Introducing the EOS M

As reported by David Pierce of The Verge, Canon has announced its first foray into the world of small, interchangeable lens cameras known as mirror less cameras.

Broadly speaking, the EOS M is just a repackaged Rebel T4i — it shares nearly all its specs with Canon’s entry-level DSLR. It has an 18-megapixel APS-C sensor, the same as the T4i. It’s powered by Canon’s latest DIGIC 5 processor, can shoot 4.3 frames per second (but only in a single mode), and offers ISO range up to ISO 12,800 and expandable to ISO 25,600. All that comes in a small magnesium body, which in our time with the camera is both impressively light and quite sturdy — though it’s not exactly eye-catching.

Being a Canon shooter, I have been looking forward to this development for some time. I have been very interested in what Fuji is doing in this space starting with the X100 and then continuing with the X-Pro System but I have been hesitant to start investing in a completely new system when I already have so much invested into my Canon gear. However, the EOS M just doesn’t look that exciting to me.

EOS HD has some good points about this lackluster entry. Here’s the crux of the problem though:

Canon’s leadership in digital cameras came about because they took brave creative decisions.

Since 3 years ago I have been looking for another flash of creativity but haven’t seen it. This worries me greatly.

First to introduce an affordable DSLR for consumers, the Rebel – it became Canon’s driver of huge mass market success. First to do video on a full frame DSLR, this creativity has served Canon’s business extremely well and if it was not for the 5D Mark II’s video mode Canon would not be present in the cinema and broadcast market with Cinema EOS.

All this happened before 2009.

All that being said, I am still a Canon shooter and so I still might buy this camera as a way to extend my kit with a smaller carry-everywhere option. If I were starting from scratch, I would probably lean towards the Fuji X-Pro but I do like the idea of having a small format camera that is compatible with my dSLR. I haven’t made my decision yet, but preorders are available.