• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 204,800

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Differences

Canon EOS M advantages over Pentax K-1

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $1800 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Thinner
    32 mm vs 85 mm
    Thinner

Pentax K-1 advantages over Canon EOS M

  • Lens selection
    Excellent 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
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Fast startup
    ~1.20 vs 2.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Better color depth
    25.4 vs 22.1 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,280 vs 827 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.6 vs 11.2 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 760 vs 230 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Newer
    9 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Less shutter lag
    0.09 vs 0.74 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    36.4 vs 18.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Optional anti-aliasing filter
    Optional vs Fixed
    Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    74 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    17 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
    204800 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • 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 panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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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.

  • Unlocks the full potential of full-frame Pentax lenses; Excellent image quality; Great ergonomics and build; Very compact for full-frame; Decent performance; Fast autofocus with great low-light capabilities; Very wide sensitivity range; Bright, accurate viewfinder; Articulated LCD; Stabilization, Wi-Fi and GPS in-camera

  • No built-in flash strobe; Quite heavy compared to APS-C flagships; Somewhat soft images and blown highlights by default in JPEG mode; Warm Auto white balance indoors; Slow startup and buffer clearing; Small top-deck status display; Weak viewfinder illumination; Below-average battery life for DSLR

The Competition

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
Pentax K-1
Sony NEX-C3
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS M
Sony NEX-5N
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-1
Sony NEX-5N
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

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
Pentax K-1
Sony NEX-5R
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen

Compared to Canon 5DS R

Canon EOS M
Canon 5DS R
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Pentax K-1
Canon 5DS R
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1499
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • More cross-type AF points

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Canon EOS M
Pentax K-1 II
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Pentax K-1
Pentax K-1 II
  • $1800
  • 35mm
  • $1747
  • 35mm
  • Higher extended ISO
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