Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Sony Alpha a6000: The Advanced Mirrorless Showdown

In the bustling world of mirrorless cameras, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II and the Sony Alpha a6000 stand out as two popular options for enthusiasts looking for advanced features in a compact body. Though released five years apart, both bring compelling packages to the table, yet their differences are equally telling. Having tested both extensively over the years and dug into every technical corner, I want to unpack their capabilities across photography disciplines, image quality, handling, and video - with honest insights to help you decide which fits your shooting style best.

The Feel and Controls: Ergonomics That Matter

Right from the start, the Canon M6 Mark II feels pleasantly modern. Its 2019 release means Canon had the benefit of learning from earlier designs. The body measures 120x70x49 mm and weighs 408 grams, making it slightly larger and heavier than the Sony A6000 (120x67x45 mm, 344 grams). You’ll notice this subtle difference in hand: the Canon’s grip is a tad chunkier, offering a more secure hold, especially with longer lenses.

Both cameras sport rangefinder-style mirrorless bodies, but check out their top view:

Canon places nice tactile dials for exposure compensation and shooting modes - a boon for quick adjustments without quagmiring menus. The M6 Mark II’s touchscreen is a further ergonomic upgrade, affording intuitive focus point selection and menu navigation, something sorely missing on the A6000’s non-touch TFT LCD.

Sony’s control layout is a bit more button-heavy, which seasoned users may appreciate, but newcomers might prefer Canon’s more streamlined interface. Notably, the Sony’s eye-level EVF has a lower resolution of 1.44M dots versus Canon’s optional electronic viewfinder that offers a crisper 2.36M dots, albeit as an add-on accessory, which adds cost and bulk.

So, if tactile feel and screen responsiveness are priorities for you, the Canon M6 Mark II clearly advances the user experience. Meanwhile, Sony packs a reliable if more basic handling package for its lower price.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Detail and Dynamics

Both cameras feature APS-C sized CMOS sensors but with meaningful differences.

Canon’s sensor boasts a whopping 32.5 megapixels (6960×4640 max resolution), a notable leap over Sony’s 24 MP (6000x4000). This higher resolution means Canon’s files hold more fine detail - a plus for landscape photographers, portrait retouchers, and anyone who likes to crop in post without degrading quality.

But sensor resolution is only part of the story. Sony’s older sensor (introduced in 2014) has a larger photosite size thanks to the slightly bigger sensor dimensions (23.5x15.6 mm vs Canon’s 22.3x14.9 mm), which traditionally helps in low-light sensitivity.

Looking at DxOMark scores (Sony A6000 is rated, Canon M6 Mark II not yet formally tested by DxO), Sony holds reasonable color depth (24.1 bits) and dynamic range (13.1 EV at base ISO), supporting vivid images with good highlight and shadow retention. Canon’s DIGIC 8 processor paired with the newer sensor promises improvements in low-light noise and color accuracy, though real-world testing reveals the M6 Mark II excels in retaining detail without excessive noise at ISOs up to 12,800.

In practice, for richly textured landscapes or high-resolution product photography, Canon’s files give you more wiggle room and sharpening potential. Sony’s sensor performs admirably in good light, delivering punchy colors and solid dynamic range, but does show more noise creeping in past ISO 3200.

The Rear Screen and Viewfinder: Seeing Your Work

While many rely on EVFs for framing, the rear LCD remains crucial for many photographers.

Canon’s M6 Mark II features a 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen with 1.04 million dots - bright, crisp, and easy to operate thanks to the touch capability. The tilt mechanism allows for various shooting angles, including selfies and vlogging (though no full articulating). Unfortunately, it lacks eye-level stabilization - a minor gripe given the high quality.

Sony’s A6000 also sports a 3.0-inch tilting screen but no touchscreen, and with a lower 922k-dot resolution. Its tilt is similarly versatile but somewhat less intuitive without touch controls.

