Decision tools · Compare

A1 vs EOS M

Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 55MP; the EOS M is the most affordable.

Different kinds of camera — their specs aren't comparable, so read the rows as facts, not a contest.

31 specs side by side·13 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Verdictwhich should you buy?

EOS M — Canon Mirrorless History & Ef-M Collectors: Canon's first mirrorless — a historic body that broke new ground with touch-AF and EF-M, but its sluggish contrast-detect system quickly became its Achilles heel.

Who should buy what
EOS M (2012)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Canon shooters who want the camera that started Canon's mirrorless story
  • Budget first-time mirrorless buyers who already own EF/EF-S glass
  • Collectors of significant digital camera milestones
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification A1Antigravity · 2025EOS MCanon · 2012
Price £909£40 usedBest
Sensor —18MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution 55.0MPBest18.0MP
Video —1080p 30fps
Autofocus —Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow
Burst Rate —4fps
Battery Life —~230 shots (CIPA)
Weight —262g (body only)
Dimensions —108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedNot weather sealed
Viewfinder —No viewfinder
Screen —3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Fixed lens (360°, f/2.2)Canon EF-M mount
Memory Cards —1× SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity —USB 2.0
Take-off weight 249 g—
Fly without registering Yes — under 250 g—
Flight time 24 min—
Wind resistance 10.7 m/s—
Obstacle sensing Omnidirectional—
Video link OmniLink 360—
Range 6.0 km—
Top speed 16.0 m/s—
Cameras 1—
RAW stills Yes—
Vertical shooting Not supported—
Intelligent flight Subject tracking, waypoints, return-to-home—
Storage 20 GB built in + microSD slot—
Controller in the box Vision goggles + Grip Motion Controller—
FPV Yes, goggles in the box—
Folds Yes—

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
A1
EOS M
Portrait
—
4.9/10
Street
—
6.6/10
Travel
—
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
—
3.6/10
Documentary
—
4.5/10
Sports & Action
—
3.6/10
Landscape
—
4.2/10
Wildlife
—
3.9/10
Casual
—
4.9/10
Food
—
4.6/10
Macro
—
3.9/10
Architecture
—
3.8/10
Astrophotography
—
4.0/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

Next
More comparisons with A1
Camera family history