The initially scathing reviews with the comments about the "underground" AF and the high cost price of 849, - prevented that I already in the Year (2012) looked at my M closer.
My photo friend had a brief escapade with an M, but before I could look at only closer to me also, he had already sold at a significant loss, because it was not satisfied with her. However, he likened it may take up to a high level (to a 5D II)?
Even with the appearance in 2012, I became aware of the small M, because I could very well imagine the optimal family and outing camera.
If, like me is traveling with small children, so a large SLR equipment is impractical and sometimes simply "the way"!
In the first half of 2013, the announcement of the EF-M 11-22mm IS STM and a firmware update (with improved AF) appeared. That's why I still occupied myself intensively with the M.
Especially I was amazed that the "younger" reviews on the net much more positive than the first, "elderly" are reviews.
When I take a day current low price of 389, - looked for the kit with zoom and flash, I could not do my normal resist and decided to buy the part and to test themselves for my needs!
That happened in the meantime extensively and here are my impressions after 1 year to:
The combo M plus Kitzoom is visually very successful (a real eye-catcher), super small and very light.
One weekend in June, I have the M for the first time to test in practice at the local Federal Jung playoffs extensively. After 4 hours I had no neck pain, or any signs of fatigue.
Also on "big" tour during the summer vacation in 2013 resulted in the now "larger" pocket no problem.
In 2013 and 2014 then were added a few business trips and short trips.
Because the camera is so small and unobtrusive, I'm not even noticed as a "photographer", something that later again had a positive effect on vacation.
The feel is good, I get no cramps or so and when I'm on a field trip, I have the camera when not in use simply dangle the Orginalgurt around his neck.
Here, do not like having that as Canon and EOS Digital it is. I would prefer a neutral belt.
The switch-on time is less than 2 sec., But in my opinion is just about acceptable for normal photography.
The operation and menu setting is quite intuitive for a previous Canon DSLR user.
- First I have parked the focus Pieper.
- I have the screen at 1 min and asked the camera to 5 min off time so that M faster boot up at breaks and no setting can be adjusted by "dangle" on the chest...
- I turned off so that the camera does not trip inadvertently while dangling over his chest the One-touch trigger.
In use, I have (here positive to see) the camera with the rather narrow belt loosely around his neck.
Prefer photograph something, I press the camera off at eye level from the body until the belt is tight. This must be individually adjusted. So the camera posture is better stabilized.
"Free-floating" it is more likely to shake and unintended shifts in the composition.
The AF with Kitzoom seems to me a little bit faster and more accurate than, say, a 7D with EF-S 18-200mm IS in Live View; USM lenses are a bit faster at the. 7
The EF-S 18-200mm IS (my previous family Zoom) focuses very slow on the M and because the adapter even worse, it is just too big for the M. With a heavy heart I have therefore sold.
Overall, I rate the AF speed after the update from June 2013 as well as somewhere between a (slower) PowerShot and a fast DSLR. Compared to the old firmware, the rate has roughly doubled subjectively!
There will probably be no further update more, because we are, after all (hopefully in 2014) to buy a newer model!
Power is often quick action and continuous shooting, such as the children's football, the M is not suitable for this process and is therefore for many users can also never fully replace the DSLR well.
However, the image quality is to stand a 18MP DSLR.
The exposure goes well, the dimming can be simulated on the screen, so you can manually adjust the exposure in the creative program. Mostly I expose under light and have, depending on the situation between elected -1/3 and -1/2 EV.
The Auto ISO function I limited for indoor shots at 1600 (when shooting outdoors on ISO 800); ISO 3200 I have only used specific situation (eg indoor handball), if you have not dissolve very fine details.
The fully automatic (s) I have so far avoided, I always work in RAW mode with the Creative zone (mostly P & AV) and have the continuous AF is switched off and the AF is set to Flexi-single. The screen trigger is also disabled by default with me, but can be activated when needed with 1 keystroke directly in Q-menu.
