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Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3

Portability
55
Imaging
62
Features
80
Overall
69
Canon EOS 7D Mark II front
 
Canon EOS M3 front
Portability
85
Imaging
64
Features
76
Overall
68

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Key Specs

Canon 7D MII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 51200)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 910g - 149 x 112 x 78mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Earlier Model is Canon 7D
Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • New Model is Canon M6
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Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3, former is a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are created by Canon. The resolution of the 7D MII (20MP) and the M3 (24MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The 7D MII was unveiled 4 months prior to the M3 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Canon 7D MII being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Canon M3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the 7D MII grades versus the M3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon 7D MII over the Canon M3

 7D MII M3 

Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Canon 7D MII

 M3 7D MII 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon 7D MII and Canon M3

 7D MII M3 
IntroducedSeptember 2014February 2015Similar age
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution1040k1040kIdentical display resolution

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon 7D MII offers external dimensions of 149mm x 112mm x 78mm (5.9" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 910 grams (2.01 lbs) whilst the Canon M3 has proportions of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") along with a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs).

Check out the Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the 7D MII and the M3.

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the 7D MII and M3 is 55 and 85 respectively.

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 top view buttons comparison

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The pic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 7D MII and M3.

As you have seen, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Canon M3 to give greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively.

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 sensor size comparison

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 7D MII as a Portrait photography camera
Canon M3 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
78
manual focus
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 7D MII Street photography features
Canon M3 Street photography features
58
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 7D MII as a Sports photography camera
Canon M3 as a Sports photography camera
68
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (670 per charge)
60
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (4.2 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (250 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 7D MII Travel photography highlights
Canon M3 Travel photography highlights
58
environment proof
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (670 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
73
comes with focus via touch
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (250 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 7D MII Landscape photography features
Canon M3 Landscape photography features
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proof
has double storage slots
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery power (670 CIPA)
67
manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (250 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 7D MII Vlogging factors
Canon M3 Vlogging factors
29
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
80
selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic support
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 7D MII vs Canon M3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 7D MII and Canon M3
 Canon EOS 7D Mark IICanon EOS M3
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model type Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EOS M3
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-09-15 2015-02-06
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 6 (dual) DIGIC 6
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.4 x 15mm 22.3 x 14.9mm
Sensor area 336.0mm² 332.3mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 16000 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 51200 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 65 49
Cross type focus points 65 -
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF/EF-S Canon EF-M
Number of lenses 326 23
Crop factor 1.6 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 4.2fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (59.94, 50. 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (29.97, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 910g (2.01 lbs) 366g (0.81 lbs)
Physical dimensions 149 x 112 x 78mm (5.9" x 4.4" x 3.1") 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 70 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.4 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 11.8
DXO Low light rating 1082 1169
Other
Battery life 670 images 250 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E6N LP-E17
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type CompactFlash + SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Two 1
Cost at release $1,086 $481