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Well, here it is everyone. Just as expected, Canon officially unveiled their first ever foray in to the mirrorless camera with their 18 MP Canon EOS M Mirrorless Camera. It is designed to target novices and enthusiasts who wants to dSLR performance in a compact-camera body without the complexity of a dSLR. The Canon mirrorless is expected to be released in October. The price with the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens bundle will be $799. Check out these two videos, courtesy of Digital Camera World and Tech Radar.








The EOS-M shares a lot of commonalities with the Canon Rebel T4i dSLR:

  • 18.0-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • Digic 5 processor
  • 3-inch 1.04MP capacitive touchscreen
  • Hybrid CMOS AF system that combines phase-detect and contrast detect AF
  • The last one is important because it should the Hybrid CMOS AF not only allows auto-focus in video mode, but it should help the traditional Canon dSLR phase-detect lenses to focus faster.

    The camera will be coming in three colors – Black, white, and Red.

    Canon-EOS-M-Red-Top-EF-M-18-55mm-IS-STM

    Design

    Overall design reflects that of a compact-camera, with clean simple lines and minimal design elements. On the front side, we see a release shutter button at the 3 0′ clock position and a vertical window that houses the IR remote receiver and AF illuminator.
    Canon-EOS-M-Black
    On the back side, by the thumb-grip, there is the movie record button. Below it, there are the menu and playback buttons, and below that is a four-way cluster with the SET button in the center and the dial ring around it. The SET button in the middle also brings up a Quick Menu. During shooting, the delete key can be programmed for either AF to center, Depth-of-field preview, ISO, Flash exposure compensation, or LCD brightness.
    As expected, the camera operation will be more touchscreen-menu driven. There is full manual support, however, through this touchscreen. It is at least capacitive, making it easier to use compared to resistive touchscreen, and also allows multi-finger gestures such as pinch-to-zoom. Access to Av, Tv, P, and M modes are also done on the touchscreen.
    Canon-EOS-M-Back
    Over to the top of the camera, you can see that there is no built-in-flash. Instead, there is a stereo microphone, followed by a hot shoe, a power button, and a shutter button surrounded by a Mode collar. This collar allows you to switch between Intelligent Auto, Camera, and Video.
    Canon-EOS-M-Top-EF-M-22mm-f2.0
    One thing to note, the camera strap connector is non-standard. It is made so that the camera can hang and rotate freely, so that if heavier lenses are used, the camera will hang with the lenses pointing down.

    The EF-M lens mount and lenses

    The mirrorless format allows the lenses to be mounted closer to the sensor. The flange distance, which is the distance from the rear lens element to the sensor, is only 18mm. It uses an electronic first curtain shutter and a mechanical second curtain shutter, which helps with shutter sound and lag. Surprisingly, however, the shutter FPS is only 4.3fps.

    Both of the new lenses, the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens utilizes the STM motor, which allows for smooth and silent focusing when paired with Hybrid CMOS AF, as well as autofocusing during video recording. According to DPReview, the 18-55mm is about the same size as Sony’s E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens for the NEX system, and the 22mm is about the same size as Panasonic’s 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens for the mu4/3 system. The 18-55mm has a full frame equivalent of 29-88mm, while the 22mm equals to 35mm. The zoom kit lens also has the added benefit of IS, and according to DPReview, it has the faster focus speed performance between the two.

    Canon-EF-M-18-55mm-IS-STM-Canon-EF-M-22mm-f2.0

    Accessories

    There will be a Canon EF-EOS M Mount adapter that will be available at the time of release. The adapter itself does have a built-in tripod mount, at least, so you won’t have to worry about damaging the EOS M’s mount.
    Canon-EOS-M-EF-EOS-M-Adapter-03
    You can certainly attach any of the Canon EF and EF-S lenses on the EOS M, but small size of the camera and the lack of a good grip means that you end up looking very unbalanced like this:
    Canon-EOS-M-70-200mm-01


    The EOS M kit will also include the Canon Speedlite 90EX Flash. It has a guide number of 9m at ISO100, covers an angle of 18mm (28mm full frame equivalent), and runs off 2 AAA batteries. It is also a wireless commander for the other Canon speedlites.
    Canon-EOS-M-White-90EX-01

