EOS Mvs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Starting from £699 new
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
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 & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.
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
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- Travel photographers who want a compact, weather-sealed MFT body
- Outdoor photographers upgrading from the E-M10 who want better sealing
- Enthusiasts who want strong IBIS in a lightweight, portable system
- Photographers who want a capable travel camera that won't weigh them down
Quick take: The olympus om-d e-m5 iii has the highest resolution at 20mp; the eos m is the most affordable; only the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £699 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | — | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| 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