Upgrading my M5

My main camera right now is a Nikon Z6 which I love with all my heart. However, I've been looking recently for a more portable camera which I can carry around daily. A couple of weeks I temporarily went crazy and decided to trade in my Canon M5 + EF-M 15–45 + EF-M 55–200 in order to get either a Ricoh GR iii or a Fuji X100V. Fortunately, when the shop assistant saw my gear, he immediately suggested I save money and get an EF-M 22 prime lens hinting that I might even lose in quality if I go for either of the other two cameras.

Well, as many people here might know, the gear buying obsession does not leave that easily. Today I saw a great promotion in one of the local stores, and for about $650 I can replace my Canon M5 body with Canon M6 mark II + EVF while keeping all the glass (actually, I would even exchange my EF-M 15–45 for a new one).

Here comes the question: has anyone upgraded from M5 to M6 mark II. What are your impressions?

Has anyone upgraded from M5 to either Fuji X100V or XS-10? The latter looks like an interesting small camera.

I can’t speak to the M5, but I have the M6II, viewfinder, 18-150 and 11-22. And I’ve been a Fujifilm user since the S1.

While I love the compactness, light weight, and ergonomics of the M6II, it’s the Fujifilm color and shooting experience of the build quality that keeps me circling back. It just feels 20% more solid with a Swiss watch-like precision. Perhaps it’s just the shutter sound.

Anyway, I have a couple of XT3 bodies that are my main cameras, and the M6II is my current light weight option. I’ve pre-ordered an XE4 and will compare it head to head with the M6II as my travel camera. So I hope to know more in a couple of months.

I never had the M5, but do have the M, M6, and M6II, so I can speak to the upgrade from the M6 to M6II. The IQ and AF on the M6 are similar to the M5. It's the same sensor, and the AF might be slightly upgraded on the M6 (released a bit after the M5). Everything about the M6II is better than the M6, and in some cases significantly better. The sensor is better, especially at high ISO. The AF is hugely better. The eye AF is a joy to use, and the tracking is excellent. You also get 14fps, which is amazing. It's a much snappier camera to operate. I think you will see it as a big upgrade from the M5. If you are used to having a built-in EVF, it might take a bit of getting used to. I actually prefer having the option of not having the EVF mounted at all. I only use it with longer lenses, so most of my shooting is done with fast primes, using just the LCD. I find it makes for better framing. It's also easier to get candid shots of people, because you don't have to have the camera up to your eye. I find that people will act much more naturally, even if they know I'm taking pictures, if the camera isn't held up in front of my face. Of course you can shoot like this with a camera with built-in EVF too, but it comes more naturally when you don't have the option of looking through the EVF. The detachable EVF is so small and light that you can always have it with you, even if you're not likely to mount it.

GreatOceanSoftware wrote:

Anyway, I have a couple of XT3 bodies that are my main cameras, and the M6II is my current light weight option. I’ve pre-ordered an XE4 and will compare it head to head with the M6II as my travel camera. So I hope to know more in a couple of months.

X-E4 + 27mm f2.8 looks very interesting, thank you!

DrivedCat wrote:

My main camera right now is a Nikon Z6 which I love with all my heart. However, I've been looking recently for a more portable camera which I can carry around daily. A couple of weeks I temporarily went crazy and decided to trade in my Canon M5 + EF-M 15–45 + EF-M 55–200 in order to get either a Ricoh GR iii or a Fuji X100V. Fortunately, when the shop assistant saw my gear, he immediately suggested I save money and get an EF-M 22 prime lens hinting that I might even lose in quality if I go for either of the other two cameras.

Well, as many people here might know, the gear buying obsession does not leave that easily. Today I saw a great promotion in one of the local stores, and for about $650 I can replace my Canon M5 body with Canon M6 mark II + EVF while keeping all the glass (actually, I would even exchange my EF-M 15–45 for a new one).

Here comes the question: has anyone upgraded from M5 to M6 mark II. What are your impressions?

Has anyone upgraded from M5 to either Fuji X100V or XS-10? The latter looks like an interesting small camera.

Since you have the Z6, it doesn't really make too much sense to have all the M gear unless you use them all?

