EOS M...poor man's RX1?

David_Manning

David_Manning

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My favorite focal length for street/compact shooting is 35mm. My favorite compact camera...Contax T3.

I was saving up for the Ricoh GR because a) APS-C sensor, and b) compact carry. It seems to fight above it's weight.

Well...I just pulled the trigger on Amazon.com's deal for a Canon EOS M plus 22mm f2 lens (35mm equivalent) for $299.

My question to consider...it's almost identical in size to a Sony RX1, with the same field of view (my favorite), and with the 22mm lens, is a bit thinner (compare the two over at CameraSize. So, can it be a poor man's RX1 compact shooter?

Advantage--RX1: Obvious, FF sensor, incredible low-light capability, truly stellar f2 lens
Disadvantage: fixed-lens, $2800 price

Advantage--EOS M: capable APS-C sensor, good low-light performance, ability to use other lenses via adapters, and only $299 with very well-reviewed f2 lens!
Disadvantage: original firmware is sloooow to focus (new 2.0.2 firmware is much faster, it seems)

So, hoping to stir commentary.

Did I mention...APS-C 35mm fov in your (coat) pocket for $299?!
 
The one thing I couldn't wrap my head around was a 28mm fixed lens on the GR...lots of my Sony RX100 shots are zoomed in slightly. That gave me pause about the GR.

I have high hopes about the usability of the EOS M...
 
At one point I used a 35mm C-Biogon on my EOS-M. That made it roughly equivalent to the RX1 lens - 56mm f2.8 Biogon. Yes, it was one stop slower, you lose AF and the sensor is "just" APS-C. But you gain a smaller lens which is still a Zeiss, the balance in the hand is better (to me) than the RX1, you get Canon colours (if you're a fan like me), and the combo cost "just" half the price of the RX1 (less if you buy the lens used or already have one).

Colours were really nice and smooth. Photos were nice and sharp... IF i manage to get them in focus. That's one of the problems with using the EOS-M with manual lenses: no viewfinder, no focus peaking, <del>no screen magnification aid</del> means manual focusing is very much dependent on how good your eye is.

Then again, the 22mm kit lens is very, very nice. Sharp with a smooth tonality. So there was little need for the C-Biogon. In fact, I now frequently use the 22mm for product shots. The downside is it's a 22mm pretending to be a 35mm, so field curvature is still like a 22mm (and not as good as the Zeiss 21mm).

EDIT: there is a screen magnification of 1x, 5x, 10x. It's not as convenient to use as that in the Ricoh GXR, though.
 
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So, my EOS M showed up one day early...Christmas in July :)

9323012646_e315b83463_b.jpg
 
As I am primarily a film user, I needed something that gave great image IQ, auto focus, small size and great visibility in bright sunshine with the LCD. Check, check, check, check. And the touch screen rocks. Now where is my M3 I have to go out and do my thing?
 
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