Canon EOS M hands-on preview: Digital Photography Review


Canon EOS M Preview Samples - published Nov 6th 2012

Was interested in this camera, as a walkabout camera, as soon as it came out but was put off by the negative reviews on the AF speed and the price. However the latter having dropped by almost 1/2 I bought one online in order to be able to return it if I was not happy with it. That was just over 1 month ago and I have decided to keep it.
The AF performance with the kit zoom is much better than what I feared. In the large majority of cases, the AF has locked on by the time I have composed the picture, ~ 1 sec. Only very occasionally the AF is unable to lock.
I am a Canon user (5d mkII) and the ability to put on some EF primes (50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, etc) is a real bonus.
Another great thing is the fact that the flash unit supplied has a transmitter to set off other Speedlites.
I like the design and the handling as well as the touchscreen are great. It would be nice to be able to attach a OVF to it, but other than this I highly recommend this camera.

0 upvotes

Just tested this in the shop and was totally geeked out by the touch screen..."touch and shoot". I thought it was actually relatively fast considering I touched the screen and it focused on the subject there and took the picture all at the same time. Very cool.

0 upvotes

I just Got this camera yesterday and I feel like all the negative reviews of this camera are ridiculous. Claims of slow start up time and shutter lag are false. Either these are blatant lies or are based on earlier firmware. I would not put this camera in the fastest category but it is fast enough for any normal human.

I also have a Sony NEX 7, which is no faster starting up and only marginally faster focusing.
The build quality is amazing. It feels like it was made from a solid piece of granite.

Amazing image quality and versatility (especially for Canon users)
All in a beautiful simple design with subtle curves that are hard to appreciate from pictures. Hold one in your hand and you begin to appreciate the design.

I will admit that the focusing is not the fastest but so what.

If you have to have the fastest focusing speed possibly you probably do not care about composition or light and have no business being behind a real camera anyway.

Comment edited 23 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I just bought one with the 22 pancake (and another with the 18-55 as a gift). Got a very attractive price for a gray market.

My primary body is a 7D (actually a pair of 'em). But I think I'm going to like this little puppy for going walkabout. Yes, I prefer to compose through a viewfinder, and no, this doesn't have one. But the size -- with the 22 f/2, it's lighter and much smaller than my SX-1 (which EVF I really don't care for, anyway) -- is extremely attractive for going places where I don't want to take a heavier load and/or don't want to draw attention to myself. And of course, it can AF during video, which the 7D can't. I've ordered a third party adapter to use my other lenses with, but I suspect a lot of the time I'll just stick with the 22. I look at it as a classic rangefinder with a 35 f/3.2.

The AF takes some getting used to, but my sense is that it's not too bad as long as I don't try to go beyond its capabilities.

1 upvote

I have to say that it is a bit tiring to read all of the negativity about this camera in these forums. It may not be perfect, but show me a camera that is.

I've had mine for over a month now and am very happy with it. It is a great camera to accompany me on my adventures. It is more compact than a DSLR, and also many of the other mirrorless cameras. It fits great into my backpack when I go hiking, climbing or kayaking. I haven't been inconvenienced at all by the supposedly slow autofocus. I've taken great scenery and low light photos with it. I will be heading out this weekend to photograph comet Pan-STARRS.

1 upvote

a "me too" product to put them in the mirrorless category, because appearances are everything - "look, we have mirrorless too, but..." (says the salesman)

yet handicapped so there isn't a chance of putting even a dent in their mirror business... or even in the mirrorless competition. even the design screams of amateurism - in contrast to a Rebel that at least looks like a serious camera.

bland vanilla

Comment edited 5 minutes after posting

1 upvote

I sure am a fan of this camera. Been using it for a while now to document my skate- and snowboarding. Before I used a 600d but this size is more relevant for me. You could get footage like:

http://www.tacky.nl/surf/video/?id=251891

or

http://www.tacky.nl/skateboard/video/?id=251914

I like it!

