Sony A5100 vs Canon EOS M50

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony A5100 vs Canon EOS M50

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A5100 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A5100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A5100.
Compare Sony A5100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A5100 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M50 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M50 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M50.
Compare Canon EOS M50 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M50 conclusion.

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Differences

Sony A5100 advantages over Canon EOS M50

Lens selection
Good vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
APS-C vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$448 vs $649
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

400 vs 235 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
35 mm vs 58 mm
Thinner
Bigger JPEG buffer
67 vs 36 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
25 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Canon EOS M50 advantages over Sony A5100

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Newer
6 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
540k vs 230k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Less shutter lag
0.07 vs 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.0 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A5100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M50 User Reviews

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Buy the Sony A5100

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)

All A5100 Deals

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Buy the Canon EOS M50

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 15-45mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 15-45mm Lens (White)
Kit with with 15-45mm and 55-200mm Lenses (Black)
Video Creator Kit (Black)

All EOS M50 Deals

Review Excerpt

Very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; New dual video record function; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.
Lacks an EVF and external mode dial; No hot shoe; JPEG processing at higher ISOs not as good as some competing mid-level models.
Read our Sony A5100 Review

Comfortable ergonomics and solid build; Versatile EVF and tilt-swivel, touch-screen LCD; Good image quality; Great performance for its class; New C-RAW format saves on raw file size; 4K video is an M-series first.
Somewhat limited dynamic range; JPEGs a little soft at base ISO, and more so at higher ISOs; Warm white balance under incandescent light; Poor battery life; Raw buffer is still shallow (but C-RAW helps).
Read our Canon EOS M50 Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1100

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1100

Canon EOS M50

Samsung NX1100

$579
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Sony NEX-5T

Sony A5100

Sony NEX-5T

$348
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$299
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Higher-res screen

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony NEX-5T

Canon EOS M50

Sony NEX-5T

$579
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$299
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Sony NEX-5T

Compared to Sony A5000

Sony A5100

Sony A5000

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony A5000

Canon EOS M50

Sony A5000

$579
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$298
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Sony A5000

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Sony A5100

Canon EOS M5

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$787
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

Compare Sony A5100 vs Canon EOS M5

Canon EOS M50

Canon EOS M5

$579
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Shoot 4K video

$787
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Canon EOS M5

Compared to Sony A6100

Sony A5100

Sony A6100

$348
APS-C

Less expensive
Thinner

$648
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony A6100

Canon EOS M50

Sony A6100

$579
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Higher-res screen

$648
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M50 vs Sony A6100

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