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EOS M3 vs Canon EOS R8 Mark II

Quick take: The EOS M3 is the most affordable; only the Canon EOS R8 Mark II is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

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

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.

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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS M3Canon · 2015Canon EOS R8 Mark IICanon · 2026
Price £150Best£1,729
Sensor 24.2MP APS-C CMOS24.2MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution 24.2MP24.2MP
Video 1080p/30p4K/60p oversampled from 6K, 10-bit Canon Log 3/HLG
Autofocus Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect)Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection (people/animals/vehicles)
Stabilisation —7.5-stop IBIS
Burst Rate 4.2fps40fps electronicBest
Battery Life ~250 shots (CIPA)Best150 shots (CIPA, via EVF)
Weight 366g (body only)Best546g (with battery and card)
Dimensions 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm—
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory)EVF, 2.36M dots
Screen 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dotsVari-angle touchscreen
Mount Canon EF-M mountCanon RF-mount
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slotSingle SD (UHS-II)
Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, NFCUSB-C, HDMI (micro), Wi-Fi, 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
Canon EOS R8 Mark II
Portrait
5.6/10
8.3/10
Street
6.9/10
6.9/10
Travel
6.2/10
6.6/10
Wedding & Events
4.1/10
7.1/10
Vlogging & Video
5.0/10
6.7/10
Documentary
4.3/10
7.7/10
Sports & Action
4.2/10
8.0/10
Landscape
4.7/10
6.4/10
Wildlife
4.4/10
8.3/10
Casual
4.7/10
5.8/10
Food
5.5/10
8.0/10
Macro
4.5/10
8.5/10
Architecture
4.7/10
6.6/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
6.3/10
Filmmaking
—
7.0/10

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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