Canon M100 vs. Sony a5100: The Definitive Entry-Level Mirrorless Camera Showdown

Choosing the right entry-level mirrorless camera can be daunting given the sheer number of models competing for your attention. Today, I’m putting two popular, budget-friendly options head-to-head: the Canon EOS M100 and the Sony Alpha a5100. Both targeted at enthusiasts stepping up from smartphones or point-and-shoots, these cameras offer solid image quality and compact form for everyday use - but there are nuanced differences that could sway your decision depending on your workflow, genre preferences, and budget.

Having personally logged dozens of shooting sessions with each and rigorously tested their specs in studio and field environments, I’ll walk you through their sensor performance, autofocus, build, system flexibility, and more. Whether you shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or video, this comprehensive examination sheds light on their practical strengths and weaknesses that you won’t find in spec sheets alone.

Let’s kick things off by comparing their physical design and ergonomics, because handling a camera is fundamental to the photographic experience.

A Matter of Feel: Size, Weight, and Controls

Physically, both the Canon M100 and Sony a5100 adopt a rangefinder-style mirrorless silhouette that’s lightweight and pocketable. However, subtle differences impact comfort during prolonged use.

Canon M100 dimensions: 108 x 67 x 35 mm, 302 g
Sony a5100 dimensions: 110 x 63 x 36 mm, 283 g

The Canon M100 edges slightly heavier but offers a slightly deeper grip, which I found more secure when held one-handed. The a5100’s slimmer profile makes it easier to slip in my jacket pocket, making it arguably better for stealthy shooting on the street or while traveling light.

Moving to the top control layouts…

The Sony a5100 sports a minimalist top deck with a mode dial and shutter release, while the Canon M100 features a similar set but integrates a dedicated on/off switch, absent on the Sony. The M100’s mode dial feels more tactile and precise, a bonus if you frequently switch shooting modes. Neither camera has a traditional viewfinder, relying instead on their LCDs for framing, which steers us into the next crucial usability area.

Viewing and User Interface: The Display Experience

Both cameras rely on rear LCD screens for composing, reviewing, and menu navigation - but the nuances make a difference for photographers who shoot extensively.

The Canon M100 offers a 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1,040k dots - slightly higher resolution than the Sony’s 922k-dot, 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen. The touch responsiveness on the Canon is notably smoother and more intuitive for navigating menus or placing focus points, an area where the Sony can feel balky in comparison.

However, the Sony’s screen tilts upward about 180 degrees, making it somewhat more selfie-friendly - though Canon compensates here with explicit selfie modes. Neither has an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is a limitation for bright outdoor shooting or precise eye-level composition.

Sensor Sensitivity and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Turning to image quality - arguably the most important aspect - both share an APS-C sensor with a 24-megapixel resolution, which theoretically puts them on level ground. But details like sensor size, processing engine, and noise control vary.

The Sony a5100 has a slightly larger APS-C sensor area (23.5 x 15.6 mm) compared to the Canon M100 (22.3 x 14.9 mm). While both sensors carry an antialiasing filter, Sony’s sensor area increased by an approximate 10% over Canon’s, which can translate into better light-gathering ability. Canon’s DIGIC 7 processor, on the other hand, introduces more advanced noise reduction algorithms than Sony’s older Bionz X processor in the a5100.

From side-by-side comparisons, the Canon M100 delivers images with excellent color fidelity and slightly richer skin tones - something I appreciate in portrait work, where natural rendering of skin is paramount. The dynamic range, as measured by DxOMark, ranks Canon at 13 stops and Sony just shy at 12.7 stops. Though numbers are close, Canon’s algorithms handle highlights better in bright scenes, reducing clipping.

Sony’s sensor, however, exhibits marginally better low-light performance, with a DxOMark low-light ISO score of 1347 versus 1272 for Canon. Practically, this means less noise at ISO 3200 and 6400 - a noteworthy difference for those shooting night scenes or indoor events without flash.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed Compared

Autofocus (AF) performance is a key differentiator, especially for moving subjects or low-light scenarios. Both cameras use hybrid autofocus systems combining phase-detection and contrast detection points, but their design philosophies diverge.

• Canon M100: 49 AF points covering center-weighted areas
• Sony a5100: 179 AF points broadly spread for wider area coverage

The Sony a5100’s autofocus system felt more responsive and accurate during my tracking tests - particularly for subjects moving erratically across the frame. Thanks to the dense array of focus points, it locked on swiftly, delivering sharp results in burst shooting sessions. The a5100’s Eye AF functionality (although limited compared to later Sony models) also assisted in portraits to maintain focus on eyes with impressive consistency.

Canon’s M100 autofocus, while solid, lagged slightly in continuous tracking and struggles a bit with erratic subjects like children or pets. It excelled, however, in quick single-shot focusing due to DIGIC 7’s improved AF tuning, making it a better choice for deliberate composition and portraiture where focus precision is critical.

Neither offers the advanced animal eye-detection AF we see in more recent models.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Performance: Discipline Matters

Neither the Canon M100 nor the Sony a5100 has in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Users must rely on stabilized lenses to mitigate camera shake, an important consideration in genres like macro or low-light handheld shooting.

Shutter speeds range similarly from 30 seconds to 1/4000s on both cameras. Neither supports electronic shutters or silent shooting modes - limiting options for discreet capture in sensitive environments.

Continuous shooting speed hovers around 6 frames per second for both cameras - a solid rate for casual sports or street photography but insufficient for fast-paced wildlife action or professional sports shooters.

Video Recording: Stepping into Moving Images

For hybrid shooters valuing video, here’s where the nuances emerge:

Canon M100 supports 1080p Full HD at up to 60 fps but records only in the MP4 H.264 format with AAC audio. No 4K is available, nor microphone/headphone jacks - limiting external audio capture and monitoring.

The Sony a5100 also maxes out at 1080p 60p but offers additional frame rates, including 60i, 24p, and slow-motion 720p at 120 fps. It uses AVCHD, MPEG-4, and XAVC S codecs - providing slightly more flexibility in compression and bitrate. Like Canon, Sony omits microphone and headphone ports, which is a drawback for serious vloggers or filmmakers.

In real shooting scenarios, I found the Sony a5100’s video autofocus smoother and more reliable, with less hunting when focusing during recording. Canon’s system tends to recalibrate a bit more noticeably.

Both cameras lack advanced video stabilization, so handheld footage requires careful technique or gimbals/stabilizers.

Lens Ecosystem and Mount Compatibility

One of the most overlooked factors in entry-level mirrorless systems is lens availability and long-term expandability. The Canon M100 uses the Canon EF-M mount, whereas the Sony a5100 uses the Sony E mount.

• Canon EF-M lenses available: 23 native lenses (including kit primes, zooms, and some specialty lenses)
• Sony E-mount lenses available: 121 lenses (including native Sony lenses plus APS-C and full-frame compatible options from third-party manufacturers like Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss)

The Sony system clearly offers a more versatile lens lineup, giving enthusiasts more options for primes, telephoto zooms (important for wildlife/sports), and creative lenses for macro or portraits. Canon’s EF-M ecosystem remains limited by comparison, which may frustrate users planning to build a serious lens arsenal.

Adapters exist to use Canon’s full EF/EF-S lenses on the M100 but add bulk and complexity, and autofocus performance isn’t always seamless.

Handling Variety: Genre-Specific Performance Insights

Let’s dive deeper into how these cameras perform across popular photography genres.

Portrait photography:
Canon’s natural skin tone reproduction and accurate face detection gives it an edge for portraits. The M100’s touchscreen AF plus Eye Detection, while basic, delivers pleasant bokeh with compatible lenses. The Sony’s wider AF coverage and Eye AF functionality are compelling, but skin tones can sometimes skew cooler or flatter without post-processing.

Landscape photography:
Both produce sharp images with excellent resolution (6000x4000 pixels). The M100 offers slightly better dynamic range for preserving highlights in bright skies, but Sony shows a marginal edge in shadow detail recovery. Lack of weather sealing on both limits outdoor robustness - carry protective gear if shooting in inclement weather.

Wildlife and sports:
Sony’s faster and denser autofocus point array combined with better burst shooting (6 fps vs 6.1 fps practically equal) makes it a preferable choice here. Canon’s AF may lag behind fast-moving, erratic subjects. Telephoto lens availability also favors Sony’s broader mount ecosystem.

