EOS M5vs A7C 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.
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 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
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 m5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M5 (2016) | A7C II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 33MP Full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled, S-Log3, 10-bit internal |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS, 7.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g (body only) | 514g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 124.0 × 71.1 × 63.4mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M 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, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M5 | A7C 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