Sony A58 vs Canon EOS M3

Cameras
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Sony A58 vs Canon EOS M3

APS-C 366.6mm²
20.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A58 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A58 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A58.
Compare Sony A58 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A58 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M3 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M3.
Compare Canon EOS M3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Sony A68
Compare A58 vs A68

Succeeded by the Canon EOS M6
Compare EOS M3 vs EOS M6

Compare SONY A68 vs CANON EOS M6

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Differences

Sony A58 advantages over Canon EOS M3

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.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 4.31 vs 3.72 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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

700 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Faster JPEG shooting
4.9 fps vs 4.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.8 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
6 vs 4 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Sony A58

Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
EOS M3 test data on DxO Mark A58 test data on DxO Mark

1,169 vs 753 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
44 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
More dots on screen
1040k vs 461k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 8 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 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
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
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
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A58 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M3 User Reviews

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Buy the Sony A58

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Buy the Canon EOS M3

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (White)

All EOS M3 Deals

Review Excerpt

Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).
Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.
Read our Sony A58 Review

DSLR image quality & resolution in a mirrorless body; Higher-res 24MP APS-C sensor; Much improved AF performance; Better ergonomics with full PASM dial; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC; Tilting LCD.
No built-in EVF; Limited native lens selection; Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; No 60p video frame rate or 4K video option.
Read our Canon EOS M3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Sony A58

Pentax K-5 IIs

$598
APS-C

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony A58 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Canon EOS M3

Pentax K-5 IIs

$429
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Nikon D5200

Sony A58

Nikon D5200

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Nikon D5200

Canon EOS M3

Nikon D5200

$429
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$500
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Nikon D5200

Compared to Canon T5i

Sony A58

Canon T5i

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$539
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A58 vs Canon T5i

Canon EOS M3

Canon T5i

$429
APS-C

Focus peaking
Built-in Wi-Fi

$539
APS-C

Lens selection
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Canon T5i

Compared to Sony A5100

Sony A58

Sony A5100

$598
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Sony A58 vs Sony A5100

Canon EOS M3

Sony A5100

$429
APS-C

More telephoto lens reach
External Mic Jack

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Sony A5100

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Sony A58

Fujifilm X-E3

$598
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$699
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A58 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Canon EOS M3

Fujifilm X-E3

$429
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Fujifilm X-E3

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