Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS R1→Canon EOS M
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Skip it
The EOS M offers little measurable spec improvement over the EOS R1. Spend the money on glass instead.
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution18MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
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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 R1 | EOS M | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -3.4 | ||
| Street | +0.9 | ||
| Travel | +0.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -4.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -3.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -5.5 | ||
| Landscape | -2.1 | ||
| Wildlife | -5.0 | ||
| Casual | +0.3 | ||
| Food | -3.0 | ||
| Macro | -4.4 | ||
| Architecture | -2.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.7 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS R1 | EOS M | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £80 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2012 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked CMOS | 18MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 18MP | ↓ |
| Video | 6K RAW/60p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p | 1080p 30fps | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF III — 100% coverage, deep learning subject detection | Hybrid CMOS AF (phase + contrast), notoriously slow | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 8 stops combined | — | |
| Burst Rate | 40fps electronic, 12fps mechanical | 4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~530 shots (CIPA) | ~230 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 920g (body only) | 262g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification | No viewfinder | |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Canon RF mount | Canon EF-M mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | 1× SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS R1 and EOS M next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS M against your specific genres — not just specs.
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