Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100 – Detailed Comparison

So, let’s say you are to decide between two cameras from rivalry companies – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100 – one is good for flash photography, the other is better at focusing. Which would you go for?

Of course, that isn’t enough information to make a good decision, and that is why we are here.

If you want a detailed and extensive comparison of these two mirrorless cameras, then sit back and make sure to read through the entire info-packed review.

However, if time is a constraint for you, and so, you need to make a quick decision, pay attention to the next few sections.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

Comparison Overview – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

The Canon EOS M3 and the Sony a5100 are cameras that have been around for quite some time now.

The EOS M3 was announced on the 6^th of February, 2015, while the a5100 was announced by Sony on the 17^th of August, 2014.

Now, both these cameras are mirrorless. Hearing that, you would expect that they come with electronic viewfinders.

Well, none of them do!

This makes the cameras lightweight, but you might be having a lot of difficulty shooting in direct sunlight.

Speaking of weight, the Sony camera is the more lightweight and more compact one of the two. This might make it your better option for daily photography.

The Canon EOS M3, though, would easily be your better choice for flash photography. And this is because it is the only one of the two that is compatible with an external flash.

Furthermore, this camera has a pretty high resolution screen for an entry level camera. It is even 12 per cent higher than that of the Sony a5100.

But the Sony camera sort of makes up for this by coming with a much better focus system.

This camera comes with more than 3 times the number of focus points you get with the EOS M3. And well, need we say more?

The Sony a5100 also does better in the battery department. Its battery gives you 50 per cent more shots than that of the M3.

Considering that they are both mirrorless cameras, this is even more impressive for the Sony a5100.

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Price/Value Ratio — Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

Which Offers More Value for Money: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

The canon EOS M3 is more affordable than the Sony a5100, even though they are both very affordable. The former comes with a few more distinct features than the latter.

Before you make your quick decision, first take a look at the comparison table below that puts together the basic features and functions of these cameras side by side.

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Comparison Table – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

	Canon EOS M3	Sony a5100
Camera weight	0.8 pounds (366 grams)	0.62 pounds (283 grams)
Camera dimensions	4.37 by 1.73 by 2.68 inches	4.33 by 1.42 by 2.48 inches
Screen resolution	1.040k dots	922k dots
ISO range	100 to 12800 (expandable to 25600)	100 to 25600
Burst mode speed	4.2 frames per second	6 frames per second
External flash hot shoe	Yes	No
Focus points	49	179
Battery capacity	250 shots per full charge	400 shots per full charge
External microphone jack	Yes	No
Panorama	No	Yes
JPEG buffer	Unlimited shots	67 shots

You probably want to see more ways these cameras – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100 – differ. So, check out the video below!

Which is Better Under What Circumstance – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100?

Canon EOS M3	Sony a5100
Although the EOS M3 has the same video resolution as the Sony a5100, this camera might still be your better option for video recording. Why? Well, the EOS M3 is the only one of the two with an external microphone jack. So, you are sure that you will be able to get much better audio quality with this camera than with the Sony a5100.	If you want better-focused images, then your choice is a pretty easy one to make. The Sony a5100 comes with a fast hybrid AF focus system. But more importantly, you get 130 more focus points with the Sony a5100 than with the EOS M3. So, yes, pretty easy choice to make, isn’t it?
Looking for a camera to use for flash photography? The Canon EOS M3 is the one. This camera is the only one of the two which allows you mount on an external flash. And seeing as built-in flashes do not suffice for flash photography, the M3 is the easy choice for you.	Batteries are an essential part of devices these days. And although mirrorless cameras are not known to have awesome batteries, the Sony a5100 managed to pull off something impressive. You can take more than 50 per cent more shots per full charge of this camera’s battery than per full charge of the M3’s. So, looking for the one with the better battery? You have your answer.

