Canon M100 vs Sony NEX-5R: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When exploring entry-level mirrorless cameras, two popular options you might encounter are the Canon EOS M100 and the Sony Alpha NEX-5R. Both have garnered attention for their lightweight designs and beginner-friendly features infused with enough tech to appeal to enthusiasts seeking quality without overwhelming complexity.

Having tested thousands of mirrorless cameras over the last decade, I’m excited to dive into a detailed comparison of these models. You’ll find insights based on hands-on evaluations, covering all major photography genres, technical specifications, and real-world performance factors to help you make a smart choice that aligns with your creative goals.

Let’s begin by looking at how these two cameras stand side-by-side in terms of their physical design and feel.

Size, Build, and Ergonomics: The First Impression Matters

The Canon M100 and Sony NEX-5R both adopt a rangefinder-style mirrorless body that aims to balance portability with usability - essential for travel and street photographers.

• Dimensions & Weight: The M100 measures 108x67x35 mm at 302g, while the NEX-5R is slightly larger and lighter at 111x59x39 mm, 276g.
• Grip & Handling: Canon’s M100 offers a subtly curved grip that makes holding comfortable despite its compact size. Sony’s NEX-5R is slimmer, which some might prefer for pocketability, but it feels less substantial in the hand.
• Control Layout: Both cameras adopt relatively minimal controls, suited for beginners. The M100 uses a touchscreen to streamline interaction, whereas the NEX-5R, while also having a tilting screen, provides a few additional physical buttons for quicker access.

Ergonomically, if you plan prolonged shooting sessions, the M100’s more pronounced grip and intuitive touchscreen might win your favor. The NEX-5R, meanwhile, appeals with its lightweight, sleek profile for quick snaps and travel.

Top-View Controls and Operation: How Accessible Are The Settings?

Understanding how the cameras gear toward usability is fundamental, especially for photographers swiftly adjusting settings in diverse shooting scenarios.

• Canon M100 utilizes a simplified top plate with a mode dial and shutter button, keeping the interface minimal. Its DIGIC 7 processor supports quick menu navigation and efficient exposure handling.
• Sony NEX-5R offers a mode dial and a dedicated movie record button, acknowledging the hybrid user who values video alongside stills.
• Neither device incorporates a top LCD or exposure compensation dial - a reflection of their entry-level positioning.

For newcomers or content creators focusing on ease-of-use, Canon’s straightforward layout coordinated with a responsive touchscreen is a significant advantage.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Sensor quality profoundly impacts the images you capture. Both cameras share the APS-C sensor class but with nuanced disparities influencing resolution, color depth, and dynamic range.

• The Canon M100’s 24MP sensor provides a mild edge in resolution, giving you the ability to print larger or crop images tighter without losing critical detail. The Sony’s 16MP sensor, combined with its slightly bigger surface area, yields excellent color fidelity and slightly better noise performance in mid ISO ranges.
• Dynamic range is nearly identical, so both cameras capture a rich tonal gradient - important for landscape and portrait photography, preserving detail between shadows and highlights.
• Real-world use confirms Canon’s newer DIGIC 7 processing enhances low-light detail relatively well, though Sony’s sensor shines in nuanced color renditions.

If maximum pixel count and detail matter (for portrait or landscape printing), Canon leads on paper. For videos or general use, the Sony sensor holds strong with competitive image quality.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Touch or Button?

A camera’s LCD is your primary visual interface for framing, reviewing, and adjusting settings.

• The Canon M100 sports a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1040k dots, making menus intuitive and focusing more flexible - especially convenient for vloggers or selfie enthusiasts.
• Sony’s NEX-5R also features a 3-inch tilting screen but with a slightly lower resolution (920k dots) and touch control limited compared to the Canon.
• Neither camera has a built-in viewfinder, meaning you depend on the rear screen for framing, which can be challenging in bright sunlight.

For portrait or street photographers who often compose using the rear screen, Canon’s advanced touchscreen clarity and responsiveness deliver a smoother experience. The lack of a built-in EVF is a noteworthy compromise for action or landscape shooters who prefer eye-level framing.

