For several years Canon had a love hate relationship with mirrorless technology. They did not want to hurt their DSLR sales so they did not release anything good. On the other hand, they could not avoid the future. This led to the weird M line, which was better as an aesthetic piece than as a camera (especially competing with Fuji and Sony who have awesome mirrorless systems).
This is changing today with the introduction of Canon’s EOS M5. This new mirrorless will make its debut in photokina next week (we will share constant photokina updates here). Unlike the previous Canon M’s the EOS M5 feels like a real jump into the mirrorless wars. (And Canon had 4 preceding models so far, which no one tool seriously). The camera will start selling in November and price shall be $979.
So, why do we think that this is a real camera and not just another stockholders pleaser?
Because Canon made the specs extremely similar to their latest prosumer DSLR, the 80D. This means that Canon is ready to cannibalize DSLR sales in favor of mirrorless sales. It means that Canon understand that mirrorless is the future. But let’s dive in, shall we…
- Sensor-wise, the M5 has the same sensor as the 80D, this means 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor with dual pixel CMOS autofocus. But the processor is digic 7 (as opposed to digic 6 on the 80D).
- Canon finally (FINALLY!) adds 5 axis sensor stabilization. They use a hybrid of both optical and sensor shift to offer that feature.
- List of impressive features to match up to other mirrorless systems: LCD as touchpad when using the viewfinder, bluetooth, wifi, NFC and Bluetooth Smart, ISO 25600
So, how does this camera compare to its eco system? I think there are several obvious competitors: Canon’s 80D which the M5 may cannibalize, Sony A6300 which is Sony’s offering in this range, and the M3 to see how far it advanced. Here is the comparison from DP review:
| Canon EOS M5 | Canon EOS M3 | Sony Alpha a6300 | Canon EOS 80D | |
| Body type | ||||
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Mid-size SLR |
| Body material | Metal | Magnesium alloy | Magnesium-alloy | Composite |
| Sensor | ||||
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 | 6000 x 4000 | 6000 x 4000 | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 | 3:2, 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels | 24 megapixels | 24 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 26 megapixels | 25 megapixels | 25 megapixels | 26 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) | APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) | APS-C (22.5 x 15 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS | CMOS | CMOS |
| Processor | Digic 7 | DIGIC 6 | BIONZ X | DIGIC 6 |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB | sRGB | sRGB, Adobe RGB | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter | Primary color filter | Primary color filter | Primary color filter |
| Image | ||||
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 | Auto, 100-12800 (expandable to 25600) | Auto, 100-25600, expandable to 51200 | Auto, 100-16000 (expands to 25600) |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 25600 | 51200 | 25600 | |
| White balance presets | 6 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| Custom white balance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No | No | No | No |
| Image stabilization notes | 5-axis for video only | |||
| Uncompressed format | RAW | RAW | RAW | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, standard | Fine, normal | Extra fine, fine, normal | Fine, normal |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3) | JPEG (Exif v2.3, DPOF v2.0) | JPEG (Exif v2.3) | JPEG (Exif v2.3) |
| Raw (Canon CR2, 14-bit) | Raw (Canon CR2, 14-bit) | Raw (Sony ARW v2.3, 14-bit) | Raw (Canon 14-bit CRW) | |
| Optics & Focus | ||||
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Center Selective single-point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection Live View |
Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Center Selective single-point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection Live View |
Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Center Selective single-point Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection Live View |
Contrast Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi-area Center Selective single-point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection Live View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Yes (2x-8x) | |||
| Manual focus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 49 | 49 | 425 | 45 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF-M | Canon EF-M | Sony E | Canon EF/EF-S |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.6× | 1.6× | 1.5× | 1.6× |
| Screen / viewfinder | ||||
| Articulated LCD | Tilting | Tilting | Tilting | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3.2″ | 3″ | 3″ | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,620,000 | 1,040,000 | 921,600 | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD | ClearView II TFT-LCD | TFT LCD | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic | Electronic (optional) | Electronic | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.7× | 0.95× | ||
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 | 2,359,296 | ||
| Photography features | ||||
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec | 30 sec | 30 sec | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec | 1/4000 sec | 1/4000 sec | 1/8000 sec |
| Aperture priority | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shutter priority | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manual exposure mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Subject / scene modes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Built-in flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flash range | 5.00 m (at ISO 100) | 5.00 m (at ISO 100) | 6.00 m (at ISO 100) | 12.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| External flash | Yes | Yes (via hot shoe) | Yes | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Auto, on, off, slow synchro | Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction, Hi-speed sync, Wireless | ||
| Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec | 1/200 sec | 1/160 sec | 1/250 sec |
| Continuous drive | 9.0 fps | 4.2 fps | 11.0 fps | 7.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom, remote) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Metering modes | Multi | Multi | Multi | Multi |
| Center-weighted | Center-weighted | Center-weighted | Center-weighted | |
| Spot | Spot | Spot | Spot | |
| Partial | Partial | |||
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±2 (3 frames at 1/3 EV steps) | ±2 (3 frames at 1/3 EV steps) | ±5 (3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV, 2 EV steps) | |
| WB Bracketing | No | No | Yes | |
| Videography features | ||||
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 @ 60p,1920 x 1080 @ 30p,1920 x 1080 @ 24p ,1280 x 720 @ 60p / 16 | 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) | 4K (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (24p) | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) |
| Format | H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 | |
| Videography notes | Supports X-AVC S up t0 100 Mbps, ACHD to 28Mbps | Choice of ALL-I or IPB codecs | ||
| Microphone | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono | Mono | Mono | Mono |
| Storage | ||||
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC card | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I support) |
| Connectivity | ||||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) | Yes (mini-HDMI) | Yes (micro-HDMI) | Yes (mini-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone port | No | No | No | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In | Built-In | Built-In | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11/b/g/n with Bluetooth and NFC | 802.11b/g/n with NFC | 802.11b/g/n with NFC | 802.11/b/g/n with NFC |
| Remote control | Yes (Via smartphone or wireless remote) | Yes (via smartphone) | Yes (via smartphone) | Yes (Wired, wireless, or via smartphone) |
| Physical | ||||
| Environmentally sealed | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | LP-E17 lithium-ion battery & charger | LP-E17 lithium-ion battery & charger | NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery & charger | LP-E6N lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 295 | 250 | 400 | 960 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 427 g (0.94 lb / 15.06oz) | 366 g (0.81 lb / 12.91oz) | 404 g (0.89 lb / 14.25oz) | 730 g (1.61 lb / 25.75oz) |
| Dimensions | 116 x 89 x 61 mm (4.57 x 3.5 x 2.4″) | 111 x 68 x 44 mm (4.37 x 2.68 x 1.73″) | 120 x 67 x 49 mm (4.72 x 2.64 x 1.93″) | 139 x 105 x 79 mm(5.47 x 4.13 x 3.11″) |
| Other features | ||||
| Orientation sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (downloadable app) | Yes | ||
| GPS | None | None | None | None |
What do you think? Is Canon finally getting serious with mirrorless?
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