There have been plenty of false alarms in recent months, but Canon’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC) is finally here — in fact, we’re holding it in our hands. The EOS M is clearly reminiscent of a point-and-shoot, such as the company’s high-end PowerShot S100. Sure, Canon could have added some of the dedicated controls that its professional user base would demand, but photojournalists aren’t the target here, for a few reasons. Canon’s primary motivation, at least from an official perspective, was to create a camera that serves to bridge the gap between pocketable compacts and full-size DSLRs with a simple user interface designed to educate, not intimidate. Also key, however, was avoiding cannibalization of the company’s low-end and mid-range Digital SLR models, which clearly still have a place in the lineup one tier above this ILC.
Consumers willing to sacrifice hardware controls for a touchscreen-driven UI won’t be missing out on much else — functionally, the EOS M is a near-clone of Rebel T4i with the same 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 processor and 3-inch touchscreen. Even the advanced two-stage focusing system has made its way from the T4i, which utilizes both phase-difference and contrast AF in order to achieve focus more efficiently when capturing video. The housing design and lens mount are unlike any other that Canon has produced, however, combining features from other models without completely eliminating the need for a DSLR, or a compact for that matter. If you can get by without granular controls, you’ll do just fine here — the design really is spectacular. With an $800 price tag, the EOS M falls within the upper tier of the mirrorless category, and it remains to be seen whether it will be an obvious pick when it finally hits stores in October, a month after competitors tease their own products at the massive Photokina expo in Germany. How does it fare today? You’ll find our impressions just past the break.
Canon aims to break open a new market with its newly-announced Canon EOS M, straddling the divide between the traditional EOS DSLR audience and those who have higher expectations than point-and-shoots. “Although there’s no question that this is an EOS camera” Canon UK’s David Parry told TechRadar, “it’s targeted at people who are not traditionally an EOS camera customer.” The new model is Canon’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.
Although the target segment might be new, that doesn’t mean Canon isn’t clear on who, exactly, it comprises. The EOS M is ”for people who are interested in photography and want to take better images, but don’t know, or don’t want to know about shutter speeds, aperture and so on” Parry explained.
For that audience, Canon has borrowed liberally from smartphone and tablet UIs, introducing pinch-zoom and swiping gestures to the EOS M’s 3-inch touchscreen LCD. It also offers a Scene Intelligent Auto mode which basically takes the thought out of all shooting scenarios.
However, while the EOS M might end up stuck in automatic mode more often than not, it’s not to say that the camera can’t manage more flexibility. There’s full control over the hybrid AF system and a native ISO range of 100-12,800 (extendable to 25,600), while the stereo microphone has 64-step user-adjustable audio to go with its 1080p Full HD video recording.
If those photography-keen but tech-shy buyers want to get their hands on the EOS M when it hits shelves in October, they might want to order sooner rather than later, though. Retailers are already warning that Canon’s first wave of stock is unlikely to satisfy even pre-orders, never mind those who decide they want the mirrorless camera at the last-minute.
Canon’s EOS M mirrorless camera may have only been officially announced this morning – and not due to hit shelves until October – but if you want one from the first batch the advice is to flex your credit card today. Pre-order listings for the new EOS M have already gone live at some online retailers, priced at $799, along with warnings that initial stock is unlikely to be sufficient to meet demand from shutterbugs.
“Initial orders for this product are scheduled to begin shipping in October, but due to the high demand we anticipate being unable to fulfill all customer orders with our first allocation” Amazon warns today. “Product supply from Canon is very limited. Your place in line will be maintained, and we will not charge your credit card until we ship the product.”
The retailer also has pre-order listings for the EOS M accessories, with the Speedlite flash and 18-55mm zoom lens also expected in October and also carrying stock warnings. The basic EOS M kit comes with the camera body itself, the EF-M 22m f/2 STM kit-lens, a neck strap, LP-E12 battery pack, LC-E12 battery charger, USB interface cable and a CD with the various manuals and apps.
Unsurprisingly, given the EOS M being Canon’s first attempt at the mirrorless segment and the huge number of aficionados to the brand, the camera has prompted a fair degree of interest. As well as being more pocket-friendly than Canon’s DSLR range, it uses a slick touchscreen interface which borrows gestures like pinch-zoom from smartphones and tablets.
