Decision tools · Compare
EOS M6 Mark II vs A5100
Quick take: The EOS M6 Mark II has the highest resolution at 32MP; the A5100 is the most affordable.
Where the EOS M6 Mark II wins
- Resolution: 32.5MP
- Burst Rate: 14fps (mechanical and electronic)
- Portrait: 6.0 vs 5.4
- Wedding & Events: 4.7 vs 3.5
- Documentary: 4.9 vs 4.1
Where the A5100 wins
- Cheaper new: £102 vs £337
- Battery Life: ~400 shots (CIPA)
- Weight: 224g (body only)
- Travel: 6.4 vs 5.8
16 specs side by side·16 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
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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Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- EOS M6 Mark II 120 × 70 × 49 mm · 408 g
- A5100 110 × 63 × 36 mm · 283 g
The A5100 is 10 mm narrower, 7 mm shorter, 13 mm slimmer and 125 g lighter than the EOS M6 Mark II.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS M6 Mark II — Portrait & Street: The M6 Mark II is the peak of the EF-M system — 32.5MP, 14fps, and Dual Pixel CMOS AF II in a compact rangefinder-style body. No built-in EVF is the main compromise, but the optional EVF-DC2 resolves this. An outstanding used-market buy for photographers who want high resolution and fast AF in a genuinely compact body.
A5100 — Casual & Travel: 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 M6 Mark II (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Enthusiast photographers who want the best the EF-M system offers
- Portrait and landscape photographers wanting high resolution in a compact body
- Street photographers who want a fast, discreet, high-resolution camera
- Used-market buyers seeking top EF-M performance
A5100 (2014)
is the right camera for you if…
- Beginners stepping up from a smartphone
- Compact travel photographers
- Casual vloggers who want APS-C quality
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS M6 Mark IICanon · 2019 | A5100Sony · 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £337 used | £102 usedBest |
| Sensor | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel) | 24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 32.5MPBest | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (1.56× crop), 1080p/120p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with face and eye detection | Hybrid phase-detect / contrast-detect AF, face detection |
| Stabilisation | — | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 14fps (mechanical and electronic)Best | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~305 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 408g (body only) | 224g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 119.6 × 70.0 × 49.2mm | 109.6 × 62.8 × 35.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC2 accessory) | No viewfinder |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" flip-up touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Micro USB, 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 M6 Mark II
A5100
Portrait
6.0/10
5.4/10
Street
6.8/10
7.0/10
Travel
5.8/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
4.7/10
3.5/10
Vlogging & Video
5.0/10
4.8/10
Filmmaking
4.7/10
—
Documentary
4.9/10
4.1/10
Sports & Action
5.5/10
4.7/10
Landscape
5.1/10
5.0/10
Wildlife
5.4/10
5.5/10
Casual
4.8/10
5.2/10
Food
5.9/10
5.9/10
Macro
5.5/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.2/10
5.2/10
Astrophotography
4.5/10
4.7/10
Fun & simple
—
4.9/10
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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