CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony A7R III

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7R III
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Canon M5

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon M5
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing A7R III and M5, two Mirrorless cameras from Sony and Canon. Sony Alpha A7R III is a Pro Mirrorless class camera and Canon EOS M5 is a Advanced Mirrorless class camera.

Sony A7R III was introduced to the market in October 2017 and Canon M5 was launched in September 2016. There is 13 months difference between A7R III and M5 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger A7R III, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Sony A7R III and Canon M5 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7R III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-10-25
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50 - 102400)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 3686k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 657g. 127 x 96 x 74 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha A7R II Compare

Canon M5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-15
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 3.20" Tilting Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 9.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 427g. 116 x 89 x 61 mm

Sony A7R III was replaced by Sony Alpha A7R IV. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha A7R IV vs Sony Alpha A7R III
Sony Alpha A7R IV vs Canon EOS M5

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Sony A7R III and Canon M5 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Canon RF 28mm F2.8 STM Size Compared the most compact RF Mount Lenses: We have a Winner
Sony ZV-1 Mark II: Wider, Costlier, Unsteadier!
Best MacBook Pro Deal for Photography and Videography
Sony A7R V, Panasonic S5 II, Canon R50 and OM 90mm Macro wins Camera GP Japan 2023 Awards
Does the World really need another Sony Vlogging Camera?
Daily Deals: Portable Recorder, CFExpress storage, Tripods and more
Best Selling Lenses in Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z Mounts in 2023
Canon PowerShot V10 Pocket-Sized Vlogging Camera Announced


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7R III over Canon EOS M5
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 24 MP 75% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 25.600 25% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
425 vs 49 376 more focus points
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 9.0fps 1 fps faster
Battery Life
650 shots vs 295 shots 355 more frames with a single charge
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Viewfinder Resolution
3686.4k dot vs 2360k dot 56% higher resolution
Color Depth
26.0 vs 23.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
14.7 vs 12.4 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
3523 vs 1262 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
20.43µm2 vs 13.84µm2 47% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±2 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (169. 6) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
USB Version
USB 3.1 Gen 1(5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK A7R III PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon EOS M5 over Sony Alpha A7R III
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
LCD Screen Size
3.2" vs 3″ 0.2 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.620k dots vs 1.440k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Weight
427 g vs 657 g 230 g lighter
CHECK M5 PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7R III and Canon EOS M5
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
42 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size
3.20" vs 3.20" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.440k dots vs 1.620k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 9.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs UHS-I Read/Write in High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7R III and Canon EOS M5
Sony A7R III vs Canon M5: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony A7R III and Canon M5 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7R III has external dimensions of 127 x 96 x 74 mm (5 x 3.78 x 2.91″) and weighs 657 g (1.45 lb / 23.17 oz) (including batteries). Canon M5 has external dimensions of 116 x 89 x 61 mm (4.57 x 3.5 x 2.4″) and weighs 427 g (0.94 lb / 15.06 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony A7R III and the Canon M5. Canon M5 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 11mm narrower, 7mm shorter and 13mm thinner than Sony A7R III.

Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Sony A7R III and the Canon M5 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Sony A7R III and Canon M5.

Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Sony A7R III and the Canon M5 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7R III and Canon M5.
Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Sony A7R III and the the Canon M5 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon M5 is significantly lighter (230g ) than the Sony A7R III which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since Sony A7R III has a Full frame sensor and Canon M5 has a smaller APS-C sensor, Canon M5's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Sony A7R III lenses.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7R III
M5
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

A7R III
M5
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the A7R III has a big advantage over the M5 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon M5's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony A7R III's 3″ screen.



Sony A7R III vs Canon M5: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7R III has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Canon M5 has a 24.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 7 processor.

Sony A7R III's sensor provides 18MP more than Canon M5's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Sony A7R III's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the A7R III and M5 sensor size comparison.

Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7R III and Canon M5 Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7R III has a 2.6x Larger sensor area than Canon M5. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Sony A7R III and Canon M5 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, A7R III has scored 100, 23 points higher than M5.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony A7R III 100 26.0 bits 14.7 Evs 3523 ISO
Canon M5 77 23.4 bits 12.4 Evs 1262 ISO
Sony A7R III vs Canon M5 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that the Sony A7R III has an advantage over the Canon M5. There are 195 lenses for the Sony A7R III's Sony E mount, but on the other hand, there are only 29 lenses for the Canon M5's Canon EF-M lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Sony A7R III has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization (IS) which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. A7R III's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 5.0-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Canon M5 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 6 lenses for Canon EF-M mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Sony A7R III Lenses # of Canon M5 Lenses
Standard Zoom 19 (14 Full Frame) 1
Standard Prime 35 (22 Full Frame) 5
Wideangle Zoom 14 (11 Full Frame) 2
Wideangle Prime 59 (40 Full Frame) 11
Telephoto Zoom 18 (16 Full Frame) 1
Telephoto Prime 26 (20 Full Frame) 6
SuperZoom 10 (2 Full Frame) 1
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 2 (0 Full Frame) 1
Macro Prime 9 (8 Full Frame) 1
Perspective Control Prime 2 (2 Full Frame) n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 195 (135 Full Frame) 29

What types of Photography are Sony A7R III and Canon M5 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7R III and Canon M5 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7R III for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Canon M5 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-M Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Sony A7R III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Canon M5 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-M Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Sony A7R III for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon M5 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
425 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 295 shots
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-M Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Sony A7R III for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Canon M5 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
657g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
427g
Body Thickness 61mm
Read the details

Sony A7R III for Landscape Photography

GOOD

Canon M5 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-M Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Sony A7R III vs Canon M5: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7R III and Canon M5, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7R III and Canon M5 scores compare:

Sony A7R III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #10 out of 114 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #11 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Canon M5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #81 out of 114 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #145 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Sony A7R III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon M5 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Sony A7R III.

Sony A7R III
Sony A7R III
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Canon M5
Canon M5
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Canon M5 vs Sony A7R III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7R III Canon EOS M5
Brand Sony Canon
Announced 2017-10-25 2016-09-15
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame APS-C
Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
Area 861.60mm2 332.27mm2
Megapixels 42 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 7952 x 5304 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 32,000 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 425 49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E Canon EF-M
Number of Available Lenses 195 29
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.20"
Resolution 1,440k dots 1,620k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 3,686k dots 2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.78x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 5.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 9.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MP4, H.264, AAC
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 657g 427g
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 74mm 116 x 89 x 61mm
Battery Life 650 shots 295 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 100 77
DxO Color Depth 26.0 23.4
DxO Dynamic Range 14.7 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO 3523 1262
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R8
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony ZV-E1
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Leica Q2
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Latest Cameras
Leica Q3
60 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Canon R100
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Fujifilm X-S20
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony ZV-1 II
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 18-50 mm
Nikon Z8
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Pentax K-3 III Monochrome
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Leica M11 Monochrome
60 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica M Mount
Sony ZV-E1
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision LaptopDecision

Report a Correction