    Canon’s official sample images

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    More Canon EOS M Sample images

    Canon’s Official Release Statement

    Put Your Creativity Into Motion With The New EOS M Digital Camera
    The Newest Camera in Canon’s Lineup Delivers Exceptional EOS Full HD Video Quality with Continuous Autofocus and an Expansive Selection of Lenses

    Combining the perfect blend of advanced video features and excellent still image quality in a convenient size, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the EOS M Digital Camera. Canon has made significant advancements in the realm of professional-quality HD video capture, from advanced CMOS sensor technology to smooth, quiet continuous autofocus. Inspired by EOS technology, the EOS M leverages these core technologies and distills them down to provide outstanding video capture capabilities while retaining high-quality still image capture. When shooting still images, the EOS M camera’s 18-megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS image sensor provides a shallow depth of field, incredible low-light image quality and a wide dynamic range to capture rich gradation and detail.

    This new addition to the EOS family offers a great solution to videographers and photographers of all levels, with two new lenses designed specifically for Canon’s new camera format – the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens and the optional EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens– and the ability to use the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses through the optional Mount Adapter EF-EOS M.

    “The EOS M includes a unique feature set making it an ideal movie-making tool while offering incredible still image quality on its APS-C-sized CMOS sensor. The camera’s size, image quality, advanced video capabilities and the versatility of Canon’s full lineup of lenses make the EOS M another great option to help our customers record and capture their creative vision,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

    Product Specifications and Features:

    • EOS Full HD Movie mode with Movie Servo AF for continuous focus tracking of moving subjects also includes:

    • Manual exposure control

    • Multiple resolution frame rates

    • Built-in stereo microphone

    • Manual audio level adjustment

    • Video Snapshot mode with touch-screen editing

    • 18.0-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor

    • ISO 100–6400 (expandable to 12800 in H mode) for video recording, ISO 100 – 12800 (expandable to 25600 in H mode) for still image shooting from bright to dim light and high performance Powerful DIGIC 5 Image Processor for exceptional image quality video and photos

    • Hybrid CMOS AF delivers fast autofocus speed for video and photos

    • Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II (approximately 1,040,000 dots) with smudge-resistant coating features multi-touch operation allowing photographers to use familiar gestures such as “pinch-to-zoom” and “swiping” to scroll between pictures and Touch AF for an easy and intuitive video capture experience

    • Scene Intelligent Auto mode delivers expertly optimized photos and scene detection for amazing results even when shooting at night

    • Advanced imaging features like Handheld Night Scene mode, HDR Backlight Control mode, and seven Creative Filters provide added versatility

    • Multi-shot Noise Reduction helps preserve precious detail in photos at high ISO speeds

    • Compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, including new Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) cards

    • Compatible with all Canon Speedlite accessories including the new Speedlite 600EX and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT

    • Compatible with Canon’s GPS Receiver GP-E2

    An Advanced Video Capture Device
    The EOS M utilizes Canon’s Hybrid CMOS AF system to deliver fast autofocus speed for both video and photos. The Hybrid CMOS AF system truly shines when shooting video with EOS Full HD Movie mode including Movie Servo AF for continuous autofocus and tracking of moving subjects. The Hybrid CMOS AF system is located on the CMOS sensor itself and combines phase-difference AF and contrast AF to achieve operational stability, speed and precision. The Movie Servo AF function on the EOS M is enabled by default which keeps images on the rear screen in constant focus, even before the shutter is pressed. This continual focus makes for sharp video capture in a snap or to help reduce shutter lag due to focusing when still images want to be shot. The camera employs three AF methods for video and photos, Face Detection & Tracking AF, Multi-Point AF for automatics selection and Single-Point AF, where users select one of 31 AF points. Through the camera’s touch-panel operation, subject recognition and tracking is engaged at the touch of a finger, allowing users to track subjects accurately and focus on intended subjects with ease. In addition to subject tracking, the touch-panel LCD allows for simple, intuitive operation, menu navigation and touch features making it easy to shoot video and photos.

