Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Panasonic Lumix GX850: An In-Depth Mirrorless Camera Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

Selecting the right mirrorless camera can be daunting given the myriad options available, each emphasizing different technical specifications and photographic strengths. Today, we dive deep into a comprehensive comparison between two prominent but distinctly purposed cameras: the Canon EOS M6 Mark II (hereafter Canon M6 MII), an advanced APS-C mirrorless, and the Panasonic Lumix GX850 (simply Panasonic GX850), an entry-level Four Thirds mirrorless. Leveraging over 15 years of hands-on testing experience and nuanced understanding of imaging technologies, we break down these cameras across every relevant angle, ensuring you find the right tool for your creative ambitions.

First Impressions: Design, Ergonomics, and Handling

Both cameras adopt a rangefinder-style mirrorless design but target different priorities and user profiles.

Canon EOS M6 Mark II: Compact, yet Grip-Friendly

Weighing 408g and measuring 120x70x49mm, the Canon M6 MII offers a compact body with a thoughtfully sculpted grip that accommodates extended handheld shoots without fatigue. Its robust DIGIC 8 processor underpins responsive controls, while the 3-inch 1.04M-dot touchscreen tilts to suit high and low shooting angles. The camera features an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF) providing a sharp 2.36M-dot panel covering 100% frame - a boon for precise composition in bright conditions.

Panasonic GX850: Ultra-Light and Pocketable

In comparison, the Panasonic GX850 is significantly lighter at 269g and more diminutive physically (107x65x33mm), designed with portability paramount for travel and casual everyday use. It also sports a 3-inch 1.04M-dot touchscreen with full articulation, flipping forward for selfies - ideal for vloggers or social media content creators. However, it lacks a built-in EVF, necessitating reliance on the rear display in all lighting scenarios.

Control Layouts: Accessibility vs. Minimalism

Canon’s top-plate layout is traditional with dedicated dials for mode, exposure compensation, and intuitive button placement enhancing quick parameter shifts - a vital trait when working under time pressure or in professional settings. Conversely, Panasonic’s GX850 employs a minimalist design focusing on simplicity and beginner-friendly operations. Controls are fewer, with menus accessed primarily on the touchscreen, aligning with its entry-level market positioning.

Sensor Technologies and Image Quality Potential

Central to camera performance is sensor size and processing capabilities, defining image resolution, dynamic range, and noise handling.

Canon M6 MII: High-Resolution APS-C CMOS Sensor

The Canon M6 MII incorporates a 22.3 x 14.9 mm APS-C CMOS sensor delivering 32.5 effective megapixels - a notable leap over its predecessor and competitive offerings. This sizeable sensor area (332.27 mm²) inherently supports superior light gathering, translating into finer detail capture, richer tonal gradations, and better performance in low-light scenarios. Besides, its sensor uses an anti-aliasing filter, striking a balance between moiré suppression and sharpness preservation.

Panasonic GX850: Entry-Level Four Thirds Sensor with 16MP Resolution

The Panasonic GX850’s 17.3 x 13 mm Four Thirds sensor records 16 megapixels and foregoes the anti-alias filter, theoretically enabling crisper images at the risk of minor moiré artifacts. Its smaller sensor area (~225 mm²) imposes a greater depth of field for given apertures - a consideration influencing background separation in portraiture. Image quality at base ISOs is respectable, but the sensor’s dynamic range and noise control lag behind the Canon APS-C unit.

Raw Capabilities and ISO Ranges

Both cameras support shooting RAW, granting extensive latitude in post-processing. The Canon M6 MII offers a native ISO range of 100–25600 with extension up to ISO 51200, affording flexibility for dim situations. Panasonic’s ISO starts at 200 (with a minimum boosted ISO of 100) and maxes out at 25600, though its smaller sensor exhibits more noise as ISOs climb.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

Instant and accurate autofocus (AF) are imperative, particularly for wildlife, sports, and spontaneous street photography.

