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Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
77
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73
Canon EOS M5 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
64
Features
71
Overall
66

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Canon M5
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 427g - 116 x 89 x 61mm
  • Released September 2016
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Released December 2011
Photography Glossary

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Canon M5 versus Sony NEX-7, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the M5 (24MP) and the NEX-7 (24MP) is pretty close and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The M5 was revealed 4 years later than the NEX-7 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Canon M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the M5 scores vs the NEX-7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon M5 over the Sony NEX-7

 M5 NEX-7 
ReleasedSeptember 2016December 2011Fresher by 58 months
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1620k921kSharper screen (+699k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Canon M5

 NEX-7 M5 

Common features in the Canon M5 and Sony NEX-7

 M5 NEX-7 
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon M5 comes with external measurements of 116mm x 89mm x 61mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.4") with a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Analyze the Canon M5 versus Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the M5 against the NEX-7.

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M5 and NEX-7 is 77 and 84 respectively.

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the M5 and NEX-7.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same resolution therefore you should expect comparable quality of pictures although you should factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more modern M5 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M5 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography info
80
focusing manually
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
78
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon M5
Street photography with Sony NEX-7
77
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
offers focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
76
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Sports photography camera
66
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (295 per charge)
62
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good battery (430 CIPA)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon M5
Travel photography with Sony NEX-7
77
supports bluetooth
offers focus by touch
MP count good (24MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
low battery pack (295 CIPA)
70
good battery (430 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M5 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-7 Landscape photography advice
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (295 per charge)
72
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (430 CIPA)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M5 Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging highlights
77
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
35
comes with face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
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Canon M5 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M5 and Sony NEX-7
 Canon EOS M5Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon EOS M5 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2016-09-15 2011-12-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 7 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 366.6mm²
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 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Sony E
Amount of lenses 23 121
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,620k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 35 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MP4, H.264, AAC MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 427g (0.94 pounds) 400g (0.88 pounds)
Physical dimensions 116 x 89 x 61mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.4") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 81
DXO Color Depth score 23.4 24.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 13.4
DXO Low light score 1262 1016
Other
Battery life 295 pictures 430 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom, remote) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $680 $699