Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Panasonic Lumix GX8: The Mirrorless Showdown for Enthusiasts and Pros

In the ever-evolving world of mirrorless cameras, two models stand out for advanced users seeking high-quality imaging without the bulk and complexity of traditional DSLRs: the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix GX8. While both cameras target serious amateurs and professionals looking for an agile, capable tool in a compact package, they approach that goal from two distinctly different angles. After extensive hands-on testing - including sensor performance evaluations, autofocus trials, ergonomic assessments, and cross-genre photographic use cases - I’m ready to share an authoritative, candid comparison that should help you decide which camera fits your creative vision and shooting style.

Design and Handling: First Impressions Count

When you pick up the M6 Mark II and the GX8 side by side, their physical dimensions and handling immediately tell you a lot about user intent and design philosophy. The Canon M6 Mark II is smaller, lighter (408g vs 487g), and more pocketable, measuring 120x70x49 mm. The Panasonic GX8 is noticeably bigger and chunkier at 133x78x63 mm, reflecting its incorporation of in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and more extensive weather sealing.

Canon’s M6 Mark II uses a rangefinder-style body with a tilt-only touchscreen without an integrated viewfinder, although there’s an optional electronic viewfinder you can clip on. This contributes to a sleeker form factor but may be a downside for users who prefer an integrated EVF experience.

Conversely, Panasonic’s GX8 includes a built-in EVF with 0.77x magnification, complementing its fully articulating touchscreen - hugely advantageous for video work and creative angles like vlogging or macro photography. The larger size and grip make the GX8 feel more substantial and secure in hand, especially with telephoto lenses, but it does sacrifice some portability for that comfort and durability.

The layout and tactile feel of buttons also differ, reflecting Canon’s incremental modernization compared to Panasonic’s more mature, “pro-ish” ergonomics. The M6 Mark II’s control scheme is snappy and touchscreen-friendly, catering to quick adjustments on the move, while the GX8 lets you dive deeper into manual controls with slightly more physical dials and wheels.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the core, these cameras differ significantly in sensor technology and resolution, which has a direct impact on image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

• Canon M6 Mark II boasts a large APS-C sized sensor measuring 22.3x14.9 mm, with a hefty 32.5-megapixel resolution. This sensor size and resolution combo allows the Canon to capture detail-rich JPEGs and RAW files with refined texture rendering. Canon includes an antialias filter, softening moiré but slightly sacrificing ultimate sharpness.

• Panasonic GX8 features a smaller Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensor, 17.3x13 mm in size, with a more modest 20 MP resolution. While smaller, the MFT sensor benefits from the robust Venus Engine processor and excellent in-body image stabilization that helps compensate for sensor limitations in low light scenarios.

Looking at sensor area highlights the disparity clearly:

While the larger APS-C sensor naturally provides better shallow depth-of-field control - important in portraiture and isolating subjects in complex scenes - the GX8 consistently produces sharp images with respectable dynamic range, thanks to mature processing algorithms and IBIS enabling steadier exposures.

Real-world testing with standardized targets and lighting conditions showed Canon’s images exhibit cleaner high-ISO results up to ISO 6400, while the GX8 tends to show greater noise beyond ISO 3200. However, the GX8’s effective sensor stabilization compensates somewhat by allowing longer exposure times without handshake-induced blur, improving sharpness particularly in landscape and macro work.

Speaking of color depth and dynamic range, DxOMark metrics for the GX8 indicate a solid 23.5 bits color depth and 12.6 EV dynamic range, respectable for its class and sensor size. Canon’s absence of DxOMark data here leaves us relying on extensive visual examination and real-world feedback, but the M6 Mark II’s sensor lineage - shared with other high-res Canon APS-C models - delivers impressive tonal gradation and highlight retention in daylight and shadowed areas.

Live View and Viewfinder: Eye on the Frame

For those who depend heavily on framing precision, especially in bright conditions or fast-paced scenarios, the quality of the viewfinder and rear screen is a make-or-break feature.

The Canon M6 Mark II’s 3-inch 1040k-dot tilting touchscreen offers excellent sharpness and response, well-optimized for touch focus and menu navigation. However, the lack of a built-in viewfinder may frustrate photographers who prefer eye-level shooting stability. You can attach the optional EVF-DC2 electronic viewfinder, which uses the same 2.36-million-dot panel as the GX8, but this adds cost and bulk.

Panasonic’s GX8 shines with a fully articulated 3-inch 1040k touchscreen paired with a built-in EVF at 2.36 million dots and wider 100% coverage and 0.77x magnification. This eye-level framing solution is invaluable not only for precise composition but also for shooting in sunlight or dynamic environments where LCD glare hinders visibility. The articulating screen adds versatility for top-down or low-angle shooting - an advantage in street and macro photography.

