It pretty much looks like Canon was looking close at the Sony’s entry level NEX cameras when developing the new Canon EOS-M camera. This has been announced today…full coverage by Ale at MirrorlessRumors.com (Click here). It is even a bit more compact than the newly announced [shoplink 12933]Sony NEX-F3[/shoplink] althaugh more expensive. I am still looking at the specs if this is a worthy Sony NEX competitor…what you think?
Canon specs and info:
Dedicated presentation page on Amazon (Click here).
EOS-M Black at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M White at BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M 22mm pancake at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M 15-55mm kit lens at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M adapter at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
EOS-M Flash at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
85 Responses
Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
This alone makes it worth purchasing to any Canon user.
sure, but requires an adaptor.
if this had an articulated screen, i’d be looking closer. would be interested to see how well the touch screen interface works.
most importantly, the 22mm f2.0 pancake! come on sony, this is exactly what the nex needs.
Just what I was thinking. A pancake F/2 (if IQ is good) would be nice to have for the nex system.
I wonder why they don’t have 50/60p video.
Yes, adapter is a necessity for obvious reason (flange focal distance), but given the number of EF/EF-S lenses available, it’s still a no-brainer.
But no EVF makes it a fail, for me.
Depends how fast the AF is for stills.
According to the imaging-resorce AF is slow as hell, here is their quote: “Both the T4i and EOS M have a new sensor with phase-detect sites embedded near the center, as well as contrast-detection autofocus. But the Live View autofocus speed is very slow on the T4i with the 40mm STM lens, averaging more than 1.2 seconds to autofocus in single-point mode, and more than 1.7 seconds in multi-point AF mode.”
Keep in mind that any preview is with a pre-production camera.
While this camera is missing a few things I want(EVF), I don’t see anything that will hinder the future bodies.
Past experience shows that what’s shown on very late pre-production model is what you’ll get on production models.
but u need to buy an adapter for that just like Sony Nex..
As a Canon EF Lens owner, I have no interest in attaching my L glass to a point-and shoot.
I have both NEX system and the Canon DSLR and many lenses for both, i don’t think i’ll be switching to a Canon mirrorless because i really like my NEX
Yup – the included EF mount adapter makes it a bit of a no-brainer for any canon shooters, especially because of the lack of compatability to use their lenses on NEX/NX etc.
For everyone else it looks a bit ‘Meh’. The design is quite cheap looking – it looks like a point & shoot, especially with the 22mm attached. A huge chunk of this market is P&S upgraders where the fact that the camera LOOKS different to a P&S is a HUGE marketing win – the fact that NEX’s, PEN’s etc are visually obviously different to P&S cameras (i.e. they can show off that they have spent more cash & have a bit of kit that looks more serious than the P&S crowd)is Important. This , IMHO, is one of THE biggest selling points of this type of camera.
I expexted Canon to introduce it with more than 2 native lenses as well. Perhaps they are testing the water before investing more seriously in the line… Perhaps lack of confidence from Canon that it will be a winner?
Everything elso looks ok…. no real shortfalls but nothing particularly outstanding.
So… Existing Canon users may buy it – perhaps some swithching form other mirrrorless formats they currently have for convenience in being able to use their existing EF lenses. I’m sure some brand sheeple will buy it because it has a Canon badge. Other than that I think it is FAR from having Sony (or even Samsung?) beat.
Just look at the flash 😀 It looks like it was designed in 1992!!! (& cheaply in 1992 as well!). This market is very visual sensitive with regards to design, wanting the latese bit of kit that has to look the part, & I believe Canon has made a bit of a whoopsie here.
No screen articulation is a let down. I bet that having a rear screen that you can angle is a huge point scorer when people are comparing different cameras in a store side by side.
There is only one pack (22mm lens + body + adapter) that comes with the adaptor, and that costs around 1k EUR (about 200 EUR only for the adapter in the pack compared to the 22mm kit, so alone it will be around 250-300). Wether that is expensive depends on the shooter.
Given the AF speed, I don’t see much of a problem in using EF lenses on the NEX with manual focus.
Aperture control…….
Conurus adapter…………
I stand corrected…. But $400 with difficult availability & no AF???? Takes a hobbled EF compatable NEX to $1000…
Hobbled or not, it has manual focus peaking, much faster AF with native lenses (a factor 3 to 6 based on preview material), a lot more native lenses, tilting screen, EVF option, MUCH longer battery life, several stops more DR without the Canon patented shadow banding, etc etc.
True, but the Canon is more expensive and then you need to add an adapter too. Won’t be much far off 🙂
The adapter is available, not included.
