EOS Mvs EOS M5vs EOS RP
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
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.
Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography — EOS RP (2019): An affordable gateway into the RF system. The RP makes sense as a stepping stone camera — if you're committed to Canon RF glass, this is the cheapest full-frame body to buy those lenses for. Just manage expectations on video and battery life.
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
EOS RP (2019)
- Canon users who want to start investing in RF glass affordably
- Stills photographers who shoot primarily in good light
- Anyone coming from a Canon DSLR wanting the RF system at low cost
- Travel photographers who prioritise compactness over video specs
Quick take: The eos rp has the highest resolution at 26mp; the eos m is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | EOS M5 (2016) | EOS RP (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £350 | £799 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MP | 26.2MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/60p | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions |
| Stabilisation | — | — | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 9fps | 5fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 427g (body only) | 485g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon RF-mount |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | EOS M5 | EOS RP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | ||
| Travel | |||
| Street | |||
| Portrait | |||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Landscape | — | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | — | |
| Video | — | — | |
| Wildlife | — | — |
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