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EOS M5 vs A5000

Quick take: The EOS M5 has the highest resolution at 24MP; the A5000 is the most affordable.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

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.

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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.

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
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification EOS M5Canon · 2016A5000Sony · 2014
Price £218 used£78 usedBest
Sensor 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel)20.1MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution 24.2MPBest20.1MP
Video 1080p/60pFull HD 1080 (60i / 25p AVCHD), 1440×1080/30p MP4
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection25-point contrast AF with face detection
Stabilisation —No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
Burst Rate 9fpsBest3.5fps
Battery Life ~295 shots (CIPA)~420 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 427g (body only)269g (with battery)Best
Dimensions 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedNot weather sealed
Viewfinder Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" typeNone (rear screen only)
Screen 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots3.0" 180° flip-up LCD, 460k dots
Mount Canon EF-M mountSony E-mount
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-I slotSingle SD slot
Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, BluetoothMicro USB (Multi Terminal), micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC

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
A5000
Portrait
5.9/10
4.3/10
Street
6.2/10
6.5/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
4.5/10
2.6/10
Vlogging & Video
4.5/10
—
Documentary
4.2/10
3.5/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
3.1/10
Landscape
4.6/10
4.7/10
Wildlife
5.3/10
4.2/10
Casual
4.4/10
4.3/10
Food
5.4/10
5.2/10
Macro
4.4/10
4.7/10
Architecture
4.7/10
4.8/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
4.8/10

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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