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.
Wildlife, Sports & Action — EOS R7 (2022): The EOS R7 is one of the most complete APS-C cameras ever made. It combines a class-leading resolution sensor with best-in-class IBIS, 4K/60p video, weather sealing and 15fps burst. For wildlife, sports and action photographers on an APS-C budget, nothing else comes close.
Who should buy what
EOS M (2012)
EOS M5 (2016)
EOS R7 (2022)
Quick take: The eos r7 has the highest resolution at 32mp; the eos m is the most affordable; only the eos r7 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | EOS M5 (2016) | EOS R7 (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £350 | £1,399 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MP | 32.5MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p (uncropped), 4K/30p (oversampled from 7K), 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 651 AF zones, subject recognition (people, animals, vehicles) |
| Stabilisation | — | — | 7-stop IBIS (8 stops with compatible IS lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 9fps | 15fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (with blackout) |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~770 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 427g (body only) | 612g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 132.0 × 90.4 × 91.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.72× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon RF-mount |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | EOS M5 | EOS R7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | ||
| Travel | |||
| Street | |||
| Portrait | |||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Landscape | — | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | — | |
| Wildlife | — | — | |
| Video | — | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history