Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 450D→Canon EOS M
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS 450D. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS M
-
Resolution18MP vs 12MP (+6MP)
-
Generation4 years newer (2012 vs 2008)
Unchanged or similar
-
StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS 450D | EOS M | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | +1.3 | ||
| Travel | +1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.2 | ||
| Documentary | +1.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.6 | ||
| Landscape | +0.6 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.8 | ||
| Casual | +1.7 | ||
| Food | +0.9 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | -0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 450D | EOS M | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £39 | £80 | |
| Released | 2008 | 2012 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.2MP APS-C CMOS | 18MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 18MP | ↑ |
| Video | No video | 1080p 30fps | |
| Autofocus | 9-point phase-detect via viewfinder; contrast (Live mode) AF in live view | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | — | |
| Burst Rate | 3.5fps | 4fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 525g (with battery) | 262g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x | No viewfinder | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 230k dots | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF-M mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 450D and EOS M next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS M against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS 450D
Related buying guides
Camera family history