In the US market for $800 you get the camera and 22mm prime. Even the flash costs extra. By including the fast prime as the only kit option and not bundling the flash they appear to be aiming at more sophisticated photographers. But the lack of manual controls, Nikon 1 style mode dial without PASM modes, and lack of other features like a tilt screen imply this is aimed at cell phone upgraders who are not going to pay $800 for a camera with no flash or zoom lens. Schizophrenic marketing is no way to launch a new system.
As long as Sony keeps forcing people using AVCHD in order to get the best video out of their cameras their products are handicapped.
It looks like they need another lesson similar with the memory stick when people would not buy the Sony cameras just because of the proprietary storage. Years after AVCHD was introduces is still a pain to edit and everybody just have a hard time to play them.
One would have to wait for the Nikon APS-C mirrorless camera in order to get the best in the world: 1. Sony sensor 2. Nikon JPEG engine 3. Nikon video compression MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
At least they are not alone in their arrogance and Panasonic is budding along in the hope of selling more Blu-Ray players. At least there is a hack for Panasonic firmware that can fix the issue.
The vast majority of buyers couldn’t care less if it is AVCHD or something else. They haven’t a clue what formats are available.
‘As long as Sony keeps forcing people using AVCHD in order to get the best video out of their cameras their products are handicapped.’
http://www.jigsawbroadcast.com/news/busted!-myths-about-avchd
Only if you are using an old computer. Even then, you can just transcode to proRes or something. Personally, I have edited AVCHD with no issues.
Granted, AVCHD is a very compressed format. The advantages of AVCHD are that the filesize is much lower, allowing you to get more footage, and to transfer it faster to the sd card. All with minimal compression issues. The disadvantage is that editing software has to decompress on the fly when you do frame level edits, but as seen in the link above, this is rarely an issue on a modern cpu.
The only interesting thing here is the hybrid CDAF/PDAF focus system. Wonder how well that will work, especially with conventional DSLR lenses.
How soon before Canon fanboys start complaining about the lack of native lenses. 🙂
Canon’s mirrorless system is rather conservative. Not as weak as Nikon’s (no matter how well the Nikon 1 sells at the moment), but also not courageous (e.g. full-frame-ready). This may be the chance for Sony: Dear Sony guys, make a NEX-9 with less megapixels, phase-detection AF, and first and foremost: more lenses! Then, you’ll rule the upcoming leading market segment.
In my opinion Canon have dropped the ball here. Low on features, expensive and looks like a toy.
No articulated screen is a real boo-boo for me too.
If the NEX system had decent lenses it would make this look like a joke. Sadly though….
Perhaps they did.
But IMHO this system makes FAR more sense then Nikon 1 ever will.
Agreed. I don’t understand why they continue making cameras without swivel LCDs.
Just saw a YouTube “first look” video on this camera… Even though it has both phase and contrast detect… AF seems a slow?
PDAF on sensor with current technology is more of an gimmick then anything worthwhile in terms of speed and low-light performance. It’s just an assist for CDAF (exactly the same in Nikon 1, although out there you could do exactly well with CDAF only simply because depth of field is so huge with current lenses that there’s no need to bother).
So expect usual things – hunting, poor performance in low light, poor performance with really fast moving objects tracking, poor performance in not-so-very-contrasty environment.
Camera looks like a POS P&S.
Cheap plastic etc…
no thank you.
Good:
– Wireless flash control (Nex-5N doesn’t have it) Although the add-on flash is awkward in shape
– Audio level control and stereo mic input! (Nex-5N doesn’t have it)
– Much better touch UI (Nex-5N menu sucks)
– Pancake looks good (if it is good optically, will be fun to compare it to the NEX Zeiss with similar FL and aperture)
Bad:
– No 60p
– No Peaking (really bad)
– No EVF option (praying for price drop on NEX EVF)
– Fixed screen
Will sell well b/c of brand recognition and ‘I already have lenses for it’ factor.
How do you already know the Canon’s touch screen UI is much better?
From the dpreview and c|net australia first impressions.
Probably not magnesium body like the NEX-5N, much crappier battery life, probably the same old 18MP sensor and more expensive.
Good:
– tiny little bit smaller body
– AF & Aperture control for EOS lenses
Bad:
– No system to speak of (no lenses, no accessories, no bodies…)
– Limited compatibility with “big system” lenses (adapter is equivalent of LA-EA1 with unknown performance of the body AF. Sony wipes the floor with LA-EA2)
– Much worse touch UI (Eos-m menu sucks)
– No optional viewfinder of any sorts
– No build-in flash
…list goes on…
Also I am coming to appreciate the design (looks) of the NEX line more and more.
It seems Canon even copied the lens design of the zoom from the NEX kit lens.
So for $800 you get a fixed focal length camera that can use the massive DSLR lenses with an adapter. How is this not a more expensive, less attractive option than the rx-100?
Seems that it will have:
– APS-C sensor
– phase detection on sensor
– 18 Mpx
– 1080p 30 fps video recording
Phase detection on sensor will be a great thing if it’s true.
It doesn’t have true phase detect on sensor – it won’t compete with DSLR phase detect AF – it’s a hybrid AF system.
Battery Life (CIPA):
Canon EOS-M – 230
NEX-5N – 430
NEX-F3 – 470
Ouch!
Giving it a fixed screen is a very strange move – it seems they are scared of cannibalising their 650D sales. Can’t think of any other reason for omitting an articulating screen.
Good for competition that Canon goes to APS-C…
Finally a real competitor to the Nex system
(even if the m3/4 is a good system because of all the push forward and the genius of Panasonic)
Nikon in my opinion took wrong way with the 1.
Do we have any idea about the flange distance of the system?
That would be great to compare and see how Canon may manage pancakes on this system.
Flange distance of 18mm (via dpreview)
Exactly as the Sony Nex.
Interesting… similar bayonet, similar lenses… is it just me, or does anyone else smell a very odd coincidence in here?
Zoom kit lens looks definitely NEXish 🙂
Lol Canon. Trotting out that same 18mp APS-C sensor AGAIN. Image quality will be far behind the NEX5N or 7.
But the same as their Canon dSLR, that’s what matters to Canon users, along with the lens adapter.
New users will not care about small differences between the Canon and Sony sensors. Only pixel peeping geeks worry about stuff like that.
Seems like Its aimed against the seccesser of the NEX5N.. So let’s hope Sony realize that and do something about it !!. Yeah and the pancake !!.
Really? I’m struggling to see what Sony need to worry about. There is nothing on the EOS-M that stands out over any of the NEXes.
I did compare at DPreview the 650D sensor VS the NEX 5N, and the 5N wins by a good margin.
I also hope that the pancake will be of good quality, but I have trouble believing in miracles.
Existing Canon users will not care about the NEX sensor…
Sad, but mostly true.
Well, it’s both late and conservative, but this is Canon we’re talking about. The fact that they designed a standard lens that is both reasonably small and reasonably fast says they at least get that much. Shame there’s no EVF.
18mm Flange distance and 58mm mount ??
I have reason to assume this camera is developed base on the technical data of the NEX series made only by Sony mid last year!
Looks interesting but I think it is too expensive for P&S upgraders, so I don’t think it’ll challenge NEX at that price. But just having Canon written on it means it’ll sell.
Again with the F@!”£ng Pancake argument! What if that Canon 22mm is similar to Sony’s 16mm? great centre shit borders and corners? A compromise is made with pancakes and I don’t care whether the new lens is the thickness of a F”£!ng CD or looks like a dildo….I want proper quality!! as good or better than the Zeiss 24mm and the Sony 50mm at least!!!
MAN!
Others like me want an APS-C sensor and compact size and are prepared to lose a bit of IQ to get it. It’d be a very boring World if we all wanted the same thing.
I agree, but knowing that Sony is not keen to develop systems like Canon and Nikon (high end lenses with less expensive alternatives that also happen to be smaller: 50mm 1.2/1.4/1.8 and 24mm 1.4/2.8 and 35mm 1.4/2 and 28mm 1.8/2.8 and 85mm 1.2/1.8) then it would be wise to ask that this ‘one’ lens (as I think it will be the case) be a high quality lens rather than a mediocre pancake.
Let’s see, the alpha slr/slt line is a bit more developed but that is because zeiss provides the high quality zooms and sony rebrands the already made minoltas (some refreshments here and there) So the line appears mature, but it isnt. A great example is that they will compromise with the new G zoom lens they are making. It will not be even a 2.8-4 or 2.8-5.6, it will be a 3.5-4.5 or something similar because it will hit the price ratio, the profit margin and the majority of amateurs that will like to strut a G lens that isn’t pro-oriented in any sense and hopefully it will be good enough to be worth the G price tag.
So, Sony relases a 16-50 that isn’t G but that it is very good. It is for the SLT APS C line. The bloody thing is 2.8 constant! so if its going to be a REAL G, which Sony wants the world to believe it is its GOLDEN/GRAND/GREAT/GODLY lens line…it better f$%^ing change its mind and make it at least a 2.8-4. See how Fuji listens and they have already launched its own. Nevermind the 14mm 2.8 which, thanks to its apparent non fly by wire focusing method because of the distance scales, may be the sign that Fuji understands that something is wrong with its system and its willing to go the extra mile in sorting it out.
