Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon EOS M6: A Deep Dive Comparison for Photographers in 2024

In the dynamic world of digital photography, choosing the right camera is both exhilarating and challenging. Canon’s storied lineup offers options spanning from classic DSLRs to cutting-edge mirrorless models, reflecting the brand’s evolution over the past decade. Today, we scrutinize two distinct cameras released eight years apart - the venerable Canon EOS 5D Mark II (5D MII) DSLR from 2009 and the modern Canon EOS M6 mirrorless model introduced in 2017. Both hold strong reputations but serve differing photographer needs and styles.

Having thoroughly tested thousands of cameras across genres, my goal here is to provide a meticulous, experience-backed comparison that cuts through marketing hype. We’ll evaluate their core technologies, real-life performance, and suitability across photographic disciplines – from portraiture to wildlife, landscapes to video – so you can match your purchase to your creative priorities and budget.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

The very first tactile experience with a camera plays a significant role in long shooting sessions or travel. The Canon 5D Mark II, as a full-frame DSLR, boasts a robust mid-sized SLR body characteristic of professional cameras from its era. In contrast, the Canon EOS M6 is a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless camera tailor-made for portability and casual daily use.

Seen here, the stark contrast in physical size is apparent. The 5D MII’s heft and pronounced grip signal durability and extended handling comfort, while the M6’s light and modest dimensions aim at discreteness and travel-friendliness.

Ergonomics and Controls

The 5D MII features a substantial grip, a traditional DSLR mock optical viewfinder with 98% coverage, and a well-spaced control layout designed for one-handed operation - crucial for speedy reaction in dynamic shooting. The M6, lacking an integrated viewfinder by default, relies on a tilting touchscreen (3.0-inch, 1040k-dot resolution) for framing, which is more intuitive but may lag behind in bright outdoor conditions.

From personal experience, the 5D MII ergonomics excel for photographers who prefer tactile dials and buttons, offering direct access to shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation without menu diving. The M6’s mirrorless system incorporates touch and digital menus, favoring users accustomed to smartphones but potentially slowing those accustomed to DSLR-style muscle memory.

Here, a side-by-side look reveals the 5D MII’s physical dials and dedicated buttons versus the M6’s streamlined controls, necessitating programmable buttons and touchscreen navigation for some functions.

Imaging Hardware: Sensors and Image Quality Breakdown

A camera’s sensor is the heart of its imaging capabilities, impacting dynamic range, resolution, noise handling, and color fidelity. Let’s explore how these two Canons compare in this vital domain.

Sensor Size and Resolution

• Canon 5D Mark II: Full-frame CMOS (36x24 mm, 21 MP)
• Canon EOS M6: APS-C CMOS (22.3x14.9 mm, 24.2 MP)

The 5D Mark II’s full-frame sensor offers approximately 864 mm² of photosensitive area, significantly larger than the M6’s APS-C sensor (~332 mm²). Larger sensors provide better low-light performance, wider dynamic range, and shallower depth of field, all critical for professional image results.

The M6’s higher resolution (24 MP vs 21 MP) adds detail, but the smaller sensor size means pixels are correspondingly smaller, impacting noise handling.

Dynamic Range and Color Depth

DxOMark scores (which I use as a standardized lab metric) rate the 5D MII at 11.9 stops dynamic range and 23.7 bits color depth, whereas the M6 slightly outperforms the 5D MII in dynamic range at 12.6 stops but scores marginally lower in color depth (23.4 bits). The M6’s advanced DIGIC 7 processor contributes to its improved dynamic range despite the smaller sensor.

Low-Light Performance

At base ISO 100, both cameras deliver clean files, but the 5D MII retains usable image quality up to ISO ~1815 equivalent, notably better than the M6’s rating near 1317 ISO. This underlines the advantage of a physically larger sensor when shooting in dim conditions without resorting to heavy noise reduction, which can degrade sharpness.

User Interface and Preview: Screens and Viewfinders

Screen size, resolution, and the type of viewfinder significantly influence framing accuracy and image review comfort.

