Any experience with Canon EOS M5?

[Tronhard]

I am looking at a more compact, lighter kit as a walk-around camera for general photography rather than the full-size DSLRs I currently have. I was wondering if anyone out there has an EOS M5 and what their impressions are with it. NOTE: please don't try to persuade me to go to other brands, excellent as they may be. I just want to stick with Canon as I can use the EF lenses I already have (I have an adaptor), and I am used to the controls and menus.

I am particularly interested in how the LCD behaves with its interesting range of motion, and if anyone has the 18-150mm lens, what their results are like.

[dje]

Hi Trev

I can't comment on the M5 but just thought I should mention that I read this morning that an M6 is about to be released.

Dave

[Tronhard]

Hi Dave:

Thanks for the advisory. Yes, I know about the M6 - in striking lack of logic it is a downgrade compared to the M5, requiring, for example an add-on viewfinder. Canon's model numbering system is highly confusing to me and others. We have been discussion the issue on the Canon forum and are confounded by the lack of consistency and future-proofing in their model identification.

[Tronhard]

Well before I let this thread die a natural death due to lack of response, I shall give my own feedback on what I have learned.

The EOS M-5 is the best MIL camera brought out by Canon so far. In may aspects it has similarities to the Canon EOS 80D, but there are some issues that hold me back to wait for the next version.

LENSES: Half the point of the MILC cameras is the compact nature of bodies allowed by the loss of the pentaprism. However the range of EF-M lenses is very limited and frankly not inspiring, so one is left to fall back on an adaptor and the native EF and EF-S lenses, which are going to add a lot of weight and bulk to the camera, undermining the benefits I want.

VIDEO: I am not a video officianado, but I can see this version becoming obsolescent pretty quickly as it lacks both 4K and a headphone jack. 4K is fast becoming the resolution of choice in videography, and this camera should have that considering it is so new. I have tried recording video on DSLRs and not having a headphone jack is a royal pain...

LCD Screen: In its way this screen is excellent, both in terms of display and the touch control it offers over camera functions. Then Canon made it swing DOWNWARDS, severely limiting its usefulness. You can't mount the camera on a tripod and see the screen at the same time. I hope the next version has the swing/rotate screen one sees on many of their Canon DSLRs.

FLASH: The in flash unit is fairly weak, but there is a flash hotshoe that takes Canon-compatible flashes. However the on-board flash is not capable of firing other Canon flashes in slave mode, which somewhat limits creative options.

SO... in most respects Canon have created their best MILC body yet, but it has sufficient shortcomings for my purposes for me to hold back and wait for the MkII or whatever they call it!