Decision tools · Compare
EOS M3 vs EOS M5
Quick take: The EOS M3 is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M3 wins
- Cheaper new: £79 vs £196
- Weight: 366g (body only)
- Street: 6.9 vs 6.2
- Travel: 6.0 vs 5.5
Where the EOS M5 wins
- Burst Rate: 9fps
- Battery Life: ~295 shots (CIPA)
- Sports & Action: 5.3 vs 4.2
- Wildlife: 5.3 vs 4.4
15 specs side by side·14 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.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS M3 111 × 68 × 44 mm · 366 g
- EOS M5 116 × 88 × 61 mm · 427 g
The EOS M3 is 5 mm narrower, 20 mm shorter, 17 mm slimmer and 61 g lighter than the EOS M5.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M3 — Casual & Everyday: The EOS M3 was a meaningful upgrade over the original EOS M — bringing 24MP, a tilting touchscreen, and improved Hybrid CMOS AF III. Video tops out at 1080p/30p and burst shooting is modest, but for stills photographers wanting affordable APS-C quality, the M3 is a competent used-market option.
EOS M5 — Travel & Portrait: The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.
Who should buy what
EOS M3 (2015)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers who want affordable 24MP APS-C quality on a budget
- Casual shooters who want a compact EF-M camera with a tilting screen
- Users looking for an affordable entry into the Canon EF-M ecosystem
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable but inexpensive mirrorless
EOS M5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
- Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
- Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS M3Canon · 2015 | EOS M5Canon · 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £79 usedBest | £196 used |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 9fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~295 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 366g (body only)Best | 427g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF-M mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth |
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 M3
EOS M5
Portrait
5.6/10
5.9/10
Street
6.9/10
6.2/10
Travel
6.0/10
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
4.1/10
4.5/10
Vlogging & Video
4.8/10
4.5/10
Documentary
4.3/10
4.2/10
Sports & Action
4.2/10
5.3/10
Landscape
4.7/10
4.6/10
Wildlife
4.4/10
5.3/10
Casual
4.7/10
4.4/10
Food
5.5/10
5.4/10
Macro
4.5/10
4.4/10
Architecture
4.7/10
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
4.1/10
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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