Which EOS M is right for you?

Discover how Canon’s CSCS compare with the rest of the EOS lineup

Excluding the Cinema EOS line of cameras designed for filmmakers, Canon’s EOS range consists of three classes of camera: EOS M Cscs, Dslrs with full-frame imaging sensors and Dslrs with smaller aps-c-sized imaging sensors.

Cameras with APS-C sensors make up the bulk of the EOS DSLR range, from the beginner-friendly 1300D to the packed-for-action, pro-spec 7D Mark II. APS-C sensors share approximately the same proportions as a frame of APS-C film. Being around 2.5x smaller than a full-frame sensor, they’re exposed to a smaller area of the image projected by the lens. This has its advantages for long lens photography – the ‘crop factor’ of the smaller sensor means that distant objects look bigger in the frame compared with a full-frame sensor, boosting the effective focal length.

The current EOS M range consists of three cameras, each of which also packs an Aps-c-sized sensor. The trio consists of a tiny entry-level model for point-and-shooters (M10), a middle-of-the-range body with upgraded features and easier manual control (M3), plus a high-end camera that boasts a Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system, similar to the 80D, and 7fps shooting with continuous AF (M5).

All three cameras share some similarities, including tilting touchscreens and both NFC and Wi-fi for connecting the camera to a smartphone. They also share a rather disappointing battery life: from 255 shots on the M10 to 295 shots (boosted to 410 shots in power-saving Eco mode) on the M5. Even the entry-level 1300D DSLR is rated up to 500 shots.