EOS M5vs EOS R
Canon
EOS R (2018)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Entry to full-frame mirrorless & RF lens exploration
View EOS R
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Travel & Portrait — EOS M5 (2016): The EOS M5 was the first EF-M camera with a built-in EVF — and it made the system feel complete. Fast Dual Pixel AF, a 9fps burst, and a high-resolution articulating screen deliver a confident shooting experience. No IBIS and 1080p video only limit its appeal for hybrid work, but for stills photographers it remains one of the most well-rounded EF-M bodies available.
Entry To Full-Frame Mirrorless & Rf Lens Exploration — EOS R (2018): The RF mount's founding camera — 30MP, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, and the proof-of-concept that launched Canon's mirrorless era.
Who should buy what
EOS M5 (2016)
- Enthusiast photographers who want an EVF in a compact EF-M body
- Photographers switching from DSLR who want familiar handling
- Portrait and travel photographers who value fast AF and good ergonomics
- Used-market buyers wanting a capable EF-M stills camera
EOS R (2018)
- Canon DSLR users wanting to enter the RF ecosystem at the lowest full-frame price
- EF lens collectors who want an affordable RF body to use with the EF-RF adapter
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who want full-frame quality on a budget
- RF system fans who want a second body without full EOS R6 pricing
Quick take: The eos r has the highest resolution at 30mp; the eos m5 is the most affordable; only the eos r is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M5 (2016) | EOS R (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 30.3MP full-frame CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 30.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p (1.7× crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | Dual Pixel CMOS AF — 5655 AF areas, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | — | None |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g (body only) | 660g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 135.8 × 98.3 × 84.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M5 | EOS R |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding | — | |
| 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