EOS Mvs EOS R100vs EOS R50
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
Canon
EOS R100 (2023)
Starting from £529 new
Best for First camera / beginner photography
View EOS R100
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.
First Camera / Beginner Photography — EOS R100 (2023): The R100 does the basics well at the lowest possible price point. Its main value is as a gateway into the Canon RF ecosystem — the lenses you buy now will work on any Canon body you upgrade to later. Modest ambitions, reliably met.
Beginners & Family — EOS R50 (2023): Canon's most beginner-friendly RF body — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in an approachable package.
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 R100 (2023)
- First-time camera buyers stepping up from a smartphone
- Students and hobbyists wanting an affordable starting point
- Anyone who wants to start investing in Canon RF glass on a budget
- Casual photographers who don't need advanced video or speed
EOS R50 (2023)
- Beginners buying their first interchangeable-lens camera
- Family photographers who want reliable subject tracking in a compact body
- R100 buyers who want a step up with better video and subject detection
- Casual content creators who want a simple, capable RF camera on a budget
Quick take: The eos r50 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | EOS R100 (2023) | EOS R50 (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £529 | £599 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.1MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (uncropped 4K/24p), FHD/60p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, face/eye/subject tracking |
| Stabilisation | — | None (no IBIS) | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 6.5fps mechanical | 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 356g (body, battery, card) | 375g body only |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon RF-mount | Canon RF-S / RF |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | EOS R100 | EOS R50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | — | |
| Travel | — | ||
| Street | |||
| Portrait | |||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Video | — | — | |
| Wildlife | — | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | — | |
| Landscape | — | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | — |
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