Canon EOS M Review

According provided by camera Canon EOS M with lenses and adapters huge thanks to German Vladimir.

An accurate list of all Canon EF-M lenses

Fix Lenses:

1. Canon Lens EF-M 22 mm 1:2 STM [2012, 2 colors, AliExpress]
2. Canon Lens EF-M 28 mm 1:3.5 Macro IS STM [2016, AliExpress]
3. Canon Lens EF-M 32 mm 1:1.4 STM [2018, AliExpress]

Wide angle lenses:

1. Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 11-22 mm 1: 4-5.6 IS STM [2013, folding body, AliExpress]

Universal Lenses:

1. Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 15-45 mm 1: 3.5-6.3 IS STM [2015, foldable body, 2 colors, AliExpress]
2. Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 18-55 mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS STM [2012, AliExpress]
3. Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 18-150 mm 1: 3.5-6.3 IS STM [2016, 2 colors, AliExpress]

Telephoto Lenses:

1. Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 55-200 mm 1: 4.5-6.3 IS STM [2014, 2 colors, AliExpress]

Important: using an adapter Canon mount adapter EF-EOS M any lens can be mounted Canon EF, Canon EF-S on cameras with EF-M mount.

+ autofocus lenses from third-party manufacturers:

• Tamron 18-200 / 3.5-6.3
• Sigma 16 / 1.4 | Sigma 30 / 1.4 | Sigma 56 / 1.4
• Viltrox 23 / 1.4 | Viltrox 33 / 1.4 | Viltrox 56 / 1.4
• TTArtisan 32 / 2.8

Actually, the level of development of the system as a whole can be judged by the quantity and quality of accessories developed for this system, for example, lenses :). Other manufacturers began to create and market their mirrorless 'monsters' long before Canon (and nowadays, the game is not for decades, but for months).

Of course, the optics park for cameras with an EF-M mount can be expanded with an adapter and at the same time use all available EF-S and EF lenses (though I saw a list with restrictions on the use of some rare objects somewhere).

With the EF-M mount so far, there are only 2 cameras: the Canon EOS M (from this review) and the Canon EOS M2, introduced in autumn 2013.

Like most mirrorless cameras, Canon EOS M is interesting for its large APS-C format sensor, which allows you to create good image quality, no worse than modern SLR cameras. Roughly speaking, the camera uses a sensor taken from a SLR camera Canon EOS 650D, and later used in Canon EOS 700D. The camera takes pictures of a maximum size of 5184 × 3456 (18 MP).

Canon EOS M can use ISO in the range of 100-12.800, the sensitivity range can be expanded to a value ISO H (25.600). To take a photo, you can simply use ISO 12.800 and ISO H (equivalent to 25.600), but for shooting video ISO 12.800 is already called 'ISO H' (equivalent to 12.800), and an ISO sensitivity value with an equivalent of 25.600 is not available at all. In auto ISO mode, only values ​​up to ISO 6400 are available. The ISO value changes only in whole stops.

To use ISO H values, the ISO Range Expansion feature must be enabled. When using Highlight Priority, you cannot enable ISO 100 and ISO H (25.600 equivalent) in Still Mode, and ISO 100 and ISO H (12.800 equivalent) cannot be enabled in Movie Mode. ISO behavior is exactly like cameras Canon 650D, 700D.

Image quality is very similar to what you can get with SLR cameras. Canon 650D и 700D.

The maximum burst speed is 4.3 frames per second, the burst speed seriously drops with different settings for auto focus. Frame buffer the camera is small, on average 4-5 RAW images and about 12 JPEG images are placed in the buffer. If you use additional functions that allow you to correct lens imperfections and improve image quality, then frame buffer greatly sags when shooting in JPEG. The camera can automatically correct vignetting and color aberration of the lens.

The camera shutter is mechanical, however, with only one curtain. During shooting, the electronic first curtain is used. When shooting, a slight shutter lag is felt. The shutter, compared to many other cameras, works very quietly :). If you enable the shutter release without a lens in the menu, then with the camera you can use any manual optics for which there is an adapter for the Canon EOS-M mount. For precise focusing, you can enlarge the selected area of ​​the image. With manual lenses, metering is available. exposure and shooting in aperture priority mode.

The camera is very well assembled, the body is made of an alloy of metals. The camera together with the battery weighs 300 grams and in the hands it feels like a solidly made device.

