• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • 35mm 847.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

Buy From

Differences

Canon EOS M advantages over Sony A9

  • Thinner
    32 mm vs 63 mm
    Thinner

Sony A9 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
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.93 vs 4.30 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Better color depth
    24.9 vs 22.1 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,517 vs 827 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.3 vs 11.2 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 650 vs 230 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Newer
    8 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    1440k vs 1040k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.22 vs 0.74 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 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
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    20.0 fps vs 4.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    364 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    20.0 fps vs 4.4 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    240 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 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

  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • 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 panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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

User reviews

Buy From

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.

  • New sensor offers incredible performance; Excellent image quality at low & high ISOs; Very good dynamic range; Phenomenal 20fps burst speed & deep buffer; Very good battery life for a mirrorless; 4K video; Dual card slots.

  • Slow buffer clearing; Only one card slot is UHS-II compatible; Touchscreen underutilized; No lossless RAW compression option; No 4K/60p option.

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
Sony A9
Sony NEX-C3
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Thinner

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 A9
Sony NEX-5N
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Thinner

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 A9
Sony NEX-5R
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Thinner

Compared to Leica SL (Typ 601)

Canon EOS M
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
  • $3999
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony A9
Leica SL (Typ 601)
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $3999
  • 35mm
  • Built-in GPS
  • Top deck display

Compared to Sony A9 II

Canon EOS M
Sony A9 II
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Thinner
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Sony A9
Sony A9 II
  • $2995
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • $4498
  • 35mm
  • Newer
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