Autofocus Systems Under The Hood: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

One of the biggest differentiators among entry-level mirrorless cameras is autofocus performance, especially when photographing moving subjects.

• The Canon M100’s 49-point hybrid AF system incorporates face and eye detection, invaluable for portrait photographers and content creators who want sharp focus on subjects’ eyes effortlessly.
• The Sony NEX-5R’s 99 AF points evenly distributed provide faster autofocus and better subject tracking in continuous mode - delivering up to 10fps burst shooting, compared to Canon’s 6.1fps.
• For sports and wildlife photography where action tracking is critical, the Sony’s system arguably holds the advantage with more points and quicker acquisition.

If your priority is portraiture or casual shooting, Canon’s eye detection greatly simplifies focusing. For faster subjects and bursts, Sony’s tracking and frame rate edge make it preferable.

Photography Disciplines: Which Camera Shines Where?

Both cameras are generalists but exhibit strengths varying by genre. Here’s how they stack up across disciplines important to content creators.

Portrait Photography

• Canon M100
  • 24MP sensor delivers sharp detail and natural skin tones.
  • Eye detection autofocus hugely beneficial for precise focus.
  • Background blur (bokeh) quality depends largely on lens but M100’s lens mount has decent native EF-M options.
• Sony NEX-5R
  • Lower resolution but respectable color fidelity.
  • Lacks eye detection AF, so achieving critical focus on eyes requires manual care or practice.
  • Larger third-party lens selection for E-mount may enable more creative options.

Landscape Photography

• Both cameras’ dynamic range allows excellent highlight and shadow retention.
• The Sony excels slightly in color depth and sensor area, which benefits landscape details.
• Neither model offers weather sealing, so extra care is needed in harsh conditions.
• Canon’s higher resolution can reveal more landscape details when printing large.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• Sony’s 99 AF points, higher burst rate (10fps), and phase detection AF favors fast-moving subjects.
• Canon’s 6.1fps is adequate for casual sports but limited for fast sequences.
• Neither camera has built-in image stabilization, so rely on stabilized lenses.

Street Photography

• Sony NEX-5R’s smaller grip and lighter build aid portability and discretion.
• Canon’s touchscreen interface promotes quick focusing on portraits or moving subjects.
• Both lack viewfinders, complicating street shooting in bright light.

Macro Photography

• Both lack built-in stabilization; macro work benefits from tripod/stabilizers.
• Autofocus systems cater more to general photography; manual focus skills become critical here.

Night and Astrophotography

• Canon’s higher low-light ISO performance (1272 vs 910 DxOMark rating) helps in noise control at high ISO.
• Both max out at ISO 25,600, but practical usage favors keeping ISO moderately low for clean images.
• Limited by lack of bulb mode or remote shutter controls integrated within hardware for astrophotography.

Video Capabilities

• Canon M100 records Full HD 1080p at 60fps in MP4 format - smooth and widely compatible.
• Sony NEX-5R also offers 1080p60 but in AVCHD format, which is less widely supported and heavier to edit.
• Neither camera supports 4K video, limiting future-proofing.
• Both lack microphone ports, reducing audio recording flexibility.

Travel Photography

• Both mirrorless bodies are compact and light.
• Canon’s ergonomic grip and touchscreen ease operation during travel.
• Sony’s smaller build and longer battery life (~330 shots vs 295) favor prolonged outings.
• Canon’s EF-M lens mount, while smaller, has fewer native lenses than Sony’s extensive E-mount lineup.

Professional Work

• Neither target professionals demanding rugged build or extensive connectivity.
• M100’s raw support and reliable exposure modes suffice for casual pro use.
• Sony’s expanded lens ecosystem can better integrate with advanced setups.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability in Real-World Conditions

Unfortunately, neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized. Both come as lightweight plastic constructions with limited protection from dust or moisture. For outdoor photographers shooting in unpredictable conditions, investing in protective gear or weather-resistant lenses is advisable.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Expanding Your Creative Lens Arsenal

Lens availability greatly influences your creative possibilities and investment longevity.

