Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Panasonic Lumix GX7: A Hands-On Deep Dive into Two Advanced Mirrorless Contenders

When it comes to advanced mirrorless cameras that pack a punch without the bulk of a pro DSLR, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix GX7 are two models that often come up for consideration. They occupy a similar “rangefinder-style” mirrorless niche, both appealing to ambitious enthusiasts and professionals looking for capable secondary bodies or lightweight travel rigs.

Having spent weeks putting both through their paces across a wide variety of photography scenarios - from portraiture and landscapes to wildlife and the fast-paced action of sports - I'm excited to share my detailed comparison. It’s a tale of two very different sensor systems, decades of innovative engineering, and distinct design philosophies. Let’s unpack the nuances that will help you decide which one fits your photographic DNA best.

Body and Ergonomics: A Tale of Two Rangefinders

At first glance, both cameras share a compact, rangefinder-style body profile, but the Canon M6 Mark II edges ahead slightly in several ergonomic aspects. The Canon measures 120x70x49 mm and weighs 408 grams; the Panasonic GX7 comes in just a touch larger at 123x71x55 mm and slightly lighter at 402 grams.

Holding them feels familiar yet distinct: the M6 Mark II's grip is subtly beefier and more secure, lending confidence during extended handheld shooting sessions. Panasonic’s GX7, while compact and nicely balanced, has a shallower grip that may challenge larger hands or anyone who shoots for hours on end.

Button layout and tactile feedback - critical for muscle memory during fast-paced photography - also differentiate the two:

Canon’s modern DIGIC 8 processor-era design integrates quick access dials and customizable buttons that feel immediately intuitive. The rear control dial and joystick make selecting focus points a breeze. Conversely, the GX7, despite its solid build quality, feels slightly dated with fewer customizable controls, and its control dial layout doesn’t encourage rapid setting tweaks like the Canon.

Both cameras feature tilting 3" touchscreens with identical 1040k-dot resolution. However, the Canon’s touchscreen refresh feels snappier and more responsive compared to Panasonic’s somewhat sluggish panel - a small but significant quality-of-life difference, especially when navigating menus or touch focusing.

Overall, for enthusiasts who prefer a more ergonomic and fluid handling experience, the Canon M6 Mark II has the clear edge here. Meanwhile, those who prize a smaller footprint that fits easily into a jacket pocket might still find the Panasonic’s minimalist design preferable.

Sensor & Image Quality: Size, Resolution, and Dynamic Range Showdown

Here’s where the cameras’ fundamental differences come starkly into focus:

The Canon M6 Mark II boasts a 32.5-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (22.3x14.9 mm), significantly larger than the Panasonic GX7’s 16-megapixel Four Thirds sensor (17.3x13 mm). This difference in sensor size translates to a roughly 1-stop advantage in achievable image quality and noise performance thanks to larger photosites collecting more light.

Canon’s APS-C sensor captures images at a maximum resolution of 6960x4640 pixels, nearly double the pixel count of the GX7’s 4592x3448 output. This jump is meaningful for photographers who demand detailed prints or perform substantial cropping without sacrificing image integrity.

In practical terms, the Canon’s sensor produces images with richer tonal gradients, deeper color fidelity, and an expanded dynamic range - great news for landscape and portrait shooters who want maximum gradation in shadows and highlights.

The GX7’s smaller sensor and lower resolution do impose limitations, especially in low light and when pushing ISO beyond 800. However, its Venus Engine processor excels at minimizing noise up to moderate ISOs, making it perfectly capable for casual and enthusiast shooters who don’t need megapixel overload.

Autofocus & Shooting Speed: Precision vs. Reliability

Autofocus systems form a cornerstone of usability, and here, the two cameras diverge significantly:

The Canon M6 Mark II features a modern 143-point phase-detection autofocus system that excels at tracking moving subjects with remarkable speed and accuracy. It supports continuous autofocus, touch focus, and face detection - making it a natural choice for wildlife and sports where instant focus lock is critical.

The Panasonic GX7, while equipped with a contrast-detection AF system featuring 23 focus points, lags behind in speed and tracking consistency, especially with fast-moving subjects. It’s more suited for static or slower-paced shooting scenarios like street or travel photography.

Burst rates underscore this focus difference: Canon offers a blistering 14 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting speed with autofocus tracking, whereas the Panasonic manages a more leisurely 5 fps. For action shooters, that’s a decisive advantage.

Moreover, the Canon’s max mechanical shutter speed of 1/4000s versus Panasonic’s 1/8000s is interesting. While Panasonic’s max shutter speed is faster, in real-world use, Canon’s electronic shutter can hit up to 1/16000s silently, giving it flexibility - for example, shooting wide-open in bright daylight without ND filters.