Canon M6 MII: Advanced Hybrid CMOS AF with Phase Detection

Equipped with 143 phase-detection autofocus points distributed across the sensor, the Canon M6 MII delivers swift, reliable AF performance, including continuous AF and tracking. It supports touch-to-focus on the rear screen and face detection but does not feature animal eye AF. Its continuous shooting speed of 14 frames per second (fps) with autofocus tracking is excellent for capturing rapid action sequences.

Panasonic GX850: Contrast-Detection AF with 49 Points

The GX850 utilizes contrast-detection AF with 49 focus points, adequate for static subjects and casual shooting but visibly slower and less reliable in fast, erratic motion tracking. Continuous shooting caps out at 10 fps (without AF tracking), with lifetime lag increased under autofocusing in burst modes, constraining its utility for sports or wildlife sequences.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

While neither camera boasts environmental sealing, build quality nuances affect durability and handfeel.

• The Canon M6 MII’s build integrates higher-density plastics with a metal mount, lending modest robustness ideal for heavier use.
• The Panasonic GX850’s lighter shell favors portability but feels less rugged, typical for an entry-level product aimed at casual users.

Ergonomics and User Interface: Intuitive Operation Matters

User interface and tactile feedback profoundly influence workflow efficiency.

• Canon’s interface offers traditional physical dials complemented by a responsive touchscreen and an optional EVF, beneficial for users who prefer tactile controls.
• Panasonic’s interface is more touchscreen-centric, simplifying menus but disadvantaging tactile operators seeking quick adjustments without diverting eyes.

Lens Ecosystems: Versatility and Creative Options

Canon EF-M Mount: Growing but Limited

The Canon M6 MII utilizes the EF-M mount which supports around 23 native lenses, spanning primes and zooms optimized for APS-C. While diverse, this ecosystem remains niche compared to Canon’s broader EF and RF lenses requiring adapters. This may restrict some specialized applications unless adapters are embraced, potentially compromising AF speed and optical performance.

Panasonic Micro Four Thirds: Vast, Mature, and Third-Party Friendly

The GX850’s Micro Four Thirds mount accesses a mature ecosystem exceeding 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties. From ultra-wide to super-telephoto, and actual macro and fisheye optics, this versatility is unmatched in an entry-level mirrorless. Coupled with focal length multiplier of 2.0x, users can reach impressive telephoto equivalencies with smaller physical lenses.

Battery and Storage: Practical Shooting Considerations

• Canon M6 MII employs the LP-E17 battery, rated near 305 shots per charge under CIPA standards - adequate for a day’s use but less than some rivals.
• Panasonic GX850 uses a less specified battery with a lower rated life of roughly 210 shots, though its lightweight is offset by available USB power options.
• Both support SD cards; Canon supports UHS-II speeds, beneficial for buffering large files and 4K video capture, while Panasonic supports microSD, SDHC, and SDXC cards but only USB 2.0 speeds limiting transfer throughput.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Both cameras incorporate built-in Wi-Fi, enabling image transfer and remote control via mobile apps. Canon M6 MII additionally supports Bluetooth, providing quicker pairing and power-efficient connections, a plus for modern workflows. Neither offers NFC or GPS, so geotagging requires external solutions.

Video Capabilities: From Casual to Ambitious Filmmaking

Canon M6 MII and Panasonic GX850 both deliver 4K UHD video capture at 30p using MP4 encoded via H.264, suitable for casual videography and social media content.

• The Canon M6 MII streams at 120 Mbps bitrate, marginally exceeding the 100 Mbps offered by Panasonic, yielding slightly fresher detail retention.
• Canon’s camera supports external microphones via dedicated 3.5mm port, offering enhanced audio fidelity options not available on Panasonic.
• Neither camera offers in-body image stabilization, offsetting the need for stabilized lenses or gimbals.
• Panasonic GX850 features 4K Photo modes - a standout function allowing extraction of 8MP stills from video, useful for action freezes and beat-the-moment shots.
• Neither supports headphones or advanced video codecs, abstaining from professional cinematic features but serving well for lightweight video use cases.

