CANON EOS M5

CANON EOS M5

Just a few days before in 2016’s Photokina, Canon launched the EOS M5. The massive bi-annual photography show in Cologne, Germany. This clearly signs that the company started to take its mirror-less proposition a little more seriously.

The new flagship model features the same sensor as the EOS 80D DSLR – a 24.2-megapixel number. The interesting features Digic 7 processor, an electronic eye viewfinder, Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, an ISO range of up to 25,600, 7 fps shooting and full HD video recording.

KEY FEATURES

  • Full HD video recording, up to 60fps
  • Manufacturer: Canon
  • 115.6 x 89.2 x 60.6mm, 427g
  • Review Price: £1,049.00
  • 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
  • 2,360k-dot OLED eye viewfinder
  • Full HD video recording, up to 60fps
  • Wi-Fi, NFC & Bluetooth
  • 3.2-inch, 1.62m-dot touchscreen

DESIGN AND HANDLING

EOSM cameras always have felt a little also-ran. On concord, it feels like Canon has put particular thought into how enthusiasts and fans of the brand want to use the M5.

It has an attractive body shape that’s very Canon-like. It has its own style without trying to copy the retro designs of other mirrorless cameras on the market, and much looks like a miniaturized version of one of Canon’s DSLRs – the end result is quite cute, really.

This camera is user-friendly as it sits very nicely in the hand. With a satisfyingly chunky grip at the front positioned is molded to fit the shape of your fingers well. The shutter release is positioned well for your forefinger to rest comfortably on top of it.

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Around the shutter release is a rotating dial that controls different settings depending on the shooting mode. Such as aperture for aperture priority and so on. Behind the shutter release is another dial which is customizable to your chosen preference. If you press a button inside the dial, it allows you to choose between the different options available.

For altering exposure compensation, another dial is handily placed for your thumb. It’s got a good level of rigidity. So you won’t accidentally knock it and create wildly under or over exposed images.

The majority of the buttons flip to the back of the camera that’s found on the right-hand side. This is great when you want to use the camera one-handed. As you won’t have to contort your hand into a weird shape to press the buttons.

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SCREEN AND VIEWFINDER

You can set the autofocus point, or move around various playback and menu options as the screen is touch-sensitive. Canon added touch-and-drag AF for this model. That means you can use the viewfinder while still being able to use the screen to set the autofocus point. This is a feature we first saw in Panasonic cameras and has proven to be very handy.

Canon has gone one step further. Nevertheless, adding the ability to only use a specific area of the screen for touch-and-drag to prevent your nose from touching the screen and accidentally setting the AF point. That’s a great idea and makes it a much more usable solution.

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This is the first time speaking of the viewfinder that Canon includes one on an EOS M model for which enthusiast users will probably be thankful. This offers a clear, bright view of the scene in front of you. But it’s perhaps a touch on the small side about the same size as the finder on the Fuji-film X-T10, rather than the X- T2. However, it’s still very usable and something which you won’t only want to use at the time the screen isn’t a practical choice.

Viewfinder’s small criticism is that it appears to over-saturate colors. That’s not a huge problem. It’s just something you need to be aware of when you are looking at the final image.

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The screen now tilts to face the front at its bottom hinge as there’s a viewfinder in the way. So those all-important selfies are still possible. This means that if you want to use the camera on a tripod or a solid surface on the downside. You won’t be able to tilt the screen to face you. The screen also tilts upwards so your low-angle shots are made easier, too.

PROS

  • Varied connectivity options
  • Useful touchscreen
  • Nice OLED eye view finger
  • Excellent EVF
  • Built-in flash.
  • Dedicated Canon EF-M lenses are very good and smaller than DSLR lenses.
  • Dedicated exposure compensation dial.
  • 4:3, square and 16:9 as-shot crops from the native 3:2 sensor.
  • Mode dial with C1 and C2 global camera-state memory recall.
  • Solid mostly metal construction.
  • Touch Screen to select AF points.
  • Bluetooth.
  • WiFi.

CONS

  • Pricey
  • No 4K video recording
  • Slow autofocus, much slower than Sony. But face recognition works great.Different controls and menus than Canon DSLRs, not a great idea as a backup for a DSLR system.
  • By default touch screen is always active when using the EVF. So your nose will control the AF system when using the EVF until you learn to deactivate touch control.
  • You’ll miss photos waiting for it to focus even with the AF illuminator active even slower autofocus in the dark.
  • Automatically doesn’t go to sleep and doesn’t wake up instantly such as DSLR. Will run the battery down unless you turn it off when not used around your neck.

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