Common Features – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

i. Entry-level camera

ii. Mirrorless cameras

iii. APS-C sensor

iv. Articulating screen

v. Touch screen

vi. RAW support

vii. Face detection focus

viii. Auto exposure bracketing

ix. Built-in flash

x. Built-in Wi-Fi

xi. Near field communication (NFC)

xii. Remote control

xiii. HDMI output

Entry-Level Camera

This is basically a type of camera that is designed for personal and unprofessional use.

So, an entry-level camera is what you get to take pictures of your child’s first moments. Or maybe to launch a career in photography.

A typical entry-level camera is affordable, compact, and user friendly, among other things, and you would understand why.

Anyway, it has to be noted that cameras at this level are the least durable in the market. And this is simply because they are not expected to undergo as much intense use as a pro and semi-pro ones.

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Mirrorless Camera

Well, it is also a camera that does not come with an optical viewfinder. That is a feature unique to DSLRs.

What mirrorless cameras come with instead are electronic viewfinders. These show the digital image of what the lens is picking up.

However, not every mirrorless camera comes with an electronic viewfinder. And that is the case with the cameras we are looking at today.

And later on in this article, we will be discussing what effects the lack of this feature could have on your photography.

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APS-C Sensor

The sensor is a pretty important feature in a camera, and it greatly influences the type and quality of images one is able to get with that camera.

It could be full frame, or it could be an APS-C sensor. The latter is just like a cropped version of the earlier.

Both these cameras come with APS-C sensors, and that makes them pretty great for taking pictures of objects that are quite far away from the camera.

You want to know why that is? Well, hear it properly explained by an experienced photographer in the video below.

PS: it is also interesting to note that these cameras also have the exact same maximum sensor resolutions – 24 megapixels.

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Articulating Screen

By reason of not coming with electronic viewfinders, the LCD screens of these cameras – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100 – are even more important features.

This is why it is elating that they are flexible.

So, if you have to shoot from very awkward angles, a camera with an articulating screen would be saving you a lot of stress.

The LCD screen of the Canon EOS M3 can be tilted up to approximately 180 degrees upward and approximately 45 degrees downward.

The screen of the Sony a5100, on the other hand, can be flipped 180 degrees upward.

These are pretty good numbers, so, shooting can sure be quite flexible with these cameras.

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Touch Screen

Recall that we said that a typical entry-level camera is user friendly.

And well, each having a touch sensitive screen, it is probably safe to say that these cameras won’t be so difficult to navigate through.

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RAW Support

Shooting for large scale might require that you get images with all the details intact. In such cases, RAW support has got you covered.

This is a feature that ensures that you can decide to either have your camera store the compressed format of the images taken, or avoid compressing the images completely.

Now, the advantage of compression is that you get to save storage space, because images that have been compressed to the JPEG format contain less detail, and so, take up less space.

The downside, though, is that you will be losing much of the details in and quality of the images.

Anyway, if every single detail in the image is important to you, you can ask your camera to take images in the RAW format. That way, no compression takes place.

However, that is not without a price. RAW format files are large and take up a lot of storage space. A whole lot!

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Face Detection Focus

The name gives off almost everything about this feature. It helps your camera’s lens identify and focus on the human faces in view.

This feature is a very big plus for portrait photography. The faces come out sharper, background is blurred, and the overall picture just looks more professional.

Because of this feature, either one of these cameras – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100 – will be a great option to take passport photos with, too.

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Auto Exposure Bracketing

If you will be shooting very often in difficult lighting conditions, this is a feature you could use to make your life easier.

Auto exposure bracketing helps you get one image in different exposure settings with just one click of the shutter button.

Now, the number of shots you can get with one click when using this feature is different from cameras. This is what is referred to as the bracketing range.

So, for example, the Sony a5100 can get you 3 shots, while the EOS M3 can get you 2.

Therefore, you could say that the earlier camera is the one with the wider bracketing range.

Furthermore, auto exposure bracketing makes doing HDR photography really easy.

If you want to learn how to use your camera to get the best HDR photos, watch the video below!