2 upvotes

I purchased one (with fixed 35mm eq) to replace my Nikon D80 / 17-55 2.8; too much to carry about.

First got a Fuji XF1, not happy with images, returned it. Then wanted to get an X100. Played with the EOSM and chose it over the X100.

Image quality is excellent.

I do like the touch screen. Odd, as I am a viewfinder / button / dial freak.

It does not draw attention to itself. It just looks like a slightly bulky compact camera.

Oh yes, the autofocus is not great, but nowhere near as bad as some would have you believe. Try one out in store for yourself.

I do like this camera. Don't write it off.

2 upvotes

I am putting off further investments in Nikon and M4/3 systems as long as I can in order to wait and see where Canon takes their compact DX platform. I've always preferred Canon for their IQ and ergonomics in compacts. I would love to be able to pare down my closet of multi brand equipment to just Canon for FX and compact DX.

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HOW come CAN NOT makes a new camera that is just ReTarTed in focus speed ??? WHY IS THE FOCUS SO SLOW ??? How about a view finder???

2 upvotes

I understand that this camera is not what you want it to be, but your question is easy to anwser:
1. to stop the bleed of Canonites moving to mirrorless brands (protect market share)
2. not to threaten their mirror sales in which they have all their bets on and investments in

Mirrorless COULD be what you want it to be... you just have to accept it carrying a different label.

Comment edited 39 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

Gotta say - just played with my 1st EOS - M and am impressed! I'm off to Warner Studios Harry Potter Tour next week - will take a whole lotta kit.. wish I was taking an ESO-M !

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This SLR is of no use in astro-photography :

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/11/canon-eos-m-no-remote-shooting/

Remote Capture is impossible with it !

That's crazy for such an expensive camera.

1 upvote

Tethered shooting is not allowed, and Live View through the computer screen is also not allowed.

This appears to be a last minute decision from Canon's marketing team since these functions were listed in the preliminary specification (as of early oct 2012).

The EOS M should therefore be rebranded as "Powershot M" instead of "EOS M".

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

1 upvote

SLR?

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Sorry I dropped the "D" !

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Whoever designed the body should be SO
fired... Even gf3 is more appealing :/

1 upvote

Did Gumby design that ? It will look good on the shelf at Walmart.

2 upvotes

ditto here: "no viewfinder = no purchase"

Also, re lens size: "...which means they're smaller than corresponding SLR lenses;" If its an APS-C sensor, why can't APS-C SLR lenses be this small?

Also, why the new mount? The standard Canon SLR mount wouldn't fit?

Also, why no innovative, i.e., integrated shape. Its a Sony NEX-like can stuck on a bar of soap. How about this: a cylindrical shape extending from the lens that morphs into a handle?
Whatever; Not for me anyway.

3 upvotes

Why new mount: backfocus distance has to be reduced, or you will have camera as deep as one with a mirrorbox, which defeats the purpose (think Pentax K01). You can still buy an overpriced adaptor to use old lenses with it, that adds the distance needed for them to focus if you like.

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To me it's simple no viewfinder= no purchase. I simply cannot use a camera that I have to hold in front of me. During the day they are useless and when you use it you look ridiculous. For that I can get a lousy smart phone. What were they thinking. At least allow the possibility to have an EVF. Sorry Canon, no sigar.

5 upvotes

agreed .. no viewfinder = non-starter for me. the NEX-6 looks like my NEXt camera (with the gorgeous 35mm f1.8 prime)

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That's the point... they have you thinking of getting a Rebel, instead of a NX or NEX or MFT.

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Picked mine up yesterday to use with my other Canon L-series lenses and it's a great camera. Size is just a little bigger than the s95 and a little smaller than the G1X. Picture quality and AF is going to vary based on the lens used. Good lens = excellent images. I tested the 18-55mm-M lens and found it to be VERY fast in relation to Auto Focus. The 22mm-M lens is known to be slower for some reason. The touchscreen is actually very responsive and fast to alter settings with. Being an APS-C sensor, I can get some very lowlight handheld shots with this camera. Works well with my L-lenses (via the included adapter when buying the Body-Only option). Certainly very well built and quite solidly constructed. Just like a DSLR in many respects, including image quality. Faster than my PowerShot G1X in many ways.