Canon has released sample shots from the new EOS M mirrorless camera, along with a suitably uptempo promo video positioning the snapper as perfect for the impatient Instagram generation. The new gallery of stills and video clips put the EOS M through its paces in portrait, macro and landscape photography, as well as in low-light video situations, and if we weren’t drooling over the new Canon before, we certainly are now.
Unsurprisingly, Canon is talking up the balance of compact portability and image quality in its advert for the EOS M. The roughly palm-sized body – shown in black, silver, white and a rather fetching red – is small and sturdy enough to be dropped into a bag without a case, and the touchscreen brings a smartphone-like degree of easy control and navigation.
Canon EOS M promo video:
As for the samples, while Canon is obviously going to pick the shots that paint the EOS M in its best light, we can’t say we’re disappointed with the output. The landscape has some beautifully saturated blues but doesn’t lose the brown tones of the bushes to murk, for instance (click the image for full-size).
As for the macro, it’s as crisp as you’d hope, with evidence of the shallow depth of field Canon is so keen to highlight in its promo clip. You can find video samples here.
The Canon EOS M will go on sale in October, priced at $799.99. More details here.
Canon has officially joined the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera crowd with the new Canon EOS M, an 18-megapixel compact with touchscreen control and sized for your pocket. Packing an APS-C CMOS sensor, ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600 in H mode) and Full HD video recording, the EOS-M uses the same DIGI 5 Image Processor found in Canon’s DSLRs, along with a Hybrid CMOS autofocus system with 31 AF points, face detection and multi-point AF.
A stepping motor system in the pair of new lenses for the EOS M – consisting of the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens and the optional EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens – mean pretty much silent AF, Canon claims, and there’s a stereo microphone integrated with 64-step user-adjustable audio. 1080p and 720p MPEG-4 AVC H.264 footage is captured.
Construction is from magnesium and stainless steel; on the back, meanwhile, is a 3-inch Clear View 1.04m dot LCD touchscreen, complete with multitouch support for pinch-zooming and swipe navigation, and finished off with an anti-smudge coating. The touchscreen is also used for the EOS M’s more consumer-centric editing features, such as Picture Styles to add filters and the like to stills and video, and Video Snapshot which collates a sequence of stills into a video clip, all in-camera.
Meanwhile, Canon’s existing EF and EF-S lenses can also be used with the EOS M, thanks to an optional Mount Adapter; there’s also a Speedlite 90EX flash for the hotshoe, with a 30 foot range at ISO 100. It can also be controlled wirelessly.
The Canon EOS M will go on sale in October, priced at $799.99 with the EF-M 22m f/2 STM kit lens. A white version, with the same lens, will be available exclusively through Canon’s own online store at the same time. Meanwhile, the new EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens will arrive at the same time, priced at $299.99, along with the $199.99 Mount Adapter EF-EOS M and $149.99 Speedlite 90EX flash.
It was about time and don’t tell us that you never dreamed of a compact mirrorless camera from Canon that also happen to be compatible with Other Canon lenses! Announced worldwide, the EOS M is a 18Mpix APS-C EF compatible Camera capable to shoot 1080p video and come with an ISO speed ranging from 100 up to 25,600!!! The EOS M sports Canon latest Digic 5 Image Engine and a nice 3” smudge resistant touch-screen. Want one? Well don’t worry the EOS M is far from being expensive and will cost you …
Rumors of a Canon mirrorless camera have circled the web since long before Nikon’s foray into the compact ILC space. And while that manufacturer’s model fell far short of some expectations, it appears that Canon’s iteration may in fact have been worth the not-so-insignificant wait. Unlike the Nikon 1 Series, Canon’s new EOS M isn’t a drastic departure from the company’s existing mid-range DSLR lineup. In fact, under the hood it’s quite similar to the Rebel T4i, with an 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 processor, 3-inch 1.04MP smudge-resistant touchscreen and the T4i’s new hybrid autofocus system, which pairs both contrast and phase-difference AF for speedier, more accurate performance. Externally, however, the EOS M looks more like a cross between the PowerShot G1 X and S100, tipping the scale at 14.2 ounces with the included EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens, compared to 27.4 ounces for the T4i, and 19 for the G1 X. It’s physically smaller than the G1 X as well, and only slightly larger than the pocketable S100. The camera offers a sensitivity range in line with the competition, ranging from 100 to 25,600 (extended) in still mode and 12,800 (extended) when shooting video — captured in 1920 x 1080 format at 24, 25 or 30 progressive frames per second. There’s also a continuous shooting mode at 4.3 frames per second with fixed focus and exposure.