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Built-In Flash

We are guessing you know what a built-in flash is and what it does, you have one on your smartphone.

A built-in flash is your most easily accessible source of lighting when you have to shoot in a dark place.

It gives you a burst of light that will be helping your camera produce bright images in spite of the lighting situation in the location.

These cameras each come with a built-in flash. The only slight difference is that the Sony a5100 has a pop-up built-in flash, while the Canon camera does not.

This, however, does not exactly affect the performance of the flash.

What does is the range of the flash coverage, and in that area, the EOS M3 is the better. It has a 1-meter longer flash coverage range than its counterpart.

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Built-In Wi-Fi

This is a feature that helps you transfer files from the camera to smart device without using any external hardware whatsoever.

Provided the receiving device is also Wi-Fi compatible – which is pretty much every smartphone in circulation – you will be able to do this simple wireless transfer.

Anyway, you would need to have first installed the camera app on your smartphone before you can use this.

That would be the Canon Camera Connect in the case of the EOS M3, and PlayMemories in the case of the Sony a5100.

Setting up this feature involves only a few steps, and you will be seeing those steps explained in the video below.

This video shows you how you can set up Wi-Fi on a Canon EOS M series camera and connect with a compatible device. Check it out!

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Near Field Communication

This is how!

Near field communication (NFC) is a feature that allows you to create a one-touch Wi-Fi connection.

So, basically, with this feature, you get to skip most of the steps you saw in that video above.

Anyway, you still would have to have the camera app installed on the receiving device. And also make sure that the device is not only Wi-Fi compatible, but also NFC compatible; not every smartphone is.

After that, you would just have to touch the NFC icons of the camera and the smartphone together, and just like that, you are in!

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Remote Control

So, not only does Wi-Fi provide you a much easier way to transfer files to a nearby smartphone, but it also makes it possible for you to use that nearby smartphone to shoot.

How?

Well, the remote control feature is how. After creating a Wi-Fi connection between camera and smartphone, this feature makes it possible for that smartphone to act as the camera’s screen.

So, if you ever wanted to conduct a shoot without actually touching your camera, here it is.

For example, taking photos of wildlife in their habitat might sometimes require that you are some distance away from the scene.

Well, in that case, this feature has got you covered.

And apart from it being so helpful and convenient, using your smartphone as a remote controlling device for your camera is also so much fun.

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HDMI Output

This output is where an HDMI cable goes in. Then you can connect the same cable to a screen or a monitor to extend the camera’s display.

This is a much easier way to do this, instead of having to first transfer the files to a laptop.

So, if there is a large number of people who have to view your images at the same time, this is the way to go about it.

Unique Features – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

The following features distinguish the Canon EOS M3 from the Sony a5100:

i. External flash hot shoe

ii. Panorama

iii. External microphone jack

External Flash Hot Shoe

Apart from the built-in flash, this is a feature that gives you another option by which you can lighten up a dark area with your camera, and go on to get better and brighter images.

As a matter of fact, this is an even better option than a built-in flash. A good external flash has a wider coverage and gives better results than a built-in flash.

Specifically, the external flash hot shoe is a feature that sits just on the top side of the camera upon which an external flash can be mounted.

So, it is safe to say that being the only one with this feature, the Canon EOS M3 would be your better option to shoot with in low light.

Furthermore, since you need an external flash for flash photography, we can then say that the Canon camera is the better one for flash photography, too.

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Panorama

This is an in-camera app that allows you to blend a number of shots to make one really beautiful photo.

This is a feature with which you can easily express your photography. And this is why we think it is one you would love.

You will only be getting this feature with Sony a5100.

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External Microphone Jack

This is the part of the camera to which microphones are connected.

And of course, with an external microphone, you will be able to get better sound than with an internal microphone.

So, if you are looking for a camera that can get you the best sound quality, go for the Canon EOS M3. It is the only one of the two with this feature.

Since audio quality is one of the most important things that makes a good video, we can also say that this feature in the M3 makes it the better one for making videos.

