EOS Mvs A7S II
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
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.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market 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
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The eos m has the highest resolution at 18mp; the eos m is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £799 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
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