Canon M vs Sony NEX-5
89 Imaging
59 Features
65 Overall
61


89 Imaging
54 Features
58 Overall
55
Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Canon EF-M Mount
- 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
- Introduced July 2012
(Full Review)
- 14MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Released June 2010
- Later Model is Sony NEX-5N

Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Overview
Lets look more closely at the Canon M versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the M (18MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

The M was introduced 2 years after the NEX-5 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the M grades against the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon EOS M and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The whole galleries are provided at Canon M Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony NEX-5
M | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2012 | ![]() | June 2010 | More modern by 26 months |
Display resolution | 1040k | ![]() | 920k | Clearer display (+120k dot) |
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Canon M
NEX-5 | M | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Common features in the Canon M and Sony NEX-5
M | NEX-5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal display dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen |
Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison
If you are going to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon M has external dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).
Check the Canon M versus Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the M vs the NEX-5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the M and NEX-5 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading specifications. The picture below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the M and NEX-5.
Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Canon M to deliver more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern M will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications
Canon EOS M | Sony Alpha NEX-5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon EOS M | Sony Alpha NEX-5 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2012-07-23 | 2010-06-07 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Digic 5 | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 332.3mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18 megapixel | 14 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 5184 x 3456 | 4592 x 3056 |
Maximum native ISO | 12800 | 12800 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | 25600 | - |
Min native ISO | 100 | 200 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 31 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Canon EF-M | Sony E |
Amount of lenses | 23 | 121 |
Crop factor | 1.6 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 1,040 thousand dots | 920 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display technology | Clear View II TFT LCD | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shutter rate | 4.0 frames/s | 7.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | 12.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/200s | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video data format | MPEG-4, H.264 | AVCHD |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Optional | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 298g (0.66 lb) | 287g (0.63 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 65 | 69 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.1 | 22.2 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.2 | 12.2 |
DXO Low light rating | 827 | 796 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 230 pictures | 330 pictures |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LP-E12 | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $510 | $599 |