Canon m5

Marco Nero wrote:

Canon m5 is a great little camera, but it is held back by the following:

1. No cross type af sensors

That's for DSLRs that aren't using the DPAF for AF alignment/accuracy.

No, it is for any AF system.  It has nothing to do with alignment of the AF system of a DSLR.  A basic phase detect AF sensor just looks left and right.  A cross type phase detect sensor looks left and right plus up and down.  Left and right favor vertical contrast elements whereas up and down favors horizontal contrast elements.

The current DPAF layout in the M5/M6 only looks left/right.  This is why some users have needed to rotate the camera 90 degrees to get the camera to focus in some situations.  Canon could create QPAF (quad pixel AF) and split each pixel into four units which would create a cross type sensor.  Alternatively, Canon could build the DPAF sensor with alternating pixels that are split horizontally or vertically.

2. No selective af patterns like the 7d2

That's because it's not a DSLR... like the 7D II.

Plenty of mirrorless cameras allow for various options for the AF pattern

3. Poor af in low light

It has exceptional AF in low light. Better than all of the previous models. Faster too. Unless you point it at a blank wall or a blue sky.

Some people, like yourself, have no problems in low light, but there are plenty of others that are having problems.

4. No effective spot af

That's why it has a touch screen with a movable AF reticule. The DPAF sensor was actually patented for use on the EOS-M series cameras.

On the 7D series, "spot AF' refers to a high precision option for single point AF.  For example, you would use this mode when photographing a bird though the clutter of trees.  Normal single point would just focus on the closest item where spot AF would allow for finer discrimination in choosing your subject.

5. For flash photography, it does not use canon's pre-flash from their flashes and ettl is thus slow.

So the built-in flash is not exposure/color accurate but the external flash is too slow (but is exposure/color accurate)?

6. Lack of L type lens for the M series. Maybe competitors will get into the game

The reason it has an available EF-M-to-EF lens adapter is to give it full access to Canon's entire range of EF L-series lenses.

I don't want to put words in ByronP's mouth, but I believe his comment was more related to the complete lack of native zooms that aren't just slow consumer offerings.

7. Tracking bif and sports is poor

Only with a long EF telephoto lens (eg 400mm) when the subject is approaching the camera head-on.

Who doesn't typically shoot BIF with a long telephoto?

8. Most importantly, canon has not decided where to put their low end resources (rebel or mirrorless.) One will win and the other will disappear. Make up your mind Canon. Right now both are suffering strategic investment and time to market for improvements which means competitors (mostly Sony) could take future market share away===take future profit away.

Sony formally announced that the reason they recently faced bankruptcy and that it was exclusively due to their heavy investment into "mirrorless cameras". I think Canon should be expected to tread somewhat cautiously.
.
I don't own the M5 but I've used one. And I own the M6 which is quit similar, if not identical in most ways.

-- hide signature --

Regards,
Marco Nero.