eos m3 or eos m100

[dpreviewreader80]

which one to get, need light camera for long hikes with good q image 15-45 is a nice range for landscape that i will be shooting, my 80d is too heavy for everyday. is there be a significant image quality from 80d?

thanks for any sugestion

 

[Ben Herrmann]

...but they are a bit different in a number of ways. I've never had the 80D, but in general, the EOS M line of cameras will be somewhat slower. On the other hand however, the size/weight factor more than makes up for the weight lost from shifting from a DSLR. IQ-wise, they are very, very similar.

The EOS M100 is purely compact (begs the question as to how in the hell Canon managed to fit an APS-C sized sensor in there). With the standard kit 15-45 can fit in some pockets. It also had DPAF capabilities which give it much faster and accurate AF in many scenarios as compared to the earlier EOS M3 will. Additionally, the color tonality of the M100 is more on the warmer (more traditional) side of the house - more like what we were accustomed to with past Canon cameras. The M100 does not have an external hot shoe, so you are left to shooting with the internal built-in one only.

The EOS M3 is a tad larger and thicker than the EOS M100. It is capable of superb IQ - plus the ability to attach an optional EVF on the top (of which Canon currently has two available) gives you the option of shooting/composing with an EVF. Take off the EVF and you have the ability to attach an external flash. Color tonality-wise, the colors coming from the M3 are somewhat different (not bad, mind you - just different), with some folks characterizing the colors shifting to more greenish tones in certain scenarios (where yellows should be).

I still use both. On the M3 I've attached the EF-S 55-260 via an adapter and the combo is superb. On the M100, I keep a very good copy of the 15-45 and use it where having a very compact (low profile) camera is a necessity.

I think you would be happy with either one. After all, they both feature 24 MP sensors, with the one in the M100 being a newer version. In the end, price often rules, so if you can get a new (or superbly used) M3 w/kit lens at a great price (kit lens for the M3 usually means the older yet very competent 1EF-M 18-55), then that may be the supreme motivator. Likewise, I'm now seeing the M100 with kit lens going for less than $400 USD.

Here are some quick comparisons:

EOS M3 sample shots: Please note that I use the excellent image conversion program called "Irfanview." However, when I create JPG's from my TIF masters, the exif data is striped with this program


ISO 100


ISO 100


ISO 5000


ISO 100


ISO 1600

EOS M100 Sample Images:




ISO 6400


ISO 4000


ISO 400


ISO 100


ISO 100


ISO 100

Good luck...

--
Life can be good - if you allow it!
Bernd ("Ben") Herrmann
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina USA

 

[getochkn]

If it's hiking and no flash, then the M100 with no hotshoe and small size would be good. It's a better sensor and DPAF focusing which the M3 doesn't have.

 

[lumenite]

If it's hiking and no flash, then the M100 with no hotshoe and small size would be good. It's a better sensor and DPAF focusing which the M3 doesn't have.

Agreed. I would choose m100 over m3 for its compactness and better AF.

 

[dpreviewreader80]

thank you for advise

 

[Microprism]

Here are some quick comparisons:

EOS M3 sample shots: Please note that I use the excellent image conversion program called "Irfanview." However, when I create JPG's from my TIF masters, the exif data is striped with this program


ISO 100



EOS M100 Sample Images


ISO 100


ISO 100

Ben, maybe it's the different kit lenses, but I like the colors in your M3 photos much better than the M100 pics. FWIW, I always really liked the output of the M3, which I used mostly with manual lenses. That made the autofocus speed a non-issue.

 

[Ben Herrmann]

...Tamron 18-200 F3.5-6.3 VC Di III (EOS M Mount).

Do keep keep in mind that the 15-45 was used with the M100 and the images were taken late winter and a different time of day than the M3.

 

[HaroldC3]

M100 hands down. The M3 is an odd fish which has several quirks to it. I had one but it just didn't feel right. The images coming out of it were inconsistent in color and it took longer for me to process them. It also had the green cast controversy and AEB issue.

The M100 has the same sensor as the 80D, so you should get similar results from the M100.

 

[dpreviewreader80]

thank you

 

[plantdoc]

Both would produce very similar IQ. The M100 would focus faster especially with adapted EFS (non stm) lenses. The M3 can also use an EVF. I find with STM lenses the M3 focuses fast enough for non action pics, like a very good P&S. No real opinion on the M100, I have the M5. A used M3 at a very low price (older model camera) could be a good choice for hiking where damage and weather are factors.

Greg