CLICK HERE to get the Canon EOS M at a DISCOUNT price NOW!
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This is the EOS M, Canon's first compact system
camera. Inside the M is the same Digic 5 processing
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engine and 18MP APS-C format sensor as is
in the EOS 650D, but as you can see, it's
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a considerably smaller camera.
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Canon seems to have used its PowerShot range
of compact cameras for inspiration for the
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design of the M and has a fairly flat rectangular
shape with rounded edges. There's not much
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in the way of a grip on the front and the
camera and it feels a little unbalanced with
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the new 18-5mm lens mounted so its a good
idea to attach and use the supplied strap
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to carry it between shots.
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Like the 650D, the M has a 3-inch touchscreen
with over a million dots, but it's fixed onto
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the back of the camera rather than articulated.
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The screen is a capacitive device like an
iPhone screen and I've found it very responsive,
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so it's a pleasure to use it to make settings
adjustments. This is just as well as the M
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has a fairly limited number of direct controls.
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On the top here is a switch to change between
Scene Intelligent Auto (green square), Camera
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and Video mode. Green Square mode is aimed
at novices as the camera chooses the correct
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settings to use depending upon the type of
scene it calculates it is pointed at. Camera
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mode has a bit more to offer with selectable
scene modes for less experienced photographers
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and aperture priority, shutter priority and
manual mode for enthusiasts.
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When you're in Camera mode you change exposure
mode by touching this icon and then finding
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the onscreen option you want.
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The Quick Menu provides access to key features
such as image quality, white balance and the
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Creative Effects such as grainy black and
white, miniature.... These filter effects
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can only be used when you are shooting JPEGs,
so if you shoot raw files, or raw and JPEG
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files simultaneously, you'll have to change
file format before you can use them.
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I like the grainy black and white filter and
the miniature mode is fun, but can't say I'm
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a huge fan of the others.
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Aspects such as aperture and sensitivity can
be set using the touchscreen and/or the controls.
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Just touch the icon for the feature you want
like this and then either adjust it on-screen
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or use the dial on the back of the camera.
If you are used to buttons and dials you may
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find that you start out using them, but gradually
switch over.
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Although the screen provides a clear view
inside and in low light, its not so good when
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the sun is out and reflections are a problem.
I find I can usually make out the main elements
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of the scene, but smaller details are lost.
It's a shame because there's no viewfinder
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or even a port to attach an external viewfinder
on the M.
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There’s also no flash built-in, but there’s
a hotshoe that is compatible with all of Canon
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current flashguns and in the UK the new Speedlite
90EX is included in the kit.
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Because the mirrorless design of the M allows
the lens mount to be closer to the sensor
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to make the camera smaller than an SLR, it's
not directly compatible with Canon's existing
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SLR lenses. As a result Canon has given it
a new mount called EF-M. At present there
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are just two lenses with this mount an 18-55mm
f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilised zoom lens and a
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22mm f/2 pancake lens. There's also an adapter
that allows EF and EF-S mount lenses to be
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used on the M.
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Both of the new EF-M lenses have an STM or
stepper motor autofocus drive which is designed
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to make focus slower and smoother during video
shooting. It's effective for video, but it's
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not so good for stills photography.
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In good light the M's autofocus speed is decent
enough, but in anything less than that there's
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a distinct backwards and forwards adjustment
of the focus. It's slower than competing systems
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from the likes of Panasonic and Olympus and
it means that there's a slight delay between
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touching the screen and the image being taken
in Touch Shutter mode. This is disappointing
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given that the M has a hybrid AF system that
is designed to combine the speed of phase
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detection with the accuracy of contrast detection.
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On the plus side, it's worth the wait for
the AF system because the M is capable of
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recording lots of detail and noise is controlled
well up to around ISO 3200. Above this value
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there is some loss of detail caused by the
noise reduction applied to JPEG images and
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I'd recommend shooting raw files and processing
them to get more detail if you want A4 or
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larger prints.
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The native sensitivity range of the M tops
out at ISO 12,800, but there is an expansion
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option equivalent to ISO 25,600 which I'd
keep for emergencies only.
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When the automatic or daylight white balance
options are used the M tends to produce rather
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warm images and while this may not be entirely
accurate the results are generally pleasant.
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Purists may not be 100% happy, but those looking
for a nice picture will be pleased.
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All things considered the M is a bit of a
mixed bag. Its build is nice and solid, the
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new 18-55mm kits lens is beautifully constructed
- much better than Canon's 18-55mm lens for
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its SLRs, the control system is well thought
out with a very responsive touch screen and
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image quality is very good, being on a par
with the 650D's. However, the AF system is
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a bit slow, the screen suffers from reflections
in bright light and there's not much of a
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grip on the front of the camera.
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The EOS M is on sale now for $849/£683 with
18-55mm kit lens (and the new Speedlite 90EX
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flashgun in UK)
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For more information, take a look at my review
at TechRadar.com
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In this month's issue.CLICK HERE to get the Canon EOS M at a DISCOUNT price NOW!
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