• Canon M100 uses the EF-M mount, offering around 23 native lenses. While moderate, this selection includes affordable primes and zooms optimized for APS-C.
• Sony NEX-5R employs the E-mount system with access to over 120 lenses, including many from third-party manufacturers like Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss.
• Adapters are available to use Canon EF lenses on the M100 with limited autofocus.
• Sony’s larger ecosystem benefits hobbyists and professionals exploring a wide range of focal lengths and specialties.

If lens variety and future-proofing are important, Sony offers undeniable advantages here.

Battery Life and Storage Options: Staying Powered on the Go

• Battery: Canon M100 uses the LP-E12 battery with about 295 shots per charge. Sony NEX-5R relies on the NPFW50 battery good for approximately 330 shots.
• You get slightly more endurance with Sony, which matters for travel photographers who may not always have recharge opportunities.
• Both cameras have a single SD card slot supporting SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards; however, Sony’s also supports Memory Stick formats for backward compatibility.

Planning multiple battery packs and fast memory cards is prudent regardless of choice.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Sharing Made Easy?

• Canon M100: Offers built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC enabling quick pairing with smartphones for remote control and image transfer.
• Sony NEX-5R: Has built-in Wi-Fi but lacks Bluetooth and NFC, meaning slightly less smooth connectivity.
• Both provide USB 2.0 and HDMI ports but lack microphone/headphone jacks.

For social media content creators, Canon’s robust wireless suite simplifies sharing workflow significantly.

Price and Value Analysis: Getting The Most For Your Money

If your budget is tight and you want an easy-to-use camera with modern wireless features, the Canon M100 delivers solid performance with straightforward operation. The Sony NEX-5R, despite its older announcement date (2012), offers faster shooting and lens flexibility which appeals for more demanding hobbyists who can accommodate its less intuitive interface.

Summary of Overall Performance and Scores

Both cameras lie close in overall DxOMark and independent performance ratings. The Canon M100 scores slightly higher on image quality and user experience while Sony NEX-5R excels on autofocus and speed.

Detailed Genre-Specific Performance Ratings

Seeing Is Believing: Sample Images From Both Cameras

Canon M100 front Canon M100 screen back Sony NEX 5R front Sony NEX 5R screen back

These comparative sample photos highlight:

• Canon’s sharper detail and pleasant skin tone rendering.
• Sony’s balanced color reproduction and solid low-light handling.
• Both render bokeh beautifully with fast primes, showcasing quality of EF-M and E-mount lenses.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Fits Your Creative Journey?

Choose the Canon EOS M100 if:

• You want an affordable, entry-level mirrorless camera with modern wireless sharing.
• Prioritize sharp image quality and easy, face/eye detection autofocus.
• You appreciate a highly responsive touchscreen interface.
• Your work focuses on portraits, casual travel, or social media content creation.
• You are new to photography or upgrading from a smartphone.

Choose the Sony Alpha NEX-5R if:

• You value faster burst shooting and a larger autofocus point coverage.
• You want access to a broad lens ecosystem for exploration and growth.
• Portability and discreet shooting matter highly for street or wildlife photography.
• You are comfortable navigating less intuitive menus for greater customization.
• You already invest in Sony E-mount lenses or plan to expand.

Wrapping Up

Both the Canon M100 and Sony NEX-5R represent strong contenders in the entry-level mirrorless segment, each with distinctive appeals depending on your creative priorities and budget.

The Canon M100 shines with an up-to-date processor and a focus on ease-of-use that suits new photographers breaking into the world of interchangeable lenses. Meanwhile, the Sony NEX-5R remains a capable, fast performer with a camera ecosystem that encourages experimentation.

The best way to decide? Try holding each camera, exploring their menus firsthand, and consider which aligns with your shooting style. Pair your choice with lenses that inspire your vision, and you’ll be well on your way to meaningful photographic adventures.

Happy shooting!

If you want to explore related gear or get started with these cameras, check out:

• Canon EF-M prime lenses for portraits and landscapes.
• Sony E-mount zooms tailored for wildlife and travel.
• Lightweight tripods that complement mirrorless portability.

Stay curious and keep creating!