Canon M3 vs Canon M6 Comparison

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Canon M3

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon M6

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon M3 vs Canon M6 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing M3 and M6, two Mirrorless cameras by Canon. Canon EOS M3 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless class camera and Canon EOS M6 is a Advanced Mirrorless class camera.

Canon M3 was introduced to the market in February 2015 and Canon M6 was launched in February 2017. As you can see, M3 is 2 years older than M6. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

M3 and M6 are members of Canon's M series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Canon M Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Dimensions	Weight
Canon M50 II	2020	24.0MP - APS-C	116 x 88 x 59mm	387g
Canon M200	2019	24.0MP - APS-C	108 x 67 x 35mm	299g
Canon M6 MII	2019	33.0MP - APS-C	120 x 70 x 49mm	408g
Canon M50	2018	24.0MP - APS-C	116 x 88 x 59mm	390g
Canon M100	2017	24.0MP - APS-C	108 x 67 x 35mm	302g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon M3 and Canon M6 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon M3 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2015-02-06

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 12800 ( expands to 25600)

Canon EF-M Mount

3.00" Tilting Screen

4.2fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

366g. 111 x 68 x 44 mm

Canon M6 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2017-02-15

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 25600

Canon EF-M Mount

3.00" Tilting Screen

9.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

390g. 112 x 68 x 45 mm

Replaced Canon EOS M3 Compare

Canon M6 was replaced by Canon EOS M6 Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Canon EOS M6
Canon EOS M6 Mark II vs Canon EOS M3

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon M3 and Canon M6 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Canon EOS M3 over Canon EOS M6

Weight	366 g vs 390 g	24 g lighter

CHECK M3 PRICE

Reasons to choose Canon EOS M6 over Canon EOS M3

Image Processor	Digic 7 vs DIGIC 6	More Capable Processor
Max ISO	25.600 vs 12.800	100% higher Max ISO
Continuous Shooting	9.0fps vs 4.2fps	4.8 fps faster
Battery Life	295 shots vs 250 shots	45 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Color Depth	23.4 vs 22.8	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	12.6 vs 11.8	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	1317 vs 1169	better High ISO performance
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Digital video stabilization	Yes vs No	Stabilizes your videos in-camera
UHS Card Support	UHS-1 vs none	Read/Write in High Speeds

CHECK M6 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon EOS M3 and Canon EOS M6

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen	Tilting vs Tilting	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder	Electronic (Optional) vs Electronic (Optional)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	24 MP vs 24 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution	1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots	High resolution screens
Microphone Port	Yes vs Yes	High quality audio recording option
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD	Yes vs Yes	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection	Yes vs Yes	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Weaknesses of Canon EOS M3 and Canon EOS M6

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Canon M3 vs Canon M6: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon M3 and Canon M6 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon M3 has external dimensions of 111 x 68 x 44 mm (4.37 x 2.68 x 1.73″) and weighs 366 g (0.81 lb / 12.91 oz) (including batteries). Canon M6 has external dimensions of 112 x 68 x 45 mm (4.41 x 2.68 x 1.77″) and weighs 390 g (0.86 lb / 13.76 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon M3 and the Canon M6. Canon M3 is 1mm narrower and 1mm thinner than Canon M3 but they have the same height of 68mm.

Comparison image of the Canon M3 and the Canon M6 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon M3 and Canon M6.

Comparison image of the Canon M3 and the Canon M6 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon M3 and Canon M6.

Top View Comparison image of the Canon M3 and the the Canon M6 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon M3 is 24g lighter than the Canon M6 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Canon M3 and Canon M6 have the same Canon EF-M lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

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Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

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Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon EOS M3 nor Canon EOS M6 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon M3 and Canon M6's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels.

Canon M3 vs Canon M6: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon M3 and Canon M6 have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the M3 and M6 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon M3 and Canon M6 Cameras

Canon M3 and Canon M6 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Canon M3 and Canon M6 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that M6 has a better overall score of 78, 6 points higher compared to M3's score of 72.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Canon M3	72	22.8 bits	11.8 Evs	1169 ISO
Canon M6	78	23.4 bits	12.6 Evs	1317 ISO

Canon M3 vs Canon M6 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Canon M3 and Canon M6 have the same Canon EF-M lens mount and currently there are 29 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 6 lenses with Image stabilization for Canon EF-M mount.

Lens Type	# of Canon M3 Lenses	# of Canon M6 Lenses
Standard Zoom	1	1
Standard Prime	5	5
Wideangle Zoom	2	2
Wideangle Prime	11	11
Telephoto Zoom	1	1
Telephoto Prime	6	6
SuperZoom	1	1
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	1	1
Macro Prime	1	1
Perspective Control Prime	n/a	n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	29	29

Here are some of the most popular Canon EF-M Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Canon EF-M Mount Lenses for the M3 and the M6

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Canon EF-M 55-200mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM	APS-C / DX	260gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF-M 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM	APS-C / DX	300gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF-M 15-45mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM	APS-C / DX	130gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samyang Reflex 300mm f6.3 ED UMC CS	APS-C / DX	318gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF-M 32mm F1.4 STM	APS-C / DX	235gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF-M 22mm f2 STM	APS-C / DX	105gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF-M 28mm F3.5 Macro IS STM	APS-C / DX	130gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF-M 11-22mm f4-5.6 IS STM	APS-C / DX	220gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

What types of Photography are Canon M3 and Canon M6 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Canon M3 and Canon M6 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon M3 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M6 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon M3 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon M6 for Street Photography

GOOD

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon M3 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon M6 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.2fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Read the details

Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 295 shots
Read the details

Canon M3 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon M6 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
366g
Body Thickness 44mm
Read the details

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
390g
Body Thickness 45mm
Read the details

Canon M3 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Canon M6 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon M3 vs Canon M6: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon M3 and Canon M6, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon M3 and Canon M6 scores compare:

Canon M3

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #37 out of 134 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #221 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon M6

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #27 out of 134 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #176 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon M6 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon M3 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon M3. Otherwise, Canon M6 is the better camera overall.

Canon M6 vs Canon M3 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Canon EOS M3	Canon EOS M6
Brand	Canon	Canon
Announced	2015-02-06	2017-02-15
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CMOS
Size	APS-C	APS-C
Dimensions	22.3 x 14.9 mm	22.3 x 14.9 mm
Area	332.27mm²	332.27mm²
Megapixels	24 megapixels	24 megapixels
Max Resolution	6000 x 4000	6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	25600 ISO	-
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	49	49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Canon EF-M	Canon EF-M
Number of Available Lenses	29	29
Screen
Type	Tilting	Tilting
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	1,040k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic (optional)	Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.00 m (at ISO 100)	5.00 m (at ISO 100)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	4.2 fps	9.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	366g	390g
Dimensions	111 x 68 x 44mm	112 x 68 x 45mm
Battery Life	250 shots	295 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	72	78
DxO Color Depth	22.8	23.4
DxO Dynamic Range	11.8	12.6
DxO Low Light ISO	1169	1317
	Report a correction	Report a correction