I would say that the basis of the camera is a 3-inch display with 1.040.000 pixels. A similar display is available for models. Canon 100D, Canon 650D, 700D и 70D (in the latter it is also rotary). Almost all control is via the display. Touch screen with multi-touch support. There are very few controls on the camera itself and everything, even the most basic settings, is easiest to set using the display. The control joystick is very tiny and it is not always convenient to use it. The joystick ring rotates in a circle, while shooting with the joystick you can get quick access to some important functions.

On the one hand, camera control via a touchscreen is a godsend for novice users who can easily switch from a touchscreen mobile phone to a touchscreen camera. But for me, accustomed to quick access using dedicated controls, adjusting the camera using the sensor seemed extremely slow and inconvenient (especially in a cold season, when the sensor does not perceive control with gloves). If we abstract and remember that the camera is designed for the “point and shoot” shooting mode, then the control, due to the touch screen, is performed at the highest level and beginners who have come to the world of digital photography should be very happy with it :).

Canon EOS M can shoot video in maximum Full HD 1920 * 1080 30p quality with stereo sound. Various combinations of frame size and quality can be selected. The video mode is selected by the main command dial on the top of the camera. For video mode, there are two options available - automatic and manual. When recording video in manual mode, you can control all the basic recording parameters - ISO, shutter speed, aperture and additional settings, by the type of Picture Style mode, etc.

The camera has a standard stereo microphone jack, as well as an HDMI output and a USB 2.0 port. Here video link from the owner of the lens.

The camera uses a hybrid phase focus Hybrid CMOS AF (exactly the same as Canon 650D, 700D in Live View). Auto focus speed is the main problem with this camera. The camera focuses noticeably slower than other mirrorless cameras, very often it makes mistakes in focusing, sometimes it cannot focus at all on the selected object, even if focusing using one specific zone is selected. Tracks objects in motion very poorly. I can't say that focusing is generally helpless, but I would like its better performance. And this is when using native lenses, with an EF-M mount and an STM focusing motor!

Hybrid Pro CMOS AF... Some of the matrix pixels are reserved for the autofocus system by measuring the phase difference, although such focusing works only in the central area of ​​the image and serves only for approximate focusing. Focus adjustment is carried out by usual 'slow' contrast focusing. The full potential of this focusing method is only available with Canon STM lenses. Selected area magnification is available as well as FlexiZone Single, FlexiZone Multi and Face Priority focus modes. You can enable continuous focus tracking, which forces the camera to focus even when the shutter button is not pressed. There are two main focusing methods available: 'One shot' (for static subjects) and 'Servo' (for objects in motion).

In general, Canon EOS M is a small camera, externally, and in terms of ease of use, very similar to modern digital point-and-shoot cameras. Even the silvery sticker with the basic capabilities of the camera is very similar to those of a soap dish (similar stickers are glued to laptop cases, which annoys me pretty much). The camera battery can hold about 200 photos on a single charge (this is very small compared to SLR cameras). I also liked the strap that can be quickly attached and removed from the camera straps. The strap has small clips for quick clamping on the camera.

Canon Speedlite 90EX

Canon Speedlite 90EX - Small external flash for Canon cameras weighing 50 grams. The flash is suitable not only for mirrorless cameras, like the Canon EOS M, but also for Canon EOS SLR cameras, for example, Canon EOS 5D (which does not have a built-in flash).

The flash is not particularly powerful, with a guide number of 9 meters. It uses 2 AAA batteries for power supply. The battery compartment cover is quite reliable, the flash itself is made in Taiwan, the shoe mount is made of plastic. I liked the small and quick flash latch in the camera's hot shoe, but the flash itself is pretty poor.

The Canon Speedlite 90EX has a fixed zoom of 24mm. To turn on / off, the 'ON / OFF' button is used, which should be held down for half a second to turn it on. To turn off the flash, simply press the same button once. The flash has a diode indicator, which is responsible for the flash readiness for operation. If the flash is charged, it glows orange (in the photo, the indicator is under the lightning symbol).

In the camera menu, you can set the flash mode:

• ETTL - automatic operating mode.
• М - manual operation mode, for which the power can be set from 1/1 (full) to 1/64.
• Wireless Management: Optical (indicated by a lightning bolt). The Canon Speedlite 90EX can be made to control other Canon external flash units. In the camera menu, you can select the channel and group of flashes.

