Canon is bringing its latest mirrorless camera, the EOS M3, to the US after all. The Japan-based manufacturer announced this compact shooter back in February, but now people in the States will have a chance to get their hands on it. A follow-up to the M2 from 2013, the M3 features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, Hybrid AF III focusing system and Digic 6 image processor -- all specs found on the Rebel T6s and T6i DSLRs. Just as well, Canon's new mirrorless comes with the same battery type (LP-E17), focus peaking and dynamic stabilization as its bigger siblings, so you can expect similar performance from a camera that's wrapped in a much smaller package. What's more, you'll get NFC, WiFi and 1080p recording at 24, 25 and 30 fps, while the max ISO range is set at 6,400 and 12,800 for video and pictures, respectively.
The EOS M3 is Canon's third mirrorless camera, following the M2 and the original M. Announced in February 2015 (13 months after the M2 and two and a half years after the original M) it joins the 750D / T6i and 760D / T6s DSLRs to become the first Canon cameras to employ a 24 Megapixel APSC sensor. All three bodies share the same sensor, which supports Canon's Hybrid CMOS III AF system. This embeds phase-detect AF points for more confident continuous AF in live view and movies. Canon also claims the AF system is up to 6.1 times faster than the original EOS M.
The 3in screen touchscreen now flips out to angle down by 45 degrees or all the way up to face the subject for selfies or filming pieces to camera. There's no built-in viewfinder, but you can now slide an optional EVF accessory onto the hotshoe, or mount one of Canon's Speedlite flashguns. There's also a popup flash, along with a dedicated mode dial, exposure compensation dial and a number of customisable buttons.
Wrapping-up the specifications are 1080p video at 24, 25 or 30p with manual control over exposures, a microphone input and Wifi with NFC for wireless control and image transfer using an iOS or Android smartphone. It's a solid specification that resolves a lot of issues with the original EOS M, but it's up against a number of more established mirrorless formats. Find out in my review how the EOS M3 measures-up and whether it's the mirrorless camera for you! (Note at the time of writing, the EOS M3 was not on sale in the USA).
Canon EOS M3 design and controls
Canon's EOS M3 is a compact but comfortable camera that's roughly similar in size to other flat-topped mirrorless cameras aimed at enthusiasts. It's a departure in style from the original M and M2, now sporting dials for the shooting mode and exposure compensation, along with a significantly chunkier grip. It's inevitably more complex-looking as a result, but the additional controls and more comfortable handling will be welcomed by the target audience.
Measuring 111x68x44.4mm and weighing 366g including battery, the M3 body is roughly the same width and height as the original M, but thicker thanks to its bigger grip and a little heavier too; to me it most resembles Canon's own PowerShot G1 X II.
Sony's A6000 is approximately the same height and thickness, but a little wider, although remember it also sports a built-in electronic viewfinder. I've pictured the EOS M3 alongside the A6000 below, where the biggest difference isn't their respective bodies, but their kit zooms. Canon's EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 is a non-collapsing style, whereas Sony's 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 is a retractable design that also employs a motorized zoom - handy when filming.
Canon EOS M3 review
Add the EF-M 18-55mm lens to the EOS M3 and the total weight and thickness increase to 576g and 120mm. Add the 16-50mm to the Sony A6000 and when powered-down, the combination increases to 460g in weight and 65mm in thickness. You'll may notice the weight difference in your hands, but it's their respective thickness that's really striking, with the Sony kit measuring almost half that of the Canon kit - it's clear which will fit into the smaller pocket. It's also worth noting pretty much every other mirrorless system offers a collapsing kit zoom to save space, so Canon's behind the curve here. That said, in my tests I've found some of the collapsing zooms suffer optically, whereas the EF-M 18-55mm delivers good results. If you really want a smaller EOS M3 kit though, you'll need to go with the 22mm pancake prime.
Of all the flat-topped mirrorless cameras in this price bracket, I'd say the EOS M3 has one of the better grips. Unlike the somewhat angular blocks of the Sony A5100 and A6000 for example, the EOS M3's grip curves out and around, giving your fingers something more comfortable to wrap-around. It's one of the many big improvements over the original M, which was more PowerShot-styled with little more than a vertical strip on the front.
The improvements continue on the top surface. Where the original EOS M again opted for PowerShot simplicity with a single three-position switch, the EOS M3 now has a proper mode dial, and alongside it, a dedicated exposure compensation dial. The M3 also gains a second control dial around the shutter release. While most enthusiast-class mirrorless cameras have a mode dial and twin control dials, it's still a relief to find them on the M3, and the compensation dial is an added benefit.
Canon EOS M3 review
Like the original EOS M, the M3 also sports a hotshoe on the top surface that's compatible with Canon's range of Speedlite flashguns. But in another important upgrade, the M3's hotshoe can now alternatively accommodate an optional electronic viewfinder accessory - indeed the same EVF-DC1 used by the G1 X II. It's a high quality viewfinder, but of course adds to the size and (at 200 GBP / $250) the overall cost too, and I wish the EOS M3 had it built-in instead like Sony's A6000. But it is at least available as an accessory, which is a big deal compared to the EOS M.
Sticking with the top surface for a moment longer, I'd also like to give a respectful nod to the popup flash, partly because there wasn't one on the original EOS M, but also because you can use your finger to angle the spring-loaded mechanism upwards for a mild bounce. How much light will make it back down to your subject is debateable, but the presence of a built-in flash is a welcome addition none-the-less.
