Canon EOS M5

Canon launched the EOS M5 in 2016 as a mirrorless body built around an APS-C sensor and an electronic viewfinder. At 427 g and 116 x 89 x 61 mm, it fits those two essentials into a size that slips into a small bag.

That combination suits travel and everyday photographers who want room to grow without carrying a large kit. The 3.2-inch touchscreen tilts, which helps at waist level or overhead, and a built-in flash covers quick indoor shots.

Owning it means buying into the EF-M lens mount, so check that the lenses you want exist in that system. The battery is rated at 295 shots, so a spare is wise for full days out.

The 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor pairs with a Digic 7 processor, giving plenty of resolution for cropping. That specification earns an Optics score of 64, which we rate as good, and it places the camera around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

The camera offers 49 autofocus points and shoots at up to 9 fps. That combination gives useful focus-placement choices and a maximum burst rate suited to brief action sequences.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so camera shake is managed through shutter speed, a stabilised lens if you use one, or a support. The ISO range runs from 100 to 25600, and the shutter reaches 1/4000 s, a ceiling that can constrain wide apertures in bright light.

The 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder provides an eye-level preview of the composition before you take the shot.

Video is a solid secondary feature here. It records Full HD MP4 clips, while frame rates reach a maximum of 60 fps. The 60 fps maximum gives smoother-motion options for everyday clips.

There is no 4K recording, which matters if you crop footage or publish where higher resolution is expected. For web video and family projects, Full HD remains entirely workable, and the Video score of 70, rated good, reflects the resolution ceiling alongside full marks for the built-in timelapse.

A built-in timelapse mode saves you from carrying an intervalometer or triggering the camera remotely. Set the camera on a tripod, let it run, and you finish with a ready-made sequence.

Handling centres on a 3.2-inch LCD with 1.62 million dots and touch control. The screen tilts for waist-level and overhead framing, so awkward angles stop being guesswork.

Wi-Fi provides a built-in wireless connection. Bluetooth is absent, leaving Wi-Fi as the camera's built-in wireless option.

Both a built-in flash and support for external flash units are included, giving fill light at short notice and a path to larger lighting setups later. The Features score of 61 rates as good, with missing weather sealing and Bluetooth among the fields that cost it points, so keep the camera dry in rain and dust.

This is the camera's weakest area, with a Storage & Battery score of 16 that we rate as limited. A single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot handles storage, so card capacity and handling matter during longer shoots.

The LP-E17 battery is rated at 295 shots. That figure makes battery planning important when several sessions fill one day. A charged spare is sensible for longer sessions, particularly when a break for charging would interrupt the day.

USB charging is unavailable, so plan to charge the LP-E17 between sessions. Carrying a charged spare also helps keep the camera ready on longer trips.