Lens Ecosystem & Compatibility: Quantity vs. Quality

Lens selection impacts how versatile a camera can be. Here, there’s a straightforward contrast:

• Canon’s EF-M mount supports about 23 native lenses, with high-quality primes and zooms primarily geared toward APS-C users. You can also adapt Canon’s vast EF lens lineup with an adapter, albeit with some added bulk and loss of native AF speed.

• Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds mount boasts a staggering 107 native lenses - an established and mature system known for highly compact optics, exceptional zoom versatility, and affordable third-party options.

This makes the GX7 extremely flexible: Panasonic’s lens ecosystem includes macro, super-telephoto, ultra-wide, and f/0.95 primes that deliver creative freedom. Canon’s EOS M system, while smaller, benefits from high optical quality but somewhat limited native lens availability.

For macro enthusiasts, the Panasonic lineup offers multiple highly specialized and stabilized lenses, aligning well with its built-in sensor-shift image stabilization system - absent on Canon M6 Mark II.

Build Quality & Weather Resistance

Neither camera officially sports weather sealing or ruggedized build quality. They share plastic-magnesium alloy constructions designed for lightweight travel and everyday use but not meant for constant exposure to rain or dust.

Both offer built-in flashes (Canon’s flash range at 4.6m ISO 100, Panasonic’s at 7.0m ISO 200), and support external flashes for expanded lighting setups.

If weather resistance or professional durability is a priority, neither will fully satisfy - you’d need to look at more photo-centric bodies like the Canon R-series or Panasonic GH-series for that.

Real-World Photography Disciplines: Strengths and Caveats

Portrait Photography

Portrait session success hinges on beautiful skin tones, fast and accurate eye detection, and pleasing background separation.

Canon’s APS-C sensor with 33MP resolution shines here, delivering smooth gradation and the potential for rich bokeh when paired with fast EF-M primes. Its 143-point phase-detection AF effectively locks onto faces in motion, although it lacks dedicated animal eye AF.

By contrast, Panasonic’s Four Thirds sensor offers less resolution and shallower depth-of-field potential but benefits from sensor-shift image stabilization that aids handheld low-light portraits.

Overall, the Canon is my recommendation for portraitists wanting detail and refined tonality, while Panasonic suits those who prioritize image stabilization and convenience.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution rule the landscape domain. Canon’s sensor advantage and larger sensor area translate into superior shadow and highlight retention. The 32.5MP files allow for large, high-resolution prints without losing detail.

However, Panasonic’s highly versatile MFT lenses and in-body stabilization aid in shooting handheld HDR sequences or focus stacks - features that photographers love in the field.

For dedicated landscape photographers with tripods and time, Canon’s sensor size prevails, while the GX7 offers portability and lens flexibility.

Wildlife Photography

Here, autofocus speed and tracking come to the fore, plus telephoto lens choices.

Canon’s 14fps burst shooting combined with abundant EF-M and adaptable EF super-telephotos makes it a surprisingly nimble wildlife tool, despite the smaller native EF-M lens roster.

Panasonic’s autofocus struggles with moving subjects and its slower 5 fps burst rate limit serious wildlife work, though its vast MFT lens lineup includes some excellent super-zooms.

In this category, Canon’s EOS M6 Mark II is the stronger contender for serious wildlife shooters.

Sports Photography

Sports require lightning-fast autofocus tracking, high frame rates, and good low-light sensitivity.

Canon’s autofocus and 14fps burst rate allow it to capture decisive moments better, even in challenging lighting. Its max ISO 25600, extendable to 51200, is an asset compared to Panasonic's native ISO 25600 but less capable higher ISO performance.

Panasonic’s autofocus contrast detection and 5 fps burst rate may lag in fast action but works well for more moderate-paced sports.

Ikewise, Canon is the better pick for action and sports enthusiasts.

Street Photography

Portability, discretion, and quick autofocus define street imagery.

While both cameras are compact, Panasonic’s slightly smaller grip and quieter operation (sensor-shift stabilization doubles as silent shooting aid) may appeal to street shooters who desire minimal visual interruption.

However, the Canon’s faster AF and higher resolution give it an edge for capturing crisp details and fleeting expressions.

Either would work, but Panasonic is the stealthier companion on the streets.

Macro Photography

Panasonic’s sensor-stabilization and extensive macro lens options provide a serious edge for close-up shooters needing precision and sharpness handheld.

Canon’s lack of in-body stabilization means macro lenses rely fully on optical or tripod stabilization - acceptable but less convenient.