Street photography and travel:
Sony’s more compact size and lighter weight favor portability and discreteness. Both cameras feature silent self-timers and tilting screens, but Sony’s articulation aids quick framing in tricky angles. Battery life is a considerable advantage too - Sony a5100 yields approx. 400 shots per charge versus Canon’s 295.

Macro photography:
Neither camera excels out of the box; you’ll depend on macro lenses. Sony’s precise autofocus with many focus points supports better manual focus aids, yet lack of stabilization is a downside here for handheld shooting.

Night and astrophotography:
Sony’s slight edge in low-light ISO performance (1347 vs 1272 DxOMark) benefits night shots, though you’ll still want a sturdy tripod. Canon’s better dynamic range can capture star detail with less highlight blowout from ambient lights.

Video-centric users:
Sony’s flexible codec support and improved autofocus earn it a slight lead but limitations like no 4K and no external audio inputs means serious videographers will quickly outgrow both.

Build Quality, Weatherproofing, and Battery Life

Both the Canon M100 and Sony a5100 are compact rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras constructed with plastic bodies and no weather sealing. Neither offers dust or moisture resistance, so outdoor use requires caution - especially in dusty or rainy environments.

Battery life differs markedly:

• Canon M100 uses LP-E12 battery, rated for ~295 shots per charge
• Sony a5100 uses NP-FW50 battery, rated for ~400 shots per charge

From my experience, Sony’s superior stamina reduces gear downtime - helpful on vacations or extended shoots.

Connectivity and Storage

Both cameras feature Wi-Fi builtin for image transfer and remote control, with Canon adding Bluetooth for constant low-energy pairing to smartphones. Sony supports NFC but lacks Bluetooth. Neither features GPS or physical slots for dual card storage.

Storage compatibility is flexible:
Canon supports SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I cards;
Sony accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo (a Sony format).

Verdict: Which Camera Fits Your Photography?

Canon M100 front Canon M100 screen back Sony a5100 front Sony a5100 screen back

Both cameras record excellent image quality for their price points, but the choice comes down to your shooting style and preferences.

Choose the Canon M100 if you:

• Prioritize excellent color science with warm, natural skin tones - ideal for portraits and family snapshots
• Value a well-implemented touchscreen with intuitive menu navigation
• Prefer a slightly deeper grip and tactile mode dial for comfortable handling
• Don’t need extensive lens options, favoring a straightforward beginner’s system
• Shoot mostly stills with occasional 1080p video

Opt for the Sony a5100 if you:

• Want a more responsive and wider autofocus coverage - perfect for street, wildlife, and fast action
• Need longer battery life for extended outings or travel shoots
• Appreciate a compact, pocketable form that balances portability with control
• Desire access to a huge variety of affordable and high-performance lenses for system expansion
• Are a beginner or casual video shooter who benefits from flexible video codecs and frame rates

Both cameras sit at a similar price threshold (~$450), offering excellent entry points to mirrorless photography.

Final Thoughts: What I Took Away from Hands-On Testing

After weeks shooting with both, I came away impressed with each for different reasons. The Canon M100’s simplicity and color profiling make it a joy for portraits and casual everyday shooters. Its touchscreen interface is refreshingly easy to navigate for newcomers.

On the other hand, the Sony a5100’s superior autofocus system, battery life, and lens flexibility provide the ingredients for a camera that can grow with you as skills advance and shooting demands diversify.

Neither is perfect: both lack advanced video features, in-body stabilization, and weather sealing. But within their entry-level mirrorless niche, they represent solid, reliable options that can deliver impressive results with decent lenses.

I recommend evaluating which strengths align best with your photographic ambitions and budget - both cameras have stood the test of my rigorous evaluation and deserve consideration.

Summary Table Quick-Reference

Ultimately, the Canon M100 offers finesse and friendly operation for portrait and casual use, whereas the Sony a5100 delivers speed, versatility, and endurance that appeal to enthusiasts venturing into multiple genres. Neither will disappoint when matched with quality glass and a practiced eye.

Happy shooting!