Canon

Canon EOS M3

The Canon EOS M3 was a significant improvement over the original EOS M — introducing a tilting touchscreen, a comfortable grip, and the 24.2MP Hybrid CMOS AF III sensor that brought the EF-M system much closer to mainstream mirrorless standards. An optional EVF accessory (EVF-DC1) provides a viewfinder experience for those who need it, and a built-in flash adds value for indoor shooting. Video is limited to 1080p/30p, and the burst rate of 4.2fps reflects its era. The M3 was nonetheless a genuine step forward — 24MP image quality, solid autofocus, and a usable design at a price that remains compelling on the used market.

GearFrame's Take

The EOS M3 was a meaningful upgrade over the original EOS M — bringing 24MP, a tilting touchscreen, and improved Hybrid CMOS AF III. Video tops out at 1080p/30p and burst shooting is modest, but for stills photographers wanting affordable APS-C quality, the M3 is a competent used-market option.

Used from
£156
🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Used
eBay
eBay used
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£79
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Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video used
£156
Check on Wex Photo Video →
MPB
MPB used
Inspected used stock · 12-month warranty
£244
Check on MPB →
New
No new stock at our retailers
eBay
eBay
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£78
Search eBay →
Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Value & Depreciation
£600
Launch price
→
£150
Today
=
75%
Value drop
Over ~11 years, this camera has cost roughly £41/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today). That's one of the lower cost-per-year cameras in its class.

What fits the Canon EOS M3

See all 301 accessories that fit →
Battery LP-E17 250 shots per charge (CIPA) From £44.00 · Canon LP-E17 Battery Every LP-E17 battery and charger →
Memory card
SD Single slot Cheapest at V30 / U3+: £15.99 · Lexar Professional 1066x 64GB SD
Top mode needs V30 / U3 (from its top video mode and burst rate) SD cards and speeds →
Filter size Depends on the lens. The commonest threads on Canon EF-M lenses: 52mm543mm355mm349mm262mm239mm167mm177mm1 Number = lenses with that thread. Your lens's size is on its product page. All filter sizes →
Core
Released
2015
Sensor
24.2MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution
24.2 MP
Mount
Canon EF-M mount
Dimensions
110.9 × 68.0 × 44.4mm
Weight
366g (body only)
Weather Sealed
No
Performance
Autofocus
Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect)
Burst Rate
4.2fps
Battery Life
~250 shots (CIPA)
Features
Video
1080p/30p
Viewfinder
None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory)
Screen
3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Memory Cards
Single SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity
USB, Wi-Fi, NFC
Detailed Specs
Sensor Format
APS-C
Viewfinder Type
Optional add-on
Screen Type
Tilting
Touchscreen
Yes
Card Slots
1
Battery Life (CIPA)
250 shots
Dimensions
111 × 68 × 44mm
Weight (Grams)
366g
Autofocus Type
On-sensor phase detect (hybrid)
Subject Detection
Face
Max Burst Rate
4.2fps
In-Body Stabilisation
No
Maximum Native ISO
12800
Max Video Resolution
1080p–2.7K
10-Bit Video
No
Log Profile
No
Built-in Microphone Input
Yes
Headphone Jack
No

Select up to 2 cameras to compare against the EOS M3. It's always pinned as the baseline.

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21 lenses compatible with the Canon EF-M mount mount.

Who should buy this
  • Photographers who want affordable 24MP APS-C quality on a budget
  • Casual shooters who want a compact EF-M camera with a tilting screen
  • Users looking for an affordable entry into the Canon EF-M ecosystem
  • Used-market buyers wanting a capable but inexpensive mirrorless
GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
5.6/10
Street
6.9/10
Travel
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
4.1/10
Vlogging & Video
4.8/10
Documentary
4.3/10
Sports & Action
4.2/10
Landscape
4.7/10
Wildlife
4.4/10
Casual
4.7/10
Food
5.5/10
Macro
4.5/10
Architecture
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
✅ Great For
🌆
Street 6.9 Strong on portability, discreet body and autofocus.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🌌
Astrophotography 4.1 Held back by astro aids and battery life.
💍
Wedding & Events 4.1 Held back by pro reliability and generation.
⚡
Sports & Action 4.2 Held back by burst speed and pro reliability. 4.2fps burst and basic AF struggle with fast-moving subjects.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →

Video reviews and hands-on coverage for the Canon EOS M3 from across YouTube.

Video results sourced from YouTube. GearFrame is not affiliated with these channels.

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Go deeper

Keep exploring

📸
Series history
Canon EOS M Series
Canon's compact EF-M mirrorless system — from beginner to enthusiast.
→