The EOS M’s control layout should be more familiar to Canon point-and-shoot owners than DSLR users — as one component of the size compromise, dedicated buttons are replaced with touchscreen options and a bit of menu diving. There’s also no electronic viewfinder, though a full-size hot shoe is included with full support for Canon’s lineup of Speedlite flashes, including the new $150 90EX strobe and ST-E3-RT Transmitter, and the GP-E2 GPS Receiver. Though the camera lacks certain direct controls, it still supports full manual shooting, even in video mode. There’s also a built-in stereo mic with manual level adjustment. In addition to that 22mm kit optic, Canon is offering an EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens for $300, or you can add the $200 EF-EOS M mount adapter to enable use with existing lenses. The $800 EOS M kit is set to ship in October, and will be available in retail stores in black, though Canon’s online store will also stock a white model (which will be paired with the same black lens). You can peek at both configurations, along with the new lenses and accessories in the gallery below. Then shoot past the break for the full PR from Canon.
Earlier in the year, a design team called ADR Studio created a camera concept based off the Instagram icon used for iOS and Android. Now the designer of Socialmatic, Antonio De Rosa, says the concept could see a fully working prototype before the end of the year. De Rosa recently returned from Singapore where he met several manufacturers based in Hong Kong, saying that he had secured a partner that will bridge the gap between the concept and the manufacturing.
ADR tried to secure $50,000 in funding from IndieGoGo earlier in the year, but failed to reach its target goal. A private investor swooped in, however, allowing the team to continue with the project and begin searching for manufacturers. De Rosa confirmed that the final name of the camera will be Socialmatic, saying that there’s a strong demand for the camera despite the failure of the IndieGoGo funding.
The camera is designed to take Instagram style photos, but also features an integrated printer so that you can give a physical copy of the photo to anyone. The Socialmatic would come with 16GB of storage, WiFi, a 4:3 touchscreen featuring the company’s custom InstaOS, and two lenses; one for the main photo capture and a second for 3D filters among other applications. InstaOS, meanwhile, is said to pull the best features of the Facebook and Instagram apps.
Mirrorless cameras are starting to become more and more popular with manufacturers, and it looks like Canon may be ready to enter the game. A leaked image has emerged of the EOS M, said to feature a EF-M 22mm f/2 STM pancake lens and a new EF-M mount. The image reportedly comes from an online store, and tips sent to Canon Watch suggest that the camera with feature an APS-C sized sensor.
There isn’t much more info to go along with the picture, although Canon Watch believes the camera will be announced on Monday July 23rd. The APS-C sensor would make the included 22mm lens a 35mm equivalent, but there’s no info on what to expect in terms of megapixel count, ISO, or even control.
Various camera manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic have been pushing mirrorless camera systems for some time, claiming that the system can achieve near DSLR quality in a smaller form factor. More recently, Sony released its new entry-level mirrorless camera, the NEX-F3, with a 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor and interchangeable lens system. That camera starts at around $600, while the NEX-5N and NEX-7 start at $700 and $1,200 respectively.
With the Olympus OM-D E-M5 you’ve got the manufacturer taking what was great about the original OM line of SLR units with a collection of fabulous add-ons that work perfectly well in the digital world. In this 4.8 x 3.5 x 1.69-inch beast that weighs in at just under a pound (supposing you’ve not added on tons of accessories), you’ve got a great combo. It’s a device that’s set out to bring you awesome image and video quality in a tiny package that’s as powerful as it is cute.
Hardware
Looking down on the camera you’ll see a “main dial” to the right of the main hump, then another sub-dial to the right of that around the shutter release. On the left of the hump you’ve got an exposure mode dial as well. The right-side dials are made to be accessed by your thumb and your index finger, while the one on the left is made to be accessed by your thumb on your left hand. Each of these dials are extremely easy to work with.