If you value framing flexibility and touch-facilitated operation - especially for street or casual travel photography - Canon’s screen will feel superior.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Both cameras offer fast autofocus with phase-detection pixels integrated on the sensor, but their systems diverge functionally.

Canon EOS M6 Mark II includes 143 autofocus points with extensive coverage, including reliable eye-detection AF (for humans) that lets you nail critical portraits in real time. It supports continuous AF and tracking with excellent responsiveness, paired with the DIGIC 8 processing power that crunches data swiftly. The autofocus is silent in electronic shutter mode, helpful for discreet environments.

Sony A6000, though older technology, sports 179 phase-detection points (though fewer cross-type points) and contrast detection support. Its AF is rapid, particularly in good lighting, renowned years ago for revolutionizing mirrorless AF speed. Eye AF is present but less refined than newer Sony models, and no dedicated animal AF here.

If you shoot wildlife or action, the Canon’s modern AF system offers an edge in accuracy and subject tracking, especially through the viewfinder. However, for street or casual sports, Sony’s system is still very competent and responsive, with slight delays sometimes perceptible in complex scenes.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Performance: Catching the Decisive Moment

Fast frame rates and buffer depth are invaluable for sports and wildlife photographers.

Canon M6 Mark II pushes 14 frames per second (fps) with continuous autofocus and exposure tracking - an impressive spec for the class. It handles extended bursts, allowing up to 50 RAW images before slowing.

Sony A6000 offers 11 fps but with a smaller buffer, typically maxing out around 21 JPEGs or 10 RAW shots before slowdown.

For high-speed sequences like bird flight or soccer games, Canon’s higher fps rate and deeper buffer can be decisive, enabling you to lock in critical shots without losing momentum.

Video: Crafting Moving Stories

Video remains an essential feature to many hybrids now.

Canon’s M6 Mark II records 4K UHD video at 30p with 120 Mbps bitrate, providing crisp footage with good color science and detail. However, the camera crops the sensor in 4K mode, limiting wide-angle use, and has no headphone output for audio monitoring (a pain point for filmmakers). It supports a microphone jack, useful for external mics.

Sony A6000 sticks to Full HD 1080p max resolution with 60p frame rates in AVCHD or XAVC S format. No 4K here, but smooth, comparatively clean footage for its era. The A6000 lacks both microphone and headphone ports, limiting professional audio control.

If video is key, the Canon M6 Mark II is the better pick for higher resolution and more modern codec options, despite some audio limitations.

Lens Ecosystem: Glass is King

Choosing a camera body is only half the story - lenses define your creativity.

Sony E-mount, which the A6000 uses, is now incredibly mature and diverse, with 121 native lenses covering everything from ultra-wide primes to ultra-telephoto zooms, including many affordable third-party options from Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss. This ecosystem suits wildlife photographers, videographers, and travelers alike.

Canon EF-M mount, however, is significantly smaller with only 23 native lenses - a drawback for those wanting specialized optics. While Canon offers adapters to use EF and EF-S lenses, the added size and cost mitigate the mirrorless system’s compactness advantage.

For serious photographers depending heavily on lens variety and availability, Sony’s lens catalog substantially outperforms Canon’s EF-M lineup.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Photography isn’t just about specs; battery stamina affects how much you can shoot on the go.

Sony A6000 holds an edge here with approximately 360 shots per charge (CIPA rating), compared to Canon’s 305 shots with the LP-E17 battery. That’s meaningful for travel or day-long shoots where charging opportunities might be limited.

Both cameras take a single SD card slot supporting UHS-I or UHS-II (M6 Mark II supports UHS-II, beneficial for faster writing and overflow). Sony accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo variants also, albeit these are rarely used now.

If you demand long shooting days without battery swaps, Sony’s slight efficiency advantage might sway you.

Outdoor Durability: Weather Sealing and Build Toughness

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedization. Both M6 Mark II and A6000 are vulnerable to moisture and dust - something professional outdoor or wildlife shooters should note.

