Canon EOS M
| 38th | of 44 | in Canon Digital Cameras |
| 37th | of 40 | in Over 16 Megapixels Digital Cameras |
| 25th | of 26 | in Mirrorless Digital Cameras |
Editor's Review
Canon's long-awaited entry to the mirrorless market has arrived, and we aren't entirely sure it was worth the wait (if you were waiting at all). Essentially a slimmed-down version of the new T4i, the M's claim to fame is the multi-touch screen from which most of the camera's settings are controlled. The camera is thus aimed squarely at the low end of the market, sure to please the audience with its slim size and easy operation, but not bogged down with the external controls or viewfinder an enthusiast might crave. Reviews have noted good image quality from the M, but the autofocus is pretty poor when compared to what else is available from Sony or Panasonic and Olympus. Unless you're a Canon enthusiast, look elsewhere for your portable interchangeable lens camera.
The most interesting thing about the new system isn't the camera itself but the lens it comes packaged with, a 22mm f2 pancake lens. This 35mm equivalent hearkens back to the old film days, when most people's "kit" lens was a simple fast prime. While image quality is bound to be better than with a standard 18-55mm lens, we're anxious to see how the market likes Canon not including a zoom. It will be a tough sell at the counter when the customer asks how much zoom the M has...none. For an extra $299 one can purchase the kit zoom, but now you're talking over $1000 for an entry-level camera. For the money, we'd still place our bet on Sony's NEX-5R or Olympus E-PL5 as the mirrorless of choice in this price range.
Specifications
- 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- Canon EF-M mount
- 1080/30p HD video
- 3-inch multi-touch LCD screen
- 4.3fps burst
- Manual controls
- RAW capture
- Lithium-ion battery
- Release Date: Sep 01, 2012
