EOS M5vs A7S II
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S 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.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
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
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The eos m5 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos m5 is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M5 (2016) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £350 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | — | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~295 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 427g (body only) | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M5 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Street | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Low Light | — | |
| 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