Decision tools · Compare
EOS 550D vs EOS M3
Quick take: The EOS M3 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS 550D is the most affordable.
Where the EOS 550D wins
- Cheaper new: £26 vs £79
- Battery Life: ~440 shots (CIPA)
- Wildlife: 5.0 vs 4.4
Where the EOS M3 wins
- Resolution: 24.2MP
- Burst Rate: 4.2fps
- Weight: 366g (body only)
- Street: 6.9 vs 5.4
- Travel: 6.0 vs 4.8
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
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.
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS 550D 129 × 98 × 75 mm · 530 g
- EOS M3 111 × 68 × 44 mm · 366 g
The EOS M3 is 18 mm narrower, 30 mm shorter, 31 mm slimmer and 164 g lighter than the EOS 550D.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M3 — Casual & Everyday: The EOS M3 was a meaningful upgrade over the original EOS M — bringing 24MP, a tilting touchscreen, and improved Hybrid CMOS AF III. Video tops out at 1080p/30p and burst shooting is modest, but for stills photographers wanting affordable APS-C quality, the M3 is a competent used-market option.
Who should buy what
EOS M3 (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers who want affordable 24MP APS-C quality on a budget
- Casual shooters who want a compact EF-M camera with a tilting screen
- Users looking for an affordable entry into the Canon EF-M ecosystem
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable but inexpensive mirrorless
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS 550DCanon · 2010 | EOS M3Canon · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £26 usedBest | £79 used |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | 1080p/30p |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | — |
| Burst Rate | 3.7fps | 4.2fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~440 shots (CIPA)Best | ~250 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 530g (with battery) | 366g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 128.8 × 97.5 × 75.3mm | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 0.87x | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF-M mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, AV out, 3.5mm mic, E3 remote | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
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 550D
EOS M3
Portrait
5.4/10
5.6/10
Street
5.4/10
6.9/10
Travel
4.8/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
4.0/10
4.1/10
Documentary
4.0/10
4.3/10
Sports & Action
4.5/10
4.2/10
Landscape
4.0/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
5.0/10
4.4/10
Casual
3.3/10
4.7/10
Food
4.0/10
5.5/10
Macro
3.8/10
4.5/10
Architecture
4.4/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.4/10
4.1/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.8/10
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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