Decision tools · Compare
EOS M vs 1 J5
Quick take: The 1 J5 has the highest resolution at 21MP; the EOS M is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M wins
- Cheaper new: £40 vs £93
- Weight: 262g (body only)
- Portrait: 4.9 vs 3.9
- Wedding & Events: 3.6 vs 2.9
- Macro: 3.9 vs 3.4
Where the 1 J5 wins
- Resolution: 20.8MP
- Burst Rate: 20fps
- Battery Life: ~250 shots (CIPA)
- Sports & Action: 4.5 vs 3.6
16 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
- 1 J5 98 × 60 × 32 mm · 265 g
The 1 J5 is 11 mm narrower, 6 mm shorter and 33 g lighter than the EOS M.
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.
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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS MCanon · 2012 | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 usedBest | £93 used |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 20.8MPBest |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking |
| Stabilisation | — | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 20fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~250 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 262g (body only)Best | 265g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | None (rear screen only) |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Nikon 1 |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single microSD slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC |
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
1 J5
Portrait
4.9/10
3.9/10
Street
6.6/10
6.7/10
Travel
6.0/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
3.6/10
2.9/10
Documentary
4.5/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
3.6/10
4.5/10
Landscape
4.2/10
3.9/10
Wildlife
3.9/10
4.3/10
Casual
4.9/10
5.1/10
Food
4.6/10
4.6/10
Macro
3.9/10
3.4/10
Architecture
3.8/10
3.4/10
Astrophotography
4.0/10
2.6/10
Filmmaking
—
3.2/10
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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