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Canon M3 Comparison Review

The Canon EOS M3 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in February 2015 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.

camera

Is the Canon M3 a good camera? The M3 has a Camera Elo of 2055. This rating puts the M3 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the M3 ranks among the top 50 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Canon M3
Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/30p Video
ISO 100 - 12 800 (100 - 25 600)
Viewfinder optional
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen
4.2 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge
111 x 68 x 44 mm, 366 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Canon M3 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Canon M3 vs credit card front
M3 versus credit card top view
M3 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon M3 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
5.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M 109 mm 66 mm 32 mm 298 g 230 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon M3 was launched in the US market at a price of $679. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Canon M3 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon M3 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Canon M3 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
2.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
3.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
4.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
5.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
6.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
7.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
8.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
9.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
10.
 
Canon M APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.282765
11.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The M3 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the M3 can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Canon M3 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
2.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
4.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
9.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon Mnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.3/s n n
11.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Canon EOS M3 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the M3

One convenient feature of the M3 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS M3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
2.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
4.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon MYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the M3 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the M3 can be found in the free online Canon M3 Manual or on the Canon support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M3 handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
2.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
5.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M3/5+....4/54/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Canon M3 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the M3.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Canon M3?

The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Canon M3 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Canon equipped the M3 with the DIGIC 6 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon M3?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800.

Can the Canon M3 be equipped with an optional viewfinder?

Yes, Canon provides the EVF-DC1 as an accessory (here on amazon) that can be mounted on the hotshoe.

Does the Canon M3 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the M3 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS M3?

Canon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the M3. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the M3 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Canon M3?

Canon embeds the number of shutter actuations in the camera firmware. You can check the number of shots that your M3 has taken up to now by using a third-party app, as described on the Canon M3 shutter count page.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Canon M3?

The M3 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Canon M3 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon M3 for flash photography?

The M3's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Does the Canon M3 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Canon M3 use?

The camera gets its power from the LP-E17 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Canon M3
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF-M mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2015
    Launch Price USD 679
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6 000 x 4 000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12 800 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 6
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 72
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.8
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.8
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1169
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 4.2 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type LP-E17 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)250 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 111 x 68 x 44 mm
    (4.4 x 2.7 x 1.7 in)
    Camera Weight 366 g (12.9 oz)

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