Canon EOS M10 Image Quality

Here, we compare the original 18-megapixel Canon EOS M which came out in 2012 to the 18-megapixel Canon EOS M10. As you can see, apart from brighter, more pleasing colors from the newer model, image quality is very similar here at base ISO.

Above we compare the M10 to its bigger brother, the 24-megapixel EOS M3. The M3 does resolve a bit more detail as expected, but the M10 produces slightly nicer colors. Otherwise image quality is quite similar although the M10 renders the red-leaf pattern a bit better than the M3. The latter resolves more of the fine thread pattern which likely gets treated as noise, degrading the leaf pattern a little more than the M10.

Here we compare the 18-megapixel APS-C M10 to the 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds Olympus E-PL7. These two cameras actually have identical vertical resolutions which is how this scene is framed, so the Canon doesn't have a resolution advantage in this comparison. In fact, the E-PL7's weaker anti-aliasing filter and better default sharpening give it an edge in terms of detail and crispness. Colors are more pleasing from the Canon, though, and noise slightly more visible from the Olympus, but keep in mind the E-PL7's higher base ISO of 200.

Here's another comparison with a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera, the Panasonic GF7. Again, both cameras have very similar vertical resolutions and therefore resolve very similar levels of detail, but the Panasonic's more conservative default sharpening and contrast make its image look a bit soft and less punchy compared to the Canon's, and again the M10 produces better color.

The 24-megapixel APS-C Sony A5100 does resolve more detail than the 18-megapixel M10 here at base ISO, and its more advanced sharpening algorithm produces crisper fine detail while at the same time producing noticeably lower sharpening halos along high-contrast edges. Noise levels are however slightly higher from the Sony, and again, the Canon produces more pleasing colors.

The M10 does show slightly less noise than the original M at ISO 1600, as well as some refinement in how it treats edges and transitions between different subject matter, but other than the improved color, there's not a huge difference in image quality. Both cameras smear a lot of detail away in our tricky red-leaf swatch though contrast is a bit better from the older camera.

The M3 continues to resolve a bit more detail than the M10 here at ISO 1600, though the difference isn't as much as at base ISO. Noise levels are however higher from the M3 and again the M10 produces more pleasing colors.

The E-PL7 continues to produce a crisper image at ISO 1600 along with lower luminance noise levels, but chrominance noise is a bit higher in the shadows and noise reduction artifacts distort fine details a bit more than from the Canon. Color remains more pleasing from the Canon.

Noise in flatter areas is actually lower and more fine-grained from the Panasonic, but its area-specific noise reduction leaves more noise in areas with fine detail and along edges, making them appear grainer but with slightly better detail than the Canon. Color and contrast are still superior from the Canon.

It's tough to pick a winner in this comparison. The Sony still resolves more detail, but while its heavy-handed noise reduction keeps noise lower than the M10, it starts to produce unwanted artifacts and softens much of the image. The Sony does a little better in our tricky fabrics, however much of the detail is distorted. And once again, the Canon produces better color.

Similar to what we saw at ISO 1600, the M10 produces a slightly more refined-looking image with better colors, but image quality is otherwise similar.

The Canon M3 is still able to resolve more high-contrast detail, but higher noise and more aggressive noise reduction negates the resolution advantage in areas with subtle detail, especially noticeable in our red-leaf fabric which has much stronger blurring than from the M10. Again, the M10 produces slightly better colors overall.

The Olympus still produces a crisper, more contrasty, yet smoother image with a finer noise "grain" here at ISO 3200, but it's obviously working hard to suppress noise, producing more unwanted noise reduction artifacts. Colors continue to be more pleasing from the Canon.

Also similar to what we saw at ISO 1600 between these two cameras, the GF7 leaves behind less noise in shadow areas but subject matter with fine detail is grainier thanks to its area-specific noise reduction compared to Canon's more traditional approach to noise reduction. It's a tough call as to which is better overall, but we give the edge to the Canon, which has better color as well.

Very heavy-handed noise reduction from the A5100 makes its image quite soft and fuzzy, with a much more processed looked in flatter areas as well. Although detail looks better in our troublesome red-leaf fabric, much of it is false. And the M10 continues to produce better color.