Since you mentioned both Ricoh GR & x100v, what's your preferred focal length? These are both great cameras but quite different.

What's your goal? If you're looking for a compact setup to compliment your Z6 then the M6ii +22mm is a good option if you don't mind the removable evf, it's a big improvement over the M5.

The alternative to this is the X100V ...with similar focal length but more compact with WR, built in evf/ovf, leaf shutter, built in 4 stop ND filter, Fujis film simulations, in camera editing of raw files. I have this camera & I have previously owned the M6ii. If you don't need another interchangeable lens camera then the X100V is a great companion to your existing Z6 setup.

Ricoh is even more compact & very pocketable but have a wider focal length.

X-S10 is an excellent value camera with ibis but not sure if that's what you are looking for?

So there is no bad choice but you really need to think what purpose it will serve for you. 🤔

I did not upgrade from the M5 because I kept it when I got my M6ii but I can talk to both. Love the m6ii. Auto focus, sensor, build quality, image quality (sensor again) all better than the M5. I kept the M5 as I do a woodworking YouTube channel and use it in the woodshop  for video. The M6ii is now my stills shooter in the M lineup. By far the best camera in the lineup....

nnowak wrote:

DrivedCat wrote:

However, I've been looking recently for a more portable camera which I can carry around daily.

Ok, so your mine drive to a new camera is primarily size and compactness, not lack of IQ or AF capabilities.

A couple of weeks I temporarily went crazy and decided to trade in my Canon M5 + EF-M 15–45 + EF-M 55–200 in order to get either a Ricoh GR iii or a Fuji X100V. Fortunately, when the shop assistant saw my gear, he immediately suggested I save money and get an EF-M 22 prime

That is in fact an excellent suggestion. The 22mm will make your M5 much more compact and also improve IQ (prime lens) and low light AF capabiliies (fas lens) as well as allow for a little bit of bokeh if shot wide open.

lens hinting that I might even lose in quality if I go for either of the other two cameras.

I don't think you will gain anything significant in IQ. Unless you need optical viewfinder (Fuji x100v) or want really small (ricoh). Af in the X100 is less good than you think bc the lens is not internally focused.

DrivedCat wrote:

GreatOceanSoftware wrote:

Anyway, I have a couple of XT3 bodies that are my main cameras, and the M6II is my current light weight option. I’ve pre-ordered an XE4 and will compare it head to head with the M6II as my travel camera. So I hope to know more in a couple of months.

X-E4 + 27mm f2.8 looks very interesting, thank you!

M100 or M200 with the 22mm is in fact smaller than the xe4 + 27mm

Another reason to follow the advice of the camera store to get the 22mm prime.

That is very valuable, thank you. One of the things that I like about M5 (which translates to M6 mII) is the ability to focus by moving the thumb on the touch screen.

nnowak wrote:

Given your love of your Z6, is there some reason you are not also considering the Nikon Z50? Once you add the kit zoom, there is very little size or weight difference between the M6 II and Z50. Going with the Z50 would keep all controls similar and allow for sharing of lenses. Your Z 50mm f/1.8 would make a great portrait lens on the Z50.

That is actually a great suggestion. I'll go look at it in the shop and ask around

Has anyone upgraded from M5 to either Fuji X100V or XS-10? The latter looks like an interesting small camera.

This would be a better question in the Fuji forum as there are quite a few people over there that have moved from Canon to Fuji.

On a more basic level, you are considering the Canon M6 II, Ricoh GR III, Fuji X100V, and Fuji X-S10. This is a pretty wide spectrum of cameras with significant differences. Before you buy anything, it sounds like you might need to do a bit more self examination of what you are looking for and what photographic problem you are hoping to solve. How and where will this new camera be used instead of your Z6? Nikon has a couple of pancake primes on their Z roadmap. Would one of these smaller lenses on your Z6 be a better option than another camera? Or, maybe the tiny Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 zoom?

I've given it a thought. Having something small and light that I can grab to take a picture of my infant son is one thing. A bit of street photography is another one. I'm not ready to limit myself yet, so I've reduced the options to either Z50 (dropping Canon all together) or M6 mII.

allineedislight wrote:

Another reason to follow the advice of the camera store to get the 22mm prime.

