Canon EOS M5 vs Fujifilm X-A3 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS M5 and the Fujifilm X-A3 are mirrorless cameras announced within weeks of each other in 2016, but they take different body approaches. The M5 measures 116 x 89 x 61 mm and weighs 427 g, the larger and deeper of the two. The X-A3 is slimmer at 117 x 67 x 40 mm and 88 g lighter at 339 g, a body better suited to a small bag or jacket pocket.

For eye-level shooting the M5 is the clear choice: it offers a built-in electronic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots, while the X-A3 has none and must be framed on its rear screen. The M5 also reaches 9 fps against the X-A3's 6 fps, an edge for running children or pets on the move. Its native ISO range of 100 to 25600 starts lower than the X-A3's 200 to 6400, helping wide apertures in daylight.

Their stills output is a close match: both use APS-C CMOS sensors at roughly 24 megapixels, so print sizes and cropping room are nearly identical. Neither offers in-body stabilisation, and both top out at 1/4000 second. The X-A3 counters with 77 autofocus points against the M5's 49, spreading coverage wider across the frame. The native lens systems differ, with the M5 using Canon EF-M and the X-A3 using Fujifilm X.

For timelapse work the M5 is the easier choice, because it offers a built-in interval timer for sunset or cloud sequences without an external remote, a feature the X-A3 does not have. For everyday clips the two are a match, with both recording Full HD at up to 60 fps for smooth motion. The X-A3 records in MPEG-4 and MOV, while the M5 uses MP4.

The M5 gives you a better screen for reviewing and framing, with 1,620,000 dots on a 3.2-inch panel against the X-A3's 1,040,000 dots on 3 inches, so playback and focus checks show finer detail. For everyday control the two are a practical match. Both offer tilting touchscreens, Wi-Fi and a built-in flash, and both support external flash for off-camera work. Neither camera includes GPS, weather sealing or Bluetooth.

The X-A3 is the stronger pick for a long day of shooting, as its NP-W126S battery is rated for 410 shots against 295 shots for the M5's LP-E17 under each maker's standard test conditions. Storage is a practical match, with both accepting a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card. Neither offers a second card slot or USB charging, so spare batteries matter for both kits.