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Canon M5 vs T7i

The Canon EOS M5 and the Canon EOS Rebel T7i (labelled Canon 800D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2016 and February 2017. The M5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the T7i is a DSLR. Both cameras 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 M5
versus
Canon T7i
Canon M5   Canon T7i
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF-M mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-25,600 ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.2" LCD – 1620k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
9 shutter flaps per second 6 shutter flaps per second
295 shots per battery charge600 shots per battery charge
116 x 89 x 61 mm, 427 g 131 x 100 x 76 mm, 532 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS M5 and the Canon EOS Rebel T7i? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon M5 and the Canon T7i is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon M5 vs Canon T7i
Compare M5 versus T7i top
Comparison M5 or T7i rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon T7i is notably larger (27 percent) than the Canon M5. Moreover, the T7i is markedly heavier (25 percent) than the M5. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the M5 nor the T7i 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.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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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 M5 116 mm 89 mm 61 mm 427 g 295 n Sep 2016 979ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T7i 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 532 g 600 n Feb 2017 749ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T8i 131 mm 103 mm 76 mm 515 g 800 n Feb 2020 749ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M50 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 390 g 235 n Feb 2018 779ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T7 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
6.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M100 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 302 g 295 n Aug 2017 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SL2 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
11.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T6i 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
13.
 
Canon T6s 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
14.
 
Canon T5i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 649ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 899ebay.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 retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The T7i was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 23 percent) than the M5, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the 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 and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Canon M5 and Canon T7i sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the M5 and the T7i have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the T7i is a somewhat more recent model (by 5 months) than the M5, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS M5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS Rebel T7i are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, 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.

M5 versus T7i MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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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 M5 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.4126277
2.
 
Canon T7i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.1158680
3.
 
Canon T8i APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p24.013.5187383
4.
 
Canon M50 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p23.813.3168481
5.
 
Canon T7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p23.813.3168481
6.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
7.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
8.
 
Canon M100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.512.9127278
9.
 
Canon SL2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
10.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
11.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
12.
 
Canon T6i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
13.
 
Canon T6s APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
14.
 
Canon T5i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
15.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
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 have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the M5 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the T7i has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon M5 and Canon T7i in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar 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 M52360 n3.2 / 1620 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon T7ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon T8ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.5/s Y n
4.
 
Canon M502360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon T7optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon M100none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.1/s Y n
9.
 
Canon SL2optical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
11.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
12.
 
Canon T6ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon T6soptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Canon T5ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
15.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/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.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the M5 and the T7i write their files to SDXC 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 M5 and Canon EOS Rebel T7i 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 M5Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
2.
 
Canon T7iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
3.
 
Canon T8iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon M50Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Canon T7Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
7.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon M100-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
9.
 
Canon SL2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
10.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon T6iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Canon T6sYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
14.
 
Canon T5iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
15.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
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Both the M5 and the T7i have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The T7i was replaced by the Canon T8i, while the M5 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the M5 and T7i can be found, respectively, in the Canon M5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon T7i Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon M5 better than the Canon T7i or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Advantages of the Canon EOS M5:

  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 1040k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (116x89mm vs 131x100mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 105g or 20 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2016).


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS Rebel T7i:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (600 versus 295) out of a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (23 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (5 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the M5 emerges as the winner of the contest (8 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

M5 08:05 T7i

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon M5 and the Canon T7i place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings 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 remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the M5 or the T7i 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.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera 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 M54/5+4/582/1004/54/5 Sep 2016 979ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T7i4.5/5..3.5/580/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 749ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T8i4.5/5+3/580/1004/53.5/5 Feb 2020 749ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M50..+4/579/100..3.5/5 Feb 2018 779ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T7..o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
6.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M1003/5+....4/53.5/5 Aug 2017 499ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SL24/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
10.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
11.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T6i5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
13.
 
Canon T6s5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
14.
 
Canon T5i......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 649ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 899ebay.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 assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. 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 M5 vs Canon T7i

    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 M5 Canon T7i
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF-M mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2016 February 2017
    Launch Price USD 979 USD 749
    Sensor Specs Canon M5 Canon T7i
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm 3.72 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2 7.22 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 7
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 77 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.4 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.4 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1262 ..
    Screen Specs Canon M5 Canon T7i
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification .. x 0.51x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1620k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon M5 Canon T7i
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 9 shutter flaps/s 6 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon M5 Canon T7i
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini 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 Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon M5 Canon T7i
    Battery Type Canon LP-E17 Canon LP-E17
    Battery Life (CIPA)295 shots per charge600 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 116 x 89 x 61 mm
    (4.6 x 3.5 x 2.4 in)
    131 x 100 x 76 mm
    (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 427 g (15.1 oz) 532 g (18.8 oz)
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