Unique Pros – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

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Unique Pros Of The Canon EOS M3 – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

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Which is Better for Flash Photography: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

With the external flash hot shoe of the Canon EOS M3, it is better than the Sony a5100 for flash photography.

You ought to know, too, that it will be unwise to trust a built-in flash for flash photography. And this is why we would not advise you to get the Sony a5100 for that purpose.

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Which Has a Better Audio Quality: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

With the external microphone jack of the Canon EOS M3, it is a able to deliver a better audio quality than the Sony a5100.

This, of course, is even more important when you are shooting in noisy places because the internal microphone is pretty bad at noise cancelation.

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Which Offers a Larger JPEG Buffer: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

The Canon EOS M3 is designed to hold an unlimited number of JPEG shots when shooting on burst mode, while the Sony a5100 only holds a limited number.

When shooting on burst mode, those continuous shots are temporarily stored in the buffer so as not the interrupt the shoot.

When this buffer gets full, the camera halts the continuous shooting and frees up space by sending the images to where they will be stored permanently.

So, basically, the larger your camera’s buffer, the longer you will be able to go taking continuous shots before that halt.

Now, here is an example we like to use. If your camera’s burst mode speed is 5 frames per second, and the buffer can hold a maximum of 100 shots per time, what does this mean?

Well, it means that you will go on shooting for 50 seconds (100/5) before the halt. Pretty decent isn’t it?

Note, however, that this only applies when you are taking JPEG shots.

This camera’s buffer can take only 4 RAW shots per time. Quite a contrast, isn’t it? Lol!

Unique Pros Of The Sony a5100 – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

Which Focuses Better: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

For an entry-level camera, the Sony a5100 comes with a 179-focus point, which is higher than what the Canon M3 can offer.

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Which has a Stronger Battery: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

The battery of the Sony a5100 camera can take up to 4000 shots when it is fully charged, while the Canon M3 can only take 150 shots.

In the simplest of terms, you will be able to get longer undisturbed shooting hours with the Sony camera than with the Canon one.

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Which is Better for Creative Shooting: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

With the panoramic mode of the Sony a5100, photographers can take more creative photos than with the Canon M3.

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Which has a Higher Standard Auto Bracketing Range: Canon EOS M3 or Sony a5100?

Shooting with auto exposure bracketing on the Sony a5100 can get photographers 3 shots per click, while the Canon M3 offers less.

Unique Cons – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

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Unique Cons Of The Canon EOS M3 – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

The following are the disadvantages of choosing the Canon EOS M3 over the Sony a5100:

i. Few focus points

ii. Poor battery life

iii. No panorama

iv. Limited auto exposure bracketing range

Few Focus Points

This camera has only 49 focus points, and there could have been more.

It’s probably even less impressive because its counterpart in today’s comparison comes with 130 more.

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Poor Battery Life

Per full charge of the EOS M3’s battery, you are able to get a maximum of 250 shots. This, even for a mirrorless camera, is quite unimpressive.

If you end up getting this camera, we would advise that you also invest in getting spare batteries, because it would be unwise to totally rely on this camera’s battery.

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No Panorama

You will not be able to take panoramic shots with the Canon EOS M3.

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Limited Auto Exposure Bracketing Range

Auto exposure bracketing on the EOS M3 gives you just 2 shots per click. You get 5 with some cameras, 3 with most, so, this could have been wider.

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Unique Cons Of The Sony a5100 – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

The following are the disadvantages of choosing the Sony a5100 over the Canon M3:

i. No external flash hot shoe

ii. No external microphone jack

iii. Small JPEG buffer

No External Flash Hot Shoe

Basically, you won’t be able to mount an external flash on this camera.

Because of this, you might have to stay away from this if most of what you will be doing is flash photography.

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No External Microphone Jack

You will not be able to improve on the quality of audio that the internal microphone of this camera produces. That could be heartbreaking if you shoot a lot in noisy areas.

