Is EF-M mount worth investing for a new user

jackwelch wrote:

My best camera right now is the Canon G3X and Panasonic FZ2500 (both are 1 inch sensors) - I guess the G3X makes me lean towards the Canon M3 because I'm quite happy with the G3X.

The next logical step would then be larger sensor, something like a M43 or APSC, but really as I mentioned above, I am more of a hobbyist (I just love to try things out) - but at the same time, I don't really want to spend too much.

I want to know what am I getting from an APSC that I'm missing on the 1-inch, how much better is low light or night shooting compared to a 1-inch, is the image quality noticably better (stuff like that).

I'm into superzooms mainly (wildlife) and I have a few converters (I hope they can work with the m3).

So roughly if it works out, I'd have an APSC camera with equivalent focal length of 320mm + a 1.7x TC would give me 544mm equivalent. (I don't mind spending $400 to test this, anything more I'd think is too expensive)

I totally agree with a lot of your viewpoints and also the previous posters but none of these are in the ball park of $400 - its totally an unfair comparison. Of course the M3 will be inferior but for those starting out and don't want to spend too much, the M3 is fantastic bargain (if you still can find one new that is).

To sum up my point - consider the M3 but only if you can get a great price, because if lets say the M6, the M50 or the RX10iv (or anything better than the M3) is within the same price bracket (eg or within a $100 margin), then by all means go for that cause it is definitely better.

The question here is this, can you match the price point of the M-system for a system like below? In all honesty, i really think for $400 you're paying for the lenses and the M3 is like a freebie here.

But for $400 you're getting a new M3, plus EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM and EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lenses. Now lets look to ebay for new prices on these lenses:

I think you're pointed in the right direction Jack'. I myself owned a G3X (and Sony 1") before moving up to the APS-C M System. In good light, (as I'm sure you well know) the G3X can take very good pictures, and the Canon handling, operation, and interface are so nice.

But (as you correctly suspect) it's when getting into low(er) light that a bigger APS-C sensor really proves its worth, and ESPECIALLY when shooting telephoto!

You can certainly test the waters with an M3, but as mentioned it does not have the capabilities of the newer cameras. Shoot with it for a while (those lenses alone are worth the ticket price), and then if you feel like moving on to something more current you can still sell the M3 for on eBay for the current asking price of ~ $250. Add your G3X (~ $500) to that and get something like the M6, M50 (I or II), or even the top of the line M6 Mark II.

I just recently purchased the excellent EF-S 55-250 STM for my M6ii and performed Larry Rexley's trick to add a 1.5x TC to it get 600mm equivalent, which is loads better than the G3X @ 600mm (equiv), the latter of which degrades significantly beyond about 400mm (equiv), in my experience with it...

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64824180

I also get the feeling that you'll likely want to eBay the Panny at some point after upgrading to the M System. That'd finance a nice tele for the M System, then you'd be REALLY rockin'!

Give a holler back if any questions come up. I'd be happy to assist.

R2

ps. Be careful when adding your TC to the smaller lenses. Even though they focus internally, they still extend when zooming, and there are no external barrels to solidly mount a TC to. I still have an Oly TCON 14-B around (the king of screw-on TC's), but don't use it any more, as the APS-C teles and sensors are so much better than the bridge cameras. R2