Canon EOS M2 vs Sony NEX-5R — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS M2 and the Sony NEX-5R are compact mirrorless cameras aimed at everyday and travel photography. The Sony is the smaller and lighter body at 111 x 59 x 39 mm and 276 g, against the Canon's 116 x 88 x 59 mm and 387 g. That makes the Sony the easier camera to slip into a small bag.

The EOS M2 gives you more room to crop a distant subject or print larger, with 18 MP against 16.1 MP. The NEX-5R answers with a standard ISO ceiling of 25600 against 12800, plus 99 autofocus points versus 31 for more placement options across the frame. The M2 uses Canon EF-M lenses and the 5R uses Sony E, so they do not swap between bodies.

For eye-level shooting, only the Canon offers a built-in electronic viewfinder with 2360000 dots; the Sony relies on its rear screen. Each uses an APS-C CMOS sensor and shoots at up to 10 fps. Neither offers in-body stabilisation, so a stabilised lens matters for handheld low-light work on either body. Expanded ISO reaches 25600 on both cameras.

For motion work, the Sony NEX-5R is the stronger choice, offering up to 60 fps where the Canon EOS M2 tops out at 30 fps. That is twice the frame rate, enough to slow clips to half speed on a 30 fps timeline. Both cameras cap their video resolution at Full HD.

The Canon counters with a built-in interval timelapse mode for clouds or fading light, which the Sony omits. The Canon writes MOV files and the Sony writes AVCHD or MP4.

The Canon is the camera to grab for dim rooms, because its built-in flash gives instant fill light; the Sony needs an external unit, though both support one. The Sony's screen tilts, so you can frame at waist level or hold the camera overhead in a crowd, a position the Canon's fixed screen cannot match. The Canon's display is also sharper, at 1040000 dots against 920000.

Both offer a 3-inch touch LCD, live view, and Wi-Fi for sending photos to a phone. Neither includes GPS, weather sealing, or Bluetooth, so geotagging or rough weather calls for added gear.

Sony's battery rating runs to 330 shots against 305 for the Canon under their test conditions, a modest edge for a day out. The Canon takes SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with UHS-I compatibility, while the Sony also accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo cards. Both use a single slot and a proprietary battery, and neither charges over USB, so pack a spare battery and charger.