1 upvote

I'll skip this camera, my friend bought it, sold it the next day at clubsnap singapore buy and sell section. The autofocus just awful, I'd rather buy another cheap rebel body. also the battery is horrible, and can't find extra batteries. for all the troubles, I'll skip the M.

1 upvote

I imagine the feel of this new M baby to be the same as that of the Walter PPK.

.

2 upvotes

Do you mean "...it's for ladies, and not very nice ladies at that."

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I just got the production model and it does NOT have the 3-10x telephoto digital zoom in movie mode. It's nowhere in the owner's manual either. This could have been a really useful feature for video shooters and a shame to know that Canon removed features from the preproduction models.

1 upvote

I just had a go on one of these lovely looking things. Having seen some pics I was hoping for a replacement for my 90% of SLR work, but the autofocus! It's awful, really slow and hunts around all over the place before settling.

I tried the Panny GX1 for comparison and it focuses like lightning. I can only assume Canon has deliberately hamstrung this camera so that people still buy the SLRs. Big shame.

PAMS and an input dial would have been nice too but that would make all of Canon's APS-C cameras obsolete. We really can't have everything it seems.

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Canon usually needs some time to fine tune anything. The slow focus is very sad, even the fuji improved things on their x mount to fully usable speed now. Hopefully they will improve firmware, but releasing slow focus after all the users critique of older 43m and last year fujis...well this should tell that people do have very little patience with slow focusing now.

1 upvote

I think the review or preview should read like this; When we first saw this new beautiful camera we were excited. With in 5 minutes of use we were AMAZED ! But we WILL NOT do a review on this camera until the next version comes out , because the focus was SO SUBSTANDARD , we can only give you a WARNING ::: DO NOT BUY ,, CAN NOT FOCUS ! Wait on this one .

3 upvotes

That's very constructive ! Thanks !

(read this as irony)

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APS-C with on-board phased detection AF in a compact body would be an excellent proposition, but the two things that hold this back are that the they kept compatibility with the EF mount (large flange diameter) and the control layout. When you look at it, nobody in the mirrorless is putting it all together.

My vote:
- EOS-M sensor
- Fuji X-1 body
- Sony NEX manual control layout

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I'm keeping my Lumix GX1 - it is part of my Canon system. GX1 features would seem to outweigh most of Canon's consumer offerings. I love the leveling indicator on screen and the built in bounce flash.

I use with the 10-22mm EF-S for a 20mm shift lens via the Fotodiox EOS-4/3 shift adapter. Of course if you don't need shift there are standard adapters.

I pre-set the f-stop at 9 which seems the sweet spot for this lens. Set focus to infinity. If I do need to focus a push on the thumb-wheel brings up the magnified view.

ref: http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/kw08/fs/shift_723.jpg

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This is essentially the camera I've been lusting after for years... only Canon left out a flash, which renders it useless for my needs.

The great thing about this camera is its size, adding the external flash destroys that attribute. Including a flash would have made it only slightly larger I would guess, but much more versatile.

I'm impressed with the size and design of this camera, unfortunately the lack of flash forces me to stick with my GF1 or buy something else, maybe the Fujifilm XE1.

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The Samsung NX 20 has everything this should have.....a little disappointing, Canon....

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The physical controls of a compact, but no built-in flash? A live RGB histogram but no Kelvin white balance? OK, so Canon wanted to combine the simplicity of an Elph with some of the advanced features of an EOS. I don't think they got the formula quite right.

Sony tried the ultra-stripped down approach with the first NEX models and now they're adding the built-in flashes, mode dials, etc., that buyers of this type of camera seem to expect. Strange that Canon would make the same mistake given they've sat back so long and watched the market mature.

