Where does the EOS M fit in?

Get to know the pros and cons of Canon’s range of EOS M compact system cameras

Although this section of the magazine is called ‘Digital SLR Essentials’, we’re going off-road a little this issue with a look at the EOS M system. You see, despite the flagship EOS M5 looking like a miniature DSLR, it isn’t one; it doesn’t work in the same way. Like the other ‘M’ bodies, it’s a mirrorless compact system camera (CSC), a type of camera that lacks a mirror assembly. Removing the mirror and pentaprism – the ‘Reflex’ bit of Single Lens Reflex (SLR) – means that the EOS M cameras can be made smaller, but, rather than having a fixed lens like a compact camera, a CSC uses interchangeable lenses, just like a DSLR.

So, shaving weight and still being able to change lenses – what’s not to like? Well, for a start, smaller bodies don’t necessarily make for easier handling. There’s less space for buttons and dials, and the ones that do fit are typically much smaller. Not having a mirror means that an EOS M doesn’t have an optical viewfinder and instead has to be used in permanent Live View mode, with the image displayed on the rear screen or in an electronic viewfinder (EVF). That could be a deal-breaker for some photographers, but it does, at least, enable you to see the effects of settings such as picture styles, white balance and exposure compensation before you take the shot.

01 reflected image

In a DSLR, light passing through the lens is reflected by the mirror up to the pentaprism, exposure meter and optical viewfinder.

02 making an exposure

As the mirror sits in front of the imaging sensor, it has to move out of the way so that the sensor can be exposed to light.

03 No mirror

An EOS M CSC has no mirror so it’s always in Live View mode, with the feed from the imaging sensor displayed on the rear screen.

04 electronic viewfinder

The live stream can also be viewed on an EVF. Only the EOS M5 has one built-in, although an external EVF can be attached to the M3.