Canon (Finally) Announces EOS M Interchangeable Lens Compact

While the interchangeable lens compact market may already seem well-established, one major player in the camera sector has held out until today to join the party. After sitting back and letting other manufacturers blaze the trail, Canon has finally outed its EOS M. This mirrorless lens-switcher has the same 18-Megapixel sensor as the EOS 650D, but packs it into a compact, lightweight body.



Panasonic and Olympus were first on the hybrid camera scene in 2008-2009. Samsung and, above all, Sony then helped bring the concept into the mainstream in 2010, before Fuji and Nikon followed suit in 2011, along with Ricoh's GXR and Pentax's Q and K-01. So today, it's easy to assume that pretty much every camera-maker has its interchangeable-lens compact. After all, who's missing? Let's see: Casio, Sigma ...

and—wait just one cotton-picking minute—Canon!

Canon is the last major camera-maker to out a mirrorless model—the last to concede that there is a market for a camera smaller than an SLR but more advanced than a classic small-sensor-clad point-and-shoot. So now, four years after other manufacturers tested the waters, Canon has taken the plunge with the EOS M, its first hybrid camera.

In terms of tech specs, the EOS M stays close to Canon's EOS system. It has the same 18-Megapixel APS sensor as the EOS 650D (which we're currently in the process of testing), as well as 1080p video at 24 or 25 fps and with no limitations—i.e. it still has a manual mode and a mic entry. Another feature inherited from EOS SLRs is the multipoint touchscreen, which is clearly a major plus point in a camera aimed at non-specialist users. There's even a flash hot-shoe.

Unlike Nikon with its 1-series cameras, Canon clearly isn't looking to artificially segment its camera ranges by using different technologies for its SLRs and mirrorless cameras. In fact, with a simple adapter ring, standard EOS lenses (EF and EF-S mount) will work straight away with the EOS M with a crop factor that stays at 1.6x, like in the rest of Canon's SLR range up to the EOS 7D.

Simpler Interface

Canon has, however, set the EOS M apart from its SLRs with a much simpler interface. The EOS M doesn't have a swivel screen for starters, and the controls are clearly aimed at non-expert users. The mode-selection dial (around the shutter-release button) only has three settings, like in Canon's Ixus compacts: a fully automatic mode, a photo mode in which settings can be changed, and a video mode in which settings can be changed. You'll have to dig around in the menus to find PSAM modes, however, which are less easily accessible here than in Canon's SX260 HS superzoom compact!


Physical controls for adjusting settings are quite limited. Like in the firm's PowerShot compacts, there's just one settings wheel around the four-way arrows. There's no lens ring or thumb wheel like in Canon's S100 or G12, and there aren't many customisable features (these are hidden away in the depths of a relatively unclear menu, inherited from Canon's SLRs and not accessible in Auto mode).

Otherwise, the EOS M has a rather nice design. It's compact, pleasant to touch and perfectly practical. The two EF-M lenses outed to accompany its launch (18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 and 22 mm f/2) have a good-quality build and finish, even if the zoom lens is a little bulky—Panasonic did a great job with its 14-42 mm X lens, so it's a shame to follow that with a compact system with no retractable zoom.

However, we do have one reservation about this camera. While more and more interchangeable lens compacts are now including a built-in flash—Sony NEX-F3, Panasonic GF5, Pentax Q, Nikon J1 etc.—the new EOS M comes with an external flash accessory (supplied as standard). Although it's quick and easy to attach to the camera body, it can't be folded or collapsed when not in use, thus spoiling the overall look of the camera more than the ultra-compact accessories used by Samsung and Sony.

The EOS M is expected to sell bundled with the EF-M 18-55 mm lens, or with the 18-55 mm and 22 mm lenses (equivalent: 29-88 mm and 35 mm) with prices starting at around £750 (TBC). A kit including the 22 mm lens plus the adapter ring for hooking up EF or EF-S lenses may also be in the pipeline, which is likely to interest users who already own a Canon SLR.

As a late arrival in a market in which Nikon, Sony and Panasonic are already well established, it would have been nice to see Canon spice things up with a more aggressive pricing policy. The  Sony NEX-5N currently sells for around £550 with the 18-55 mm lens (of variable quality), while Panasonic's GX1 with the very nice 14-42 mm X lens is at around £700. But as sales of mirrorless cameras are still relatively low compared with other lens-switching models, there could still be plenty to play for.

Canon's arrival in the market is certainly quite telling, as while some manufacturers had little faith in the success of hybrid cameras, today, any camera-maker worth its salt has at least one mirrorless lens-switcher on the market.

> Digital Cameras: SLR, Micro 4/3 and Interchangeable Lens Reviews