For the next version, I hope they think more along the lines of the Panasonic GX1 - pop-up flash, front or top control wheel (instead of the rear dial) so I can do exposure comp one-handed, bit more of a grip. Add GPS and Wi-Fi. Send a clear message that this is an $800 camera, not an Elph with interchangeable lenses.

Comment edited 5 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Why didn't they include built-in GPS??? That feature is now standard on $250 travelzooms. You pay $800 for the EOS-M and you still have to pay another $250+ for a bulky GPS add-on that occupies your hotshoe? Infuriating. Canon really knows to build ill will with the customer base. The Japanese camera oligopoly is ripe for disruption.

2 upvotes

to sell you the external gps units...

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There's no bulb setting? I'm a landscapist and bulb hardcore, 100% of the time I bulb my exposures for 10 minutes starting at twilight( if twilight starts at 5:27 a.m, I usually bulb for 10 plus minutes at around 5:20 a.m)

And how about the availability of extra batteries and remote control or cable release?

1 upvote

It seems that in Bulb mode, you can only select 400 ISO. However it should be possible to remote control the M from the EOS Utilities' Remote Capture tool.

For the batteries, it usually takes a few month (weeks) before a chinese maker supplies a compatible battery.

1 upvote

Thanks for the reply, I guess I'll have to wait until next year for extra batteries, cable release, wait and wait again for a compact body.

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It should be worth treating such long exposures as the astronomy photographers do, by substracting a "dark" and dividing by a "flat" master images. The noise will drop down dramatically and the vigneting/dust traces will disappear.

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Seems like dpr got the competitor just right: Pana GF3 and GF5. Let's see the pics, JPEGs in particular.

If Canon gets some following out of this P&S with macho barrel no flash, the next target would be Pana G5 (and EVF). Only when Canon gets really good can they go after the "retro" of Oly.

For its part, m4/3 needs to strike deeper into DSLR territory and I think superior focusing and f1.4 fast lens are the components. Easier (faster) white balance setting is also needed ("Pros" use a flash and don't care but I bet the guys having fun with photography do).

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I read below in a comment that there is no additional crop factor when using EF-M/EF adapter, but will it effect on min focusing distance, like the extension tube?

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All they need now is an FD adapter with an FD AE mode!!! That would be so heavenly retro!

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The µ4/3 sensors are 17.3 mm × 13.0 mm in size compared to the 22.2 mm x 14.5 mm APS-C. This is about 40% less in surface. That's a lot !

For the same number of MPixels, an APS-C will have bigger photosites hence a better sensitivity and less noise.

That's a technological fact.

2 upvotes

@hoggdoc - "All for a few bucks more"? - Typical BS about the M4/3 value proposition (or lack thereof). I used to want M4/3 to succeed but no more.

Products with smaller sensors and less glass @ equivalent focal length costs more? What kind of fool do the M4/3 makers take consumers for?

M4/3 will never beat a larger sensor for image quality. Look at the comments by your kind of M4/3 users filled with stuff like "nearly as good", "almost as good" qualifiers.

M4/3 will never beat the 35mm or APS-C system for sensor image quality (bokeh, depth of field, noise). Ditto for range of lenses - something any photographer worth his salt knows is what ultimately matters. Please - no nonsense about using the best M4/3 prime lenses to compare IQ with 35mm/APS-C bodies with kit lenses. The best 35mm prime lenses on a 35mm/APS-C body, will blow your measly minds.

M4/3 should be cheaper but instead costs more on an IQ-per-dollar basis. Understand why I refuse to get M4/3 yet?

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

2 upvotes

No.

1 upvote

Totally agree 100%

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@ALL for a few bucks more you can have a µ4/3's camera that will kick this camera's butt. Not to mention the ever expanding selection of µ4/3's lens from various sources.

Why Canon and Nikon both always plays this ours idea is better than your game all the time causes me to wonder about their market research.

