Sony A5100 vs Canon EOS M5

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Sony A5100 vs Canon EOS M5

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A5100 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A5100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A5100.
Compare Sony A5100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A5100 conclusion.

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M5 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M5.
Compare Canon EOS M5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M5 conclusion.

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Differences

Sony A5100 advantages over Canon EOS M5

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.
Less expensive
$448 vs $899
Save money for lenses or accessories
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

400 vs 295 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
35 mm vs 60 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
399g vs 557g
Lighter weight
Bigger JPEG buffer
67 vs 27 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Canon EOS M5 advantages over Sony A5100

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Fast startup
~1.20 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher-res screen
540k vs 230k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Less shutter lag
0.14 vs 0.23 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Faster JPEG shooting
9.2 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.3 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Both provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
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 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 A5100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M5 User Reviews

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Buy the Sony A5100

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (White)

All A5100 Deals

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Buy the Canon EOS M5

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens (Black)
Kit with 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 Lens (Black)

All EOS M5 Deals

Review Excerpt

Very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; New dual video record function; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.
Lacks an EVF and external mode dial; No hot shoe; JPEG processing at higher ISOs not as good as some competing mid-level models.
Read our Sony A5100 Review

Enthusiast-oriented compact camera body; Good image quality in most situations; Built-in electronic viewfinder; Impressive Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Very good overall performance.
High ISO image quality and dynamic range aren't quite up to par with some of its competition; No 4K video recording; Native EF-M lens selection is still limited; Below average battery life.
Read our Canon EOS M5 Review

The Competition

Compared to Samsung NX1000

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1000

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$413
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1000

Canon EOS M5

Samsung NX1000

$787
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$413
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Samsung NX1000

Compared to Samsung NX1100

Sony A5100

Samsung NX1100

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$450
APS-C

Higher-res screen
Hot shoe

Compare Sony A5100 vs Samsung NX1100

Canon EOS M5

Samsung NX1100

$787
APS-C

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Samsung NX1100

Compared to Sony A5000

Sony A5100

Sony A5000

$348
APS-C

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

$298
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A5100 vs Sony A5000

Canon EOS M5

Sony A5000

$787
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Touchscreen

$298
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Sony A5000

Compared to Fujifilm X-Pro2

Sony A5100

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$348
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A5100 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Canon EOS M5

Fujifilm X-Pro2

$787
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Fujifilm X-Pro2

Compared to Canon EOS M50

Sony A5100

Canon EOS M50

$348
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$579
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony A5100 vs Canon EOS M50

Canon EOS M5

Canon EOS M50

$787
APS-C

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

$579
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon EOS M5 vs Canon EOS M50

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