Canon Speedlite 90EX does not support high speed sync.

When using the Canon EOS M, the flash may automatically turn off when the camera is turned off.

The flash always turns off when the camera turns off automatically ('Camera auto off' function) even if the 'C.Fn. settings' option is selected. Flash Auto Off - Disabled. '

The flash does not turn off automatically when the camera is turned off only if the camera is turned off manually and the 'Settings C.Fn. Flash Auto Off - Disabled. '

There are no problems with the flash, the only thing that catches your eye is the long recharge time. I used the flash with two pairs of batteries, which took 5-6 seconds to recharge when shooting at full power :(.

Canon mount adapter EF-EOS M

The Canon mount adapter EF-EOS M is used to attach Canon EF and Canon EF-S mount lenses to Canon EF-M mount cameras. So far, I only know of two such cameras - the Canon EOS M and Canon EOS M2.

The adapter has a removable tripod foot. The foot is fixed with a special wide screw clamp. If you remove the foot, the hole that remains of it resembles a tripod socket, but its thread is slightly narrower.

The adapter is made of metal. There is a lens undock button on the case. The adapter is released in Taiwan. In the hands it feels like a solid and reliable thing.

On the case there are marks for docking the lens with the adapter and the adapter with the camera.

With the adapter, auto focus with EF, EF-S lenses is preserved, and the correct values ​​are recorded for pictures EXIF.

In the middle, the adapter is made in the form of a tapering stepped shaft, which avoids unnecessary glare and re-reflection of the rays. By the way, this adapter design confirms that the Canon EF-M mount will not expand under full-format lenses :(,

Canon Lens EF-M 22mm 1: 2 STM

Canon Lens EF-M 22mm 1: 2 STM is a very small and cute pancake lens. Despite its size, and it weighs only 105 grams, the lens has a large maximum aperture with f / 2.0 aperture. And to everything else, it uses tiny filters with a diameter of 43 mm. At first, it even seems that the filters are not designed for this lens at all.

Lens uses new focus technology STM — STepper Motor - stepper motor or focus stepper motor. STM was supposed to improve the quality of focus when shooting video, special attention is paid to smooth focus. Focusing is really smooth, fast, but when focusing (both manual and automatic), the lens is noisy, the nature of the noise resembles the buzz of a transformer. A similar noise can be observed in the mirror pancake lens. Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM. Noise disappears only if you rotate the focus ring very, very slowly.

Canon Lens EF-M 22mm 1: 2 STM uses an electronic focusing ring. The ring is quite comfortable, but its serration is not rubberized. There is no focus mode switch on the lens, to switch to manual focus mode - you need to use the camera menu. In manual focus mode, to move the lens from focusing to infinity to MDF, you need to rotate the ring 360 degrees. The focusing ring can be rotated in any direction without restrictions. There is an FTM-mode - Full Time Manual Focusing (constant manual focusing), however, which works only if the camera is set to AF + MF mode and only after the camera has focused. During focusing, the front the lens does not rotate, only the trunk is lengthened. The minimum focusing distance is only 15 cm, and the maximum magnification ratio is 1: 4.8.

The lens is well assembled (despite being manufactured in Taiwan), with a metal mount. There is only a mark on the lens for connecting to the camera. There are no grooves for the hood, it needs to be screwed in instead of or on top of the filter. The lens hood is not included.

The diaphragm consists of seven rounded blades and closes to F / 22. On covered diaphragms in the blur zone, nuts can still be traced (example on f / 4).

Feature: when turning on and off, when closing the battery-chamber cover (even if only removing a memory card without a battery), and when attaching to the camera, the lens is initialized. When turned on, the lens sticks out its trunk, focusing a few meters. When turned off, the lens hides its trunk, while it is clear that the trunk enters the lens barrel much deeper than when focusing at infinity. This means that the lens has a special 'parking' trunk, which allows it to be reduced in size during transport. It's a little annoying that when the camera is off, if you press the button for viewing the picture, the lens will also initialize.

The optical scheme of the lens consists of 7 elements in 6 groups, one element is aspherical.

