Nikon Z50 vs Canon EOS M6 Mark II
- 21MP sensor
- 4K video capabilities
- 11fps burst mode
- ISO of 100-51,200
- 209-point AF system
- 2.36m-dot EVF
- 3” tilting touchscreen with 1.04m-dots
- 320-shot battery life
- 33MP sensor
- 4K video capabilities
- 14fps burst mode
- ISO of 100-25,600
- 143-point AF system
- 2.36m-dot EVF
- 3” tilting touchscreen with 1.04m-dots
- 305-shot battery life
The Nikon Z50 and the Canon EOS M6 Mark II have a lot in common. They’re both budget crop sensor cameras. They’re both built around the APS-C sensor, which means they’re both around the same size and handle well.
But, for everything they have in common, they have something else completely different.
This Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II review will walk you through the different specs and features both of these cameras have and the pros and cons of choosing a Canon crop sensor camera over a Nikon crop sensor camera and vice versa.
Let’s get into it.
Specs/Features
You can’t break down the Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II debate without understanding what each has to offer. I’m going to start with the Nikon Z50.
Nikon Z50 Specs:
Canon EOS M6 Mark II Specs:
Now that you’ve seen the Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II spec comparison, we can dive further into the pros and cons of both of these mirrorless cameras.
Editor's Tip: Regardless of which camera you choose, you'll need a fast, reliable memory card that gives you great performance over the long haul. For that, I turn to ProGrade memory cards. I've been rocking their UHS-II cards for my EOS R and M6 Mark II, and they have proven to be just what the doctor ordered for the heavy lifting of my video recording. And since the Z50 supports UHS-II cards as well, I'm sure you Nikon folks will find that ProGrade cards are equally as awesome!
Pros of Nikon Z50
The first thing I usually think of when it comes to camera comparisons, like this Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II article, is that I love a camera that can take a beating. Thanks to the weather sealing on theNikon Z50, I’m happy to say this camera more than surpasses my requirements.
Another pro of the Nikon Z50 is that you can shoot full-width 4K video on it (although you can do the same with the Canon).
One benefit the Nikon Z50 has over the Canon EOS M6 Mark II is ergonomics. For starters, the buttons on the Nikon Z50 are bigger and spaced further apart. For cold weather shooting, this is an absolute essential feature.
The Nikon Z50 also features a four-way controller that allows you to move your AF point without using the touchscreen, like with the Canon. It allows you to be just a bit more precise and is a much more pleasing experience.
Finally, the Nikon Z50 features a larger grip, which is again an advantage for cold weather shooting.
One last benefit of the Nikon Z50 is that it can handle larger lenses with more ease.
Pros of Canon EOS M6 Mark II
The first thing that probably jumped out to you about this Canon mirrorless, in comparison with the Nikon Z50, is that it comes with a noticeably better resolution.
It’s 33MP sensor actually made this camera the highest-resolution APS-C sensor available on the market in 2019. It’s going to take incredible photos, if you only consider the resolution itself.
Just like the Nikon Z50, this Canon also features full-width 4K video, but unlike the Nikon Z50 it features a slightly faster burst mode at 14fps, which is more than enough frames per second for anyone outside of a sports photographer. But, Canon is never one to settle, so they’ve also included a 30fps Raw Burst mode. It only works for 3 seconds, and it includes a 1.25x crop, but it’s a great feature to have.
Another pro of the Canon is that it’s more compact than the Nikon mirrorless, which makes it a great camera for travel photography or landscape photography.
Cons of Nikon Z50
Obviously, the biggest con of the Nikon Z50 is the fact that it only features a 21MP sensor, which is a fine enough sensor by itself, but pales in comparison to the Canon EOS M6 Mark II. If it weren’t a Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II comparison, it may not even be worth mentioning as a con.
While the Nikon Z50 is capable of handling larger lenses, it unfortunately doesn’t have as many lenses available to use because there are way more EF-M zoom lenses and EF-M prime lenses for the Canon EOS M6 Mark II than there are for the Z50.
One thing I don’t often hear people talk about when they get into a Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II debate is the fact that the Nikon Z50 feels almost too familiar, and the reason why this is is because Nikon basically recreated the Nikon D5600 with this camera.
Think about it: the price, the AF system, the lens mount and the sensor are all the same between both of these cameras. Because the Nikon D5600 is literally half the price, many consumers may not be enticed to go for the Nikon Z50 over the Nikon D5600.
Cons of Canon EOS M6 Mark II
The first thing people are quick to point out in Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II debates is that the autofocus system on the Canon is… not great.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t awful. But it also is just so-so. For instance, the tracking point will wander from your subject on a seemingly random basis. Eye detection also only works if you’re pretty close to the person you’re shooting.
Another con to this camera is that its battery is pretty bad. I don’t consider this a huge con, because you can always purchase an additional battery, but it is a hassle.
It’s native ISO range is also much less than the Nikon Z50’s. I’m a huge fan of being able to shoot in any sort of lighting, and an ISO range of just 100-25,600 may make that difficult.
Nikon Z50 vs Canon EOS M6 Mark II Price
I love chasing down a good bargain, and since both of these cameras are relatively new, a ton of them are available for super cheap in “like new” condition.
For instance, the Nikon Z50 is available on MPB for just $780. You’re basically saving $100 on the retail price just by being willing to buy second hand.
The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is, unfortunately, currently out of stock on MPB. But, since they rotate through hundreds of products each day this could be a false statement by the time you’re reading this.
You can check for one here. Chances are, the price won’t be too far off from the price of the Nikon Z50.
If you’re wondering why I suggest MPB as a place to buy used gear, there are a lot of reasons.
They have an excellent selection of gear so there’s a great chance you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. And all that gear is graded, that way you know precisely what condition it’s in before you buy.
MPB also offers a 6-month warranty on many of the items they sell, so you get peace of mind that if something goes wrong, you’re covered.
Add in fast shipping and great customer service, and you have the makings of a quality experience for buying used gear!
That about wraps up our Nikon Z50 vs. Canon EOS M6 Mark II review. Let us know which you prefer to shoot with.