EOS M5vs A7 II
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.
Travel, Portrait — A7 II (2014): The camera that proved full-frame IBIS was possible in a compact body.
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
A7 II (2014)
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want full-frame on a budget
- Film shooters adapting vintage lenses (IBIS helps enormously)
Quick take: The a7 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m5 is the most affordable; only the a7 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M5 (2016) | A7 II (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £549 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | Full-frame BSI CMOS 35mm |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 1080p 60fps |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | 117-point phase-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 4.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 5fps |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g (body only) | 599g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF 0.71× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.23M-dot |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-Mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | SD / Memory Stick Pro Duo |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, NFC, Micro USB, Micro HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M5 | A7 II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| 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