see also:

• mirrorless camera systems
• Canon R full frame mirrorless camera system
• Canon EOS camera system
• Micro Four Thirds system
• my thoughts on the new Canon EOS-M mirrorless compact camera system

• Canon is the last of the big players to enter the scene of the mirrorless compact system camera which was created by and dominated by Micro Four Thirds system and then by Sony NEX E-mount camera system
• In July 2012, Canon finally announced a mirrorless compact system camera - the EOS-M - an entry level camera and 2 EF-M mount lenses designed for it - 22mm F2 STM and EF-M 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 STM IS
• hardly inspiring, and despite early thoughts they they would choose a 2x crop sensor like Micro Four Thirds system so they could get the best of all worlds - small lenses and great image quality, they have succumbed to Canon conservatism and chosen yet another APS-C 1.6x crop sensor camera system
• the lenses will use their new STM AF technology designed for smooth, quiet CD-AF performance but there are serious question marks on AF speed
• now that Canon has introduced a largely incompatible full frame mirrorless system, the Canon R full frame mirrorless camera system, I am not sure where that leaves the EOS-M “system” which will not be able to use the new R lenses, nor will the R system use the EF-M lenses, so will Canon really commit to rapidly expanding the range of quality native lenses for both systems?

• electronic bayonet mount, with 9 contacts between the lens and camera.
• departing from Canon's usual mounting mechanisms, the white dot for aligning the lens is at the 11 0'clock position on the mount.
• 47mm in diameter (almost 1mm wider than the Sony NEX but 7mm smaller than the Canon RF full frame mount)
• flange distance of 18mm from the bayonet to the sensor, same as the Sony NEX and just a tad shorter than the 20mm Micro Four Thirds flange distance

• announced Aug 2019
• 32mp, 14fps, Dual Pixel AF, Eye tracking AF, optional add-on EVF
• 4K 30/25p; 1080 120/60/30p
• 408g $US849

• Feb 2018
• 24mp; Dual Pixel AF 99pts (143pts with compatible lenses); Digic 8; 7.4fps C-AF; 10fps no AF; 2.36m dot EVF; supports C-RAW for 40% smaller files;
• 4K 24p video is 1.7x crop giving a total 2.7x crop factor (and even greater if using digital IS) and no DualPixel AF only CDAF and significant rolling shutter issues
• 1080 30/60p with DualPixel AF
• Eye AF only in AF-S mode (not in video or Servo mode)
• only one control dial, no weathersealing, no sensor based IS, no USB charging
• Digic 8 processor
• https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-m50/3
  • nice entry level budget stills camera but very poor video functionality and still very limited native lens selection
  • digital IS makes the poor quality video even worse and increases the crop factor
  • poor battery life

• announced Feb 2017
• essentially a M5 without an EVF, but with a flip up selfie style LCD screen
• see my blog post
• https://blog.mingthein.com/2017/10/02/review-the-2017-canon-eos-m6/

• announced sept 2016
• APS-C, 24mp, 1080HD, 45pt dual pixel AF, 1/4000th sec shutter, 7fps
• see my blog post comparing it to the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

• announced Feb 2015 as a token gesture given they still have only four EF-M lenses in its range, and only one would be interesting to an enthusiast - the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM but even with the STM lenses, AF speed cannot compete with other mirrorless systems such as Micro Four Thirds, although AF works acceptably well with the works well with the 18-55mm kit lens ¹⁾
• 24mp APS-C sensor
• 49pt AF and new Hybrid CMOS AF III
• tilting LCD, optional EVF
• MF peaking
• video almost as good as the 2011 Panasonic GH2 but with much more moire and aliasing artefacts
• no where near as good as the Panasonic LX100
• it is so far away from competing with the features or lens line up of Micro Four Thirds system - it seems it won't even be marketed in USA - why bother when there are far better options for users in the mirrorless world
• will AF a Canon EF lens better than a Metabones adapter on a Sony but that is not saying much!
• EOSHD review

• 18mp sensor with Hybrid CMOS AF and ISO 100-12,800 (25,600 with boost)
• 31pt AF
• phase detect AF component only works with STM lenses
• fixed 1,040K LCD touch screen
• no built-in flash (standard EOS hotshoe) and no EVF and no EVF port
• flash x-sync speed 1/200th sec
• shutter 60sec - 1/4000th sec
• 4.3fps burst, 3fps with AF tracking
• 1080p HD video at 24, 25,30fps in MPEG-4 H.264 format with stereo mics (essentially the same HD video as in the Canon 650D)
• 298g 109x66x32mm - just a touch bigger than a Panasonic GF-5
• bundled AAA battery Speedlite 90EX flash
• optional GPE2 GPS recorder
• optional EF-M to EF lens adapter (RRP $US200) although given this is a very basic camera and not ergonomically designed for such lenses, users would be far better off with a dSLR, after all it isn't adding higher grade video, nor built-in IS, nor ergonomics or AF speed to entice users into using it with EF lenses.
• for a camera which forces users to compose through the LCD screen at arms length, the absence of built-in image stabilisation is a real pity
• initial previews suggest AF speed with dedicated new lens is much slower than Olympus and Panasonic
• lack of physical controls will not suit the street photographer
• RRP $US800 with pancake lens price at announcement is much higher than competition for few benefits and lots of negatives

• equivalent to 35mm lens field of view on a 35mm full frame camera
• compact pancake lens which should make a reasonable street photography lens, pity it is not image stabilised to allow for more versatility at night without a tripod or flash
• 6 elements / 7 groups
• close focus 0.15m
• 43mm filter thread
• 60.9×23.7mm
• 105g

• 2017 model

• equates to 29mm - 88mm field of view
• 13 elements / 11 groups
• close focus 0.25m
• filter thread 52mm
• “4 stop” IS for stills but can add more IS functionality during movies by activating dynamic IS mode
• 60.9x61mm but lens extends on zooming
• 120g
• should be a reasonable travel lens and the kit ends up being half the weight of a Canon dSLR with kit lens
• similar sized lens to the Olympus mZD 14-42mm kit lenses but twice as long as the ultra compact Panasonic PZ kit lens.
• RRP $US300

• announced June 2013
• equates to 18-36mm fov
• 3 stops IS
• 0.15m minimum focusing distance
• much smaller than Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM but then it is not as bright
• uses a collapsible retracting barrel reminiscent of the smaller, lighter Olympus m.ZD 9-18mm f/4.0-5.6 lens and pioneered by Olympus on its 3-5x standard range zoom lenses for Micro Four Thirds
• weird atypical 55mm filter thread size!
• 220g
• 61mm diameter x 58mm length (retracted but in use, 74mm when zoomed to 11mm)
• very similar in size and appearance to the EF-M 18-55mm lens
• AF speed similar to the EF-M 18-55mm lens - that is much slower than the current a catalogue of Micro Four Thirds lenses on the latest Micro Four Thirds system

• 2017 model

• announced sept 2018
• 235g, 43mm filter

• 2017 model

• 88-320mm eq fov
• close focus 1m
• 3.5EV OIS
• 7 blades
• 60.9×86.5mm
• 260g
• $AU450