Canon EOS M Verdict and Video Review

Big things come in small packages. Consider the new mirrorless Canon EOS M as a Rebel in a Powershot body and you have yourself a wolf in sheep's clothing. Underneath the hood of Canon's first entry in the mirrorless digital camera market is an 18 megapixel APS-C sensor with DIGIC V processor like its bigger Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D brother.



For a retail price of $800, the Canon EOS M with EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens does not come cheap when compared to other mirrorless brands like Sony, Panasonic and Nikon. The high price pays for the large APS-C sized sensor like in the Canon EOS Rebel T4i and the rest of the Canon cropped sensor lineup such as the Canon 7D. The Canon EOS M is a big sensor in a compact form factor with a new interchangeable EF-M lens mount.



The Canon EOS M shares many features of the similar priced Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D except an actual SLR view finder, a swivel screen and a pop up flash. The differences stop there. The Hybrid AF system with continuous auto focus during video recording comes to the Canon EOS M. The AF Servo works in conjunction with STM (stepper motor) lenses for smoother lens movement in photo or video mode.



The touchscreen feature comes back to the Canon EOS M with open arms. I am not a big fan of limited tactile controls but the Canon EOS M combines real buttons with an intuitive touchscreen. The limited landscape at the rear LCD forces you to use the touchscreen at times. The on demand buttons of ISO and white balance of the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D are gone and replaced by a press of the "Q" menu button for the touch interface. Old school button pushers rejoice, the multifunction controller remains intact for the meantime.



With big APS-C sensors come dreamy bokeh and fantastic image quality. The included EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens is fast and sharp with bursting color rendition. Now for the bad news...the autofocus is slow like turtle slow! Gone are the fast and accurate 9 AF points of the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D with a real DSLR viewfinder. The Canon EOS M is a point and shoot camera with a point and shoot AF system. The Canon EOS M takes a good one second to lock focus on a sunny day. Poor lighting conditions give way to the external focus assist light to help out if needed. Sports photographers (aka soccer moms) in need of AI Servo for fast action shots will be disappointed.



Long time Canon photographers can use their extensive EF and EF-S glass with the Canon EOS M with the optional Canon lens mount adapter. The optical possibilities are unleashed like my Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L prime lens paired with the Canon EOS M above. Do not hold your breath when it comes to AF speed. The point and shoot AF speed of the Canon EOS M is the same with mount adapter and EF glass. Bummer!



Aspiring photographers do not be afraid of all the technical jargon. The Canon EOS M has entry level Scene Intelligent Auto and Basic Zone modes with the addition of Creative Filters for beginners just like the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D. There is an even a fool proof Face Detect AF mode for people photos. A bad picture is not in the Canon EOS M vocabulary.



A clean ISO 3200 will make you smile and freeze your manually focused indoor sport action shots. Just like the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D, ISO all the way up to 3200 is for everyday use with no problem. ISO 6400 is grainy but can be cleaned up in RAW post processing. Anything higher like ISO 12800 is a crime against nature on many levels.



Just like the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D, the Canon EOS M video quality is outstanding in all video resolutions such as the 1080p video shot at 29.97fps shown above. Just like the Canon 5D Mark III and T4i/650D, the Canon EOS M has an extended video recording capability up to 29 minutes and 29 seconds without the FAT32 memory card limitation. Do not expect to record hours of footage with the LP-E12 battery. With no viewfinder, the LCD Live View along with any image stabilized lens drains the battery very quickly. Buy spares!



The Canon EOS M in video mode has full manual control over exposure and audio levels for ultimate creativity. The Canon EOS M has integrated stereo microphones and a mono microphone input port on the side that allows external audio devices to be connected for audio capture. DSLR filmmakers can now have a primary or secondary discreet camera for multiple camera shoots.



The continuous AF during video recording from the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D makes it over to the new Canon EOS M with all its disappointment. As you can recall, the Hybrid AF system allows objects or people to be continuously tracked in focus during video recording. With Canon's new EF-M STM or stepper motor lenses, the Hybrid AF system allows smoother lens focusing when compared to USM and non USM EF lenses. Everything sounds good on paper but ultimately an epic fail in execution. Just watch the video below and judge for yourself...



