HOUSING. The camera is robust and high quality. The addition has come compared to M1 grip makes it easier to hold the M3 securely in place. In addition to the form has a positive effect at this point that at last a rather rough rubber material on the handle and the thumb position have been installed. Also the added dials for the shooting mode and exposure compensation are useful places and been beyond slightly recessed in the top, which reduces the height of the camera to a manageable level. Less successful I find in particular the pressure point of the play button which is was relatively sluggish. Nevertheless, I would describe the overall results here as well.
EASE OF USE. Here was me not fully convince the M3. Some of the touch functionality is omitted on the monitor, so you can not change by a direct pressure on the monitor, for example the ISO value. Instead, you must first be pressed, which means unnecessary trouble in the dark and is very intuitive on the wheel on the back. A meaningful reason for this decision at interface design I can not think for the life. Far more annoying I find, however, that the images can be moved in the detailed consideration despite a very fast SD card only relatively imprecise across the screen. If you move a zoomed image with your finger, it also slides always a little further. This may sound after a banality. I must, however, often zoom back details of my photos close and this has worked much better in the M1, I'm here but a little disappointed. For the movable monitor is working itself reliable and convinces with a high-contrast image. The lack of an electronic viewfinder is not noticed disturbing. However, if you frequently take pictures with a lot of light, there could be problems without costly acquisition of external viewfinder here.
Autofocus. The autofocus works very well especially when sufficient light. He's not fast, but precise. In Lowlight area but it can quickly become cumbersome with faint lenses. Here then must be helped manually, which thanks to the last integrated Focus Peaking function but also works well. However, I have to say clearly that I can not detect any massive improvement on the M1. This camera still is not able to compete with the autofocus system of a mirrorless Sony or even a professional DSLR or comparable systems. However, since I need this camera to a large extent for landscaping, (manually focused) macro- and relatively low action travel photography, I'm satisfied with the result. But I can not imagine for the life that this camera a great pleasure in action photography. If this were my main application scenario, I'd look elsewhere therefore.
IMAGE QUALITY. Of course, a very important point. This camera is less noisy than the M1 and beyond to a far more sophisticated way - it produces a kind of grain, with which you can cope well even in RAW processing. The dynamic range (ie the range of captured light and dark areas) is good, but is far below the level of competitors such as Samsung NX1. If image quality is your single purchase criterion, there are more attractive competitors here.
SUMMARY. For many years now I use Canon SLRs. I have many good reasons to hold on to this system and possessed by great lenses. This I can, thanks to the adapter in my possession at full transfer of all functions connected to the M3. So you have the chance to be able to carry as Canon photographer a slight Second Body. Even the 11-22 4-5.6 and the 22 2.0 are great lenses that have an excellent price-performance ratio. So far so good. Should you at these lenses as I have a special interest and already want to use existing Canon optics, the M3 is a value considering product. If I were still invested in no system, but I would probably not decide for the M3. But it does not react fast enough and is not intuitive enough to handle beyond. In addition, the software is clearly not designed to end: Why, for example, the image stabilizer in playback mode must be active, probably reveals itself not even a Canon engineer. So precious energy is wasted and put on top of that unnecessary wear on the lens to purchase. The firmware will certainly once again need to be revised. Also, the starting price of about 750 Euro incl. The very good Kitobjektivs will can not be stopped. First signs of disintegration are already visible, so I expect in the medium term with a street price of 550 euros. I'm watching the price and the further development of the firmware now only once. If the complained of my points for you worthy to be, four stars are also not an appropriate rating for you. You should then pull so something for themselves. For questions about my remarks I look forward to your constructive comment.