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Small JPEG Buffer

The buffer of the Sony a5100 can only take a maximum of 67 shots per time which actually is not so few.

But then, it also is not a lot, especially when put side by side with that of the EOS M3.

Common Pros – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

	Canon EOS M3	Sony a5100
Convenience	The touch sensitive screen of this camera makes operating it very easy.	The same applies with the Sony a5100.
Flexible shooting	You will be shooting more easily from difficult angles thanks to the articulating screen of this camera.	You will also be able to shoot flexibly because the a5100, too, has an articulating screen.
High quality photos	RAW support ensures that you can get photos in their highest quality.	The Sony a5100 also comes with RAW support. So, you can get high quality photos with this one, too.
HDR photography	The auto exposure bracketing feature will be helping you get great HDR shots.	You will be able to do good HDR photography with the Sony a5100, too.
Good lighting	The built-in flash will function as a sufficient lighting in most cases.	The Sony a5100’s flash is pretty good, too. This one is popup, so, it’s perhaps a little more fun.
Selfie friendly	The screen of this camera can be tilted 180 degree upwards. So, it is possible to take a selfie with this one. This is one of the reasons this camera is good for vlogging. You won’t be needing any assistance to record videos of yourself.	The screen of this camera can also be tilted 180 degrees upward. So, yes, this is another camera we would recommend for vlogging.
Big prints	The 24 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor will be producing big prints in the photos you take.	The Sony a5100 also has a 24 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor. So, results will be same with the EOS M3.
Efficient shooting in complicated lighting	This is another advantage the auto exposure bracketing feature offers.	Same as the EOS M3.
Good portrait photography	This is possible thanks to the face detection focus feature.	The Sony a5100 also has a face detection feature. So, this is also a good one for portrait photography.
Extend display	You can do this with an HDMI cable.	You can also use an HDMI cable with the a5100.
Wireless connectivity	The built-in Wi-Fi offers you great wireless connectivity.	Same as the EOS M3.
Easy transfer of files	You can connect this camera with a compatible device with just one touch, thanks to near field communication.	NFC in the Sony a5100 also makes transfer of files easy and quick.
Remote control	You can use your smartphone to conduct a shoot with this camera. Awesome!	You can also use a smartphone as a remote controlling device for the Sony a5100.
Affordable	This camera costs way less than 500 dollars; surely a good bargain, especially for how good it is.	The Sony a5100 costs a bit more than the EOS M3. But it is still a very budget friendly camera in itself.
Lightweight	Weighing less than a pound, the Canon EOS M3 is definitely a lightweight camera. Because of this, you probably won’t mind holding this in your hands for a long time.	The Sony a5100 weighs even less than the EOS M3. That is surely good news.
Good for video	With a 1920 by 1080 video resolution, the EOS M3 will be getting you pretty good videos.	The Sony a5100 also comes with a 1920 by 1080 video resolution. So, good for video, too.

Check out these comparison articles from our previous posts…

• Canon EOS M10 Vs M100 – Detailed Comparison
• Canon EOS M10 Vs Sony a5100 – Detailed Comparison
• Canon EOS M3 Vs M6 – Detailed Comparison
• Canon EOS M10 vs Sony a5000 – In-Depth Comparison
• Canon EOS Rebel T5 vs T5i – An In-Depth Comparison
• Canon EOS Rebel T5 vs Nikon D5300 –Detailed Comparison

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Common Cons – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

