Decision tools · Compare
EOS M5 vs A1 II
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the EOS M5 is the most affordable; only the A1 II is weather sealed.
Where the EOS M5 wins
- Cheaper new: £213 vs £5,699
- Weight: 427g (body only)
Where the A1 II wins
- Resolution: 50.1MP
- Burst Rate: 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical
- Battery Life: ~530 shots (CIPA)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 9.0 vs 5.9
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.
Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Clifton Cameras
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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS M5 116 × 88 × 61 mm · 427 g
- A1 II 136 × 97 × 83 mm · 743 g
The EOS M5 is 20 mm narrower, 9 mm shorter, 22 mm slimmer and 316 g lighter than the A1 II.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M5 — Travel & Portrait: 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.
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
EOS M5 (2016)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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
A1 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS M5Canon · 2016 | A1 IISony · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £213 usedBest | £5,699 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | — | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanicalBest |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 427g (body only)Best | 743g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
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 M5
A1 II
Portrait
5.9/10
9.0/10
Street
6.2/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
4.5/10
8.7/10
Vlogging & Video
4.5/10
6.4/10
Documentary
4.2/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
9.3/10
Landscape
4.6/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
5.3/10
9.2/10
Casual
4.4/10
5.3/10
Food
5.4/10
8.5/10
Macro
4.4/10
8.1/10
Architecture
4.7/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
7.2/10
Filmmaking
—
8.2/10
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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