EOS Mvs A7S
Canon
EOS M (2012)
Starting from £80 new
Best for Canon mirrorless history & EF-M collectors
View EOS M
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The eos m has the highest resolution at 18mp; the eos m is the most affordable; only the a7s is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M (2012) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £80 | £600 |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 18.0MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only — notoriously slow | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | — | None |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 108.6 × 66.5 × 32.3mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF accessory) | Electronic, 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 (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| 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