EOS Mvs EOS M5vs Canon EOS R3
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Canon Mirrorless History & Ef-M Collectors — EOS M (2012): 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.
Travel & Portrait — EOS M5 (2016): The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.
Sports & Photojournalism Professionals — Canon EOS R3 (2021): The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.
Who should buy what
EOS M (2012)
- 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 M5 (2016)
- Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
- Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
- Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
- Professional sports and photojournalism photographers
- Canon users who need the fastest burst and most reliable AF in the system
- R5 users who want a pro-grade grip and faster shooting speed
- Event photographers who need eye-controlled AF and dual card slots
Quick take: The eos m5 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | EOS M5 (2016) | Canon EOS R3 (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £350 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MP | 24.1MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/60p | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF |
| Stabilisation | — | — | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 9fps | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~295 shots (CIPA) | 620 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 427g (body only) | 1015g body only |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon RF |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type B |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | EOS M5 | Canon EOS R3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | ||
| Travel | |||
| Street | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | |||
| Landscape | — | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
Compare pairs from this group
Camera family history