Canon's Mirrorless Camera Revealed: The EOS M

Canon has unveiled their first mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS M, with two new EF-M lenses, a fixed 22mm and 18-55mm zoom.

After years of speculation, Canon finally unveiled their contender for the mirrorless crown this morning, the Canon EOS M.

If you’ve been waiting for a compact camera that can also take advantage of Canon’s extensive EF and EF-S lens line-up, then this could be what you’ve always wanted. The EOS M keeps many of the latest Canon 650D’s features, but gets rid of the bulky mirror box for a very compact form factor. As a result of the shorter distance between the mount and the sensor, the EOS M also features a new lens mount and lenses, but an optional adaptor provides access to any EF or EF-S mount lens, without any loss of functionality or quality. The EOS M will ship together with a 22mm lens for R7,995.

The EOS M shares the 650D’s new 18 megapixel APS-C hybrid CMOS sensor, which offers continuous autofocus during movie capture. Handling the processing is Canon’s Digic 5 image processor, allowing for up to 4.3 frames per second continuous shooting, and an ISO range extendable up to 25,600.

In terms of controls, most functions are handled by the large, high resolution touch-screen on the back, but fans of hardware dials will be pleased to know that they have included a quick control dial as well.

Two EF-M lenses, a fixed 22mm and an 18-55mm standard zoom were also announced alongside the EOS M, both of which feature Canon’s new STM stepper autofocus motors for silent operation during movie capture. The new lenses will retail for R2,495 and R2,995 respectively.

Canon also announced a new speedlite, the 90EX, which will retail for R1,495:

Availability:

We are expecting stock to arrive towards the end of September, but keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. We can’t wait to get our hands on the new camera!

Canon EOS-M Mirrorless Digital Camera with EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens – R7,995
Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens – R2,495
Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens – R2,995
Canon Speedlite 90EX Flash – R1,495

In the meantime, you can read more over on The Verge or DPReview, or read the press release below.

Press Release:

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: