapixels is only 1.16 times the linear resolution of 24mp.

Click to expand...

And 24 megapixels is only 1.16 times the linear resolution of 18mp.

Click to expand...

Yup, and you can keep doing this until you get to justifying a 1Mp camera - LOL ..

Fact is that 32Mp offers a very usable increase over 24Mp for crops (it`s 8 more Mp if you take 8Mp away from 4K Video you have nothing ) and the 24Mp sensor in the R10/R50 is no better than the one in the M50 Mk1 or 2 for image quality so think of the M6-II like a kind of Pocketable R7 as far as IQ is concerned . just keep well away from the 15-45 kit lens ..

--
** Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist **

I wasn't trying to justify anything.. I was just pointing out that the jump in linear resolution was exactly the same from 18MP to 24MP as it was from 24MP to 32MP.

The M6 II is still very good (and fun ), but not necessarily because of the megapixels. (IMO)

- M4M