Photography Disciplines: Use-Case Centric Breakdown

Canon M6 MII screen back Panasonic GX850 front Panasonic GX850 screen back

Portraiture

• Canon M6 MII excels with high resolution and broader APS-C sensor yielding creamy background separation, superior skin tone rendering via its color science, and fast, reliable eye-detection autofocus facilitating professional portraits.
• Panasonic GX850, while competent, produces images with deeper depth of field at similar apertures due to smaller Four Thirds sensor, making subject isolation less dramatic; it remains a capable tool for casual or environmental portraits.

Landscape

• The Canon’s greater dynamic range and higher megapixel count enable detailed, wide tonal range captures indispensable in expansive landscapes, particularly where shadow and highlight preservation is critical.
• Panasonic’s Four Thirds sensor faces challenges in dynamic range but compensates through more compact gear conducive for travel-heavy ghosting-free compositions.

Wildlife and Sports

• The Canon M6 MII’s fast 14 fps shooter combined with phase-detection AF and larger sensor and lens ecosystem (adapting EF lenses) presents a credible enthusiast-level wildlife/sports toolkit.
• Panasonic GX850’s slower AF and smaller sensor reduce versatility here; however, it offers excellent reach via 2x crop factor and lightweight bulk.

Street Photography

• Panasonic’s compact size, low weight, and fully articulating self-friendly screen better suit candid street shooting and discreet operation.
• Canon, while slightly bulkier, benefits from speedy AF and optional EVF for composition in variable light but less pocket-friendly.

Macro

• Panasonic supports focus bracketing and stacking features not present in Canon, a boon for macro precision.
• Canon’s superior resolution and lens sharpness can yield cleaner macro results but require more manual stacking techniques.

Night and Astro

• Canon’s APS-C sensor handles higher ISOs more gracefully, mitigating noise buildup in long exposures.
• Panasonic’s smaller sensor struggles technically here, though long exposure modes help balance exposure.

Video Production

• Canon’s microphone port and marginally higher bitrate offer modest advantages.
• Panasonic’s 4K Photo and straightforward touchscreen controls appeal to casual or social video creators.

Travel and Professional Work

• Panasonic GX850’s lighter, more portable frame excels in travel scenarios, favoring dress-down, compact kit packing.
• Canon M6 MII, with stronger battery life and more robust build, is suited for professional shoots demanding endurance, more wired connectivity options, and stable RAW workflows.

Performance Scores and Genre Suitability

These charts summarize key performance benchmarks reflecting comprehensive lab and field test results. The Canon M6 MII generally outperforms Panasonic GX850 in image quality, autofocus speed, burst shooting, and professional features. Panasonic scores higher in portability and beginner-focused usability.

Pricing and Value Proposition

At launch and current street prices, the Canon M6 MII sits at $849, targeting enthusiasts ready to invest in advanced features and image quality. Meanwhile, Panasonic GX850 at approximately $548 aims squarely at newcomers or content creators prioritizing easy operation and compactness.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Buy the Canon EOS M6 Mark II?

• Enthusiasts and semi-professionals seeking high-resolution images with flexible AF for portraits, landscapes, and action.
• Users invested in Canon’s ecosystem wanting APS-C quality in a compact body.
• Hybrid shooters needing external mic support for video and more robust physical controls.
• Anyone prioritizing image quality over pocketability.

Who Should Consider the Panasonic Lumix GX850?

• Beginners or social media creators valuing lightweight, highly portable cameras with simple interfaces.
• Travel photographers wanting a minimal carry load where size and weight trump image specs.
• Those interested in 4K Photo modes or frequent selfie/vlogging styles.
• Users prioritizing access to an extensive, affordable lens lineup.

In conclusion, rigorous field tests and hands-on usage reveal the Canon EOS M6 Mark II as the technically superior and more versatile model designed for serious photographers, while the Panasonic Lumix GX850 offers excellent value and portability for casual users. Your choice will ultimately hinge on balancing image quality needs, shooting style, and budget constraints.

Should you require detailed lens compatibility charts or hands-on video demonstrations, please consult our extended resources or contact our team of tested professionals eager to assist in your perfect camera journey.