My Hybrid AF conclusion is the same for the Canon EOS M and the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D. I give it a big thumbs down. Canon needs to do its homework on AF Servo technology because it simply does not work well at all! My old school policy of good camera work is manual focus, manual exposure, manual audio and lots of practice.



For all those Final Cut Pro 6 and 7 fans out there, I have an Apple NLE treat! Just like the modified .plist of the Canon E-1 Movie plugin of the Canon Rebel T4i/650D, I hacked the .plist again for the new Canon EOS M. With this .plist modification, you can automatically log and transfer your Canon EOS M .mov files to AppleProRes422 instead of manually transcoding. Just read the above .plist and follow my links in my last Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Video Test for detailed instructions.



The force was strong this weekend, just like my Canon EOS M verdict. I was at the premiere of LEGO Star Wars Miniland at LEGOLAND Florida snapping away LEGO pics with my Canon EOS M around my neck. My Canon EOS M conclusion? The image quality out of this Rebel in a Powershot body with interchangeable lenses is outstanding. I always wanted a Canon Powershot G1X with a DSLR sized sensor. Now my mirrorless dreams have come true. Of course, any good dream has to end and the disappointing Hybrid AF is definitely from the dark side of the force.



Nothing says cool like a hot pink trike and glitter shoes! The new Canon EOS M is the perfect compact travel companion with the flexibility of interchangeable lenses and the ease of use of a Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D. Despite the slow point and shoot AF for pictures and disappointing AF servo during video recording, the Canon EOS M shines as a portable powerhouse with DSLR image quality.



You can view more eye candy photos and videos in my Canon EOS M Verdict and Video Review Gallery. I have more videos, ISO comparisons and images shot with a variety of EF/EF-S lenses from the Canon EOS M mirrorless digital camera.



Hit the streets of NYC like at Times Square at night with the Canon EOS M paired with the Rokinon 8mm T3.8 Fisheye Cine lens. The small form factor combined with the full array of Canon EF glass with EF-M lens adapter make a fabulous duo.



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Canon EOS M Video Test

The new Canon EOS M maybe a day late and a dollar short in the competitive mirrorless camera market. Panasonic, Sony and Leica, to name a few, have dominated the compact, no real viewfinder and interchangeable lens market for hungry consumers for the past several shopping seasons. What does the Canon EOS M have to offer this late in the game? For a retail price of $800, the 18 megapixel Canon EOS M features a very large APS-C sensor with DIGIC V processor, like in the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D. With a large CMOS sensor in a compact form factor comes a new interchangeable EF-M lens system as well. The EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens is the standard kit lens with the Canon EOS M. As a 35mm focal length equivalent on a crop sensor, the new EF-M lens is fast and quick due to the f/2 aperture and stepper motor. Be patient, I will have more ISO and still image quality tests in my upcoming Canon EOS M Verdict and Video Review. Enough with the basics! The Canon EOS M features full manual exposure and audio control for Full HD 1080p glorious video. The full manual control is partly touchscreen because of the smaller landscape of the mirrorless form factor but that gimmicky feature looks bad only on paper. For such a compact camera, the touchscreen is quite useful and handy at times. For audio inputs, the Canon EOS M has built in stereo microphones and a mic jack for an external microphone. Now for my actual Canon EOS M Video Test... Now for the video good stuff! The video quality is impressive, especially with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens. The color, sharpness and that dreamy "bokeh" in the video footage makes this a formidable contender in the mirrorless market. You basically get Canon Rebel T4i/650D video quality in half the size. The full manual control for exposure and audio is a bonus for the budget filmmaker. There will be soon a EF-M to EF lens mount adapter for the Canon EOS M so I can mount all my "L" glass like the big boys. Just like the T4i/650D and 5D Mark III, the Canon EOS M has total video capture time of 29 minute and 59 seconds. My kid's Christmas Recital can last longer than 12 minutes. Hooray...I think? Now for my initial bad stuff! I am a big fan of manual focus during video capture. My experienced eyes and precise fingers can roll that lens barrel with precision better than most machines. The focus throw on the new Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens is average but very smooth to focus manually. The only problem is the EF-M lenses need power for AF and MF. Since there is no external AF/MF switch on EF-M lenses, you have to go into the menu to select the focus option. Not very user friendly when you are switching back and forth from still pictures with AF and shooting movies with manual focus. The other pink elephant in the room is the infamous Hybrid AF Servo during video capture. Just like the Canon Rebel T4i/650D, the continuous AF during video recording was a big disappointment. My Canon EOS M Hybrid AF Video Test is coming soon to give you more details. Patience! For all those Apple Final Cut Pro fanboys! Just like the modified .plist of the Canon E-1 Movie plugin of the Canon Rebel T4i/650D, I hacked the .plist again for the new Canon EOS M. With this .plist modification, you can automatically log and transfer your Canon EOS M .mov files to AppleProRes422 instead of manually transcoding. Just read the above .plist and follow my links in my last Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Video Test for detailed instructions. The Canon EOS M is a mighty new contender in the mirrorless market. My dream Powershot G1X and the new Powershot G15 did not feature full manual exposure and audio control to my disappointment. I think the Canon marketing department has something up their sleeves for the moment. Now, if they only lower the Canon EOS M price point like the other mirrorless brands... Stay updated for my full Canon EOS M Verdict and Video Review by Becoming a Fan on my Facebook Fan Page and following me on Twitter!

