• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 14.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Sony DSLR-A290 advantages over Canon EOS M6

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.16 vs 3.72 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 500 vs 295 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More telephoto lens reach
    83 mm vs 72 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens

Canon EOS M6 advantages over Sony DSLR-A290

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    44 mm vs 79 mm
    Thinner
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Newer
    8 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1040k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 14.2 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.2 fps vs 2.4 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    27 vs 18 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Buy the Canon EOS M6
Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Black)
  • Body Only (Silver)
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  • Kit with 15-45mm lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 18-150mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 18-150mm lens (Silver)
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Review Excerpt

  • Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.

  • Dynamic range and high ISO image quality aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Video features in general are underwhelming; Native EF-M lens selection is limited.

  • Read our Canon EOS M6 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A290
Nikon D5000
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Nikon D5000

Canon EOS M6
Nikon D5000
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Nikon D5000

Compared to Canon T1i

Sony DSLR-A290
Canon T1i
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Canon T1i

Canon EOS M6
Canon T1i
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $900
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Canon T1i

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Sony DSLR-A290
Sony DSLR-A390
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • More viewfinder magnification
  • $507
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Canon EOS M6
Sony DSLR-A390
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $507
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Compared to Fujifilm X-A3

Sony DSLR-A290
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Canon EOS M6
Fujifilm X-A3
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $549
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Compared to Fujifilm X-A5

Sony DSLR-A290
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony DSLR-A290 vs Fujifilm X-A5

Canon EOS M6
Fujifilm X-A5
  • $399
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M6 vs Fujifilm X-A5

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