I have two NEXs, 5n and 7, and 5 lenses for them (35 nokton 1.2, 24mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8, 15mm 4.5, 19mm 2.8) but I would kill for a line up similar to Fuji…pancake or not but with great image quality!!!
Going back to m4\3.
Still lacking lenses , I think we’ll never see some good lenses.
I do own the Zeiss 24 but I’d needed more quality lenses.
Quite sad , since I liked very much the Nex 7
I wish I could affort the zeiss 24. I would settle for a f2 version similar to the Canon, and save my money up for a 16-50 f2.8 OSS lens, which they also need to get out there…. and where is the 85 macro? the 30mm they put out is such an odd lens. Macro, but very wide for that really, and not very bright either.
The tiny control dial on the back looks awful. Somehow they’ve made a camera that looks less comfortable to control in manual modes than an entry-level NEX. It looks more on the level with the E-PM1 or GF5.
When they make a “value added” version with more physical controls, then I’ll pay attention.
Canon is bringing bad copy of Sony NEX-F3…
The very worst part about this camera, is not that it fails to excite in any way (I have yet to see a comment on a camera site saying this is completely awesome) it is the fact that Canon took 2 years, of which they themselves said they want to see how the mirrorless market plays out, 2 years to develop the same camera Sony had 2 years ago. This is the NEX-5. No Viewfinder, super limited lens range, lack of on body controls, external flash unit, adapter that provides poor legacy support. It just lacks the tilty display and it is the NEX’s when they launched. Well a lot has changed in 2 years. Canon haven’t learnt a damn thing in that time it would seem. Canon are constantly the slow lumbering giant that trade solely on their name and not on their innovation or being a ‘market leader’. They could have used that time to launch something different, taken the best of all systems and really launched a system. Instead they have had their heads in the sand hoping this mirrorless fad would go away an when it didn’t they just copy the competition. Yeah it is probably an entirely competent camera, but you don’t turn up with a boring, competent camera 2 years too late, nobody cares about your boring yet competent camera!
Further to this, this is the same approach they have taken to video with their DSLRs, there are all these great and interesting things happening with cameras and Canon just don’t seem to know what to do with it, the big lumbering giant that is too slow and not nearly nimble enough to change direction.
I suggest this is the first of numerous Canon mirrorless to come. There will be more capable offerings soon enough.
I don’t believe that for a second. It would be nice if it were true, but if that really were the case I think Canon would have had a mirrorless out 2 years ago. Or if not they would have launched a comprehensive system of bodies an lenses. They have done neither. I truly believe that this is a segment they have no interest in being a part of and are only releasing this to have a competing model on the shelves. To think that Canon couldn’t have had this camera out a long time ago is just naive. If they were waiting to be innovative then this would have been it. Once again they did neither. A me too product that has come too late. They said they were using this time to feel out the market, yet they made all the mistakes Sony did, which they’ve taken 2 years to rectify, instead of learning from Sony’s mistakes. Sony had unprecented damns from enthusiasts that they weren’t expecting with NEX and are now playing catchup, Canon took zero notice of this. They are riding purely on the coat tails of their brand and eventually they will pay the price for it.
ok
Some may think it to be ugly…, but I see a reassuring shape with rounded corners.
I think it will do well in the marketplace having a Cannon name and the little EOS on the body.
I’m not yet a NEX owner but reading the comments as I do I’m seeing the bloom fading from the rose of the NEX system as people start to look from more than a sexy body (camera body that is) and start looking for small sized optics to match the small body.
It will be interesting to see how Sony follows-up
Will it address its critics over the lens offerings?
Will it release a body with the features of the NEX 7 with a better processor and not continue to fight just a MP war but an IQ war with the competitions?
Don’t get me wrong I think the NEX-7 is a cool camera and the sensor in the Nex-5 is a good sensor, but I’m just excited waiting to see what Sony does nest to the NEX!
I agree. Personally for me, the Eos M has too many shortcomings, but I can see this being bigger than Nex eventually, especially due to the fact that it is a Canon. I think the pricing is odd, and the choice of bundling it with only the prime. I personally like that combination, but I can see that a lot of people will be uncomfortable with only a prime-lens.
