Canon announces first mirrorless camera

by June Yang

Updated 07:50 PM Aug 03, 2012

 

The Canon EOS M, shown with a 22mm f/2.0 pancake lens. PHOTO COURTESY CANON

SINGAPORE - The long wait is finally over: Canon has joined its competitors by announcing its first compact mirrorless camera.

The EOS M, announced today, is equipped with a 18.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the DIGIC 5 imaging processor common to its other DSLR cameras such as the 1DX, and a fixed 3-inch touchscreen panel. The body weighs 265g and measures just 108.6 x 66.5 x 32.3 mm.

Online rumours had speculated that the new camera would use the Micro Four Thirds standard, but the larger APS-C sensor puts the EOS M in the same bracket as Canon's mid-range DSLRs, such as the EOS 60D.

The first notable mirrorless camera in the market was Panasonic's DMC-G1 in 2008. Since then, most of the major manufacturers have launched their own devices. The Nikon 1 system introduced September last year left Canon as the last holdout, a lag Canon attributes to spending more time on development. "It's not about being the first to market, but about having the best product with no compromise," said Mr Andrew Koh, director and general manager of Canon Singapore.

Market factors were also in play, said Mr Edwin Teoh, assistant director of image communication products for Canon Singapore. "If we had done it a few years ago, when it was still in infancy, the market may not have been so receptive. We have to find the right timing."

The EOS M will launch together with two EF-M lenses: a 18-55mm f3.5/5.6 IS STM zoom lens and a 22mm f/2.0 STM pancake lens. In addition, an EF-EOS M mount adapter makes the camera compatible with Canon's EF and EF-S lenses, including all autofocus functions.

Some competing mirrorless cameras, such as Nikon's V1, lose some autofocus functionality when paired with existing DSLR lenses.

The EOS M also records video in full high-definition, with a hybrid autofocus system that can track a moving person or object.

The local price has yet to be announced, but it will retail for US$800 (S$1,010) with the 22mm pancake lens in America. It will be available here in early October - more than enough time to stuff the diminutive shooter into a Christmas stocking.



MORE SPECS

- ISO range 100-12800 (expandable to ISO 25600)

- Shoots 4.3 frames per second

- 0.048-second shutter lag

- Hybrid CMOS AF system can track moving objects in stills and video

- MultiFlexiZone with 31 AF zones

- Single FlexiZone with AF point movable via touchscreen

 

Source: www.todayonline.com