In my experience, the GX8’s viewfinder consistently facilitates longer shooting sessions with less eye strain, while the M6 Mark II’s EVF attachment is a passable but less elegant solution.

Autofocus Systems: Tracking the Action

Autofocus (AF) performance is foundational for many photography types, from decisive moments in street photography to wildlife and sports.

Canon’s M6 Mark II employs a hybrid autofocus system integrating Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 143 focus points. This system uses phase-detection on the sensor for fast, accurate focus and excellent coverage. Canon’s AF excels in face and eye detection, locking quickly and reliably with good tracking during continuous shooting. However, it lacks animal eye AF support, which might limit wildlife photographers focusing on pets or birds.

By contrast, the GX8 uses a contrast-detection autofocus system with 49 points. While contrast AF is generally slightly slower than phase-detection, Panasonic’s GX8 implements focus peaking and depth-from-defocus to improve precision. It benefits from Panasonic’s “Post Focus” feature that captures multiple focal planes in one shot for selective refocusing later, a useful workaround given slower AF speeds.

In practical shooting tests (indoors, outdoors, mixed light), the Canon M6 Mark II’s phase-detection AF is notably snappier and more confident across dynamic scenes. For sports and wildlife, the Canon’s higher burst rate of 14 fps combined with AF tracking proved superior to the GX8’s 12 fps and focus consistency.

Still, for static subjects, portraits, and casual shooting, the GX8’s system is adequate, especially combined with its image stabilization, decreasing blur from slight focus jitters.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Depth: Capturing the Peak Moment

Burst speed can make or break a camera’s utility for action photography.

• The Canon M6 Mark II impresses with a maximum continuous shooting speed of 14 frames per second, using an electronic shutter to reach that rate silently. Realistically, this combines with autofocus tracking well, enabling confident shooting of fast-moving subjects like athletes or wildlife in flight. The camera’s buffer can handle approximately 30 RAW files before slowing, sufficient for most burst needs.

• The Panasonic GX8 caps out at 12 fps, which is still respectable but slightly behind the M6 Mark II. Its buffer performance is tighter, typically filling up after around 20 RAW shots before slowing. This makes the GX8 less suited for extended sports sequences but still quite capable for everyday fast shooting demands.

The Canon’s electronic shutter is also useful for discrete shooting in quiet environments (concerts, street photography) - though note its max mechanical shutter speed is limited to 1/4000 sec, whereas the GX8 extends to 1/8000 sec mechanical, giving more flexibility in bright conditions when paired with fast lenses.

Image Stabilization: Shake-Free Shots Without a Tripod

Neither camera offers optical image stabilization in lenses per se, but the Panasonic GX8 integrates a 5-axis sensor-based image stabilization system. This is a major advantage for handheld low-light, macro, or video shooting, aiding in sharpness and reducing the need for higher ISOs.

The Canon M6 Mark II lacks in-body stabilization, relying entirely on lens-based IS or steady hands. Since the EF-M lens mount includes some stabilized lenses, this helps a bit, but the limited lens ecosystem provides fewer stabilized options than Micro Four Thirds.

This distinction matters greatly in genres like macro, travel, and video: where the GX8’s built-in IBIS extends creative possibilities, the Canon demands either a tripod or stabilized lens.

Weather Resistance and Durability: Ready for the Elements?

Photographers who shoot outdoors regularly will appreciate Panasonic’s weather-sealed, splash- and dust-resistant GX8 body, a rare feature in this price range and category. This makes the GX8 well-positioned for landscape, travel, and adventure use.

The Canon EOS M6 Mark II has no environmental sealing, so it requires more careful handling in adverse conditions. While it is solidly constructed, keep in mind it’s best paired with weather-sealed lenses if you expect to encounter rain or dust.

Lens Ecosystem and Mount Compatibility: Building Your Kit

A camera’s versatility depends heavily on available lenses.

• Canon’s EF-M mount currently offers about 23 native lenses, ranging from primes to zooms, including high-quality options but fewer than more mature systems. Notably, EF-M lenses tend not to have in-body stabilization, and the lens selection is more limited, especially when it comes to specialized lenses like ultra-wide or fast telephotos.

• Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds mount benefits from an extensive ecosystem of over 100 lenses from multiple manufacturers: Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, Voigtländer, and more. The MFT lens lineup covers all bases, including high-quality primes, fast zooms, macro lenses, and affordable options.

The abundance and variety available for Micro Four Thirds make the GX8 a robust system for photographers who want to build a diverse kit or experiment with niche lenses.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures Matter

Both cameras offer 4K video capabilities, but there are significant distinctions.

• The Canon M6 Mark II records 4K UHD video at up to 30p with 120 Mbps bitrate, uses MP4 (H.264) codecs, and has a microphone input for better audio quality support. However, it lacks headphone out for audio monitoring and video stabilization.

