Canon

Canon EOS M5

The Canon EOS M5 was a significant step forward for the EF-M system — the first EOS M camera with a built-in EVF, giving it the handling and versatility of a more traditional mirrorless. Its 24.2MP APS-C Dual Pixel CMOS sensor delivers fast, accurate autofocus, and the 3.2" high-resolution articulating touchscreen is one of the best Canon produced for the range. A 9fps burst rate handles moderate action, and the deep grip makes it feel more assured than other EF-M bodies. The M5 lacks IBIS and tops out at 1080p/60p video — keeping it in the enthusiast stills category rather than hybrid shooting. For photographers who want the best EF-M handling experience without the M6 Mark II's resolution premium, the M5 is an excellent used-market option.

GearFrame's Take

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.

Used from
£214
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£196
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Inspected used stock · 12-month warranty
£214
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New
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£184
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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
£1049
Launch price
→
£350
Today
=
67%
Value drop
Over ~10 years, this camera has cost roughly £70/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 M5

See all 304 accessories that fit →
Battery LP-E17 295 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
2016
Sensor
24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel)
Resolution
24.2 MP
Mount
Canon EF-M mount
Dimensions
116.2 × 88.1 × 60.6mm
Weight
427g (body only)
Weather Sealed
No
Performance
Autofocus
Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face detection
Burst Rate
9fps
Battery Life
~295 shots (CIPA)
Features
Video
1080p/60p
Viewfinder
Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.39" type
Screen
3.2" tilting touchscreen, 1.62M dots
Memory Cards
Single SD UHS-I slot
Connectivity
USB, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth
Detailed Specs
Sensor Format
APS-C
Viewfinder Type
Electronic
Screen Type
Tilting
Touchscreen
Yes
Card Slots
1
Battery Life (CIPA)
295 shots
Dimensions
116 × 88 × 61mm
Weight (Grams)
427g
Autofocus Type
On-sensor phase detect (hybrid)
Subject Detection
Face
Max Burst Rate
9.0fps
In-Body Stabilisation
No
Maximum Native ISO
25600
Max Video Resolution
1080p–2.7K
10-Bit Video
No
Log Profile
No
Built-in Microphone Input
Yes
Headphone Jack
No

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

Who should buy this
  • 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
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
5.9/10
Street
6.2/10
Travel
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
4.5/10
Vlogging & Video
4.5/10
Documentary
4.2/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
Landscape
4.6/10
Wildlife
5.3/10
Casual
4.4/10
Food
5.4/10
Macro
4.4/10
Architecture
4.7/10
Astrophotography
4.1/10
✅ Great For
🌆
Street 6.2 Strong on autofocus, viewfinder and screen flexibility. EVF, fast AF, and a compact build create a confident street shooting experience.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🌌
Astrophotography 4.1 Held back by astro aids and battery life.
🎥
Documentary 4.2 Held back by generation and video capability.
🔬
Macro 4.4 Held back by stabilisation and in-camera focus stacking.
📝 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 M5 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.
→