EOS M3vs Z5
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.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible 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 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The z5 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m3 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M3 (2015) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | — | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 366g (body only) | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M3 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — |
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