	Canon EOS M3	Sony a5100
No electronic viewfinder	The only advantage of this is that your camera will weigh less. But really, shooting with an electronic viewfinder is more convenient and more efficient. You would miss an electronic viewfinder even more if you do a lot of outdoor shooting. If the sun is out and hitting directly at the LCD screen, you would not be able to see what is on the screen. A viewfinder would have saved the day, but well, the EOS M3 does not have one. It does give you an option of using an external one, though.	The Sony a5100 also does not come with an electronic viewfinder. This camera, though, unlike its counterpart, does not give you an option of using an external one.
No image stabilization	If you will be shooting a lot without a stand – like in events photography – then you would need image stabilization. While you shoot with your camera in your hands, the camera might shake or move a couple of times. This will usually affect the quality of images you get, negatively, of course. Image stabilization is the feature in cameras that usually corrects this. Well, you won’t be getting that with the EOS M3. And that is quite unfortunate.	The Sony a5100 also does not have image stabilization. There are some remedies for this, though. You could either make sure you always place your camera on a stand while you shoot. This will ensure that your camera is always steady and doesn’t shake. But if it is not possible to always use a stand, you could invest in getting external image stabilizers.
No Bluetooth	Bluetooth is another way a camera can achieve wireless connectivity. This camera does not come with a built-in Bluetooth, so, you will have to make do with transferring files using Wi-Fi.	This camera also does not have a built-in Bluetooth. But seeing as it comes with a built-in Wi-Fi, it might not be much of a big deal. Well, except when the camera’s battery is low.   Bluetooth would work when battery is low, Wi-Fi won’t.
No top side LCD screen	Some cameras come with small screens on their top sides for monitoring settings being made on the camera, this one does not.	The Sony a5100 also does not come with an LCD screen on its top side.
No built-in GPS	This camera was not made with a built-in GPS. So, you will not be able to use this one to geo tag images. For this reason, the EOS M3 might not be the best camera choice for travel blogging.	You also will not be able to track the location at which photos were taken with this camera.
No slow motion	Your creativity is a little bit hampered with this one. The Canon EOS M3 does not allow you record videos in slow motion.	The Sony a5100 also does not allow you record slow motion videos.
No headphone jack	Basically, you will not be able to use headphones to monitor sound while recording audio with this camera.	Same as the Canon EOS M3.
No weather sealing	This is another reason this camera might not be your best bet for outdoor photography. Without a weather sealing, this camera could very easily be damaged by weather components.	The Sony a5100, too, does not have a weather sealing. This means that it might be risky to use this one outdoors when the weather is acting funny.

What Do People Think About Each Of These Cameras – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100?

Canon EOS M3	Sony a5100
Photographers love that the EOS M3 is affordable and compact. They have also said that it has a really good grip. Some have said that this might not fit into your pocket, but it will be able to fit into literally anywhere else.	A couple of photographers have said that this camera is able to fit into literally anywhere. According to them, this has made it super easy for them to take this camera with them anywhere.
More so, this camera’s digital processing has received a number of good reviews. Furthermore, a lot of customers have said that they love that the EOS M3 has a dedicated EV dial.	Many photographers have said that this camera is a great one for beginners. According to them, it is very user friendly, and then it also produces awesome images, and even videos.
Not many are happy that this camera does not come with an electronic viewfinder. Some others really didn’t mind. The battery is yet another thing that left customers unhappy. Many wished and wanted the Canon EOS M3’s battery to last much longer. The ISO range, according to some, is only average.	Photographers have said that the Sony a5100 is not the best tool for outdoor photography. Their major reason was the lack of a viewfinder. Many photographers – professionals especially – were not happy about this.
So, while its unlimited buffer when shooting JPEG received a lot of accolades, this camera’s buffer when shooting RAW received a lot of backlash.	It is safe to say that people were quite impressed with the focus system, burst mode speed, and auto exposure bracketing range of the Sony a5100. Not exactly mind blown, but just quite impressed.

