Decision tools · Compare
EOS M vs EOS M3
Quick take: The EOS M3 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS M is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M wins
- Cheaper new: £40 vs £79
- Weight: 262g (body only)
Where the EOS M3 wins
- Resolution: 24.2MP
- Burst Rate: 4.2fps
- Battery Life: ~250 shots (CIPA)
- Portrait: 5.6 vs 4.9
- Sports & Action: 4.2 vs 3.6
15 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 M 109 × 66 × 32 mm · 298 g
- EOS M3 111 × 68 × 44 mm · 366 g
The EOS M is 2 mm narrower, 2 mm shorter, 12 mm slimmer and 68 g lighter than the EOS M3.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
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.
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 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
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 MCanon · 2012 | EOS M3Canon · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 usedBest | £79 used |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/30p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 4.2fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~250 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 262g (body only)Best | 366g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF-M mount |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | 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 M
EOS M3
Portrait
4.9/10
5.6/10
Street
6.6/10
6.9/10
Travel
6.0/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
3.6/10
4.1/10
Documentary
4.5/10
4.3/10
Sports & Action
3.6/10
4.2/10
Landscape
4.2/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
3.9/10
4.4/10
Casual
4.9/10
4.7/10
Food
4.6/10
5.5/10
Macro
3.9/10
4.5/10
Architecture
3.8/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.0/10
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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