Build Quality - The Reality

The original M was universally praised for its build quality, often being described as a solid brick. Some of the newer M models? Not so much.

Has the build quality really changed? The short answer.... Yes

Here is the original M next to the M100

M100 top, M bottom

M100 top, M bottom

M100 top, M bottom

Tripod Mounts: M100 left, M right

So, what do we see in these photos? What do you call a mirror box on a mirrorless camera? A mirrorless box? Just a box? I'll call it the "frame" for this discussion.

On the M100, this frame is molded plastic.  The frame appears to be built from glass reinforced nylon, but I can't be 100% sure.  All other parts of the camera are mounted onto this black plastic frame. The lens mount, tripod mount, image sensor, etc. are all attached to the internal plastic frame with screws.

Instead of plastic, the original M uses a large cast magnesium frame as its underpinning. Most areas of this magnesium frame are at least 2mm thick, or thicker. Every part of the M gets mounted to this magnesium frame with screws.

Besides the internal frame, other aspects also changed. The M100 tripod mount is a small piece of stamped sheet metal. The M tripod mount is a massive forged piece that weighs more than 3 times more than the M100 tripod mount. External shells also changed from magnesium on the M to polycarbonate with the M100.

I have also disassembled the M2 and it is built nearly identical to the original M. I have not disassembled some of the newer models, but looking at other people's photos of the interior, the newer cameras are built like the M100.

Does any of this matter? It really depends on how you use your camera. If you are only mounting the EF-M lenses, then the primarily plastic construction of the newer bodies is easily up to the task.   The extensive use of plastics leads to a lighter body.  If you are replacing a DSLR and are mounting some large and heavy EF lenses, then some caution should be practiced. The tripod mount on the newer bodies does not have the surface area necessary to distribute large loads, nor is the internal construction rigid enough to prevent the whole combination from bending and twisting. The same is also true for mounting large flashes on the hotshoe.