Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M: Not a compact, not quite a DSLR

Canon's first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is a step up from your usual point-and-shoot models

by Loke Kok Fai

04:45 AM Oct 24, 2012

 

Canon's first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera,
the EOS M. PHOTO COURTESY CANON

SINGAPORE - Canon's first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the EOS M (picture), arrived in stores here last Saturday, but has a lot to do before it can catch up to its competitors.

Professional photographers hoping to replace their heavy equipment may be disappointed - the EOS M is no DSLR replacement. It has more in common with the company's Powershot line of high-end compacts.

In effect, the camera, with its sturdy magnesium-alloy body, is for the prosumer who wishes to tap some of the capabilities of the DSLR world.

There is no optical viewfinder, nor dial switches controlling shutter speed and aperture. Gone is the mode control wheel in favour of touch-screen controls. Yet the M retains a full 18-megapixel APS-C sensor similar to its DSLR cousins, while being lighter than its counterparts at 262g (body).

With a top speed of 4.3 frames per second and a maximum ISO sensitivity of 12,800 (6,400 for video), it shoots stills and full HD videos in low-light conditions respectably well.

Testing the video tracking mode and continuous autofocus functions along a busy sidewalk, the M managed to keep up with vehicular and pedestrian traffic to produce reasonably sharp footage. Like the Canon EOS 650D, the M uses STM (stepping motor) lenses to adjust its focus silently, ensuring minimal pickup of lens motor sounds on its in-built stereo microphones.

Squeezing that much power into the tiny body comes at a price, with the in-built flash removed in favour of an external, full-sized hotshoe mount. This is a small compromise compared to the camera's slow autofocus speeds.

The M serves a very specific group of photographers - those who want to step up from point-and-shoot compacts - and serves them well. But Canon appears hesitant to allow it to compete with its lower-end DSLR offerings, where there is significant overlap on a price-to-features comparison.

The M is a great mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, perfect for those looking for a secondary camera to complement their existing DSLR rig.

It comes with three kit lenses and prices start from S$1,149.

Source:  www.todayonline.com