Event Coverage

Canon advances EOS M line-up with the new EOS M3

By Marcus Wong - 6 Feb 2015

Canon advances EOS M line-up with the new EOS M3

The EOS M3 is available in white and black.

It’s been just over a year since the launch of the EOS M2, and today, Canon has taken the wraps off the EOS M3, which comes with a new 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, the latest Digic 6 image processor, and an ISO range of 100 - 12,800 (expandable to 25,600).

Looks-wise, it’s largely similar to the EOS M2, but gains a handgrip in the front, and the inclusion of a pop-up flash that rises up a fair bit and should come in handy in a pinch. Autofocus performance seems to be improved from the previous generation, and that should be largely due to the fact that it uses Canon’s latest Hybrid CMOS AF III system. Canon says it’s approximately 6.1x faster than the original EOS M, so that perhaps addresses some of the complaints with the original system.

The EOS M3 gains a pop-up flash that should come in handy.

Canon is answering some user requests with the EOS M3.

Also new is the inclusion of a tilting touchscreen LCD that flips up by 180 degrees for selfies or low angle shots, and 45 degrees downwards for high-angle photography. We didn’t quite see the electronic viewfinder (EVF-DC1) mentioned in the presentation, but the EOS M3 now supports an EVF so you’re not limited to just using the Live View LCD.

A tilting LCD with touch is definitely a welcome addition.

We do like that Canon has finally added a built-in flash with the EOS M3. With a camera this small and portable, you’re unlikely to want to pack a Speedlite (which will be larger than the camera itself) along, so having a flash unit on-board will definitely come in handy when you’re stuck with horrible light. That said, the EOS M3 still retains a hot-shoe, leaving you with the option of throwing on a Speedlite, Pocketwizard, or Speedlite transmitter for even more flash control options.

The Canon Connect Station acts like an entertainment hub, but specifically for images and videos.

Wi-Fi capabilities are included, allowing you to connect to your favorite smart device for image transfer, or to send an image to a smart printer for wireless printing. The Canon Connect Station CS100 was on display here, with a demonstration of how images could be sent to a connected television.

 The PowerShot SX410 IS next to the EOS M3 (without lens mounted)

The other product that caught our interest was the tiny PowerShot SX410 IS. Placed next to the EOS M3, it was just about the same size but a little thicker, and felt extremely lightweight when we picked it up. Yet, the camera boasts a focal length of 24 - 960mm (35mm equivalent) with the option of enabling Canon’s ZoomPlus technology to take it even further. It houses a 20-megapixel 1/ 2.3”-type CCD sensor, and weighs just 325g, while having an ISO range of 100 - 1,600.

Pricing and availability information has yet to be announced, but we'll be sure to update you when we get further word from Canon.

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