The Canon EOS M5 was announced in September 2016, in an earlier article that I shared about the Canon EOS M5 official announcement with an input of my thoughts and views of the EOS M5 announcement. The Canon EOS M5 is the fifth camera model from the EOS M family and it was the latest Canon EOS M model during that short period of time before the Canon EOS M6 was announced in February 2017.

Photo courtesy of Canon Singapore

In my sharing article earlier on the Canon EOS M5 announcement, I wrote the following paragraphs inside the article:

“ ….. Personally, I have used the EOS M1 (belongs to my dad), reviewed the EOS M3 and EOS M10. Over the years, I had seen improvements to the Canon EOS M family through their camera body designs and EF-M lenses for the EOS M series. When I saw and read the official news on the Canon EOS M5, my initial impressions from it were – Canon is serious about their mirror-less camera line up, the EOS M series. During my recent trip to Canon EXPO 2016 Shanghai, listening to the top Canon Inc executives sharing on the next wave and trends, I wrote the points that were shared and discussed at the media interaction here in an article here on my photography website.

In my article, I wrote

“From the media interaction sessions, Canon remains committed to the EOS M mirrorless line up. We should be able to see more of EF-M lenses, EOS M accessories and maybe a new EOS M mirrorless camera body in the near future.” ….”

My initial impressions and thoughts based on the technical specifications of the Canon EOS M5 was that it is pretty good and much improved over the earlier four EOS M camera models. During a media dinner event, I had a short hands with the Canon EOS M5 and it reinforced my initial impressions and thoughts. Therefore, I waited for an opportunity to review the Canon EOS M5 and I managed to obtain a review unit in February 2017.

This Canon EOS M5 review camera went through a number of interesting events with me, she was very handy, small and lightweight for my carry around camera and events camera. This EOS M5 review camera went to HTC U Ultra and U Play smartphone launch, Majestic Market @ New Majestic Hotel, 2 x NHB Battle for Singapore 2017 tours, N.E.mation! 11 Awards Ceremony, OPPO R9s Plus smartphone launch, Singapore Biennale 2016, I Light Marina Bay 2017 media preview, extended family reunions and she also played an important role in the 100th day ceremony in remembrance of my Grandmother’s passing. Overall, I think I took about 1,000++ photographs with the Canon EOS M5 during the review period.

Some quick thoughts and views of the Canon EOS M5

Pros

  • Small, lightweight and compact
  • Easy to use
  • Wi-fi setup and file transfer is smooth and easy, just a touch of the button on the side of the EOS M5 and the Canon app
  • Build in Electronic View Finder (EVF) is awesome
  • Intuitive Touch and Drag AF
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF System
  • Easily accessible operating control dial on the top of the EOS M5 body
  • Five-axis image stabilisation system inside the EOS M5
  • A well thought out ergonomic design, buttons layout and with a good hand grip

Cons

  • The tilt screen can’t flip upright due to the design of the built-in EVF and it can’t flip sideways 180 degrees, it can tilt downwards 180 degrees.
  • At ISO 25,600, the noise level at times can be really grainy and distinctive (even for myself who has a high tolerance for the grain), therefore use ISO 25,600 at your own discretion.
  • While the AF system has been improved inside the Canon EOS M5, the AF system has some challenges re-focusing on the subject that moved away or around when AF is not locked and tracked on the subject.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF System

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF System is now integrated inside the Canon EOS M family, starting with the Canon EOS M5 body. I had the opportunity to use the Dual Pixel CMOS AF System in the Canon EOS 70D, a DSLR camera body that I reviewed and I bought a used EOS 70D later before letting it go to fund for my EF 24-70mm f/4 L IS USM lens.

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF System allows the EOS M5 to achieve 7.0 fps (AF tracking) or 9.0 fps (AF fixed). Recording a video with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF System built-in, makes it very handy, useful and great when recording a video with the EOS M5.

Video recording

Armed with Digic 7 and Dual Pixel CMOS AF System inside the camera body, recording a video on the Canon EOS M5 gets easier and better. While I currently do not specialise in video production, the videos that I recorded and produced showed the ease of use for the daily user. Video recording can be a fun activity with the Canon EOS M5, whereby you can also record videos for memories beside taking photographs.

