Anyone compared the sensors: EOS M3 vs 7D MkII?

[ZoeEnPhos]

Hello all clever Canon Camera Users here!


A humble request of help from you here,
to inform me of the differences of two SENSORS in order
to make a more right purchase choice
between the 7DMkII or EOS M3
when
it comes to the overall image quality.


I am about to purchase either 7DMkII or EOS M3
to be used particularly for the APS-C (1.6x) benefits,
for all my EF-lenses
(Already have the EF-M to EF-ADAPTER
and also the old EOS M (Version 1 with 18MP and the old 7D)
So far I could not find a enlightning
comparison between the NEW sensors
in the 7DMKII and the EOS M3.


So has anyone here on CR compared these two sensors:
• EOS M3 vs• 7D MkII
when it comes to best
image quality?
All answers will be appreciated!

Wishing you all the Very Best!
Charl (Sweden)

 

[sunnyVan]

Generally people buy 7d for its build quality and insane AF capabilities and buy m3 for its compact size. IQ wise both are not substantially different, although I seem to have heard that m3 and t6i have the highest dynamic range among Canon's cropped sensors. The decision should be based on what you shoot.

 

[AvTvM]

EOS M3 uses same sensor and (Live View) AF system as Rebel T6i and T6s - 24.2 MP. It is one iteration "newer" than the one in 7D II (20.2 MP).

Rated ISO range is slightly higher for 7D II sensor 100-16,000 (extended: 51,200) vs. M3 @ ISO 100-12,800 (25,600 extended). Looks to be roughly in line with the slightly larger pixel pitch of 7D II sensor [4.1um] vs. EOS M3 [3.7um] - so are respective diffraction-limited apertues [DLA] - f/6.6 [7D II] vs. 6.0 [M3]

In practice however, I have not seen images from those 2 cameras with discernible differences in Image Quality that are NOT attributable to different lenses being used.

As far as stills images are concerned (I don't care about video) then technical image quality is no decision factor between 7D II and M3. Decisive questions are rather:
1) Do subjects and/or capture situations necessitate fast AF and/or fast fps and/or longer tele lenses? How frequently? How crucial are these situations for you?
2) what compromise are you willing to strike between size/weight and lens capabilities (focal lengths, f-stops)?

Overview feature comparison 7D II vs. M3:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Camera-Specifications.aspx?Camera=963&CameraComp=995
http://www.imaging-resource.com/cameras/canon/7d-mark-ii/vs/canon/eos-m3/

 

[Ivan Muller]

I have compared my Eos M3 to my 6D and at low iso's I the M3 has stunning resolution and image quality, as good as the 6D any day if not slightly better. But personally I would have taken the 'better' sensor of the 7Dmk2 in the M3 body, for its better AF capabilities, better high iso performance and as it is 20mp gives pretty good image quality.

The biggest drawback imo is still the too slow AF and general slow response, but the size is sweet and there is no reason why one cant bend it to ones will...

see my images here: http://thelazytravelphotographer.blogspot.co.za/2015/09/canon-eos-m3-review-third-time-lucky.html

 

[tomscott]

Ye current crop sensor vs the old FF sensors compare pretty well with 1 stop maybe 2 at a push. The 7DMKIIs 20mp sensor is different to that int eh 70D and the 24mp is again different. Both are excellent although the 7DMKII might give you a slight benefit but it won't really be noticeable.

As said above its the capability and build thats the difference.

There have been a lot of people who have been complaining about the EF adapter on the M3 that it reduces the AF speed. So something to bare in mind.

 

[Larsskv]

The differences between the 7DII and the M3 are many, and choosing between them based on sensor quality alone seems silly to me.

That said, a can say that the sensor in the 7DII is very good for an APS-C sensor. If the sensor in the M3 is better, it will be marginal.

 

[sanj]

Generally people buy 7d for its build quality and insane AF capabilities and buy m3 for its compact size. IQ wise both are not substantially different, although I seem to have heard that m3 and t6i have the highest dynamic range among Canon's cropped sensors. The decision should be based on what you shoot.

Absolutely.

 

[rs]

Here's a comparison of resolving power:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=458&Camera=963&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=4&LensComp=458&CameraComp=995&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=4

And noise (this time using the 760D which shares a sensor with the M3):

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Camera-Noise.aspx?Camera=963&Test=0&ISO=800&CameraComp=982&TestComp=0&ISOComp=800

 

[ZoeEnPhos]

see my images here: http://thelazytravelphotographer.blogspot.co.za/2015/09/canon-eos-m3-review-third-time-lucky.html

Dear Sir,
Thank you for your answer and for your interesting blog of your camera set-up!
However please correct me if I am wrong but quoting from your blog you wrote this:
"As you all know the crop sensor of the M3's aps-c sensor also multiplies the range of my existing EF lenses by a factor of 1.6.
My EF 85mm f1.8 now becomes the equivalent to a 135mm f1.8...faster, more compact and much less expensive than the EF 135mm f2 L full frame version."

About sensor size/area and the ability to gather light

If you are using a smaller APS-C sensor, is it not so that the sensor area is also less
in area, when you are comparing the smaller sensor to a full sensor cameras sensor size?

So the Canon EF85mm f/1.8 lens does indeed behave like an equivalent focal length of a 135 mm lens (on a 1.6 x crop sensor) … but, does not the depth-of-field (DoF) increasing by about a stop?

then accordingly the EF85mm f/1.8 should maybe be equivalent to 135mm and the F-number something like a f/2.88 or 136mm f/2.8 to be specific?

Anyhow I am not a mathematician so I maybe have missed something here, this is just a note!

(I found a DoF calculator here: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/dof-calculator.htm )

Thank you sir, for your beautiful photos from you travelling in Europe! Excellent captures!

Wishing you the very Best!
/Charl

 

[andarx]

You can check jpegs side by side here:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM