Decision tools · Compare
EOS M3 vs A5100
Quick take: The A5100 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the EOS M3 is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M3 wins
- Cheaper new: £79 vs £102
- Wedding & Events: 4.1 vs 3.5
Where the A5100 wins
- Resolution: 24.3MP
- Burst Rate: 6fps
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Sports & Action: 4.7 vs 4.2
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 M3 111 × 68 × 44 mm · 366 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 5 mm shorter, 8 mm slimmer and 83 g lighter than the EOS M3.
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.
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 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
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 M3Canon · 2015 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £79 usedBest | £102 used |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | — | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 6fpsBest |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 366g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | 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, 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 M3
A5100
Portrait
5.6/10
5.4/10
Street
6.9/10
7.0/10
Travel
6.0/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
4.1/10
3.5/10
Vlogging & Video
4.8/10
4.8/10
Documentary
4.3/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
4.2/10
4.7/10
Landscape
4.7/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
4.4/10
5.5/10
Casual
4.7/10
5.2/10
Food
5.5/10
5.9/10
Macro
4.5/10
5.2/10
Architecture
4.7/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
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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