Welcome to the brave new world – the EOS M

Categories: Accessories, Canon News, Opinions - Tags: Camera, EOS M, Lens, Speedlite

Canon today has thrown us a bit of a curve ball. For the first time since the launch of the EOS system in 1987, they have launched a new lens mount. Don’t fear though, this doesn’t signal the end of the EF mount. Rather it heralds the beginning of a new line of camera for Canon, something other manufacturers have been doing for a while, but which Canon has been taking it’s time over – a Compact System Camera or CSC. This is basically a DSLR without the viewfinder, shrunk to fit the size of a compact camera, while still keeping interchangeable lenses.

If it sounds interesting – it should be! CSCs have been the hottest topic in the world of photography for a couple of years and the fact that Canon has finally joined in is a great sign, especially since they have a lot of technology to leverage.

To even the most casual observer, the specs of this EOS M will seem mightily familiar. It is, as far as well can tell, and EOS 650D (launched only last month) but squeezed down into a smaller body, more resembling a PowerShot. Present is the 18megapixel APS-C sensor, a DIGIC 5 processor, Full HD Movie shooting and a hybrid AF system that provides AF in movie mode. With a frame rate up to 4.3fps and an ISO range from 100-12,800, it could, for many, be the only camera. For you though, dear reader, we’d see this as a compliment to your EOS kit, especially since there is also an EF-M adaptor that allows you to use all you EF and EF-S glass on this diminutive little beast. Errrr…. 500mm f/4L on a ‘PowerShot’ anyone?!

Announced along with the EOS M are two lenses and a Speedlite flashgun. The lenses are: EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 STM IS and perhaps more interestingly for many, and EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens that’s essentially a pancake lens providing a photojournalist friendly 35mm focal length equivalent. The Speedlite, which will be bundled in many kits, is the Speedlite 90EX. The reason it is bundled with the kit is that the camera itself lacks a flashgun. This way, you can use the 90EX or indeed one of your other Canon Speedlites if you want more power.

Available in Black, White, Silver and Red, it’s clear this camera is pitching straight at the consumer market. From our point of view, while it looks like a great first step into that market, those of you looking for something with manual controls may be a little upset – the simple body means few buttons on the outside, so changing settings will be the realm of the menus. Whether than bothers you or not remains to be seen, but either way, it’s a great entry to the CSC market and bodes well for the future.

How about you, what are your thoughts on this camera? Will you be queuing up for one when they are available?

More to come on this as and when we get it!

Press release follows:

DSLR-quality images at your fingertips: Canon launches the small and simple EOS M

London, UK, 23 July 2012 – Canon today expands its award-winning EOS range with the launch of the new EOS M. The company’s first ever compact system camera (CSC), the EOS M is designed for those who use photography to share their everyday passions – from food, to fashion and culture, music and art. Offering DSLR-quality imaging, creative features and Full HD movie creation in a compact and easy-to-use model, the EOS M is the perfect, take-anywhere partner for a new breed of enthusiasts who chronicle their lives through images, without necessarily considering themselves to be ‘photographers’.

The EOS M is available in sleek black, glossy white, stylish silver or bold red colours, and condenses Canon’s renowned EOS imaging heritage into a stylish, compact design. The model launches alongside two new lenses, the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM pancake and the

EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom, as well as a new compact EX Speedlite – the Speedlite 90EX – providing everything you need to capture stunning images every day. For those who want to push their images even further, the EOS M can also utilise Canon’s extensive range of EF lenses with the new Mount Adapter EF-EOS M, for even more creative freedom.

The quality of a Canon DSLR

Print your favourite moments in poster-size or crop your image for maximum impact –whether shooting the atmosphere of your favourite club or the intricate stitching of the latest must-have handbag – thanks to the EOS M’s high-resolution, 18 megapixel APS-C hybrid CMOS sensor. The large sensor also allows you to artistically blur the background for beautiful portraits, or for close-ups with impact.

With the inclusion of Canon’s DIGIC 5 processor, colours ‘pop’ and skin tones are beautifully natural, whilst a super-fast shutter allows you to capture split-second action. The atmosphere of evening shoots and challenging night-time scenes are also easily recorded in stunning detail thanks to the EOS M’s sensitive native ISO range of 100-12,800 (extendable to 25,600).

For pin-sharp shots and professional-looking footage, this new design features a Hybrid AF System that supports super-fast, accurate AF when shooting stills and movies – allowing you to record any moment with confidence.

Shoot what you see and easily express your creative vision

Every aspect of the EOS M has been designed to make it simple to capture beautiful, creative, high-quality images. From the very first swipe across the bright, high-resolution, 7.7cm (3.0”), Clear View LCD II Touch screen, the EOS M gives you as much or as little control over your photos as desired. Simply select different shooting modes and settings via the on-screen icons, or let Scene Intelligent Auto adjust the camera settings according to the subject and shooting conditions, leaving you free to focus on composition and selecting the perfect moment to hit the shutter release button.

EOS M users can shoot with the confidence that comes from having the world’s most comprehensive photographic system behind them. Whether you want to capture every detail of a close-up or zoom in to frame a subject in the far distance, any one of Canon’s extensive range of EF lenses can be connected via the new Mount Adapter EF-EOS M for photographic flexibility.

With one of Canon’s Speedlite flash units, you can also explore creative lighting techniques to add an extra level of interest to your shots. Alternatively, create unique images with a range of Creative Filters like Toy Camera effect, Grainy B&W or even a filter that mimics the distortion of a fish-eye lens. The filters can be applied before the shot is captured, with the result previewed in Live View, allowing you to experiment with different effects before selecting the perfect treatment for your final image.

Turn film-maker with EOS Movie and Video Snapshot

When a moment calls for more than a still image, the EOS M lets you switch easily to Full HD video with stereo sound for superb results. Video Snapshot mode also helps family and friends avoid long home movie viewing sessions, guiding you to create exciting movies in-camera, with a professionally edited feel.

Extending the EOS System with dedicated accessories

In addition to compatibility with Canon’s existing EF lenses¹, accessories and Speedlites, the EOS M launches with its own bespoke range of compact accessories. Two new EF-M lenses offer portability and high performance when using the new model – the

EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom and the

EF-M 22mm f/2 STM pancake lens. Both feature new Stepper Motor technology for exceptionally smooth AF performance, as well as precision Canon optics, while their compact designs offer the perfect form-factor to complement the camera’s pocket-sized body.

Additionally, the EOS M will ship with the new Speedlite 90EX flash unit as standard. Lightweight and highly-compact, it offers a maximum guide number of nine and supports wide-angle lenses, making it an ideal general-purpose flash for everyday use. A wireless master function also allows the control of multiple flash guns wirelessly, allowing more advanced users to experiment with a range of creative lighting effects.

EOS M – key features