Canon EOS M10 vs Sony NEX-5T — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS M10 (2015) and the Sony NEX-5T (2013) are both mirrorless cameras built around APS-C CMOS sensors, and the bigger commitment is which lens system you join. The M10 uses Canon EF-M lenses while the 5T uses Sony E lenses. Neither body has an eye-level viewfinder, so both cameras are framed through the rear screen.

The Sony is the lighter body at 276 g against 301 g for the Canon, a 25 g difference between the two.

The NEX-5T is the stronger pick for action shooting: it shoots at 10 frames per second against 4.6 on the M10, and it has 99 autofocus points compared with 49, giving more coverage for tracking a moving subject. Its native ISO range also runs to 25600, while the M10 tops out at 12800 natively and reaches 25600 only in expanded mode.

For stills where you want room to crop, the M10 offers a small edge with its 18 megapixel sensor against 16.1 on the Sony. The matching 1/4000 second maximum shutter and the lack of in-body stabilisation on both bodies leave handheld low-light sharpness to your lens choice.

The NEX-5T is the better choice for video motion, with a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second against 30 on the M10. Those extra frames let footage of fast movement play back more smoothly and give cleaner slow-motion results after editing. Both record MPEG-4 video at up to Full HD resolution.

The M10 answers with a built-in timelapse feature, which the Sony lacks, so interval work like a sunset or street scene can be shot entirely in camera.

The M10 is the more convenient camera for casual indoor and evening shooting because it has a built-in flash, while the 5T relies on an external flash unit. The Sony does support attaching an external flash, which the Canon does not, so the advantage swaps direction if you want a more powerful add-on light.

Both cameras handle everyday framing well, with a 3-inch flip-up touchscreen, live view and Wi-Fi for transferring photos to a phone. The Canon's screen is sharper for checking focus and detail, with 1040000 dots against 921600 on the Sony. Neither camera has GPS, weather sealing or Bluetooth.

The NEX-5T carries the longer battery rating for a long day out, at 330 shots per charge against 255 for the M10, a difference of 75 shots in the supplied ratings.

Both take a single memory card with no second slot and no USB charging, so spare batteries charged in an external charger are the practical backup plan. The Sony accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards as well as Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo media, while the Canon takes SD family cards only.