Our Take – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100

Canon EOS M3	Sony a5100
The interesting thing about this camera is how very efficient and still very user friendly it is. The touch screen is a big plus for beginners, but for some professionals, it was is quite unnecessary.	We love that Sony got it quite right with this camera’s battery. Sony cameras do not have the best batteries in the market, but that of the a5100 is pretty impressive for an entry-level mirrorless camera.
We love that the EOS M3 is not only good for still photos, it also does well for video. You can even attach an external microphone and get great audio quality while you record.	The Sony a5100 is also good for video. But its lack of an external microphone jack is a setback. It would be advisable to only record in quiet areas with this camera.
Flash photography with this camera would be easy and fun. But the battery life is really nothing to write home about. 250 shots per full charge? Canon, please, what is that?! Dear, please, just get extra batteries if you have decided to get this camera.	We wouldn’t advise you to get this camera for flash photography at all. But for HDR photography, this camera would be a pretty awesome choice.
This is an amazing camera, perhaps the better of the two – Canon EOS M3 vs Sony a5100. You could use this camera for daily photography, video recording, sports photography, vlogging, events photography, and some other interesting stuff.	This camera would be good for vlogging, daily photography, events photography, sports photography, and also, wildlife photography.

PS: if you would like to check out another Canon vs Sony match up, click here to read our Canon EOS M10 vs Sony a5000 comparison article.

Canon EOS M3 vs Sony A5100 – FAQs

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Is the Sony A5100 4k?

The Sony A5100 is not a 4k digital camera. It has a maximum video resolution of 1080p and a bitrate of 60 frames per second. With its full-sensor readout, the Sony A5100 is capable of working at a rate of 50Mbps, while capturing a 720p MP4 video. This video quality is almost comparable to 4K, so users are not missing out on a lot.

The 24-megapixel APS-C sensor of the Sony A5100 is just as effective as the A6000, so even without the 4k features, it is still worth its weight in gold.

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What Memory Cards Do Sony Cameras Use?

Sony cameras mostly use SD, SDXC and SDHC cards. Any of these memory cards can work on the Sony A-series cameras. SD and SDHC cards are not usually larger than 32GB, while SDXC cards are sometimes larger than 64GB. The higher-end memory cards that are compatible with the Sony are usually faster and fancier than the low-budget ones.

To record on the A5100 XAVC S mode, go for memory cards that are at least 64GB. While some Sony cameras come with memory cards, others like the A6000 does not have.

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How Do I Stop My Sony A5100 from Overheating?

The most effective way to stop the Sony A5100 from overheating is to move to external storage. Although, this method is quite expensive, it means the second-largest heat source of the camera is fixed once and for all. When recording for long, the Sony A5100’s memory may start to overheat and the only way to stop it is by storing the large data somewhere else.

However, if the SD card is working properly, then the issue might be the battery. The battery of the Sony A5100 is a major heat source because the camera is built in such a way that heat dissipation is almost impossible. So, consider changing the battery.

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Do Mirrorless Cameras Overheat?

Overheating is a major problem for most mirrorless cameras. For this reason, Canon limited the 4K mode of the EOS RP to 24 frames per second. All mirrorless cameras come in a compact and lightweight design, so they do not have enough openings to give off heat and thus susceptible to overheating.

As the sensors of mirrorless cameras try to deliver data at an ultra-high frequency, the circuits start producing heat. This is why the first generation of DSLRs mirrorless cameras do not have movie modes.

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Is Sony A5100 E Mount?

The Sony A5100 is an entry-level E mount camera. It comes with a 24MP APS-C sensor and an autofocus rating of 179. With these features, it’s not surprising that the Sony A5100 camera is a great for both photography and videography. As a beginner photographer, the Sony A5100 is operationally simple to use, and technologically sophisticated at the same time.

The Sony A5100 is equipped with the 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens that can be mounted on an E mount. The E mount lens is quite affordable, so it is understandable that it does not do much.

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What is DMF on Sony Camera?

DMF is an acronym for Direct Manual Focus. It is a feature on Sony cameras that allows users to manually adjust the focus of the camera, even after it is locked. It offers more flexibility and convenience in macro shoots since photographers can immediately focus on a subject instead of manually focusing on the subject from the beginning.

Landscape photographers can easily focus on a subject by switching from focus mode to DMF. The camera’s autofocus mode is used first and then the focus is fine-tuned by rotating lens rings.