Canon EOS M10 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5R: A Thorough Hands-On Comparison for Mirrorless Enthusiasts

Choosing an entry-level mirrorless camera can feel overwhelming, especially when two models promise so much but approach the task differently. Today, I’m digging deep into the Canon EOS M10 and Sony Alpha NEX-5R - both compact APS-C mirrorless cameras aimed at enthusiast photographers stepping into mirrorless systems without breaking the bank.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the years, I appreciate cameras that deliver real-world usability, solid image quality, and intuitive handling. These two mirrorless options each bring their own flavor to the market, and I’ve spent considerable time shooting with both to give you a no-nonsense, hands-on comparison. Whether you prioritize portraiture, landscape, wildlife, or video, this comparison will uncover the nuances you need before making your choice.

Let’s start by looking at their physical attributes and ergonomics, then delve into sensor details, autofocus, handling, and how these translate across varied photography genres.

Size Matters: Handling and Ergonomics That Affect Your Shooting Experience

At the heart of the photography experience is how the camera feels in your hands - size, weight, layout - things that influence how long you can shoot comfortably.

The Canon EOS M10 sports a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless body measuring 108x67x35mm and weighs 301 grams (battery and card included). The Sony NEX-5R is a bit taller but narrower (111x59x39mm) and lighter at 276 grams.

Don’t let the slightly smaller dimensions of the Canon fool you. Its rounded edges and fan-favorite Canon button layout provide a grip that feels reassuring. The Sony, while more compact in depth, is skinnier and feels a tad less ergonomic for larger hands. If you shoot often handheld or for long stretches, I found the M10's grip more inviting, especially with heavier lenses attached.

Moving on to control placement:

Canon sticks with a simple, clean top plate featuring the mode dial and shutter button prominently, which beginners will love. Sony leans more experimental, with fewer physical dials and relies more on the rear control wheel for settings - a style not everyone adapts to quickly. If you prefer tactile, easily accessible controls while shooting on the fly, Canon edges ahead here.

Sensor and Image Quality: Digging Into the Heart of the Cameras

APS-C sensors are the backbone of these camera systems. But inside this category, there are important differences that impact dynamic range, color fidelity, noise performance, and, ultimately, image quality.

Sony’s NEX-5R packs a 23.4x15.6mm APS-C CMOS sensor with 16MP resolution, paired with its Bionz processor. The Canon M10 uses a slightly smaller APS-C sensor at 22.3x14.9mm with 18MP and Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor.

Looking at DXO Mark scores provides a helpful objective benchmark:

• Sony NEX-5R: Overall score 78, Color Depth 23.7 bits, Dynamic Range 13.1 EV, Low-light ISO 910
• Canon EOS M10: Overall score 65, Color Depth 22.0 bits, Dynamic Range 11.0 EV, Low-light ISO 753

That means Sony not only produces slightly better image detail in real-world shooting at 16MP but also excels in color richness, shadow detail, and noise control at higher ISOs. The NEX-5R's superior dynamic range lets you recover more detail in tricky lighting, vital for landscapes and high-contrast scenes.

On the other hand, Canon’s 18MP sensor with DIGIC 6 still holds its ground nicely for everyday shooting, boasting pleasing color science Canon is known for - especially skin tones, which are crucial for portraits.

Rear Screen and User Interface: Your Window to Creativity

The quality and usability of the rear display can make or break your experience shooting in live view or reviewing images.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, but their implementations differ. The EOS M10’s touchscreen has a higher resolution at 1040k dots versus Sony’s 920k dots, resulting in crisper image preview and menu navigation. Notably, the Canon M10’s touchscreen responsiveness is snappier and more intuitive - particularly helpful while adjusting focus points or scrolling through menus quickly.

The Sony NEX-5R’s screen tilts up 180° for selfies, but lacks the more versatile angle flexibility of the Canon, which tilts downward as well, ideal when shooting at low angles.

Despite this, the Sony interface is organized efficiently for users comfortable exploring its menu system, whereas Canon’s UI feels friendlier for newcomers due to clearer labels and accessible touchscreen controls.

