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Canon M3 vs Sony A6100

The Canon EOS M3 and the Sony Alpha A6100 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2015 and August 2019. Both the M3 and the A6100 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon M3
versus
Sony A6100
Canon M3   Sony A6100
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF-M mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600) ISO 100-32,000 (100 - 51,200)
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting touchscreen
4.2 shutter flaps per second 11 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge420 shots per battery charge
111 x 68 x 44 mm, 366 g 120 x 67 x 59 mm, 396 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M3 and the Sony Alpha A6100? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon M3 and the Sony A6100 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M3 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the A6100 is available in three color-versions (black, silver, white).

Size Canon M3 vs Sony A6100
Compare M3 versus A6100 top
Comparison M3 or A6100 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A6100 is notably larger (7 percent) than the Canon M3. Moreover, the A6100 is markedly heavier (8 percent) than the M3. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M3 nor the A6100 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the M3 gets 250 shots out of its Canon LP-E17 battery, while the A6100 can take 420 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the A6100 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image 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.
 
Sony A6100 120 mm 67 mm 59 mm 396 g 420 n Aug 2019 749ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M50 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 390 g 235 n Feb 2018 779ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
5.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
6.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
9.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
12.
 
Canon M 109 mm 66 mm 32 mm 298 g 230 n Jul 2012 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony ZV-E10 115 mm 64 mm 45 mm 343 g 440 n Jul 2021 699 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A6400 120 mm 67 mm 50 mm 403 g 410 Y Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A6000 120 mm 67 mm 45 mm 344 g 360 n Feb 2014 599ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.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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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The M3 was somewhat cheaper (by 9 percent) than the A6100 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. 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.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units 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 are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A6100 is 11 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.6 (M3) and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Canon M3 and Sony A6100 sensor measures

Even though the A6100 has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels. This implies that the A6100 has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 3.72μm for the M3), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the A6100 is much more recent (by 4 years and 6 months) than the M3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS M3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A6100 are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

M3 versus A6100 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image 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.
 
Sony A6100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.113.6194784
3.
 
Canon M50 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p23.813.3168481
4.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
5.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
6.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
7.
 
Canon M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
8.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
9.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
10.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
11.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
12.
 
Canon M APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.282765
13.
 
Sony ZV-E10 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.213.8213485
14.
 
Sony A6400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.013.6143183
15.
 
Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.1134782
16.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
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. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the A6100 provides a better video resolution than the M3. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the A6100 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the M3 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the M3 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the EVF-DC1. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon M3, the Sony A6100, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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.
 
Sony A61001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon M502360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
6.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
11.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
12.
 
Canon Mnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.3/s n n
13.
 
Sony ZV-E10none n3.0 / 922 swivel Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n n
14.
 
Sony A64002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
15.
 
Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
16.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A6100 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony A6100 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The M3 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A6100 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity 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 Sony Alpha A6100 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image 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.
 
Sony A6100Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
6.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon MYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Sony ZV-E10Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.2YYY
14.
 
Sony A6400Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
15.
 
Sony A6000Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
16.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
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Both the M3 and the A6100 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The M3 was replaced by the Canon M6, while the A6100 was followed by the Sony A6600. Further information on the features and operation of the M3 and A6100 can be found, respectively, in the Canon M3 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A6100 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Canon M3 better than the Sony A6100 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS M3:

  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 922k dots).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2015).

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Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A6100:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 4.2 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (420 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 6 months of technical progress since the M3 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A6100 is the clear winner of the contest (9 : 2 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

M3 02:09 A6100

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M3 and the Sony A6100 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the M3 and the A6100 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  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.
 
Sony A6100....4/582/1004/55/5 Aug 2019 749ebay.com
3.
 
Canon M50..+4/579/100..3.5/5 Feb 2018 779ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
5.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
6.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
9.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
11.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
12.
 
Canon M3/5+....4/54/5 Jul 2012 599ebay.com
13.
 
Sony ZV-E104/5..4/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2021 699 amazon.com
14.
 
Sony A64004/5+4/585/1004.5/54/5 Jan 2019 899 amazon.com
15.
 
Sony A60005/5+4.5/580/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2014 599ebay.com
16.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. 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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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon M3 vs Sony A6100

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon M3 Sony A6100
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Canon EF-M mount lenses Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2015 August 2019
    Launch Price USD 679 USD 749
    Sensor Specs Canon M3 Sony A6100
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 366.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 28.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm 3.91 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2 6.55 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 32,000 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 6 BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 72 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.8 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.8 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1169 ..
    Screen Specs Canon M3 Sony A6100
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon M3 Sony A6100
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 4.2 shutter flaps/s 11 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Electronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon M3 Sony A6100
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon M3 Sony A6100
    Battery Type Canon LP-E17 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)250 shots per charge420 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 111 x 68 x 44 mm
    (4.4 x 2.7 x 1.7 in)
    120 x 67 x 59 mm
    (4.7 x 2.6 x 2.3 in)
    Camera Weight 366 g (12.9 oz) 396 g (14.0 oz)
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