For adventure or field use, supplementing these cameras with protective gear like rain covers is essential.

Real-World Shooting Across Genres

Images from both cameras illustrate what matters most - results.

Canon M6 MII screen back Sony A6000 front Sony A6000 screen back

• Portrait Photography: Canon’s higher resolution sensor and eye-detection AF produce beautifully detailed skin tones and creamy background blur with compatible lenses (EF-M primes or adapters). Sony’s 24MP sensor still renders accurate colors and good focus but edges Canon slightly on fine detail and bokeh quality.

• Landscape Photography: Canon’s resolution advantage yields files better suited for printing large wall art and cropping without quality loss. The slightly smaller Canon sensor area may marginally reduce dynamic range compared to Sony, but in-field testing shows both deliver punchy, nuanced images with excellent shadow detail.

• Wildlife Photography: Sony’s extensive lens range, particularly affording super-telephoto lenses, makes it a go-to here. Canon’s AF tracking is stronger, yet limited native glass lowers overall practicality.

• Sports Photography: Both can keep up with fast action, but Canon’s 14fps burst with AF tracking gives it the edge.

• Street Photography: Sony’s lighter weight and smaller size come into play. The lack of touchscreen might be a tradeoff for some, but fast AF and quiet shutter in both make them viable.

• Macro Photography: Canon’s shorter flange distance and native lenses with stabilized optics edge ahead slightly, though both cameras lack in-body stabilization.

• Night & Astro Photography: Canon’s newer sensor better controls noise at high ISOs, improving star field shots and nightscapes.

• Travel Photography: Size and versatility matter; Sony’s smaller and longer battery life offer more freedom, but Canon’s touchscreen and faster AF are handy on the move.

• Professional Use: Both cameras fall short of flagship durability but offer RAW files and manual controls sufficient for many pro workflows, assuming lens investments are appropriate.

The Numbers in Context: Overall and Genre Scores

Breaking down their performance objectively:

Sony A6000 scores robustly given its age (82 DxO mark overall), while Canon M6 Mark II awaits full testing but promises competitive or superior ratings in color depth and noise handling.

For genre-specific performance:

Canon leads in resolution-dependent genres (portrait, landscape), while Sony’s lens system boosts its versatility for wildlife and travel genres.

Summing Up: Which Mirrorless Fits You?

Both cameras remain worthy contenders in advanced mirrorless, yet your choice hinges on priorities.

Choose Canon EOS M6 Mark II if:

• You want the highest resolution APS-C images for cropping and detailed prints
• Video in 4K is important to your workflow
• You prefer touchscreen operation and refined ergonomics
• Burst shooting and autofocus tracking matter in your shooting (sports, wildlife)
• You’re content adapting EF lenses or using a smaller lens lineup

Opt for Sony Alpha A6000 if:

• Budget is tighter but you still want solid APS-C image quality
• You desire a wide range of native lenses including affordable third-party options
• Portability and longer battery life are important for travel or street shooting
• You don’t mind Full HD video and can forego touchscreen controls
• You want proven autofocus performance in a compact package

Final Thoughts From My Experience

I keep returning to the Canon M6 Mark II for its image finesse and modern interface that makes shooting pleasurable. Its 32.5MP files are a real asset when detail counts. But, dear Canon, please expand the EF-M lens lineup pronto - a modern camera star deserves modern glass options.

Sony A6000 remains a classic for good reason: balanced performance, extensive lens choices, and a compact form factor that still feels fresh years later. Despite missing touch and 4K, it suits enthusiasts keen on a capable, cost-effective system.

Both remain remarkable cameras for their price points, offering key features borrowed from higher-end siblings but wrapped in approachable bodies that reward daily photography passion. I hope this comparison clarifies where each shines so you can step confidently into your next photographic chapter.

Happy shooting!

This hands-on comparison draws on extensive real-world testing, comprehensive lab analyses, and practical use across varied photography genres to provide you with trustworthy, actionable insights.