For the AF tracking during sports (eg football) the speed of the AF tracking is not enough!
The touch screen is mE class and quick to use, especially when choosing the focal point I succeed so blazing fast, but it is also helpful in individual aperture priority. I miss no extra buttons on the body; I prefer it a little as possible & lightweight body.
Previously, I had no no idea how pleasant but the service may be a touch screen!
The brightness of the display I have set to maximum.
In strong sunlight there is during the course visibility severe restrictions, but with whom I mostly come clear in practice.
Respect. the practical use of the M appears each user different ideas and / or claims (photo vs. video) to have and many complain about the lack of an optical viewfinder.
An optical viewfinder is certainly nice to have, but to eg on a PowerShot S70 I've never actually used it.
An optional, additional electronic viewfinder for use in critical situations but I would very like to see from Canon!
The the kit associated Mini flash 90EX equivalent in performance in about one installation flash at a PowerShot and thus reaches only max. 2-3m wide in normal operation. But he also has a master function, it might be interesting even for VF users who can come so cheap to one master.
As a main flash for M I have gained me a 270EX II. He is not much bigger, but has more power and I can control wirelessly with the 90EX on Master function even him!
I'm not a big filmmakers, but the few clips that I made so far were focused better and especially noiselessly through the STM kit lens, as I could on my DSLR. The sound was well-managed and overall good enough for me. We particularly like with the Feature 8 second clips automatically add to each other in that they are simply stored in a folder! Since no extra-cutting is subsequently necessary and as happy some Oma & Opaherzen ...
The EF-M 18-55mm IS STM is a very light, compact and surprisingly good Kitzoom. The focus is consistently on a very high level! The "weak" Lichtsärke is somewhat compensated for Duch to "IS".
Caution when using the Hoya / Kenko Pro1 Digital polarizing filter! Since the diameter is below 1mm stronger, thereby can no longer mount the original 18-55mm scattered light aperture of Canon EF-M when attaching the filter, because the inner diameter of GeLi is too narrow for it!
So far I had this problem with any other lens, it also applies to the 11-22mm! Therefore, now I use the Hoya HD Polarizer which fits.
The EF-S 55-250mm IS STM is currently the "best" version of the Tele M, value are top. Together with the adapter, it is still just "portable" for M.
The AF is fail in good light and the speed just barely good enough. But there are also situations such as at dusk when the whole focus range is traversed (pumps).
The 55-250mm IS itself is pleasantly small and light, so a nice trip Tele, which I now even already own for the 2nd time.
What interferes with the non-STM version is the front lens rotates during focusing, therefore counterproductive in Polfiltereinsatz. The IS seems slightly less effective than through the viewfinder of a DSLR with Live View view. Once there is a reasonable EF-M variation, I will definitely change.
A Tamron 70-300mm VC is compared a "heavy Monster" and it focuses me not as fast and safe as the EF-S, despite PZD vs. Insert Engine!
As of July is a native EF 55-200mm IS-M to which will be smaller and lighter.
A real screamer is the EF-S 11-22mm IS STM! Super continue focal length range for relatively little money, small, compact and visually better than its EF-S 10-22mm representatives, which I have now been sold.
The IS is especially helpful in low-light conditions and thus compensates for the "weak" intensity of the zoom!
Meanwhile, there is also a lens profile in the current version of Lightroom.
The so far only fixed focal length is the EF-M 22mm STM. The AF is slower than in the EF-M zooms, since the inner part of the lens for focusing on and extends. This is my creative lens when light intensity, optimum sharpness or exemption are required.
The EF-S 60mm Macro (with adapter), I can recommend the macro fans among you, as it is still quite small and very quickly and safely focused on the M! Too bad that there is not additional "IS" has.
The Canon EF / EF-S makes EF-M Converter (subjectively) a better impression on me, as for example one of Viltrox I sent back immediately after a contact error.
The metal of the bayonet is different, shiny; the Viltrox had a matt (vanadium) Touch.
