
Canon EOS M compact system camera
The Canon EOS M compact system camera was announced on 23 July 2012; a landmark product for Canon as it seemed a mirrorless digital camera from Canon would never see the light of day, bearing in mind their main rivals had already invested heavily in the compact system camera market, and for some years in some cases.
Well, the wait is over; Canon have delivered their first ever mirrorless product to market, the EOS M. Naturally, along with the new form factor comes a new lens mount, called EF-M. To accompany the EOS M announcement, Canon have also announced the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM pancake lens and the EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom lens, as well as a new compact EX Speedlite – the Speedlite 90EX.

EOS M with EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens
The EOS M’s key features include the same 18MP APS-C sensor used in the Canon 650D/T4i, a 31 point Hybrid autofocus system, and a 3″ 1.04million dot resolution touchscreen (also borrowed from the Canon 650D/T4i). For the full run-down read more below.

Canon EOS M colour variants
- 18MP APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor
- The quality of a digital SLR in a compact body
- Scene Intelligent Auto
- Be versatile with interchangeable lenses
- Create out-of-focus backgrounds for high impact
- Easy-to-use touch-screen
- Atmospheric photos in low light
- Full-HD video with Video Snapshot Mode
Price | |
MSRP | $799.99 with 22mm lens, €849/£769 with 18-55mm lens, €1049/£949 with 18-55mm + 22mm lenses, €979/£879 with 22mm lens + EF adapter |
Body type | |
Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor | |
Max resolution | 5184 x 3456 |
Other resolutions | 3456 x 2304, 2592 x 1728, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480 |
Effective pixels | 18.0 megapixels |
Sensor photo detectors | 18.5 megapixels |
Sensor size | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) |
Sensor type | CMOS |
Processor | Digic 5 |
Color space | sRGB,Adobe RGB |
Image | |
ISO | Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (25600 with boost) |
White balance presets | 6 |
Custom white balance | Yes |
Image stabilization | No |
Uncompressed format | RAW |
JPEG quality levels | Fine, Normal |
File format |
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Optics & Focus | |
Autofocus |
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Digital zoom | No |
Manual focus | Yes |
Number of focus points | 31 |
Lens mount | Canon EF-M mount |
Focal length multiplier | 1.6 |
Screen / viewfinder | |
Articulated LCD | Fixed |
Screen size | 3 |
Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
Touch screen | Yes |
Screen type | Clear View II TFT LCD |
Live view | Yes |
Viewfinder type | None |
Photography features | |
Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
Exposure modes |
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Scene modes |
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Built-in flash | No |
External flash | Yes (via Hot-shoe) |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye |
Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec |
Drive modes |
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Continuous drive | Yes (4.3 fps) |
Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Metering modes |
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Exposure compensation | ±3 EV (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
AE Bracketing | ±2 (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
Videography features | |
Format |
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Microphone | Stereo |
Speaker | Mono |
Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) |
Storage | |
Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage included | None |
Connectivity | |
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
HDMI | Yes (HDMI mini) |
Wireless | EyeFi |
Physical | |
Environmentally sealed | No |
Battery | Battery Pack |
Battery description | Lithium-Ion LP-E12 rechargeable battery & charger |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 230 |
Weight (inc. batteries) | 298 g (0.66 lb / 10.51 oz |
Dimensions | 109 x 66 x 32 mm (4.29 x 2.6 x 1.26″) |
Other features | |
Orientation sensor | Yes |
GPS | Optional |
GPS notes | via GPE2 |
DSLR-quality images at your fingertips: Canon launches the small and simple EOS M
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 23rd 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 photographing family and friends, to fashion and culture, food, 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 over 70 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 70+ 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
- 18MP APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor
- The quality of a digital SLR in a compact body
- Scene Intelligent Auto
- Be versatile with interchangeable lenses
- Create out-of-focus backgrounds for high impact
- Easy-to-use touch-screen
- Atmospheric photos in low light
- Full-HD video with Video Snapshot Mode
Pricing and Availability
The EOS M is available in the UK and Republic of Ireland from October 2012
EOS M + EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM – £769.99/€ 909.99 RRP incl. VAT.
EOS M + EF-M 22mm f/2 STM + Lens Adapter – £879.99/€1,049.99 RRP incl. VAT.
EOS M + EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM + EF-M 22mm f/2 STM – £949.99/€ 1,129.99 RRP incl. VAT.
EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM – £269.99/€ 320.99 RRP incl. VAT.
EF-M 22mm f/2 STM – £229.99/€273.99 RRP incl. VAT.
Lens Adapter – £129.99 / € 154.99 RRP incl. VAT.
Speedlite 90EX – £119.99/€139.99 RRP incl. VAT.
¹Via Mount Adaptor EF-EOS M
- Canon EOS M compact system camera
Here is a video playlist of the Canon EOS M. To skip to the next video, or select from the playlist, use the video controls panel.