For macro enthusiasts, Panasonic’s GX7 combined with its lens ecosystem wins out.

Night and Astrophotography

Low-light noise, sensor performance, and shutter capabilities matter most here.

Canon’s larger sensor with better high ISO control is preferable for cleaner night shots and star fields. Although Panasonic’s IBIS helps steady longer exposures, noise performance beyond ISO 800-1600 drops noticeably.

Canon’s silent electronic shutter can reduce vibrations during long exposures - an astute feature astrophotographers appreciate.

Video Capabilities

Canon wins with 4K UHD recording up to 30p at 120Mbps, paired with a mic input for better sound capture. While it lacks a headphone jack, its modern DIGIC 8 processor ensures superior video quality.

Panasonic caps out at Full HD 1080p with multiple frame rates but no 4K or mic input, limiting serious videographers.

For hybrid shooters intending serious video work, Canon is the clear choice.

Travel Photography

Both cameras’ compact rangefinder bodystyle is travel-friendly, but factors like battery life, lens versatility, and connectivity play roles.

Panasonic’s slightly longer battery life (350 vs. 305 shots) is a plus for extended trips. Its aggressive lens selection lends adaptability for varied scenes.

Canon’s USB Power Delivery fast-charging support means topping up on the go is easier, a genuine advantage. Its built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi also facilitate quick image transfers, whereas Panasonic lacks Bluetooth but has NFC.

Canon’s M6 Mark II edges out for travel use, but Panasonic isn’t far behind.

Professional Work and Workflow Integration

Both cameras produce RAW files with broad custom white balance and exposure bracketing options, suiting professional workflows.

Canon’s RAW files carry more pixels and higher dynamic range for studio use, while Panasonic’s mature MFT format has excellent third-party RAW support.

That said, neither camera offers robust ruggedness, dual card slots, or professional video codecs found in pricier pro bodies - so they’re best considered enthusiast or secondary camera options in serious studios or fieldwork.

Canon M6 MII screen back Panasonic GX7 front Panasonic GX7 screen back

Additional Technical Considerations

Image Stabilization

Panasonic’s GX7 sports sensor-shift image stabilization (IBIS), significantly reducing camera shake across lenses.

The Canon M6 Mark II lacks in-body stabilization, relying on lens stabilization (which is limited among EF-M lenses). This affects handheld shooting ease and low shutter speed usability.

For stabilized shooting on diverse lenses, GX7 leads.

Connectivity and Storage

Canon supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with modern USB-C charging and data transfer protocols. Panasonic includes Wi-Fi and NFC but no Bluetooth and lags with USB 2.0 speeds.

Both accept SD cards with UHS-II support on Canon, ensuring fast write speeds for large files.

Battery Life

Official CIPA ratings gauge Canon at 305 shots and Panasonic at 350 shots per charge - both moderate but typical for compact mirrorless.

Consider carrying spares for intensive shooting days.

Price-to-Performance Ratio

Currently, Canon M6 Mark II retails around $849; Panasonic GX7 at about $999, despite being an older 2013 model. Canon’s newer tech, higher resolution, and 4K video push it ahead in value proposition.

When analyzing the overall score (though subjective and dependent on use case), Canon’s increased resolution, autofocus performance, video specs, and user interface improvements justify its price.

Summing It Up: Who Should Choose Which?

• Choose Canon EOS M6 Mark II if you:

  • Prioritize high-resolution stills for portraits, landscapes, and professional outputs
  • Want fast and reliable autofocus for wildlife, sports, or event photography
  • Require 4K video capture with microphone input
  • Enjoy more modern ergonomics and touchscreen responsiveness
  • Value connectivity and fast USB-C charging for travel convenience

• Choose Panasonic Lumix GX7 if you:

  • Value a compact and lightweight body optimized for street and travel photography
  • Need built-in image stabilization for handheld shots and macro photography
  • Appreciate an extensive, mature Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem
  • Have a casual video workflow at 1080p or still photography needs without 4K
  • Prefer a more budget-flexible system with lenses widely available from multiple manufacturers

Both cameras offer compelling features for advanced users and enthusiasts, but their fundamental differences reflect divergent photographic priorities. Canon’s M6 Mark II, despite a slightly newer release, pushes boundaries in image quality and autofocus-powered performance for action and video. Panasonic’s GX7 delivers a remarkably stabilized, compact, and versatile system with a lens lineup that remains competitive today.

So whether you lean toward pixel-packed APS-C power or lightweight stabilized versatility in the four thirds realm, these two mirrorless rangefinders punch well above their weight class - and I can personally vouch for their unique strengths in the field.

Happy shooting!