Beginners & Vlogging — EOS M50 II (2020): Canon's most approachable mirrorless — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in a beginner-friendly body.
Casual & Travel — A5100 (2014): The A5100 is one of the smallest APS-C mirrorless cameras ever made. Its 24MP sensor, phase-detect AF, and selfie-friendly flip screen pack remarkable capability into a shirt-pocket-sized body. No EVF or hot shoe limits it for serious use, but as a compact travel camera or beginner's first mirrorless, it punches well above its price on the used market.
Who should buy what
EOS M50 II (2020)
A5100 (2014)
Quick take: The a5100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a5100 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS M50 II (2020) | A5100 (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £449 | £200 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/25p (cropped), 1080p/60p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 143 AF points, eye detection | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | None |
| Burst Rate | 10fps | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~305 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 387g body only | 224g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 88.1 × 58.7mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.39× | None |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro HDMI | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS M50 II | A5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | — |
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