The lens is sharp enough on F / 2.0 even around the edges of the frame. It gives a good contrast, slight distortion, chromatic aberration present, but quite expected. In backlight it can catch glare (example). In general, it turned out to be a nice 'baby' for a wide range of tasks. EGF lens is 35 mm, which, in turn, is something between a wide-angle and a standard lens. With such a lens, you can shoot almost anything :).

Here link to the archive with the originals - 367 MB, 17 photos in .CR2 format (RAW) from a Canon EOS M camera (and more archive with night photos) When shooting was used protective filter Marumi 43mm MC-UV made in Japan.

Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS STM

Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS STM is the most common standard lens for Canon cameras with EF-M mount and XNUMXx zoom. EGF lens size is 29-88mm, and it is suitable for most simple photography tasks. The lens weighs only 210 grams, uses small filters with a diameter of 52 mm, the minimum focusing distance is 25 cm, and the maximum zoom ratio is 1:4 (which is very good when shooting small objects).

For focusing, the STM-motor (STepper Motor) is used - a stepper focusing motor that allows you to perform smooth, quiet and fast focusing.

The lens uses internal focusing. The focusing ring is electronic, without direct connection with the mechanical part. The focusing ring is made of plastic, with non-rubberized toothed inserts. The focus ring remains fixed during autofocus. In manual focusing mode, the ring very smoothly changes the focusing distance, to move the lens from infinity to MDF, you need to rotate it 180 degrees. The focusing ring can be rotated in any direction without restrictions. There is also a constant manual focus control (the so-called FTM mode - Full Time Manual Focusing), but the trouble is, it only works if the AF + MF mode is selected on the camera and only after the camera has focused (this is indicated in the instructions, when Canon still refers to this mode as 'Full Time' when it is not 'Full Time' at all).

The lens has only focal length marks, a bayonet mount mark and a small red mark for attaching the hood. Also on the case you can find information about MDF in meters and feet, international certificates and a serial number. From the side of the bayonet, the place of manufacture is indicated - 'Made in Taiwan'.

The lens comes with a Canon EW-54 plastic bayonet lens hood, which can be mounted back and forth for transportation. The lens hood snaps tight enough, I was even afraid to damage the trunk of the lens when installing it.

Unlike many class 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 lenses, the Canon Zoom Lens EF-M 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS STM trunk does not move in waves, but simply lengthens smoothly from the minimum focal length to the maximum. It looks like the trunk is made of metal. By the way, the lens mount is definitely metal, which is surprising, because Canon EF-M 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 IS STM is designed for compact cameras, for which they are trying to make the lightest lenses, replacing metal with plastic. Even the mirror mount Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS STM made of plastic.

The aperture consists of 7 blades and closes to F / 22 @ 18mm and F / 36 @ 55mm. On closed diaphragms, the petals form a smooth hole, which is good for the blur zone.

The lens does not have a focus mode switch and does not have a stabilization system operation switch. The focus mode and the stabilizer are controlled through the wilds of the camera menu :(. The stabilizer works well, it is stated that it can compensate for 4 stops by shutter speed.

Canon EF-M 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 IS STM is the most simplified lens for a simplified camera :).

The optical scheme of the lens consists of 13 elements in 11 groups, 3 elements are aspherical (well, at least they did not save on this).

Canon EF-M 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 IS STM holds back light well, only if you drive a very bright object, for example, the sun, into the frame, you can get glare. At 18 mm, there is quite a lot of distortion. Lens is not automatically corrected on the Canon EOS M. The lens suffers from slight chromatic aberrations. Like most similar lenses, it is not the sharpest at open apertures, but the contrast is okay. In general, the Canon EF-M 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 IS STM is a good kit lens, but it's still a long way from a good one.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 653 MB, 28 photos in .CR2 format (RAW) from a Canon EOS M camera. protective filter Hoya HMC UV (c) 52mm.

Prices for modern Canon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

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Personal experience

I confess that while working, I did not feel any enthusiasm from any of the lenses, or from the camera in general. Everything is too stripped down, poking around in the menu for the sake of enabling an elementary function is annoying. The camera itself is not very responsive to controls. For lenses, the FTM mode does not work at all. Adding here not the most successful focusing - I would not look at this camera at all :(. But, given that this camera was created apparently not for photographers, but for ordinary amateur photographers, it has the right to life, and you can squeeze out of it high-quality photos.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram