EOS M3vs A7 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.
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
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
A7 II (2014)
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
Quick take: The a7 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m3 is the most affordable; only the a7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M3 (2015) | A7 II (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £549 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 1080p 60fps |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 366g (body only) | 599g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M3 | A7 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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Camera family history