EOS M3vs Z5 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Casual & Everyday — EOS M3 (2015): 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.
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
Who should buy what
EOS M3 (2015)
- 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
Z5 II (2024)
- DSLR photographers making the switch to full-frame mirrorless
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame Z quality at the most accessible price
- Z5 owners wanting significantly improved autofocus and uncropped 4K
- Landscape and portrait photographers stepping up from APS-C
Quick take: The z5 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m3 is the most affordable; only the z5 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M3 (2015) | Z5 II (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 366g (body only) | 700g body only |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M3 | Z5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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