Intuitive Touch and Drag AF

This is one of the few key features inside the Canon EOS M5 that made me very impressed and liking this EOS M5 a lot. The intuitive Touch & Drag AF is like the “joystick”, the Quick Control Dial and Multi Controller of the Canon DSLR. With the eye on the EVF and your thumb controlling, moving the AF point, it’s just like my Canon DSLR in action.

I have my own unique experience using it, while I love this feature, it also got me fustrated because my eye tend to go very close (basically glued) to the EVF (from my experiences handling my Canon EOS 1DX), thus my face and nose would touch the screen. There were many a times, my nose and the finger “clashed” when I used the touch and drag AF.

The trick is not to put your eye too closely to the EVF, allow some space away from your face and there would be no clash between your finger doing the touch and drag AF and your face/nose.

Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Review

The Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM is a new lens addition to the Canon family of lenses. The EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM is available in silver or graphite colour, it is small, lightweight and compact.

Focusing speed

The focusing speed is decent, it’s not a fast lens especially at the other end of the focal length at 150mm.

Sharpness

For the entire review period, I only used this EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens. This lens produced sharp photographs and it is able to retain the sharpness after cropping.

Bokeh

While this EF-M lens may not be as famous as her fellow sisters, the EF L lenses, the bokeh produced by this lens is commendable, pretty good with some creamy smooth bokeh. Let the photograph below reinforce the views that I wrote –

Canon EOS M5 with EF-M 18-150mm @ 150mm, f/3.5-6.3, ISO 640, f/6.3, 1/250s

The Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 is a small, compact and lightweight telephoto zoom lens, suitable for your travel usage.

Here’s a quick recap of the product specifications of the Canon EOS M5 and EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Product specifications

EOS M5

Image sensor: 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor

Imaging processor: DIGIC 7

Focal plane AF: Dual Pixel CMOS AF

Max frame rate: 9.0 fps (AF fixed), 7.0 fps (AF tracking)

Max standard ISO speed: ISO 25,600

Monitor: 3.2-inch tilting touch panel LCD, approx. 1.62 million dots

Movie: Full HD 60 fps

Connectivity: Wi-Fi / NFC / Bluetooth

EVF: Approx. 2.36 million dots

Dimensions: Approx. 115.6 x 89.2 x 60.6mm

Weight: Approx. 427g

EF-M18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Focal length: 18-150mm

Maximum aperture: f/3.5 – 6.3

Minimum focusing distance: 0.25m (at 18mm), 0.45m (at 150mm)

Maximum magnification: 0.31x

Filter size: 55mm

Aperture blades: 7

Length: 86.5mm

Weight: Approx. 300g

Pricing and Availability

The EOS M5 is now available at all Canon authorised dealers at the following recommended retail prices.

Models SRP (incl GST)
EOS M5 kit (EF M15-45mm) $1,669
EOS M5 Body $1,499

The Canon EOS M5 camera, on my own personal basis, with views and opinions collected during the camera review period, it got a pretty good score and endorsement from me.

The built-in EVF gives it extra marks because I am schooled in the film SLR camera and I still prefer the EVF. With the feel, touch and capability of a DSLR, along with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF and intuitive Touch & Drag AF, it makes the Canon EOS M5 a very enjoyable camera to use since I am mainly a Canon DSLR useer.

This lightweight and compact Canon EOS M5 is packed with some pretty good capabilities and functionalities from the EOS DSLR family. An ideal camera for travel for those who do not wish to bring their DSLR out.

Would I take the Canon EOS M5 as my side/spare camera in my current Canon DSLR cameras setup?

Yes, if I have the extra budget on my side as I need to channel my funds to other L lenses purchases/upgrades first.

No, because I am waiting for Canon to release a full frame EOS M camera with a built-in EVF (In my personal humble opinion, I think they would release a full frame EOS M, probably in 2018, maybe Q1? That’s my wild guess!)

If you are looking for a mirrorless camera, do check out the Canon EOS M5, visit Canon Singapore Customer Care Centre at Galaxis, have a touch and feel of the Canon EOS M5.

* I would like to thank Canon Singapore and Ogilvy Public Relations for the opportunity to review the Canon EOS M5 *


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