Autofocus System: Speed and Accuracy When It Counts

Let’s talk AF performance, especially in real-world scenarios where speed and precision make a noticeable difference.

Both cameras feature hybrid autofocus systems mixing contrast and phase detection:

• Canon M10: 49 AF points, with face detection and eye detection autofocus - a feature I appreciated in portrait sessions, allowing me to nail sharp eyes effortlessly.
• Sony NEX-5R: 99 AF points, but no dedicated eye AF or face detection. Sony relies on its fast hybrid system to lock focus quickly, particularly in continuous modes.

Interestingly, though the NEX-5R has twice as many AF points, I found Canon’s face and eye detection systems gave it an edge for portraiture and casual shooting when tracking subjects in live view. For wildlife or sports, however, I preferred Sony’s faster burst speed (10fps versus Canon’s 4.6fps) and more aggressive AF tracking, critical for action photographers.

Built Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability Under Pressure

Neither camera offers substantial weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance - typical for budget entry-level mirrorless models from their time. Both are best kept dry and treated with some care outdoors.

From a build perspective, the Sony’s magnesium alloy construction gives it a slightly more robust feel compared to Canon’s primarily polycarbonate shell. However, Canon’s lighter weight may appeal to travelers avoiding extra load.

If weather resistance and ruggedness are dealbreakers, you’ll need to look at higher-tier models or invest in protective housing.

Lens Ecosystem: How Much Glass Do You Have to Choose From?

No camera functions in isolation, so lens choices can heavily influence the system’s versatility.

Canon’s EF-M mount, powering the EOS M10, started small but now offers about 23 native lenses, including several prime and zoom options designed specifically for APS-C. Third-party support remains sparse, but you can adapt Canon’s vast EF and EF-S DSLR lenses via adapters.

Sony’s E-mount system shines here. The NEX-5R benefits from a generous selection of 121 lenses natively available - a remarkable advantage if you want options ranging from ultra-wide angles to super-telephoto zooms, plus many third-party options from Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss.

For wildlife and sports shooters needing long lenses, Sony’s ecosystem is a clear winner.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered on Long Shoots

The Canon M10 comes with the LP-E12 battery, rated for about 255 shots per charge, while the Sony packs a NP-FW50 battery with a claimed 330 shots.

I found Sony’s battery life more forgiving, especially for burst shooting or video, thanks to efficient power management in the Bionz processor. Canon’s lower capacity means carrying spares helps avoid interruptions on long days out.

On storage, both cameras accept SD and SDHC/SDXC cards, but Sony adds support for Memory Stick formats (still present in some cameras), increasing compatibility.

Connectivity and Extras: Sharing and Compatibility

Both models offer built-in Wi-Fi, but the Canon M10 includes NFC for one-touch pairing with compatible devices - a handy feature for fast image transfer or remote shooting using smartphones.

Sony lacks NFC but provides downloadable apps enabling advanced features like interval recording for time-lapse photography, which Canon doesn’t natively support.

Neither camera has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting their usefulness for serious videographers.

Video Capabilities: Where Do They Stand?

Video on these entry-level mirrorless cameras remains serviceable but not flagship-level.

Sony’s ability to shoot full HD at 60fps enables smoother slow-motion clips compared to Canon’s max 30fps. However, Sony’s lack of image stabilization requires either stabilized lenses or gimbals for shake-free footage.

Canon’s stronger color science and skin tone reproduction often produce more pleasing video portraits, but frame rate flexibility gives Sony a modest advantage in action video.

How They Perform Across Photography Genres

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how each camera shines or struggles in different photography areas.

Portrait Photography

Canon’s face and eye detection AF combined with natural color rendering tip the scales in its favor. The 18MP image sensor provides ample detail, and the EF-M lenses, though fewer, offer compact fast primes with smooth bokeh.

Sony, while lacking dedicated eye AF, compensates with fast autofocus and burst speeds, useful for capturing fleeting expressions. However, Sony’s color sometimes leans cooler out of the box.

