• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Canon EOS M advantages over Sony A7

  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • More telephoto lens reach
    88 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Thinner
    32 mm vs 48 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    503g vs 769g
    Lighter weight

Sony A7 advantages over Canon EOS M

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 4.30 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Better color depth
    24.8 vs 22.1 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,248 vs 827 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.2 vs 11.2 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 340 vs 230 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Less shutter lag
    0.23 vs 0.74 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 18.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.0 fps vs 4.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    50 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.0 fps vs 4.4 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    28 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • On-sensor phase detect
    Both provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality similar to Rebel T4i, T5i and SL1 DSLRs, with 18-megapixel APS-C-type sensor delivering considerable resolution for a mirrorless camera; Solid build and sleek design; Bright, high-resolution 3-inch LCD touchscreen monitor; Full 1080p HD video recording that's virtually silent with an STM lens.

  • Barely acceptable autofocus speed still lags far behind most mirrorless cameras despite firmware update fix; Limited physical controls and buttons, including no Program, Priority, or Manual on Mode dial; Lacks built-in flash or electronic viewfinder option; Only two compact EF-M mount lenses currently available.

  • Incredibly small body for a fully-featured, full-frame camera; Very high resolution; Hybrid autofocus is reasonably fast and confident; Significantly better burst-shooting performance than A7R; Excellent image quality even at very high sensitivities; Faster x-sync than A7R; Accepts existing Alpha-mount and E-mount lenses, and can optionally crop to APS-C image circle.

  • Grass-is-greener syndrome when compared to its higher-res sibling; Moderate performance; Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Mediocre battery life when using electronic viewfinder; Weak low-light autofocus considering its price; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R

Canon EOS M
Sony A7R
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Sony A7
Sony A7R
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1799
  • 35mm
  • Higher effective ISO
  • More pixels

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Canon EOS M
Sony NEX-C3
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
Sony A7
Sony NEX-C3
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS M
Sony NEX-5N
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7
Sony NEX-5N
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Canon EOS M
Sony NEX-5R
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • External Mic Jack
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Sony A7
Sony NEX-5R
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Sony A7 II

Canon EOS M
Sony A7 II
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Sony A7
Sony A7 II
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $1148
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
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