• Canon 5D Mark II: Fixed 3.0-inch TFT LCD with 920k-dot resolution; optical pentaprism viewfinder with 98% frame coverage and 0.71x magnification, no EVF.
• Canon EOS M6: 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen with 1040k-dot resolution; optional electronic viewfinder accessory.

The M6's touchscreen offers significant advantages in menu navigation and touch-to-focus functionality. Its flip capability especially benefits videographers and vloggers. Conversely, the 5D MII optical viewfinder offers a real-time, lag-free framing experience preferred by many professionals, although its 98% coverage means slight framing adjustments are advisable to compensate for the margins.

Autofocus Systems: Precision, Speed, and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) performance often differentiates cameras in fast-paced applications.

Canon 5D Mark II AF Mechanics

The 5D MII uses a 9-point AF system with all points selectable and center point cross-type for accuracy, relying on phase detection sensors for quick acquisition. For Live View, it switches to contrast-detection AF, which is inherently slower.

Canon EOS M6 AF Mechanics

Equipped with a hybrid AF system using 49 AF points (all phase-detection), the M6 provides faster, more reliable AF in mirrorless Live View modes and continuous tracking including face detection and touch AF.

This makes the M6 superior for action photography requiring consistent subject lock, though the 5D MII still performs admirably in traditional viewfinder AF modes. However, the M6’s smaller lens ecosystem (only 23 native EF-M lenses) compared to the extensive 250+ EF lenses compatible with the 5D MII is a factor when pairing with telephotos particularly for wildlife and sports.

Real-World Testing Across Photography Genres

The true test of a camera’s capability is not just on paper but in varied shooting conditions. Here is how each camera fares across major photographic disciplines.

Portrait Photography

• 5D Mark II: The full-frame sensor shines in delivering smooth gradations of skin tones and superior control over shallow depth of field, yielding creamy bokeh with bright, fast EF lenses like the 85mm f/1.2. The 9-point AF with face detection supports accurate eye-focus in good light, though less sophisticated than modern eye-AF algorithms.
• M6: While the APS-C sensor limits bokeh potential, the camera’s face-detection autofocus with touch-focus makes focusing on eyes simpler for beginners. The high-resolution and DIGIC 7 processor assist in processing pleasing skin tones.

Landscape Photography

• 5D MII offers higher dynamic range in certain mid ISOs and the full-frame sensor’s area yields images with less diffraction impact at smaller apertures, ideal for landscapes requiring edge-to-edge sharpness. Its weather sealing also provides confidence shooting in challenging environments.
• M6 performs respectably but limited by smaller sensor size and lack of weather sealing meaning photographers working in inclement conditions will prefer the 5D MII.

Wildlife Photography

• The 5D MII benefits from compatibility with Canon’s massive EF telephoto lens lineup, critical for reach and autofocus performance. However, 4 fps burst is borderline slow for fast action.
• The M6 has faster 9 fps continuous shooting but lenses with longer focal lengths are fewer and usually less specialized. AF tracking is smoother on the M6 thanks to hybrid phase detection.

Sports Photography

• 5D MII: 4 fps shooting and 9-point AF was competitive in 2009 but now limiting for high-speed sports action.
• M6: Offers 9 fps burst and superior autofocus tracking, a distinct advantage for amateur and enthusiast sports shooters.

Street Photography

The M6’s compact and lightweight design wins hands down, enabling discreet shooting and portability critical for street photographers. The flip touchscreen adds creative framing options. The 5D MII’s bulk and shutter noise may be intrusive.

Macro Photography

Both require specialized lenses; however, the 5D Mark II’s full-frame sensor helps reduce depth-of-field challenges allowing for better subject isolation, while the M6 lacks sensor-shift stabilization or advanced focus stacking which could be limiting.

Night and Astrophotography

With better noise control at high ISOs and a full-frame sensor, the 5D Mark II is preferred for astrophotography, supplemented by manual control modes and long exposures up to 30 seconds. The M6’s smaller sensor and higher noise at elevated ISOs make it less ideal.

Video Capabilities

• Canon 5D Mark II was groundbreaking as one of the first DSLRs to offer full 1080p video at 30 fps using H.264 codec. It supports an external microphone port but lacks advanced video features like slow-motion or 4K.
• Canon M6 improves video specs with 1080p at 60fps, built-in stabilization, microphone port, and a tiltable touchscreen for vloggers. However, it still lacks 4K recording despite being much newer.

Travel Photography

The M6’s compact size, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and lighter weight (390g vs. 850g) make it significantly more travel-friendly. Battery life does favor the 5D MII (~850 shots vs 295 shots per charge), a consideration for extended trips without frequent charging.

Professional Use and Workflow

The 5D MII supports full RAW files, robust external flash control, rugged weather-sealed build, and compatibility with Canon’s extensive lens system, making it suitable as a backup or complementary professional tool despite newer models existing today. The M6 targets enthusiasts and content creators with its user-friendly digital interface.

Build Quality, Battery & Connectivity: Practical Considerations

The 5D MII’s magnesium alloy body with environmental sealing offers resilience for pro use. The M6, while solid, is plastic-constructed and lacks such durability features.

Battery life is a stark differentiator - 850 shots per charge on the 5D Mark II versus only 295 shots on the M6, a known limitation for mirrorless cameras that added weight to my recommendation for travel or event shooters to carry spares.

Connectivity-wise, the M6 supports native Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC for seamless sharing - an advantage for social media-minded users - whereas the 5D MII is limited to USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs only.

Lens Ecosystem and Expansion

Lens availability can make or break the photographic experience. The 5D MII’s Canon EF mount is highly mature with over 250 lenses including a plethora of professional telephotos, primes, tilt-shifts, and specialty optics.

The M6’s EF-M mount offers only 23 lenses natively, mainly consumer zooms and primes. While EF lenses can be adapted via an optional adapter, this adds size and reduces system compactness.

Performance Scores and Summary of Technical Metrics

Both cameras rank similarly in overall technical imaging quality albeit with nuances - the 5D Mark II excels in low-light and durability; the M6 edges out in dynamic range and autofocus sophistication.

This genre-specific breakdown illustrates the 5D MII’s strengths in portrait, landscape, and pro workflows versus the M6’s edge in street, sports, and travel photography.

Sample Image Gallery

Canon 5D MII screen back Canon M6 front Canon M6 screen back

Viewing these sample images underscores the real-world differences: the 5D MII’s creamy full-frame rendering vs the crisp, vibrant but slightly noisier APS-C output from the M6. Both have their place depending on artistic and project priorities.

Verdict: Which Canon Camera Best Serves Your Needs?

In framing your decision between the Canon 5D Mark II and Canon EOS M6, consider the following:

Choose the Canon 5D Mark II if you:

• Seek durable, professional-grade build with environmental sealing
• Require superior full-frame image quality, especially for portraits, landscapes, and low light
• Already own or plan to invest in Canon EF lenses
• Value longer battery life for extended sessions or travel
• Prioritize optical viewfinder and classic DSLR controls
• Need robust flash and pro workflow options

Opt for the Canon EOS M6 if you:

• Desire a compact, lightweight camera for travel, street, or casual shooting
• Need fast autofocus with touch and face detection for dynamic subjects
• Are engaged in video creation with 1080p at 60fps and flip touchscreen usability
• Favor wireless connectivity features for instant sharing and remote control
• Are entering photography enthusiasts who value portability and ease-of-use

Final Thoughts

While the 5D Mark II may be aging in some specs and lacking mirrorless conveniences, it remains a formidable tool beloved by many professionals for image quality and reliability. The EOS M6, meanwhile, represents Canon’s push into accessible, technology-forward mirrorless systems with features welcoming to the social media generation.

Ultimately, your investment should align with your photographic goals, budget, accessory ecosystem, and workflow - both cameras excel but answer very different creative calls. Judging from rigourous hands-on evaluations and technical assessments, the 5D Mark II remains a stellar choice for full-frame aficionados and seasoned photographers, whereas the M6 fosters agility and smart usability for modern enthusiasts and content creators.

Choosing either means joining a broad Canon lineage built on imaging innovation and creative expression.

For further details on technical specifications, recommended lenses, and workflow integration tips, please consult our expanded resources and hands-on reviews.