Nikon D300s vs Canon EOS M

This is a full comparison between the cameras Nikon D300s and Canon EOS M. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Nikon D300s is manufacturered by Nikon but Canon EOS M is from Canon. Both Nikon and Canon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Nikon D300s is a DSLR camera while Canon EOS M is a Mirrorless camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Nikon D300s has a "Nikon DX"-sensor while Canon EOS M has a "Canon APS-C"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Nikon D300s has a 12,3 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS M has 18 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Canon EOS M has a 47 % larger resolution than Nikon D300s. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Canon EOS M has a larger ISO-range than Nikon D300s. Canon EOS M has an ISO range that stretches from 100 to 12800 while Nikon D300s has 200 to 6400.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Worth mentioning is that Canon EOS M belongs to the Canon EOS M-system and needs an adapter to work with Canons EF, EF-S, MP-E, and TS-E lenses. You can read more about this adapter here:
Canon Lens Mount Adapter EF-EOS M

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D300s
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS M

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Nikon D300s can shoot up to 7 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS M can shoot up to 4,3 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

In this case, both Nikon D300s and Canon EOS M can shoot movies.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Nikon D300s weighs 938 gr (equal to 2.07 lb) which is 215% heavier than Canon EOS M and its 298 gr (or 0.66 lb).

Nikon D300s vs Canon EOS M Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Nikon D300s and Canon EOS M, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Name	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Manufacturer	Nikon	Canon
Release Date and Price	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Release Year	2009	2012
Release Date	2009-07-30	2012-07-23
MSRP	1799 USD	799 USD
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Camera Type	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Camera Type	DSLR	Mirrorless
Sensor	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.7 x 15.5 mm) Also known as "DX"	APS-C (approx 22.3 x 14.9 mm)
Sensor Type	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	4288 x 2848 pixels	5184 x 3456 pixels
Megapixels	12,3 MP	18 MP
Image Processor	EXPEED	DIGIC 5
Image	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
ISO Range	200 - 6400	100 - 12800
White Balance Presets	12	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	No	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW + TIFF	RAW
Optics & Focus	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous Face Detection LiveView
Focus Points	51	31
Lens Mount	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses	Canon EF-M See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	DX / APS-C (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	APS-C Sensor 1.6x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 38 mm 50 mm becomes 80 mm 100 mm becomes 160 mm 200 mm becomes 320 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Articulated LCD	Fixed	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	920000	1040000
Touch screen	No	Yes
Screen type	Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle	Clear View II TFT LCD
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentaprism)	No Viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.94× (0.63× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	0
Photography features	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Frames per second	7 fps	4,3 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	60 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	No
Built-in Flash Range	12 meters	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	Yes	No
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Spot Partial
Exposure Compensation	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)	+/- 3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Video recording	Yes	Yes
Video format	Motion JPEG	MPEG4 H.264
Video resolution	1280 x 720	1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Built-in Microphone	Yes	Yes
Built-in Speakers	No	Yes
Storage	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Memory Card	Compact Flash	SD/SDHC
Connectivity	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	Yes Eye-Fi Connected	Yes Eye-Fi Connected
Remote Control	Yes (Optional, wired or wireless)	No
GPS	Yes Optional with GP-1	Yes Optional via GP-E2
Body & Dimensions	Nikon D300s	Canon EOS M
Enviromentally sealed	Yes	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger	Lithium-Ion LP-E12 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	950 shots	230 shots
Width	147 mm	109 mm
Height	114 mm	66 mm
Depth	74 mm	32 mm
Weight	938 gram	298 gram