EOS Mvs Z5 II
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
VS
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.
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
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
Z5 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
Quick take: The z5 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m is the most affordable; only the z5 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | Z5 II (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 700g body only |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | Z5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
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Camera family history