The three buttons up top of the device are also easy to use, one for your shutter, one for video recording, and a third labeled Fn2. This third button is programmable and can be tied to a set of operations such as auto exposure lock, ISO, and white balance.
As far as that big hump in the middle; you’ll be using it if you’re not interested in working with the giant display on the back for a viewfinder, but the main bulk of the bump is made to house your accessories to attach to. So it’s an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), accessory port, and hot shoe all in one. You can plug in a bluetooth module, a microphone adapter, or a lovely gigantic lamp, all of which will fit snug.
There’s a rubbery thumb-grip up on the back right and of the device, otherwise you’re working with hard plastic. Olympus does offer a HLD-6 grip and battery extender, this accessory made not only for those of you who plan on being in the filed for an extended time, but for a better grip for the large-handed and sweaty-palmed. Those of you that’ve got giant hands or trouble gripping small cameras, you’ll want to seriously consider this $300 accessory. This could be a bit of a bummer for those of you looking to stay in the $1300 range (that being the price of the kit that includes the lens we’ve tested as well,) but it’ll be worth it in the end.
The lens we’ve got is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 zoom lens, and it’s a fabulous little number other than the quick-release for the mechanical zoom. You can either set it to auto or manual zoom by loosening the ring in the center – it’s a bit too easy to do for my taste. That said, it is nice to be able to do this on the fly, just so long as you’re not tossing the thing around and getting sand in the gears (never a good idea anyway!)
Another item that this reviewer isn’t that fond of is the sensor that detects when you raise the camera to your eye. This sensor works fine for those that are willing to take the time to get used to it, but if you’re switching from camera to camera when those other cameras don’t have the sensor in place, you’ll be just a bit annoyed when your screen is flipping on and off. I’ve had similar feelings about recent Android phones that do similar things as well – I’m certainly more of a manual sort of guy.
You can also decide to use the display or the EVF interchangeably outdoors – with the display being OK in the shade but not so perfect for the brightest of brights in the middle of the day.
You’ve got multiple exposure capabilities in this device, Art Filters and effects that you might never use, and the ability to preview these effects before you shoot. When you’ve gotten past the fun bits, you’ll find that the Olympus OM-D E-M5 is one heck of a high quality photo shooter. Compared to other micro four thirds cameras we’ve seen and tested, this device is right near the top if not the best overall.
You can shoot photos at 9fps, you’ve got 5-axis stabilization (that’s the sound you’re hearing when you’re focusing in), and the ability to shoot photos with your shutter release or by tapping the touch-screen right up front and center. As you may have realized already; this camera may look retro, but its abilities are anything but.
The software you’ll be able to use with this camera for processing Raw files is just a bit more limited than some might like. Though Adobe Lightroom and Corel AfterShot Pro, and of course Photoshop will work fine, Apple’s products are less lucky. Both iPhoto and Aperture have no ability to support this camera’s Raw files. Don’t worry though, the JPEG shots this device shoots are more than high quality enough for everyone other than the most hardcore photographer.
Photo and Video Quality
Have a peek at an example of some shots taken with the camera to get an idea of how powerful this shooter is. Below the gallery you’ll also see an example of some basic video footage taken with the camera as well.
The video below is taken at full resolution on a bright, sunny day. Pay special attention to the on-the-spot focusing and light changes as well as the subtle sounds of summer.
Wrap-Up
With such knock-out features like 5-axis stabilization in such a tiny body as this, you’ve got one heck of a mobile-minded shooter on your hands. This device is great for those of you out there looking to amp up your game with your old OM, and with Olympus dedicated to the future of this line, as they always are, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able to pick up accessories galore along the way. This camera certainly isn’t made for rough-and-tumble photographers as its display on the back being on hinges, but you’re a careful shooter, right – go for it!
You can pick this device up for $1000 with the body only or for $1300 as a kit with the 12-50mm 1:3.5-6.3 zoom lens, that being the setup you’re seeing above (with all photos being taken with that lens as well. Grab if from your favorite retailer today!
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