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Canon M5 vs Sony A9

Portability
77
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73
Canon EOS M5 front
 
Sony Alpha A9 front
Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Key Specs

Canon M5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 427g - 116 x 89 x 61mm
  • Launched September 2016
Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Renewed by Sony A9 II
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Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon M5 vs Sony A9, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the M5 (24MP) and the A9 (24MP) is pretty similar but the M5 (APS-C) and A9 (Full frame) offer different sensor size.

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The M5 was introduced 7 months earlier than the A9 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the M5 scores vs the A9 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon M5 over the Sony A9

 M5 A9 
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k1440kClearer screen (+180k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Canon M5

 A9 M5 
RevealedApril 2017September 2016Fresher by 7 months

Common features in the Canon M5 and Sony A9

 M5 A9 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Canon M5 features outer measurements of 116mm x 89mm x 61mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.4") along with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony A9 has specifications of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs).

Compare the Canon M5 vs Sony A9 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the M5 against the A9.

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the M5 and A9 is 77 and 65 respectively.

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 top view buttons comparison

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing simply by going over specifications. The visual here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the M5 and A9.

Plainly, the two cameras have the same resolution albeit different sensor sizing. The M5 offers the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging. The older M5 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 sensor size comparison

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M5 Portrait photography advice
Sony A9 Portrait photography advice
80
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
84
has manual focus
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon M5 Street photography info
Sony A9 Street photography info
77
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
79
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
boasts focus by touch
weather proofing
above average ISO range (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Canon M5 Sports photography factors
Sony A9 Sports photography factors
66
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (295 per charge)
87
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max frames per second (20.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
great battery power (650 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M5 Travel photography advice
Sony A9 Travel photography advice
77
has bluetooth
supports touch to focus
decent MP (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
low battery pack (295 shots)
74
great battery power (650 per charge)
weather proofing
has bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A9 as a Landscape photography camera
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
decent MP (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (295 per charge)
86
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
great battery power (650 shots)
two card slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M5 Vlogging highlights
Sony A9 Vlogging highlights
77
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone support
lack of image stabilization
37
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Canon M5 vs Sony A9 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M5 and Sony A9
 Canon EOS M5Sony Alpha A9
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS M5 Sony Alpha A9
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2016-09-15 2017-04-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 7 BIONZ X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 847.3mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 51200
Maximum boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Lowest boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 49 693
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Sony E
Number of lenses 23 121
Crop factor 1.6 1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,620 thousand dots 1,440 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots 3,686 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames per sec 20.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options - Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MP4, H.264, AAC MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427 gr (0.94 lb) 673 gr (1.48 lb)
Physical dimensions 116 x 89 x 61mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.4") 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 92
DXO Color Depth score 23.4 24.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.3
DXO Low light score 1262 3517
Other
Battery life 295 shots 650 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom, remote) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible)
Card slots Single 2
Cost at launch $680 $4,498