Decision tools · Compare
EOS M100 vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP.
Where the EOS M100 wins
- Price: £102 used
- Burst Rate: 6.1fps
- Casual: 5.8 vs 5.2
Where the A5100 wins
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Sports & Action: 4.7 vs 4.1
- Wildlife: 5.5 vs 4.3
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 M100 108 × 67 × 35 mm · 302 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 2 mm wider, 4 mm shorter and 19 g lighter than the EOS M100.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M100 — Casual & Everyday: The EOS M100 is Canon's most stripped-back EF-M camera — small, simple, and focused on making great photos easy. Dual Pixel AF, 24MP, and a tilting touchscreen are its strengths; no EVF, no IBIS, and no 4K are its compromises. A solid, affordable first mirrorless for casual photographers who want more than a smartphone.
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 M100 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Smartphone users wanting their first interchangeable-lens camera
- Casual photographers who want APS-C quality in a slim, stylish body
- Anyone wanting a simple, affordable EF-M entry point
- Students and beginners learning photography
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 M100Canon · 2017 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £102 usedBest | £102 used |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face and subject detection | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | — | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 6.1fpsBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 266g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 108.2 × 67.1 × 35.1mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | 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 M100
A5100
Portrait
5.0/10
5.4/10
Street
6.9/10
7.0/10
Travel
6.3/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
3.4/10
3.5/10
Vlogging & Video
5.0/10
4.8/10
Documentary
4.1/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
4.1/10
4.7/10
Landscape
4.9/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
4.3/10
5.5/10
Casual
5.8/10
5.2/10
Food
5.9/10
5.9/10
Macro
4.6/10
5.2/10
Architecture
4.7/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
4.2/10
4.7/10
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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