Landscape Photography

Sony’s superior dynamic range and higher color depth allow greater detail retention in shadows and highlights - valuable for HDR workflows. The broader lens selection also means wide-angle options abound.

Canon’s weaker dynamic range and smaller sensor slightly limit landscape image flexibility, but the touchscreen’s usability for live histogram and focus peaking remains a plus.

Wildlife and Sports

Sony’s 10fps continuous shooting and 99 AF points help track fast-moving subjects, critical in these genres. Canon’s slower 4.6fps and face detection focus less suited to animals detract here.

Sony wins roundly with longer telephoto lenses and better AF tracking.

Street Photography

Both cameras are compact and discreet, but Canon’s lighter weight and simpler controls make it less obtrusive. The higher resolution and greater dynamic range of the Sony help, but the slightly larger lens barrel sizes can be a giveaway.

Macro Photography

Neither camera features in-body stabilization - something usually helpful for macro. Canon has some compact macro primes in its EF-M line-up, but with fewer native lenses, Sony’s ecosystem provides more dedicated macro options.

Still, both perform adequately with manual focusing techniques.

Night and Astrophotography

Sony’s higher max ISO (25600 native) and better low-light sensitivity give it more headroom shooting in the dark. I found Canon’s images needed more noise reduction beyond ISO 3200, impacting fine detail.

Neither camera supports long exposure noise reduction extensively, so astrophotographers may want external intervalometers and dedicated apps (Sony supports apps).

Travel Photography

Canon’s smaller size and lighter grip are welcome on travel, but Sony’s better battery life and lens selection weigh heavily. The ability to tilt Canon’s screen downward also helps tricky angle shots on the move.

Professional Work

While neither is a professional flagship, both record RAW files and offer manual exposure modes. Sony’s broader lens selection and better sensor qualities will please some pros requiring flexibility. However, I wouldn’t recommend these cameras for demanding commercial work - they serve best as supplementary shooters or for enthusiasts.

Sample Images Showcasing Both Cameras’ Output

Canon M10 screen back Sony NEX 5R front Sony NEX 5R screen back

In these side-by-side shots, notice how Sony’s images exhibit cleaner noise at high ISO and richer dynamic range, while Canon delivers warmer tones and pleasing skin colors with softer bokeh.

Performance Scores Wrap-Up

For a concise summary of how they stack up on key specs and DxOmark data:

Sony clearly surpasses Canon in sensor performance metrics, shooting speed, and battery life. Canon earns marks for beginner-friendly design and color reproduction.

Genre-specific Score Breakdown

Here’s how each camera performs across photography disciplines on a 10-point scale:

You can see Sony’s advantage in wildlife, sports, and landscapes, while Canon scores higher for portraits and street photography due to usability and color science.

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Mirrorless System Should You Go For?

Canon EOS M10 is Best For…

• Beginners who want a straightforward, friendly camera with intuitive touch controls
• Portrait enthusiasts prioritizing skin tones and quick face/eye AF
• Casual travel photographers valuing a lightweight, pocketable form factor
• Budget-conscious buyers who want solid JPG quality without complex menu diving

Sony NEX-5R Shines When You Want…

• Superior image quality from a sensor with strong dynamic range and noise control
• Faster autofocus and burst for sports or wildlife action
• Flexibility with a huge lens selection for various photography styles
• Longer battery life and 1080p video at 60fps

A Personal Take Away From Long-Term Use

Having used both cameras extensively, the Canon M10 feels like a gentle introduction to mirrorless photography. Its responsive touchscreen and thoughtful ergonomics lower the learning curve. However, if you want to grow into more demanding shooting situations - fast action, tricky lighting, or creative video - Sony’s NEX-5R offers more performance headroom.

Dear Canon, please bring back eye AF in entry-level models, and boost battery life. Sony, a built-in flash and microphone port on future entry-level cameras would complete an already stellar package.

Whichever camera you choose, remember: while specs and scores inform, the best camera is the one you enjoy using and encourages you to create.

Happy shooting!

If you’d like to see detailed video walkthroughs and hands-on comparisons, stay tuned for my upcoming review series where I put these two through their paces in studio and field conditions.