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Canon M vs Sony a5100

Portability
89
Imaging
59
Features
65
Overall
61
Canon EOS M front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Canon M vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Canon M
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 298g - 109 x 66 x 32mm
  • Introduced July 2012
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony a5000
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Canon M vs Sony a5100 Overview

Below is a detailed assessment of the Canon M versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the M (18MP) and a5100 (24MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The M was announced 3 years prior to the a5100 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the M matches up versus the a5100 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon M over the Sony a5100

 M a5100 
Display resolution1040k922kSharper display (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Canon M

 a5100 M 
IntroducedAugust 2014July 2012More recent by 25 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon M and Sony a5100

 M a5100 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon M vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and size. The Canon M features outer dimensions of 109mm x 66mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Examine the Canon M versus Sony a5100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the M compared to the a5100.

Canon M vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M and a5100 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Canon M vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Canon M vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The photograph here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the M and a5100.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony a5100 to provide extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The older M will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon M vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Canon M vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M Portrait photography info
Sony a5100 Portrait photography info
75
focusing manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Canon M as a Street photography camera
Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
72
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
offers touch to focus
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
82
has a tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
supports touch focus
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M Sports photography factors
Sony a5100 Sports photography factors
54
decent MP (18MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 shots)
68
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
great battery power (400 shots)
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon M Travel photography advice
Sony a5100 Travel photography advice
63
offers touch to focus
decent MP (18MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
80
great battery power (400 per charge)
supports touch focus
good megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon M
Landscape photography with Sony a5100
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M Vlogging features
Sony a5100 Vlogging features
37
touchscreen
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone socket
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
34
built-in touchscreen
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external microphone socket
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Canon M vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M and Sony a5100
 Canon EOS MSony Alpha a5100
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS M Sony Alpha a5100
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-07-23 2014-08-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 5 Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 31 179
Lens
Lens support Canon EF-M Sony E
Amount of lenses 23 121
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech Clear View II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds -
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
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 lbs) 283g (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 66 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 65 80
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 12.7
DXO Low light rating 827 1347
Other
Battery life 230 photos 400 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E12 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $510 $448