Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS M→Canon EOS M3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS M. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS M3
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Resolution24MP vs 18MP (+6MP)
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Generation3 years newer (2015 vs 2012)
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 M | EOS M3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.7 | ||
| Street | +0.3 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.5 | ||
| Documentary | -0.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.6 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.5 | ||
| Casual | -0.2 | ||
| Food | +0.9 | ||
| Macro | +0.6 | ||
| Architecture | +0.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS M | EOS M3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £40 used | £79 used | |
| Released | 2012 | 2015 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 18MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 18MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | 1080p 30fps | 1080p/30p | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | Hybrid CMOS AF III (phase-detect + contrast-detect) | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 4.2fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 262g (body only) | 366g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | No viewfinder | None (optional EVF-DC1 accessory) | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF-M mount | Canon EF-M mount | |
| Memory Cards | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS M and EOS M3 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS M3 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS M
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Camera family history