Canon EOS M Review

A Post By: Barrie Smith

It was late on the scene but its arrival still surprised many. After all, it is four years since Panasonic appeared with the first model in this guise.

Canon’s first MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera) or CSC (Compact System Camera) magnesium alloy body model followed many other marques’ entries but differed to some by immediately offering an adaptor that accepted the mainstream Canon EF lens range. Using 35 SLR lenses the magnification factor is 1.6x, surely not a deterrent factor.

At first glance, it’s a strange beast. The review camera was stark black in colour, with only the control labels picked out in off white — and few they are! It was tested with the f3.5/18-55mm lens.

I immediately looked for the exposure modes and quickly found only three on the top mode dial: intelligent auto, still photos and video. Where’s Program, aperture and shutter priority I queried?

Where? They’re accessible via a touch screen system that at first I found foreign, then quickly settled into its style.

Tap the upper left corner of the LCD screen and you’re presented with an array of M, Av, Tv, P: manual, aperture and shutter priority and Program. Easy!

Next to the mode dial is the on/off button — and tass all!

At the rear there is nowt else but menu and info buttons plus replay and the main dial with options for single/continuous shooting, a central Q-set button, erase and exposure lock (if your focus area differs from the main metering area).

As I mentioned, the text labels are in off white … and they are sure hard to see in dim light!

Canon EOS M Features

The 18 megapixel CMOS can capture a maximum 5184×3456 pixel image, enough to make a 44x29cm image.

Movies? Full HGD MPEG4 video at 1920×1080 pixel resolution is within its capabilities and can be happily recorded to SD cards rated as Class 6. You can shoot stills mid-video but the latter is interrupted.

Interestingly, the EOS-M kit is supplied with the new Speedlite 90EX flash unit as standard. A wireless master function allows the control of multiple flash guns wirelessly.

There some factors which seem to indicate that the EOS-M is not designed to attract the pros out there: the screen-driven control is one of them; another is the provision of a range of creative filters that includes toy camera, grainy B&W, fish eye distortion etc.

Overall, the camera appeals due to its compact dimensions, light weight and (once you get used to it), simple touch screen operation.

Canon EOS M ISO Tests

Clean performance al the way to ISO 3200. BY ISO 6400 noise is starting to appear but not badly so. At ISO 12800 noise is obvious but certain shots will accept it.

Canon EOS M Review Verdict

Quality: above average.

Why you’d buy the Canon EOS-M: compact camera with access to Canon’s full frame lens range.

Why you wouldn’t: touch screen operation deters you; a long tele, full size lens would look silly on the EOS-M; no vari angle screen.

The Canon EOS M is available in black, silver, white, red.

Welcome to another MILC! A lightweight, compact camera. Maybe the more ambitious out there should await for the next, higher specced model to arrive.

Canon EOS M Specifications

Image Sensor: 18 million effective pixels.
Metering: Multi pattern, centre-weighted averaging, spot, partial.
Exposure Modes: Auto, Program AE, shutter and aperture priority, manual.
Sensor: 22.3×14.9mm CMOS.
Lens Mount: Canon EF-M, EF (with adaptor).
35 SLR Lens Factor: 1.6x.
Shutter Speed: 60 to 1/4000 second. Flashy sync: 1/200 sec.
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC.
Image Sizes (pixels): 3456×2304 to 720×480. Movies: 1920×1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280×720 (60, 50 fps), 640×480 60/50 fps.
LCD Screen: 7.7cm LCD (1,040,000 pixels).
File Formats: JPEG, RAW (14-bit), JPEG+RAW, MPEG4.
Continuous Shooting: up to 4.3 fps.
Colour Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB.
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100 to 12800; 25600 (with expansion).
Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI mini, AV output, mic input, Eye-Fi.
Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, DC input.
Dimensions: 109x66x32 WHDmm.
Weight: 298 g (inc battery).
Prices: Get a price on the Canon EOS M with EF-M18-55mm IS STM Lens or the Canon EOS Mwith a EF-M 22mm STM Lensat Amazon.