For the record I am a long time Nikon shooter, but have fallen in love with the picture quality and dreamy film like look produced by my Olympus OM-D M-E5. Which BTW is a nearly PRO level quality of build, unlike this chunk of plastic Canon is trying to sell for $800.00.

The Oly can easily compete with pro-level APS-C Sensor Canons and Nikons. For that matter you would be hard pressed when comparing images from A Nikon D3 FF body with top quality glass and the OM-D M-E5.

If Nikon's success with the Series 1 cameras is any indicator, Canon's offering will meet the same lack luster response from the buying public.

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

4 upvotes

The Canon 18mp APS sensor is one of those sensors you mention the OM-D trying to compete with, it is the very reason Canon keeps refining and reusing it instead of upgrading to something else at this time. Not sure what you think Oly is capable of that this (yet to be released) camera cannot do in image quality. However if it is ultimate image quality you are after in this form, the X-Pro1 takes all in this category to school.

Lenses?? Olympus does not have even a fraction of the lenses available from Cannon given that you can use every EF lens Canon makes - and with FULL functionality. Not to mention all the same third party lenses adaptable to any of the other mirrorless cameras.

Strange you mention build quality, and without even reading this hands-on review. This 'first entry' by Canon has a full magnesium body.. Kudos to Oly for the VF though, it still needs to be optical. Maybe you can make a better comparison when Canon releases their (~15th?) mirrorless camera like Olympus..

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 11 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

I don't know if mirrorless will replace the SLR someday, but this camera isn't the one to do it. This product is much too stripped down for any serious amateur photographer. It looks like Canon must also believe that mirrorless is not (yet?) the solution for serious photographers.

2 upvotes

There is definitely NO REASON to buy that kind of camera because it is FAR TOO MUCH EXPENSIVE.

A G1X will do the job for less, with only advantages :
- integrated flash
- orientable screen
- small size
- ability to store RAW pictures
- big CMOS sensor (almost same size than a EOS sensor)
- only 560 EUR !!!

The only advantage of the M compared to the G1X is the ability to change lenses and to use the EOS Utilities softwares. Is it worth the huge price increase ?

Comment edited 10 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

As an underwater photographer, I liked the G1x, however, the G1X does not have eTTL for my strobes, this camera does. The G1X only allows you to select flash power from the camera screen and does not actually "control" the flash power during the shot. That was the deal breaker for me.

This camera is exactly what I need for underwater photography...full manual, eTTL, much higher res than my last UW camera, and small body so the housing and related equipment is small and easy to transport on a plane with all my other gear. That's what frustrates me a bit here. It may not be the camera you need for your type of photography, and that's completely understandable. However, it may be the camera someone has been waiting for for the photography they do. For example, using a view finder underwater is almost impossible so the screen is almost always used. To write off a camera as "bad"with no explanation lends little to the conversation. SLR's are awesome, but sometimes other cameras fit better

1 upvote

How do you use a touchscreen underwater?

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Is there a inner magnesium frame? Nothing I have read so far talks about it.

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I'll trade you one of them for my well taken care of 40D?.

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Looks interesting. Too bad the the price isn't quite as interesting given how few photos I take these days though.

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I hope they will sell it bare, without anything (no lens, no flash), just the body.

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Looks like a goog compact companion to a full-size Canon DSLR to share lenses.

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The video of the shutter sound is a joke. C'mon, you can do better than that.

1 upvote

This seems to be a capable camera, and I am sure that dpreview will provide all of the details, good and bad, after they have a chance to thoroughly review it. Personally, I am not sure what to think about this movement towards mirrorless cameras. I am a dedicated SLR user and especially love true TTL optical viewfinders. Switching to a LCD viewfinder is unappealing to me. If these cameras exist alongside SLRs going forward, that is great. I can see a place for them and in some instances would very much like to be able to use them. I will be upset, however, if they begin to take the place of SLRs. Maybe this is old fashioned thinking.

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can the eos m accomodate EF lenses without using lens mount adapter?