I did get it. What I'm trying to do now is to replace my M5 with something that focuses better.

Bolothegreat wrote:

Since you mentioned both Ricoh GR & x100v, what's your preferred focal length? These are both great cameras but quite different.

I watched a video on this very comparison last week. Came to the same conclusion. Both great cameras but quite different.

GRIII - very compact (pocketable), wider lens, svelte styling.

X100V - quite a bit bigger (not pocketable), tighter crop, viewfinder and possible more beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZf4z69EMqY

Bolothegreat wrote:

Since you have the Z6, it doesn't really make too much sense to have all the M gear unless you use them all?

That's another hint towards either a fixed lens camera / Z50. Noted.

Since you mentioned both Ricoh GR & x100v, what's your preferred focal length? These are both great cameras but quite different.

I rarely go below 35mm FF.

What's your goal? If you're looking for a compact setup to compliment your Z6 then the M6ii +22mm is a good option if you don't mind the removable evf, it's a big improvement over the M5.

This is my goal indeed.

The alternative to this is the X100V ...with similar focal length but more compact with WR, built in evf/ovf, leaf shutter, built in 4 stop ND filter, Fujis film simulations, in camera editing of raw files. I have this camera & I have previously owned the M6ii. If you don't need another interchangeable lens camera then the X100V is a great companion to your existing Z6 setup.

Everyone seems to love X100V. Out of curiosity, what is your opinion on its autofocus? The more I think about it, the less I'm ready to invest into a fixed lens camera at this moment. Even if it is pocketable. I've been trying to get back into photography only recently and I should indeed try and answer some fundamental questions before I commit to something that specific.

photomangriz wrote:

I did not upgrade from the M5 because I kept it when I got my M6ii but I can talk to both. Love the m6ii. Auto focus, sensor, build quality, image quality (sensor again) all better than the M5. I kept the M5 as I do a woodworking YouTube channel and use it in the woodshop for video. The M6ii is now my stills shooter in the M lineup. By far the best camera in the lineup....

Thank you, a valuable comment!

Welcome to the Forum!

I shot with the M5 for two years.  Loved it.  It was sheer pleasure getting away from my big DSLRs, but as you noted the autofocus was not the best, especially in low light.

I've been shooting with the M6 Mark II for 2 1/2 years now, and as the others have written, the autofocus is like night and day better.  I'm confident that I can shoot darn near anything with the M6ii (and I have!  ).  Here's a previous thread with some good info that may help (follow the other links in that thread for more examples)...

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64108171

The best thing to do is see if you can actually play with the cameras before purchasing.  They all handle and operate differently.  Also, you might head over to CameraSize.com to help visualize the size differences.  Here's a couple examples...

Z6 on the left, then Z50, and M6ii on the right.  The M200 is even smaller.

The differences in size become pretty stark when you look at the cameras from other angles.

Not sure which lenses interest you, but I threw on a couple of primes that CameraSize had available.

Best of luck in your quest!

Holler back with any questions,

R2

DrivedCat wrote:

That is very valuable, thank you. One of the things that I like about M5 (which translates to M6 mII) is the ability to focus by moving the thumb on the touch screen.

Yes, that was the only feature of the M5 that I missed in the M6. I almost chose the M5 over the M6 just for that. I was very glad that Canon put it in the M6II.

Excellent info, as always, R2, but one small correction. You haven’t been shooting with the M6II for 2 1/2 years. It came out 1 1/2 years ago. I got mine as soon as it was available. I know the last year feels like two, though!

I had the M5 and M, M3 and M6. I moved to Fuji and have various cameras including the XE3 and X100v.

the xe3 (or xe4) are smaller and a similar size to the M5 albeit rangefinder. Really nice cameras. Great ergonomics. Although it takes a while to transition to the Fuji way of doing things. With the 18mm or 27mm it’s v compact. Plus there is a new and improves 27mm

the X100v is another story all together. Beautifully made with great features although the fixed focal length might not suit some. Plus it’s expensive.

both are great