I wish Sony will add more Nex lenses to their line-up, and hope a future generation of their camera bodies will include in body stabilization
And I don’t know why everyone is bagging out the Nikon 1 saying this is better? The Nikon 1 is not my cup of tea (though if it were A LOT cheaper of almost definitely have one) but at least it was innovative, it was a product that STOOD for something! N1 prioritized speed over outright IQ. The N1 had a purpose and it set about doing things differently to the rest of the mirrorless market, love it or hate it, it had/s a point a purpose. This is just a nothing camera. It brings nothing new and does not exceed any existing system in any way. It is purely to have a Canon branded camera in the same segment. I honestly cannot name a more derived and useless product release of recent years. Actually it is like a TV, where it is basically like every other TV that came before it. This is corporate incompetency at its very worst/best, believing their brand will always be on top, simply because that brand has always been strong. While this probably won’t be the end of Canon… It really ought to be.
It’s good that this cam is coming out and it put serious competition for sony. No matter what, Sony need to really step up further !
I hope it won’t be like their mobile phone segment, the upcoming phone (going to launch) GX, still a dual core phone…. everyone even the china made meizu has a good quad core.
Sony, pls push it as far as you can, else, another 1 more year, canon next mirrorless , 2nd generation, will surely overtake whatever advantage you build over the years.
Nex 5n is already the best, but, I tried the sony 650D touch screen, it’s really fantastic.
And pls more and more good lens at more affordable price.
Oh… howabout a pureview type of Nex 5 ? hahaha
So, now we know – there is NO ABSOLUTE WINNER in mirrorless game yet. And everyone has to go fair amount of distance. To me Fuji seems closest if they release well-priced consumer body, but no they wont do it anytime soon.
Nex – has great great camera bodies but no compact, awesome, well-priced primes. 16mm f2.8 is pretty good but 24mm too big and costly.
Canon M – 22mm is awesome compact and well-priced. Better camera bodies will come in next few months hopefully. But needs more compact awesome primes (16mm and 50mm or 85mm).
Fuji X – Great 18mm and 35mm lenses – compact and well-priced. But body is ridiculously priced.
Pentax K-01 – Chubby body. LOL
Nikon 1 – LOL.
M43 – Great spirited bodies and lenses. But many people are distanced only because of small sensor.
Good Summary!
If you LOLing on Nikon 1, thats because it’s small sensor too right, and it goes to M43 as well. A bit bigger sensor, but still smaller than aps-c sensor hence crappier quality compare to the same class aps-c
Then people complain bout how very few NEX lenses are. For me, it’s something doesn’t reall matter. Got the 18-200, 24mm, 50mm, lux 75mm, zuiko 100/2.
I mean come on, what are you trying to shoot with you compact camera? African lions? Additional lenses are very much welcome, but if you are really into photography, any lenses available right now is more than enough to get whatever photogs you want.
And..if the rumors about pancake zoom G-lens is true,..what more to ask?
The winner here is the consumer. For most AF slr lens, there’s a mirrorless body to use it on.
how about Samsung NX ? 😀
Now that Sony has a direct competitor with a kit pancake, hopefully they’ll finally decide to release one of their own to compete. Now, we’ll see if they can do that without cannibalizing their own 24mm. Making their primary, standard-length prime be a premium lens was a ridiculous decision.
Hummnn.. Cannibilization yeah? Probably Sony nex should release compact 35mm f2 as normal lens. Actually 33mm f2 would be even better – giving 49.5mm FF equivalent (priced at say $500) and finally give me 85mm f2 nex lens again at $500 – even if its not as compact.
24mm would be there for those who strictly need their 35mm equi FOV.
16mm, 33mm and 85mm. That would be make Nex market-leader overnight 😀
Remarkably unremarkable ~
No tilting screen – dealbreaker for me. Unacceptable.
Well, at least they went with APS-C sensor. I do really like the Canon prime lens. Sony needs to come out with a similar one. The 24mm zeiss is too expensive, and even does not include OSS.
Showstoppers for me (on Canon): no 1080p60, no focus peaking
They could have made it a little bit more difficult to choose between Nex and Canon if they had included in body image stabilization, but they did not.
Now, when is Nex getting a good regular wide-normal zoom? (f2.8, OSS)
White and black ones look definitely sexy. Looking forward to seing some iq tests and most importantly raw-iq. Pity, Canon cannot use peaking option like on NEX 🙁
when i first look at it.. i was like weather sealed???? but too bad it wasnt. well im really waiting for the Seccessor of the NEX5N.. the reason why i didnt buy the NEX5N was because the touch screen is so slow..
I’m really disappointed in Canon. First thought I had when seeing the M 18-55 lens is that they copied the Sony design and approach.
Why didn’t Canon just stick with an EF-mount DSLR design with built-in EVF, controls and flash with hot shoe. That would have fit better in the EOS family.