Shot my first event with it last weekend. I used it with the 18-150mm lens, which is a bit softer IQ-wise than what I'm used to, but still decent enough especially when the equivalent FF setup would just be impractical.
But onto the camera. Coming from the M10 (and original M), the physical buttons and dials on the unit are a godsend. A bit tight for someone like me with bigger hands, but beats fiddling through the menu or touching the screen for everything. Still learning the customization options, but in manual mode, for example, you can set the dial around the shutter button for shutter speed, the dial on the back for aperture, and the dial on the upper right (under the exp comp wheel) to change drive mode, ISO speed, etc. This makes a big difference in control and therefore ease of use.
The extra resolution (from 18MP to 24 MP) is definitely welcomed, especially now that I've started printing my photos. Allows me to crop just that little bit more and still get that 8x12...or get 12x18 at 300 PPI using full 24MP resolution.
I find the RAW files from the M6 to be surprisingly flexible for a crop-sensor camera. Definitely a noted increase in editing latitude over the M10 and M. The color rendition seems to be a bit more natural too - I found myself making little to no adjustment on colors (only contrast, but that's more on the 18-150mm lens which struggles in that regard). And like all of Canon's newest cameras, OOC files need sharpening, sometimes a lot of it, to look crisp.
The AF is further improved over the previous M cameras, but I still missed several shots due to focus hunting and failure to lock on. But keep in mind a) I had a lens with a big range attached and b) I'm still learning the camera. I don't think I had servo turned on, but don't know if it would have made much difference. I can say with confidence though that a DSLR - even the most basic model - is still far superior if AF speed is critical.
I do like the ability to pick a smaller "area" for the AF. One of my biggest complaints over previous Ms was the large AF area which made it hard to focus on small subjects or get accurate AF on them. In fact, I left the smaller box on by default when I went out to shoot.
FPS - this camera has got the speed (for short durations) to stop action if needed. The 7 FPS is noticeably faster than anything I had from the M10 or M. I didn't stress the AF much but based on my experience I would still stick to a DSLR for sports. That said, it's still quick enough to capture a series of facial expressions or body movements.
In summary, what I like:
- Dedicated exp comp wheel, mode dial and customizable dials
- Comfortable hand grip, if a bit small compared to DSLR grips
- On/off is now a switch instead of a button you must hold down - makes a difference in time needed to get camera ready!
- Improved AF and speed
- Files more flexible in post-processing workflow
- Custom modes, 2 of them to boot
- Smaller AF window makes it easier to focus on smaller subjects
- Screen tilts down slightly for shooting over crowds
- Camera and 18-150mm lens is at the physical limit of what will squeeze into a Dashpoint 30 bag (lugs stick out, require some maneuvering w/zipper but with some effort, the bag WILL zip)
What I didn't care for:
- AF can still hunt sometimes, even in good light
- Buffer could be improved, particularly given the speed of this camera
- Images are softer out of camera and need PP work if good sharpness is desired