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no. It's clearly described. There's a glassless adapter for EF/EF-S lenses.

If it could accept EF lenses it would have to maintain the same distance between lens and sensor and you'd get something much fatter like the Pentax mirrorless.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

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When using the EF-S / EF adaptor on the camera is there any additional crop factor ? Been told there isn't which would really suit me fine - anyone know for sure ?

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Good question... But I don't think there will be any additional crop penalties.. Even if there are, it won't be too much. may be 1.7X. STM lens tends to focus on normal shots, not fast action stuff, so the arrangement is different, but if you have EF-S lens, no need to bother, unless noise bothers you.

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I don't see why there'd be a crop factor. It's a spacing difference. The sensor is the same size the two lens formats merely have different distances to the sensor. Since the EF-S is longer, you just give it some more space with a round ring and voala!

3 upvotes

Tried the EOS M with Mount adapter EF-EOS M with a couple of EF lenses and compared same lenses on a 60D from the same distance. I noticed that the crop factor on the EOS M with EF lenses was significantly more. My guess is 2x. Couldn't measure it properly since I was trying the equipment in a shop.

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Well it seems like, many people are demanding these mirrorless cam will have to do everything. I wouldn't disagree on that but even this newer M can do that, I simply wouldn't even look at it. Reason is simple, if you r a guy, we usually have larger hands, and the grips and the controls are key priorities. How r u going to shoot when you finger covers up 3 buttons. The M is nice, it's definitely more man but not man enough for me.

1 upvote

EOS M was originally designed for lady (women's camera), see google translation from Japaness "Strategy of "EOS M" Interview with Canon: Interview":

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdc.watch.impress.co.jp%2Fdocs%2Fnews%2F20120810_551672.html

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For me the deal breaker is the touchscreen. That seems like it would be a pain to try to do anything quickly while having to navigate through a series of menus to quick change a setting. I'm not too familiar with the controls of the camera, but I would hope that there is at least a dial for aperture, a dial for shutter speed and hopefully a couple buttons for being able to change the iso and thumb focus. Just having a touchscreen would be like the experience driving a Toyota Prius with its screen - impossible to operate without taking your eyes off the road. So many times when operating a camera the photographer needs to change a setting while not taking his/her eye off the subject. With real buttons this can be done by feel. Impossible with a touch screen. Would have had the design lean towards an EVF.

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You're probably going to have to wait for a higher-level model to have hard buttons. This is geared towards entry-level and casual users.

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Well, I'd love one. I either drag my Canon DSLR kit inside my LowePro or Billingham bags or take my sweet Canon s90 (wonderful sensor - thank you Sony) - the new M range might be a good half way point. So pleased they didn't do a Nikon 1 series and damage the brand overall. Anyone brought one yet - no, didn't think so. Predict the J1 will be going for £199 with lens this time next year....

Anyway back to the EOS M - sure its early days/ early models and the prices are too high....all normal.

Fancy that 22mm (35mm F2) lens which takes me back to my days shooting film (and some digital) with a Nikkor 35 f2 - pity that it tended to flare/ ghost but an ideal walk about lens and so much lighter than any of the super zooms we all tend to use today ( today I often carry a 15-85 & 24-105L plus longer lenses etc) so yep - roll on a Canon EOS M and save my back!

2 upvotes

AGREE! Before I got my EPM1 to play with the 7D, I had considered the J1 and go to the shop to take a look...but... I have to say the J1 is bad... and I hate its flash very much! what's a cheap plastic toy at all... But I love the EPM1 very much although I hate the non-standard interface and I am not able to use a standard USB cable to connect it to the computer... anyway, Olympus did a great job in this section...
Come back to the Canon M...too expensive.....I think. People will spend much for the "pro" things and won't think that's expensive. But the 4 3 mirror-less cameras is not in that field. So I think $1000 for a compact camera is expensive.

0 upvotes

very very slow auto focus with EF lenses. This camera will fail without "Peak focus" feature...

1 upvote

Canon EOS M preview samples

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