Canon M3 vs Nikon 1 AW1

Lets look more in depth at the Canon M3 and Nikon 1 AW1, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There is a considerable difference among the image resolutions of the M3 (24MP) and 1 AW1 (14MP) and the M3 (APS-C) and 1 AW1 (1") provide different sensor measurements.

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The M3 was brought out 17 months after the 1 AW1 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise view of how the M3 grades versus the 1 AW1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Canon EOS M3 & Nikon 1 AW1. The entire galleries are available at Canon M3 Gallery & Nikon 1 AW1 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Canon M3 enjoys exterior dimensions of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) while the Nikon 1 AW1 has dimensions of 114mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") with a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon M3 and Nikon 1 AW1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the M3 and the 1 AW1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the M3 and 1 AW1 is 85 and 86 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing technical specs. The image underneath may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the M3 and 1 AW1.

As you can tell, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The M3 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Canon M3 will provide you with greater detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern M3 provides an advantage in sensor tech.