The inside looked at the Viltrox "wave", the Canon appears kept considerably flatter me and the inside is clear matt (less internal reflections?).
The use of EF / EF-S lenses is using this adapter possible, but does that, depending on the lens, at the expense of compactness.
Somehow "fit" not the big things so right to the M.
I recommend you to give the EF-M lenses preference and only for special applications, or as a pure backup, schedule a use outside of the still small EF-M system.
An EF 100-400mm IS L works perfectly with relatively brisk AF, felt a little better than the EF-S 55-250mm IS STM. I use it only for special applications in conjunction with monopod or a full-fledged tripod.
Currently I'm considering the new EF-M Tamron 18-200mm VC to create so a lens changes between 18-55 and 55-250mm omitted.
The battery life is approximately 220-240 images, depending on the type of application. 1 or 2 spare batteries you should definitely plan on the purchase!
The complete equipment fits into the inconspicuous Tamrac Rally 4 (messenger style) bag.
Particularly light and unobtrusive you are traveling with a Lowepro Dashpoint 30; EOS M with the Kitzoom, an attached polarizing filter and a 2nd battery.
But more fit then not into it!
The M is in all respects between a DSLR and a good PowerShot and lends itself very well in so far as always with lightweight and travel companion for family trips.
I'm going to not buy used 650s as a backup or "lightweight", which was originally planned in advance of me.
I hope that at Photokina 2014 a new and improved M. The New I would then use the EF-M Tamron 18-200mm and the old M with the 11-22mm.
I maintain that I can cover currently at least 95% of my photography with the M-system.
I then implemented during the summer holiday 2013. reality check for me and my photography into practice after I in advance of the image results of M compared to my DSLR (also 18MP APS-C) was so very impressed.
So I took only the M-equipment: 11-250mm focal length, zoom 3, 1 fixed focal length, 1 flash, and 2 pole filter.
I have not missed to my amazement the DSLR! On the contrary, the fun factor with the new small and lightweight equipment was so high that I decided shortly after the holiday, the DSLR and some of my "great" lenses for sale.
In my current stage of life I do not so much time left for photography, as previously had it. Furthermore, I have decided to run the photograph only as a pure amateur, without further ambitions regarding part-time selling my pictures, which I had previously planned once.
I have now completely converted to EOS M, in the confidence that will be accelerated with the next M AF (analogous to the AF of the EOS 70D) to come and now a EF-M telephoto zoom (EF-M 55-200mm IS STM).
Despite some disadvantages that brings the M-system is known to be, I have for me at last a suitable & appropriate equipment for my skills, my inclinations and the real possibilities (= time of use), with small pack size and low weight found.
Plagued me for a long time the idea of the potential "overkill" concerning. My current DSLR photo equipment and the positive experiences of the last holiday without DSLR and with M strengthened me in my decision, although many DSLR users are here probably to roll your eyes!
Overall, I think only satisfied M-users are able to understand such a drastic step, of whom there are now many seem to be.
Back to the above-mentioned reality check, the remaining 5% of my photography are the areas where I would like to do while still images, but it really rarely, if ever really transposed!
As would be mentioned, for example: Animals in the wild (including Ansitz Photography, intensive Makrofotogafie, action photography as car race or truck-terrain competitions, portraits etc ....
At the very end I will also talk about the disadvantages:
I have the impression that the AF when the minimum focus distance of each lens approaches, often denied, even if seemingly sufficient contrast exists. One must try then until the AF finally finds an appropriate contrast. A better solution, I have not found so far.
I had the impression that it works better with the zoom function, but freehand you lose then quickly selected image section!
In addition, low-contrast subjects are difficult for M elusive. But if sufficient distance to the subject and contrast is because I found the AF sometimes even very rapidly.
In some extreme lighting conditions is difficult for me to compose (alignment) on the screen, because you can not see enough of the subject.
Quick shots are through the regular AF speed and the black-out of the display (both on the EOS M II improves) not be carried out satisfactorily.
May the M-Komune continue to grow and soon get more young!
