EOS M3vs A7C 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 Hybrid — A7C II (2023): Full-frame AI autofocus in the most compact body available — the best camera under £1,500 for hybrid shooters.
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
A7C II (2023)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame quality in the most compact body
- Hybrid shooters who need full-frame video and IBIS in a small package
- A7C owners looking for a significant AF and video upgrade
- Portrait and wedding photographers who want a discreet full-frame backup
Quick take: The a7c ii has the highest resolution at 33mp; the eos m3 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M3 (2015) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/30p | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 4.2fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 366g (body only) | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual slots: SD UHS-II + CFexpress Type A |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M3 | A7C 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