    Thanks to Canon’s new Stepping Motor (STM) technology, when using either of the newly announced M-series lenses – the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens or the optional EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens – the AF system remains silent, helping ensure users only capture the sound of the scene being recorded. The EOS M also features manual audio level control to 64 levels, a built-in stereo microphone, which includes a wind filter and an attenuator function to reduce audio distortion in extra loud situations. The EOS M records MPEG-4 AVC H.264 video as an .MOV file in a range of NTSC and PAL professional frame rates, including 1080p Full HD video at 30p (29.97), 24p (23.976) and 25p, 720p HD video at 60p (59.94) or 50p and Standard Definition video at 30p (29.97) or 25p.

    In addition to the creativity afforded by over 70 compatible lenses, the EOS M also includes Picture Style settings – including custom Picture Styles – when shooting video, allowing users to adjust color settings the same as when shooting still images. The camera also includes Canon’s Video Snapshot mode for an easy way to record and create a fun highlight reel that can be easily shared. Video Snapshot mode combines a series of short video clips into a single file, all in-camera. Through the camera’s touch-screen controls users can delete, cut or re-order the clips in-camera for quick and easy editing.

    Optical Diversity: New M-Series Lenses and Accessories
    Along with the EOS M, Canon is also introducing two new M-series lenses – with new EOS M mounts –that include STM technology allowing for smooth and silent focusing when paired with Hybrid CMOS AF.

    The EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens is ideal for shooting video and still images. The fixed focal length lens has a great capacity for gathering light with an incredible aperture of f/2 and when combined with the camera’s APS-C image sensor, provide beautiful bright images and background blur for both video and stills. For more focal range versatility, Canon is also introducing the new EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, which provides videographers and photographers with a variable zoom range for general use with video recording or photographing. Both lenses are designed specifically for use with the EOS M digital camera.

    In addition to the two lenses, any of Canon’s EF and EF-S lenses can be used with the EOS M with the optional Mount Adapter EF-EOS M. The EOS M camera’s strong magnesium and stainless steel frame provide the durability and rigidity to support the full line of EF and EF-S Lenses in a lightweight convenient design. Using the adapter allows the camera to be fully integrated into the EOS ecosystem of lenses, adding creative options and versatility to this powerful camera.

    Ideal for use with the EOS M, Canon is also announcing a new compact and lightweight flash unit, the Speedlite 90EX, designed for the photographer on the go. The Speedlite 90EX is capable of coverage for 24mm wide angle lenses (35mm equivalent) with maximum guide numbers of 30 feet (9 meters) at ISO 100. The flash unit can be controlled wirelessly for creative multiple flash shoots and uses the standard Canon EOS hot shoe mount for compatibility with all EOS DSLR cameras and PowerShot digital cameras that include a hot shoe.

    Availability
    The EOS M Digital Camera bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens will be available in October for an estimated retail price of $799.99. Also a white version of the EOS M Digital Camera bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens will be exclusively available through the Canon Online store, shop.usa.canon.com.

    The new EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, Mount Adapter EF-EOS M and Speedlite 90EX will all be available in October at an estimated retail price of $299.99, $199.99 and $149.99 respectively.

    Other sites to read more on the Canon EOS-M

    DPReviews of Canon EOS-M

    To see how the Canon EOS-M performs, check out Tech Radar’s Hands on Review

    Image and video samples from Canon

    Another photo gallery by Canon

    Pre-order the EOS-M

    Canon EOS M with EF-M 22mm STM f/2 Lens in Black – $799


    Canon EOS M with EF-M 22mm STM f/2 Lens in White – $799


    Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Compact System Lens – $299


    Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Compact System Lens – $249


    Canon EF-EOS M Mount Adapter for EF and EF-S lenses – $199


    Canon Speedlite 90EX Flash – $149

    More Photos

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    Canon EOS M with EOS-M Adapter

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    Canon EOS M with 70-200mm

    Canon-EF-M-18-55mm-IS-STM
    Canon EF-M 18-55mm IS STM

    Canon-EF-M-22mm-f2.0
    Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0