Canon EOS M100 vs Canon EOS M6 Mark II: A Hands-On Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

When diving into the realm of Canon mirrorless cameras, two models often come up for debate: the entry-level Canon EOS M100 and the more advanced Canon EOS M6 Mark II. Between these two, there’s quite a gulf of features, performance, and price - but which one truly fits your photography style and aspirations? Having spent years testing Canon’s mirrorless line and pushing their products through real-world shooting scenarios, I’m excited to unpack everything you need to know about these popular APS-C shooters.

Let’s embark on a comprehensive exploration - from body ergonomics to sensor tech, autofocus prowess, image quality, and beyond - so you can confidently decide which Canon mirrorless suits your needs.

Feeling the Cameras in Hand: Size, Weight & Ergonomics

Before digging into specs, I always start with the physical experience - because a camera’s handling profoundly shapes your shooting comfort and creativity.

Here’s where these two Canon EOS M-series models part ways:

The Canon M100 is a compact, lightweight body at just 302 grams and dimensions of roughly 108x67x35mm. It feels slim and unobtrusive - perfect for travelers or street photographers who want a stealthy setup without fuss. However, it lacks any built-in viewfinder, leaning on its ample tilting touchscreen for composition.

Meanwhile, the M6 Mark II is noticeably larger and heavier at 408 grams, with a beefier handgrip and more substantial build (120x70x49mm). This gives a more assured grip for extended sessions but might be a bit bulky for pocketable candid shooting. The M6 Mark II also offers an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF), elevating its usability in bright outdoor conditions or traditional framing enthusiasts.

Ergonomics-wise, the M6 Mark II steps up with more physical controls - dials and customizable buttons - supporting fast manual adjustments without digging through menus. The M100 keeps things simple: fewer buttons and no top display, nudging beginners to rely on touchscreen interfaces.

If I’m on a fast-paced shoot, the M6 Mark II’s controls and EVF make a tangible difference. For casual outings and learning users, the M100’s lightweight charm and user-friendly touchscreen pull ahead.

A First Look at the Control Layout and Screens

Continuing with design, how a camera presents controls and feedback influences shooting flow, especially under changing conditions.

You can see the distinct control philosophies when viewing the top plates:

The M100 sticks with a basic mode dial and shutter button, minimalistic and intuitive. The M6 Mark II adds in dual dials - one for exposure compensation and another dedicated to aperture/shutter speed control in manual modes - allowing seasoned shooters to finesse exposure settings in moments. The EVF placement and integral flash also grant the M6 Mark II added flexibility for various lighting and framing scenarios.

Now, turn around to the rear and both cameras impress with 3-inch tilting touchscreens at 1040k resolution, equally responsive to touch, but with a significant functional gap:

The M100’s screen tilts upwards for selfies and low angles but doesn’t rotate fully forward. The M6 Mark II’s screen adds more articulation, capable of tilting and swivel functionality, enabling vloggers or front-facing compositions. There’s also the optional electronic viewfinder on the M6 Mark II for those preferring eye-level composition - absent on the M100.

From a usability standpoint, the M6 Mark II’s extra controls and EVF ready configuration suggest a camera targeted at a more demanding user who values speed and precision.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: APS-C Powerhouses Compared

Both cameras boast APS-C sized sensors measuring the same 22.3 x 14.9mm; however, the similarities end there:

• Canon M100: 24 MP CMOS, DIGIC 7 processor, ISO range 100-25600, with an optical low-pass (anti-alias) filter
• Canon M6 Mark II: 32.5 MP CMOS, DIGIC 8 processor, ISO range 100-25600 (expandable to 51200), also with an anti-alias filter

This increase in pixels brings a tangible leap in resolution for the M6 Mark II, resulting in roughly 30% more detail at base ISO. In my hands-on testing, images from the M6 Mark II exhibit greater sharpness and finer texture rendition, beneficial for large prints, cropping flexibility, or landscape work.

Dynamic range is another crucial metric, especially for landscapes - shadows and highlights revealing subtle gradations. The M100’s DXOmark score predicts a slight edge in dynamic range around 13 stops, competitive for an entry-level camera. While the M6 Mark II hasn't been officially scored by DXOmark yet, Canon’s DIGIC 8 combined with a newer sensor design shows improved noise handling at higher ISOs, so expect better low light performance and effective dynamic range in practice.

In real-world shooting, the M100 holds up well in good lighting scenarios but struggles slightly at ISO 1600 and beyond, with noticeable noise and reduced detail. The M6 Mark II lets you push ISO 3200 and even 6400 with relatively cleaner files - valuable for event photography or dim environments.

Autofocus: Sharp, Fast, and Reliable?

Autofocus performance is often a dealbreaker. Neither camera offers Canon’s eye-tracking AI autofocus or animal eye detection - understandable given their price range - but both provide capable phase-detection AF systems on their APS-C sensors.

Key points:

• Canon M100: 49 focus points, hybrid AF (phase + contrast detection), face detection, touch AF on screen, 6.1 fps burst
• Canon M6 Mark II: 143 focus points, phase AF only (no contrast detection), enhanced face detection, touch AF, 14 fps burst

The M6 Mark II’s dramatically increased AF points and doubling of continuous frame rate reveal Canon’s tech refinements. In my wildlife and sports trials, the M6 Mark II tracked moving subjects more confidently and locked focus more swiftly in complex scenes. The faster burst supports capturing split-second action, whereas the M100’s 6 fps is adequate for casual usage but less useful when the pace picks up.

Touch AF on the M100 pairs nicely with its selfie tilting screen, supporting simple focus selection and re-composition. But enthusiasts moving into demanding subjects will appreciate the M6 Mark II’s more extensive AF coverage and rapid response.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

How do these cameras fare in specific use cases? Let’s break them down by types of photography enthusiasts often explore.

Portrait Photography

• Canon M100: The 24 MP sensor offers pleasing skin tones, aided by Canon’s famed color science. The built-in flash is decent for fill light, but no Eye AF means focusing relies on face detection and manual tweaks. Bokeh can be lovely with fast EF-M lenses but camera-driven background separation is basic.

• Canon M6 Mark II: The higher resolution (32.5 MP) captures facial detail extraordinarily well. Enlarged AF point array helps lock focus on eyes accurately, valuable for portraits. Enhanced exposure controls and RAW support enable fine-tuning skin tones in post. The optional EVF assists in more traditional portrait compositions.

Landscape Photography

• M100: Solid dynamic range and decent resolution, but you’ll miss the finer detail for large prints.
• M6 Mark II: Larger megapixel count shines for landscapes; crisp textures on rocks, foliage, and sky. The camera’s lack of weather sealing means you should pack protective gear for adverse conditions.

Wildlife Photography

• M100: AF struggles in fast or erratic movements; decent for beginner birders but won’t keep pace with rapid flight.
• M6 Mark II: Faster AF, higher burst speed, and greater AF coverage significantly improve chances of sharp shots in flight or rapid movements.

Sports Photography

• M100: 6 fps buffer limits capturing peak action.
• M6 Mark II: 14 fps burst, fast AF acquisition, and wider AF area mirror some higher-end cameras, making it usable for amateur sports shooters.

Street Photography

• M100: Compact size and unobtrusive design excel in candid street work.
• M6 Mark II: Bulkier and heavier which could be a deterrent, especially with larger lenses attached.

Macro Photography

Both cameras lack dedicated macro features like focus bracketing or stacking, but with competent lenses and manual focus peaking, the M6 Mark II’s higher resolution affords better detail capture.

Night and Astro Photography

The M6 Mark II’s greater high ISO capabilities and extended exposure control make it the preferred option for astro enthusiasts - improved noise control allows longer exposures with less degradation.

Video Capabilities

• M100: 1080p60 max, no microphone input, no 4K video. Basic MPEG-4 H.264 compression.
• M6 Mark II: Steps things up with 4K UHD at 30p (no crop), microphone input for better audio quality, and higher bitrate recording.

Travel Photography

The M100 wins here for size and weight, strong for casual travelers who prioritize discreet and easy handling. The M6 Mark II delivers more power but may require dealing with additional bulk.

Professional Workflows

Though neither camera offers weather sealing or robust pro-grade builds, the M6 Mark II supports UHS-II cards and USB-C charging/data transfer for faster workflows. Both support RAW capture, but the M6 Mark II’s files contain richer data for editing.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera is weather sealed - a sore spot for serious outdoor photographers. The M6 Mark II’s more substantial body feels sturdier, but I wouldn’t recommend submersion or heavy rain without additional protection for either.

Connectivity, Battery Life, and Storage Flexibility

A practical yet overlooked facet:

• The M100 uses an LP-E12 battery with about 295 shots per charge; the M6 Mark II employs an LP-E17 offering a slight bump to 305 shots.
• Both support built-in WiFi and Bluetooth; the M100 adds NFC, helpful for quick pairing.
• Storage-wise, M6 Mark II supports faster UHS-II SD cards, enhancing buffer clearing and write times.
• The M6 Mark II’s USB-C supports power delivery for charging in-camera, while the M100 retains older USB 2.0.

Overall, you get modern connectivity on both, but the M6 Mark II offers more rugged and forward-compatible options.

Sample Images: Side-by-Side Visual Comparisons

Seeing is believing. These samples show how the cameras perform across lighting and subjects:

Canon M100 front Canon M100 screen back Canon M6 MII screen back

Pay attention to texture detail, color fidelity, and noise performance - the M6 Mark II images demonstrate a visibly crisper, more refined look, especially under challenging conditions.

Scoring the Cannons: Overall Performance Ratings

Bringing it all into focus, here are consolidated performance scores reflecting my testing and aggregated reviews:

You’ll notice the M6 Mark II leads clearly in autofocus, image quality, and video capabilities, justifying its higher price.

Breaking Scores Down by Photography Genre

To help you align priorities with performance, here’s a genre-specific rating comparison:

If your work prioritizes action, wildlife, or landscape detail, the M6 Mark II justifies its investment. For beginner to casual shooters focused on portraits or travel, the M100 holds strong value.

Lens Ecosystem & Compatibility

Both use Canon’s EF-M mount, with roughly 23 native lenses available, spanning primes to zooms. While neither support in-body stabilization (IBIS), many EF-M lenses offer optical stabilization (IS). The more advanced M6 Mark II is compatible with more extensive accessories like electronic viewfinders and external flashes, not supported on the M100.

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

So which Canon EOS M camera deserves space in your camera bag? Here’s my take:

• Choose the Canon EOS M100 if you’re a beginner or casual enthusiast seeking a compact, affordable, and easy-to-use mirrorless camera for day-to-day, travel, and casual portraits. Its intuitive touchscreen and lightweight body encourage learning and simple shooting without technical fuss.

• Opt for the Canon EOS M6 Mark II if you demand advanced features, including higher resolution, faster continuous shooting, expanded autofocus coverage, 4K video, and pro-level controls. It’s ideal for enthusiasts, hybrid shooters, and pros needing a powerful but still portable APS-C camera.

Dear Canon, I’d love to see a future model combine the M6 Mark II’s speed and image quality with a built-in EVF and weather sealing - that would be an unbeatable all-rounder.

Wrapping Up

Choosing between the Canon EOS M100 and M6 Mark II boils down to your photography goals, budget, and desired experience behind the camera. I hope this in-depth comparison - born from extensive hands-on testing and technical analysis - steered you toward the perfect fit for your creative journey.

Happy shooting!

If you want to dive deeper into sample images, video tests, or detailed workflow insights, drop a comment or reach out. I’ve spent thousands of hours with Canon mirrorless and always enjoy sharing practical knowledge.