Turning to the rear of the camera reveals yet another upgrade over the EOS M: a screen which flips-out to angle down by 45 degrees or up by 180 degrees to face the subject for selfies and filming pieces to camera. Lest we forget the screen on the EOS M was fixed in place. Meanwhile the panel remains 3in / 3:2 shaped with 1040k dot resolution and touch-sensitivity.
Canon EOS M3 review
The M3's screen is much nicer to use than that on the Sony A6000 which has a wider 16:9 shape that may be great when filming HD video, but delivers a photo image that's 1cm smaller on the diagonal. The A6000's screen can angle out, but only up by 90 degrees and it's not touch-sensitive either. The more affordable A5100's screen is touch-sensitive and will tilt forward too, but won't angle down, and like the A6000 is 16:9 shaped. So the M3 for me has a better screen experience than the Sonys.
Pressing the Info button while composing cycles through up to four views, three with a live image superimposed with varying degrees of information and guides, and a fourth which fills the screen with shooting settings. You can customise what's displayed in the compositional views, including the choice of two alignment grids, a dual axis levelling gauge and a live histogram.
Canon's made good use of the touch-interface. As well as being able to tap to reposition the AF area or swipe and pinch images in playback, it's also possible to tap your way through the fourth display view, main menu system and enter text when required. It's one of the better touch interfaces around.
That said, if you prefer you can turn off the touch-screen as there's plenty of physical controls and the chance to change some of the functions. The M-Fn, Erase and Movie record buttons can all be customised, and in a clever implementation, any reassignment of the movie record button is ignored when the mode dial is set to video, at which point it starts and stops recording as expected. Three programmable function keys may not match the customisation of the A6000 which offers two function buttons and the chance to reassign the AEL button and the four positions of the rear rocker, but again it's a big improvement over the original EOS M.
In terms of ports the EOS M3 offers a USB output and microphone input behind one flap, and an HDMI Type C port behind another; the Type C port is larger than on many cameras and welcomed if you regularly use an HDMI connection.
The battery and SD memory slot are housed in a compartment below the camera, alongside a centrally-positioned tripod thread. The EOS M3 is powered by an LP-E17 Lithium Ion battery pack (1040mAh) which Canon quotes is good for around 250 shots; a fraction more than its predecessor, but still below most of its rivals which squeeze around 350 per charge. In use, I managed 128 still photos and just under eight minutes of video on a single charge before the battery icon started to flash. Somewhat alarmingly the battery died soon afterwards, giving me little warning.
The battery is charged in an external AC unit, a traditional approach that will suit some photographers, but for me I prefer the flexibility of being able to recharge the battery within the camera with a USB connection - as on the Sony cameras. This allows you to top-up while out and about using a variety of means from a laptop to a vehicle port to a portable USB battery, all without having to remember your AC adapter and finding a wall socket. As it stands, the EOS M3 chews through its battery fairly quickly and gave little warning in my tests when it was about to expire, so a spare will be necessary for most of us.
Canon EOS M3 lenses
The EOS M3 is equipped with an EF-M mount that supports native EF-M lenses, or Canon's large range of EF and EF-S lenses via the optional EF-EOS M adapter. With an APS-C sensor, the field reduction remains the same 1.6 times as Canon's range of cropped-frame DSLRs, so the standard EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 STM kit zoom will deliver a range equivalent to 29-88mm. Here's how that looks in practice.
Canon EF-M 18-55mm STM coverage wide
Canon EF-M 18-55mm STM coverage tele
18-55mm at 18mm (29mm equivalent)
18-55mm at 55mm (88mm equivalent)
Canon launched the EF-M system back in mid-2012 with just two native lenses: the EF-M 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM and the EF-M 22mm f2 STM. Since then, Canon has added just two more native EF-M lenses, the EF-M 55-200mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM and the EF-M 11-22mm f4-5.6 IS STM, neither of which are listed by Canon USA. While the three zooms means the system enjoys equivalent coverage between 17.6mm and 320mm with native lenses, it doesn't take long to spot some serious limitations.
At the time of writing, there was only one prime lens in the native mount, the 35mm equivalent 22mm f2. This lens is also the only native option with an aperture faster than f3.5. For me, the EF-M system really needs more bright prime lenses, starting with a popular portrait length. It's also lacking a dedicated macro lens.
Of course Canon's argument is you can simply use the EF-EOS M adapter to mount any of the huge range of EF and EF-S lenses which effectively covers any gap you can think of. But there's a big difference to adapting lenses compared to a native experience.
Mounting chunky DSLR lenses via an adapter eliminates any size advantage of a mirrorless system, and unless they employ Canon's STM system, you'll also lose out on the best continuous AF experience as you shoot. Here's how the EOS M3 looks with the EF 85mm f1.8 USM mounted via the adapter, followed by a shot I took with the lens at f1.8. The AF was noticeably slower than using a native STM lens, and feels a World-apart from shooting with, say, an Olympus mirrorless fitted with the ZD 75mm f1.8 lens.
Canon EOS M3 review
1/320, f1.8, 800 ISO, EF 85mm f1.8 (136mm equiv)
Canon EOS M3 sample image
Click image to access original at Flickr
It's also worth remembering the ability to adapt lenses from the EF catalogue is far from an exclusive benefit to the EOS M. Metabones has long produced adapters for Sony's E-mount mirrorless cameras that let them use EF lenses with autofocus, and Kipon has announced one for Micro Four Thirds which also supports AF.
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New Canon EOS M3 Mirrorless Camera, Up to $120 Off
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