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Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Successor is Sony NEX-3N
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Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Canon M versus Sony NEX-F3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the M (18MP) and the NEX-F3 (16MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The M was announced at a similar time to the NEX-F3 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summation of how the M grades versus the NEX-F3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony NEX-F3

 M NEX-F3 
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Canon M

 NEX-F3 M 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon M and Sony NEX-F3

 M NEX-F3 
AnnouncedJuly 2012August 2012Similar age
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon M enjoys external measurements of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Canon M versus Sony NEX-F3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the M vs the NEX-F3.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the M and NEX-F3 is 89 and 86 respectively.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The graphic here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the M and NEX-F3.

As you can tell, both of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Canon M to give more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography features
75
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
74
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon M Street photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Street photography highlights
72
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
includes focus via touch
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
76
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M Sports photography features
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography features
54
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (230 shots)
53
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery pack (470 CIPA)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography information
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography information
63
includes focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
good battery pack (470 per charge)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon M Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography highlights
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
70
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (470 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging advice
37
touchscreen functionality
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
27
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have mic support
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Canon M vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Sony NEX-F3
 Canon EOS MSony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS M Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-07-23 2012-08-16
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3456 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 31 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF-M Sony E
Available lenses 23 121
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Clear View II TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 298 grams (0.66 lbs) 314 grams (0.69 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 12.3
DXO Low light score 827 1114
Other
Battery life 230 images 470 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E12 NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $510 $470