Decision tools · Compare
EOS M vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS M is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M wins
- Cheaper new: £40 vs £102
Where the A5100 wins
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Burst Rate: 6fps
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Portrait: 5.4 vs 4.9
16 specs side by side·15 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
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The EOS M is 3 mm taller, 4 mm slimmer and 15 g heavier than the A5100.
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.
A5100 — Casual & Travel: The A5100 is one of the smallest APS-C mirrorless cameras ever made. Its 24MP sensor, phase-detect AF, and selfie-friendly flip screen pack remarkable capability into a shirt-pocket-sized body. No EVF or hot shoe limits it for serious use, but as a compact travel camera or beginner's first mirrorless, it punches well above its price on the used market.
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
A5100 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS MCanon · 2012 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 usedBest | £102 used |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | — | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | Micro USB, 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
A5100
Portrait
4.9/10
5.4/10
Street
6.6/10
7.0/10
Travel
6.0/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
3.6/10
3.5/10
Documentary
4.5/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
3.6/10
4.7/10
Landscape
4.2/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
3.9/10
5.5/10
Casual
4.9/10
5.2/10
Food
4.6/10
5.9/10
Macro
3.9/10
5.2/10
Architecture
3.8/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
4.0/10
4.7/10
Vlogging & Video
—
4.8/10
Fun & simple
—
4.9/10
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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