Canon EOS M3

The Canon EOS M3 is a mirrorless camera from 2015, built around a small, light body measuring roughly 111 by 68 by 44 millimetres and weighing 366 grams. It takes interchangeable lenses on the Canon EF-M mount.

Inside sits a 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor. There is no viewfinder, so you compose on the screen, and it tilts, which helps with low angles, overhead shots and self-portraits.

Owning one involves some planning. The battery is rated for 250 shots, and video recording tops out at Full HD resolution, so it leans towards stills rather than video work.

The Optics score of 60 is good. It rests on the 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor paired with the Digic 6 processor, though the absence of in-body stabilisation and the modest burst rate cost points. It sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

Autofocus uses 49 points, and combined with the touchscreen you can tap to place focus precisely rather than recomposing after locking. The ISO range runs from 100 to 12800, giving you room to keep shooting as the light falls.

Continuous shooting reaches a maximum of 4.2 frames per second, while the fastest shutter speed is 1/4000 of a second.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so camera shake is not corrected in the body. For handheld shooting in dim conditions, a stabilised EF-M lens, a faster shutter speed or a support such as a tripod are the practical answers.

The Video score of 43 reflects a modest setup. Recording tops out at Full HD resolution, with a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second, and files are saved in the MP4 format.

Full HD suits family clips and web video, though it will not give you the cropping headroom or detail of 4K. With the frame rate capped at 30 fps, there is no slow-motion capture either.

The tilting screen helps when filming, since you can flip it up to see yourself while recording and adjust framing on the fly.

There is no built-in intervalometer for timelapses, so sequences need an external trigger. Treat video here as a useful extra.

The features score of 57 is modest, with lost points for the absent weather sealing and Bluetooth. The 3-inch LCD, with just over a million dots, alongside the touchscreen and live view, earns most of its marks.

Because the screen tilts and responds to touch, you can shoot at waist level, hold the camera overhead, or frame a self-portrait. Since there is no viewfinder, this screen is your only way of composing, so its quality and movement matter.

Wi-Fi is built in for wireless connectivity. Bluetooth is absent, so there is no low-power background link with a device.

There is a built-in flash, and an external flash can be fitted. The body has no weather sealing, so it is one to keep dry, and there is no built-in GPS.

Storage and battery is the weakest area here, with a score of 16 rated as limited. Lost points come from the single card slot, the 250-shot battery rating and the absence of USB charging.

Storage is straightforward: one slot taking SD, SDHC and SDXC cards. With a single slot there is no in-camera backup, so a card failure means losing whatever was on that card.

The LP-E17 battery is rated for 250 shots per charge. For longer outings or heavy shooting days, carrying a second battery is a sensible precaution.

USB charging is not supported, so the battery cannot be topped up from a laptop or power bank over a cable. Charging stops need a little planning if you shoot on the go.