If you love the way DSLRs perform but don’t love the way they make your neck hurt as you lug them around, mirrorless cameras are the next best thing. While they come with a more compact and portable design, image quality isn’t sacrificed. Two models that are worth looking into are the Canon M200 and the Sony A5100, both of which are speedy cameras that won’t weigh you down. To help you choose between the two, here’s an in-depth comparison that covers their design, image quality, and additional features.
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Canon M200 vs Sony A5100 Comparison Chart
Design
Both the Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 are portable cameras with touch-enabled screens but no viewfinder.
In terms of dimensions, the Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 aren’t too different from each other. The former measures in at 108mm x 67mm x 35mm with a weight of 299g while the latter is 110mm x 63mm x 36mm at 283g. It’s important to note, however, that these cameras might end up heavier depending on the lens you’re using. But nevertheless, both models score high in portability and should be fun to take around with you.
As for displays, both models have a touch-enabled screen which allows you to easily set a focus point by tapping. These screens are held in place by a simple hinge up top which allows you to tilt them upwards. You can adjust them so that they face all the way forward which should come in handy for the vloggers out there who like to take selfies. The Sony A5100, however, has a pretty neat feature that’s missing on the Canon M200. Once you flip the screen to the front, it automatically sets a timer for three seconds so that you don’t even have to press anything. Neither cameras have a viewfinder though so you’ll have to rely on their rear LCDs and live view to frame your subjects.
Image Quality
The Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 have the same sensor size and image resolution.
The Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 may come in small packages but it’s pleasantly surprising how much image quality they pack. While they don’t come with the latest technology of their respective brands, they do have good sensors. Both models are equipped with an APS-C sensor which is larger than the Micro Four Thirds sensors you usually find in mirrorless cameras and is as big as the sensors in DSLRs. Aside from sharing the same sensor size, both models also have an image resolution of 24MP. With these two things in common, they’re able to deliver the same pixel size, pixel density, and ultimately the same image quality as DSLRs.
That said, the Canon M200 has leg up on the Sony A5100 when it comes to video quality. While both have speedy read-out times thanks to their sensors, the Canon M200 can record in 4K at 25p while the Sony A5100 maxes out at 1080p60. Do note, however, that it can be quite challenging to get wide-angle footage with the Canon M200 because of the heavy 1.7x crop. If we’re talking about autofocus on the other hand, the point goes to the Sony A5100. Not only does it have fast autofocus, but it also has a burst shooting speed of 5.9fps with tracking focus. The Canon M200 struggles in this area slightly with slower burst speeds and autofocus.
Additional Features
The Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 don’t come with a hot shoe or microphone port.
The Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 aren’t the most feature-packed mirrorless cameras out there. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to attach an external microphone to these two which can be quite limiting if you want to level up the quality of your videos. They also don’t come with a hot shoe so you can’t use an external flash or additional accessories with them. They do, however, have a built-in flash which softens the blow a little bit. As for connectivity, the Canon M200 has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while the Sony A5100 only has the former.
Verdict
The Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 have a lot of similarities but also a couple of advantages over each other.
Canon M200
Sony A5100
The Canon M200 and the Sony A5100 are on the same level when it comes to a lot of things. They have roughly the same dimensions and weight, their sensors are the same size, and they have the same image resolution. They even lack the same features such as a microphone port and a hot shoe. With that, you can expect a comparable performance from these two and are both approachable mirrorless cameras for entry-level photographers.
Do note, however, that they have certain advantages over each other. If you’re leaning more towards travel or street photography, the Sony A5100 is the better choice for you because of its impressive autofocus and snappy burst shooting. But if you want to pursue videography or vlogging, the Canon M200 might be more up your alley because of its ability to shoot in 4K.
FAQs
Yes, the Canon M200 can shoot in 4K at 25p.
The Canon M200 has an APS-C CMOS sensor with a 24MP image resolution.
The Sony A5100 lacks the ability to shoot in 4K, maxing out at 1080p60.
The Sony A5100 excels in travel or street photography because of its portable design, image quality, impressive autofocus, and speedy burst shooting.