Decision tools · Compare
EOS M vs EOS M5
Quick take: The EOS M5 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS M is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M wins
- Cheaper new: £40 vs £213
- Weight: 262g (body only)
- Travel: 6.0 vs 5.5
- Casual: 4.9 vs 4.4
Where the EOS M5 wins
- Resolution: 24.2MP
- Burst Rate: 9fps
- Battery Life: ~295 shots (CIPA)
- Portrait: 5.9 vs 4.9
- Wedding & Events: 4.5 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 M5 116 × 88 × 61 mm · 427 g
The EOS M is 7 mm narrower, 22 mm shorter, 29 mm slimmer and 129 g lighter than the EOS M5.
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 M5 — Travel & Portrait: 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.
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 M5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS MCanon · 2012 | EOS M5Canon · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 usedBest | £213 used |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.2MPBest |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 9fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~295 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 262g (body only)Best | 427g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M 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, Bluetooth |
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 M5
Portrait
4.9/10
5.9/10
Street
6.6/10
6.2/10
Travel
6.0/10
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
3.6/10
4.5/10
Documentary
4.5/10
4.2/10
Sports & Action
3.6/10
5.3/10
Landscape
4.2/10
4.6/10
Wildlife
3.9/10
5.3/10
Casual
4.9/10
4.4/10
Food
4.6/10
5.4/10
Macro
3.9/10
4.4/10
Architecture
3.8/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.0/10
4.1/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.5/10
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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