Clicky

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50

Portability
85
Imaging
66
Features
76
Overall
70
Canon EOS M3 front
 
Nikon Z50 front
Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Key Specs

Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Replacement is Canon M6
Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Revealed October 2019
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon M3 versus Nikon Z50, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the M3 (24MP) and the Z50 (21MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The M3 was announced 5 years before the Z50 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Canon M3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a full comparison, here is a simple summation of how the M3 matches up versus the Z50 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Nikon Z50

 M3 Z50 

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Canon M3

 Z50 M3 
RevealedOctober 2019February 2015More recent by 56 months
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon M3 and Nikon Z50

 M3 Z50 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen resolution1040k1040kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon M3 has external measurements of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") with a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) whilst the Nikon Z50 has measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check the Canon M3 versus Nikon Z50 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the M3 and the Z50.

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M3 and Z50 is 85 and 74 respectively.

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 top view buttons comparison

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements only by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the M3 and Z50.

As you have seen, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Canon M3 to resolve more detail with its extra 3MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The older M3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 sensor size comparison

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M3 Portrait photography factors
Nikon Z50 Portrait photography factors
79
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Canon M3 as a Street photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Street photography camera
79
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
73
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
weather proof
good ISO range (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Sports Comparison

Canon M3 Sports photography advice
Nikon Z50 Sports photography advice
61
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.2 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (250 CIPA)
75
MP count good (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Travel Comparison

Canon M3 Travel photography advice
Nikon Z50 Travel photography advice
73
comes with focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (250 per charge)
77
weather proof
supports bluetooth
features focus by touch
MP count good (21MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition in class (397 grams)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Canon M3 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Landscape photography camera
68
focusing manually
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (250 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
79
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
MP count good (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon M3
Vlogging with Nikon Z50
80
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone support
does not have image stabilization
71
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
features face detection focus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone jack
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Canon M3 vs Nikon Z50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M3 and Nikon Z50
 Canon EOS M3Nikon Z50
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS M3 Nikon Z50
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2019-10-10
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 6 Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 21MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 5568 x 3712
Highest native ISO 12800 51200
Highest boosted ISO 25600 204800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 209
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF-M Nikon Z
Amount of lenses 23 15
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.2fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, on, off, slow synchro -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 366 gr (0.81 pounds) 397 gr (0.88 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 1169 not tested
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Built-in
Battery model LP-E17 EN-EL25
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $481 $857