***Major Update***

My Canon EOS M Verdict and Video Review is complete and posted with a full gallery of more pictures and videos like this Rokinon 8mm T3.8 Fisheye Cine version lens. Click here.

Canon EOS M Digital Camera System Announced

Move over Fuji X100, Leica M9 and Sony NEX 7! Canon welcomes its first entry in the mirrorless digital camera market with the new Canon EOS M Digital Camera System. This very small form factor digital camera touts a very large APS-C 18 megapixel sensor just like the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D. Just think of the new Canon EOS M as a very advanced point and shoot with interchangeable lenses. Scheduled for an October 2012 release to the public, the new Canon EOS M bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens will be $799 USD.



The new Canon EOS M digital camera finally solves my Canon Powershot G1X gripes and issues. The Canon Powershot G1X which retails for the same $799 USD does not have manual exposure and audio control for video recording as well as an external microphone input jack. I found that rather disappointing but Canon vindicated themselves with the new Canon EOS M digital camera. Full manual video control of exposure and audio along with external microphone input are featured with the new Canon EOS M. Rejoice!



EF-M is another dedicated Canon lens lineup for the Canon EOS M digital camera. Since the large APS-C sensor is located in such a small form factor, there is little room to spare. Tight spaces require slimmer lens mounts to keep practical focal lengths like in the new Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom lens. This is another lens with the stepper motor feature to work in conjunction with the Hybrid AF of the Canon EOS M just like the Rebel T4i/650D.



Current Canon EF glass owners do not worry! Your expensive Canon lenses will work just fine with the new Canon EOS M digital camera. Canon will release a $199 USD EF to EF-M mount lens adapter which keeps all the AF and IS functions intact. The screen capture above is courtesy of Youtube.



Canon's first entry in the mirrorless digital camera market is quite impressive. The new Canon EOS M has all the features of the new Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D in the size of the Canon Powershot G1X. Just imagine a point and shoot with an APS-C sensor with interchangeable lenses with full manual control for video with an external microphone connection. I am looking forward in shooting some Full HD 1080p movies with this dream machine. Still photographers will be impressed as well. A frame rate of 4fps with JPEG's is sure fast enough to capture action and RAW image capability will satisfy the most creative.



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Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS Video Test

The demise of the Flip camera lineup by Cisco surprised nobody except all the people who bought them in the personal pocket-cam frenzy awhile back. The strong HD video and photo features of cellphones such as the iPhone 4 and the Android crowded the market. Now ultra compact point and shoot cameras with high megapixel counts fight on the HD video front. Canon recently introduced a mighty contender in the point and shoot war, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS.



Two things lured me to this slimmest point and shoot in the market. The CMOS sensor with the Canon HS System and the Full HD 1080p video capability. I have been looking forward to more CMOS sensor ultra compacts in the Canon Powershot lineup and the ELPH 300 HS fits the bill. CMOS chips instead of the standard CCD's of previous cameras promote longer battery life due to less power requirements and the most important is the major reduction of ISO noise. I am not a big fan of built in and external flashes. I compare them to automotive high beam headlights. Very harsh shadows and usually blown out exposures with red eyes. CMOS rules!



Believe it or not, this is ISO 3200 from the Canon ELPH 300 HS. No more harsh built in flash pictures for me! This 12 megapixel CMOS chip camera has fixed ISO settings up to ISO 3200 as well as Auto ISO. ISO 1600 is even cleaner. Canon claimed a 60% reduction in ISO noise due to the "High Sensitivity" System with their CMOS sensor. I am a true believer.



Full HD 1080p video is now in the smallest form factor of a point and shoot Canon PowerShot camera. Okay, it is no Canon EOS 5D Mark II with full manual video and audio control but it is sure less inexpensive. The Canon ELPH 300 HS boast 1080p video at 24 fps (not sure if it is exactly 23.97fps but iMovie'11 conforms it anyway) with stereo sound and the ability to optically zoom during video capture. Another benefit is the ability to set a custom white balance and a fixed ISO setting. Just even more creative control over video for aspiring "Soccer Mom" filmmakers.



Now the downside to Canon ELPH 300 HS 1080p video. Initial focus on your subject is set when you hit the record button and that is it. No continuous AF during recording (as expected just like Canon HD DSLR's) and no exposure lock to speak of. Any movement of the camera to different exposures in the frame leads to a rise or lower of the video image. Well, beggars cannot be choosers for ultra compact "all in one" super cameras. By the way, the big dedicated video record button on the back of the camera for easy reach is a nice addition. No more switching back and forth between camera modes either via menu or dial.



Another feature that may satisfy your artistic palate is the "Creative Mode" in pictures as well as video. My favorites are "Toy Effect" and "Miniature Mode" Unfortunately, most of the effects in video mode do not output to Full HD but at lesser standard definition resolutions. Bummer! Well, as a consolation prize, Canon implemented a low resolution but very high frame rate (120fps and 240 fps) to capture very detailed slow motion video events. I will reserve this feature for a future ELPH 300 HS video test. Patience!



In conclusion, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS shoots fabulous low ISO noise pictures at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 without the built in flash. The ultra compact shoots great Full HD 1080p video and made easily with the Apple iMovie'11 video editor. The picture and video quality definitely exceeds my iPhone 4 and the previous Canon ultra compact Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS. Especially, in the battery life category. I shot over an hour of video day and night and the NB-4L battery level indicator did not even budge. Impressive!



You can view more pictures and videos in my Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS Gallery.

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Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS Video Test

In anticipation of the Apple iPhone 4 arriving June 24th, I wanted to test the HD video capabilities of point and shoot digital cameras. What makes the iPhone 4 so amazing is the new 5 megapixel camera and the HD 720p 30fps video. Steve Jobs does it again with another record success with a new Apple product.
Most of the new Canon Powershots have HD 720p video and most importantly with H264 compression. After a quick read of all the Powershots, I decided on the entry level Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS Digital Elph with 14mp CCD sensor and 720p H264 video in a very thin form factor.



A quick stop at the local Steak & Shake for dinner with the family provided another great opportunity for a HD video test of this $200 plus PowerShot. I am used to HD Dslrs with 1080p video mated to Canon "L" glass, so I was not holding my breath on spectacular eye popping video. I ordered my usual Steak & Shake fare and I captured video and pictures with glee.



So what is my evaluation of this entry level PowerShot? I am very impressed for a camera for the size and the price point. The HD video quality out of the tiny CCD sensor is grainy but I expect that out of such a tiny lens. The still picture quality is up to par with the many PowerShots in the Canon lineup. The one drawback to such portability is the lack of stability with such a small form factor. Keeping the camera steady with my "sausage fingers" was a challenge. I definitely recommend this point and shoot to anybody who does not want to haul a bulky Dslr or refuses to buy anything Apple. Until the iPhone 4 comes out, this amazing PowerShot will satisfy my HD video needs.



You can view more pictures and videos in my Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS Gallery.