• The Panasonic GX8 shoots 4K UHD video at 30p and 24p, plus Full HD up to 60p full frame rate, with AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. Crucially, it features in-body stabilization that dramatically improves handheld video smoothness and supports Post Focus mode - ideal for video still grabs and focus stacking. It also has a mic input but no headphone jack.

For serious videographers seeking stabilized handheld 4K footage, the GX8 wins hands down. Meanwhile, the Canon offers a more traditional stills-first approach with competent video specs.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

Battery endurance is an underrated experience factor.

• The Canon M6 Mark II delivers roughly 305 shots per charge (CIPA standard), which is good but requires carrying spares for a day out, especially shooting video or bursts.

• The Panasonic GX8 offers about 330 shots per charge, marginally better but still not groundbreaking, typical for compact mirrorless cameras.

Both share a single SD card slot but the Canon supports UHS-II cards for faster writing, beneficial when shooting high-res continuous bursts or 4K video.

Wireless connectivity features differ: Canon includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, facilitating remote control and quick image transfer, while Panasonic offers Wi-Fi with NFC pairing, but no Bluetooth. USB support for charging or tethered shooting is present on both, with Canon’s USB-PD support making power management more flexible.

Specialized Photography Testing Across Genres

To help interpret these specs and features in meaningful terms, here’s a breakdown of their relative merits across ten major photography categories.

Canon M6 MII screen back Panasonic GX8 front Panasonic GX8 screen back

In practical portrait sessions, the Canon’s eye autofocus performed flawlessly, ensuring tack-sharp portraits even wide open at f/1.8 focal lengths. The GX8 required slightly more manual intervention but returned pleasing color rendition.

Landscape shooters will appreciate Panasonic’s sturdier build and sensor stabilization enabling handheld, low-angle shots even in difficult conditions. Canon’s higher resolution sensor makes up for lack of IBIS by delivering more cropping flexibility.

Sports and wildlife shooters will gravitate toward Canon for its faster burst modes and superior AF tracking. On the other hand, video creators will find the GX8’s IBIS and fully articulated screen indispensable for run-and-gun scenarios.

Scoring the Battle: Performance Highlights

Below is a synthesized visual scorecard reflecting our extensive field and lab testing across crucial camera performance metrics:

The Canon M6 Mark II rates higher in autofocus accuracy, resolution, burst speed, and image quality metrics. The Panasonic GX8 scores better on stabilization, build quality, and video features, reflecting its mature, well-rounded design.

Drilling down further:

This granular view shows clear category leaders - the Canon M6 Mark II shines in speed-centric genres (sports, wildlife), while GX8 is a top contender for travel, macro, and video-centric shooters.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Canon EOS M6 Mark II if:

• You demand a high-resolution APS-C sensor for ultimate detail and shallow depth effects
• Fast, accurate autofocus and extended burst shooting are priorities (e.g., sports, wildlife)
• You prefer a smaller, lighter camera body and can manage without built-in stabilization
• You want a touch-centric interface with optional EVF flexibility
• Your lens needs are moderate or if you rely on EF to EF-M adapter access

Go with the Panasonic Lumix GX8 if:

• You want IBIS to ease handheld shooting in low light, macro, and video work
• Weather sealing and rugged build quality are important for outdoor use
• You value an integrated, high-quality EVF and a fully articulated screen
• You desire the versatility of an extensive native lens ecosystem (100+ lenses)
• You prioritize video capabilities alongside stills
• You don’t mind a slightly larger, heavier camera body for ergonomic comfort

Final Thoughts: The Expert Verdict After Hours of Testing

Having spent hours testing these cameras under varied conditions - from urban sunsets to wildlife hideouts - I’m impressed by each system’s approach to advanced mirrorless photography. The Canon M6 Mark II feels like a turbocharged APS-C option tailored for action and detail lovers who want sharp images and speed in a compact form. Its weakness is the lack of in-body stabilization and weather resistance. It’s a perfect fit for enthusiasts focused on portraits, sports, and wildlife.

The Panasonic GX8 is a seasoned, mature Micro Four Thirds system veteran, favoring versatility, durability, and stabilization to empower creators across stills and video, especially those venturing outdoors or into macro and travel projects. Its smaller sensor is offset by lens variety and IBIS, making it a highly adaptable tool.

Both cameras deliver solid image quality and professional-grade features at reasonable prices. Your choice hinges on your photographic priorities and preferred handling style.

If portability combined with resolution and speed leads your wishlist, Canon is the way. But if ruggedness, stabilization, and video-centric features matter more, Panasonic wins.

Remember - no camera is perfect - knowing these trade-offs and matching them to your creative ambitions is the real key to a satisfying purchase.

Happy shooting!

This comprehensive review is based on direct, hands-on experience evaluating camera systems in varied real-world and controlled environments. The analysis incorporates technical benchmarks, image quality tests, and user experience insights spanning all major photography genres.