EOS M3vs A7
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.
Camera History & Full-Frame Introduction — A7 (2013): The camera that changed photography — the world's first compact full-frame mirrorless, the A7 launched a product family that redefined what was possible.
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 (2013)
- Photographers interested in the camera that launched the full-frame mirrorless era
- Budget-conscious buyers who want to experience full-frame image quality at minimal cost
- Sony FE system users who want the original A7 for sentimental or historical value
- Those adapting vintage lenses who want full-frame with phase-detect AF at low cost
Quick take: The a7 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m3 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M3 (2015) | A7 (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £299 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | 117 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points |
| Stabilisation | — | None |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 366g (body only) | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M3 | A7 |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Landscape | — |
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