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EOS-1D vs EOS M

Quick take: The EOS M has the highest resolution at 18MP; the EOS M is the most affordable; only the EOS-1D is weather sealed.

15 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-1D — Professional Digital Camera History Collectors: Canon's first pro digital DSLR — a 4MP, 8fps APS-H monster from 2001 that set the template for every 1D to follow. A landmark piece of digital camera history.

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-1D (2001)
is the right camera for you if…
  • Collectors of professional digital camera milestones
  • Canon historians documenting the evolution of the EOS-1 line
  • Sports photography archivists
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 EOS-1DCanon · 2001EOS MCanon · 2012
Price £150£80Best
Sensor 4.1MP APS-H CMOS (1.3× crop)18MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution 4.1MP18.0MPBest
Video —1080p 30fps
Autofocus 45-point AF with 7 cross-type pointsHybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow
Burst Rate 8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames)Best4fps
Battery Life ~1200 shots per chargeBest~230 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1225g (body only)262g (body only)Best
Dimensions 155.6 × 117.8 × 77.5mm108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm
Weather Sealed YesBestNot weather sealed
Viewfinder OVF, 0.72× magnification, 100% coverageNo viewfinder
Screen 2.0" fixed LCD3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount Canon EFCanon EF-M mount
Memory Cards CompactFlash Type I/II1× SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity USB 1.1, FireWireUSB 2.0

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
EOS-1D
EOS M
Portrait
4.7/10
4.9/10
Street
3.6/10
6.6/10
Travel
3.7/10
6.2/10
Wedding & Events
5.0/10
3.6/10
Documentary
3.7/10
4.5/10
Sports & Action
5.6/10
3.6/10
Landscape
3.7/10
4.2/10
Wildlife
5.9/10
3.9/10
Casual
1.9/10
4.9/10
Food
3.1/10
4.6/10
Macro
2.9/10
3.9/10
Architecture
3.3/10
3.8/10
Astrophotography
5.6/10
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 →

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