Canon EOS M6 Mark II Black

A tiny titan with a monster sensor and autofocus that's still top of the charts. Just know you're marrying into a dead lens mount, so make it count.

The 30fps burst shooting is a spec-sheet flex, but what actually surprised us was how sticky the Dual Pixel AF is. With 5481 selectable points and Eye AF, it grabs onto subjects and refuses to let go, making it a top-tier choice for candid portraits and street photography. The 32.5MP sensor is a standout, resolving detail that embarrasses some newer, pricier bodies. On the flip side, the video features are a letdown. The 4K footage is crisp, but rolling shutter is noticeable, and the missing headphone jack makes serious video work a non-starter. This is a stills machine that happens to shoot video, not the other way around.

The Sony Alpha a7 IV is the obvious full-frame rival, offering IBIS, a built-in EVF, and a thriving lens ecosystem, but it's bigger, heavier, and more expensive. The Fujifilm X-H2S is a more direct APS-C competitor with a stacked sensor, incredible video specs, and in-body stabilization, making it the better hybrid shooter. The M6 Mark II's only real trump card is its sheer portability and that 32.5MP sensor, which still out-resolves both of them. If you prioritize a tiny body and maximum resolution over video features and stabilization, the Canon is your camera. For everyone else, the Fujifilm is the smarter long-term bet.

Pricing is all over the map, with a $592 spread across vendors. At the low end around $780, this camera is a steal for the image quality you're getting. At $1372, you're dangerously close to a modern full-frame body like the Canon EOS R8, which makes the M6 Mark II a much tougher sell. If you can snag it for under $900, you're getting a phenomenal deal on a photographic powerhouse. Just know you're buying into a retired lens system.

The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a pocket rocket that proves you don't need a full-frame sensor to get stunning images. Its 32.5MP APS-C sensor is an absolute beast, delivering resolution that punches way above its weight class. This thing is a photographer's camera first, with an autofocus system that's still best-in-class and a burst speed that'll make sports shooters grin. But it's also a camera caught between eras. Canon's EOS M mount is officially dead, and the lack of IBIS and a built-in EVF are reminders that this body was designed before the current wave of hybrid mirrorless cameras took over. If you can live with those quirks, you'll get one of the most capable and compact travel cameras ever made.

If you're a hybrid shooter who splits time evenly between photo and video, this isn't your camera. The lack of IBIS, a headphone jack, and a modern codec will drive you nuts. Go get a Fujifilm X-S20 or a used Panasonic LUMIX S5 II instead. You'll give up a little resolution but gain a vastly better video and stabilization experience.

The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a brilliant, flawed gem. It's one of the best travel and street photography cameras you can buy, full stop. The image quality is phenomenal, the autofocus is magic, and you can slip it into a jacket pocket. But you have to go in with your eyes open. The lens system is dead, the lack of IBIS will frustrate handheld video shooters, and the external EVF is a pain. Buy it for the sensor and the size, not for the ecosystem. If you find one at a good price and you're a stills-first shooter, you'll love it.