Canon EOS M5 Review from Dustin

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Hi everyone. I recently did a trip to Arizona where I packed only two EOS M5 bodies along with a handful of lenses, including the 18-150 STM, 22mm STM, 55-200 STM, Rokinon 12mm f/2, and EF 50mm f/1.8 STM + adapter (pretty much the kinds of lenses most people will use with the system). I got a lot of great pictures, used the cameras in a lot of different environments, and came back with some conclusions.

Text Review: http://bit.ly/EOSM5Review
Video Field Review: http://bit.ly/M5FieldReview
Overview and Specs Examination: http://bit.ly/EOSM5DLA
Travel Article and Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/picAZDLA

My review of the 18-150 STM will be coming in about a week. It's in the edit process now.

 

[AvTvM]

Thanks, Dustin! 8)

Unfortunately the M5 still has a lot of hard to accept flaws for a mirrorless camera with a "premium" price tag.

Speaking of nasty flaws: "Auto ISO" ... seems to be nerfed down on the M5 from recent Canon standards to the annoyingly limited mode seen in many generations of Canon mirrorslappers. Dpreview mentions this in their review. Did you also notice this?

Another major shortcoming to me is the inability to remote control camera and settings (for stills) via WiFi or tethered via USB cable. Crippled compared to 80D.

Generally - do you have the impression of Powershot- or EOS-type firmware?

 

[AlanF]

Hi everyone. I recently did a trip to Arizona where I packed only two EOS M5 bodies along with a handful of lenses, including the 18-150 STM, 22mm STM, 55-200 STM, Rokinon 12mm f/2, and EF 50mm f/1.8 STM + adapter (pretty much the kinds of lenses most people will use with the system). I got a lot of great pictures, used the cameras in a lot of different environments, and came back with some conclusions.

Text Review: http://bit.ly/EOSM5Review
Video Field Review: http://bit.ly/M5FieldReview
Overview and Specs Examination: http://bit.ly/EOSM5DLA
Travel Article and Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/picAZDLA

My review of the 18-150 STM will be coming in about a week. It's in the edit process now.

Tell us here what you shot and what you think. I have borrowed this afternoon a Samyang 8mm fisheye and got some fun shots. I think I'll buy it.

 

[slclick]

Dustin,

Thank you for another very good review.Too bad about the 40 pancake being so slow with the adapter. I would most likely use EF lenses primarily and only the EF-M 22 natively. Other than that and the diopter not as easy to change, I am impressed and am inching a bit closer to this over an 80D as my 2nd body to the 5D3.

Thanks again.

 

[Bennymiata]

I love my M5, and I find it really easy to remote control it through Bluetooth on my Samsung tablet.

One thing I don't like is the folder settings.
I like to tell the camera when to start a new folder and not have it start a new folder when IT wants to.
Otherwise I find the M5 a lot of fun to use, and the photos are really good too. In fact, I find that I can push shadows harder than photos taken with my 5d3.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Thanks, Dustin! 8)

Unfortunately the M5 still has a lot of hard to accept flaws for a mirrorless camera with a "premium" price tag.

Speaking of nasty flaws: "Auto ISO" ... seems to be nerfed down on the M5 from recent Canon standards to the annoyingly limited mode seen in many generations of Canon mirrorslappers. Dpreview mentions this in their review. Did you also notice this?

Another major shortcoming to me is the inability to remote control camera and settings (for stills) via WiFi or tethered via USB cable. Crippled compared to 80D.

Generally - do you have the impression of Powershot- or EOS-type firmware?

I think DP Review overlooked a setting where you can change AUTO ISO all the way up to max ISO setting (which I did and used).

The menu is still more limited in options compared to DSLRs, but it is designed pretty similar to the menu on the 80D or even 5DIV.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I love my M5, and I find it really easy to remote control it through Bluetooth on my Samsung tablet.

One thing I don't like is the folder settings.
I like to tell the camera when to start a new folder and not have it start a new folder when IT wants to.
Otherwise I find the M5 a lot of fun to use, and the photos are really good too. In fact, I find that I can push shadows harder than photos taken with my 5d3.

That's a good point. I too dislike it breaking the folders down (previous M's have done the same). Also interesting about the shadows. I've been primarily using the 5D IV, and I'm finding it limiting by comparison That shows how much progress Canon made in this area between the 5D3 and 5D IV.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Dustin,

Thank you for another very good review.Too bad about the 40 pancake being so slow with the adapter. I would most likely use EF lenses primarily am only the EF-M 22 natively. Other than that and the diopter not as easy to change, I am impressed and am inching a bit closer to this over an 80D as my 2nd body to the 5D3.

Thanks again.

The shorty forty really surprised me, as it has worked so well in the past with older M cameras. But, like I said, I put it on other bodies with DPAF and found the same to be true. I don't use it often (obviously), and had never noticed it before.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Hi everyone. I recently did a trip to Arizona where I packed only two EOS M5 bodies along with a handful of lenses, including the 18-150 STM, 22mm STM, 55-200 STM, Rokinon 12mm f/2, and EF 50mm f/1.8 STM + adapter (pretty much the kinds of lenses most people will use with the system). I got a lot of great pictures, used the cameras in a lot of different environments, and came back with some conclusions.

Text Review: http://bit.ly/EOSM5Review
Video Field Review: http://bit.ly/M5FieldReview
Overview and Specs Examination: http://bit.ly/EOSM5DLA
Travel Article and Image Gallery: http://bit.ly/picAZDLA

My review of the 18-150 STM will be coming in about a week. It's in the edit process now.

Tell us here what you shot and what you think. I have borrowed this afternoon a Samyang 8mm fisheye and got some fun shots. I think I'll buy it.

I'm not quite sure what you are asking me to do here. As far as what I shot: landscapes, portraits, some animals and fish (aquarium), events, family related things... A little bit of everything, and for the most part it handled everything fine. It still doesn't track nearly as well as PDAF in Canon's decent to good cameras.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Here are few of the images I've shared to social media from the M5:

With the Rokinon 12mm f/2 (one of my favorite mirrorless lenses):

A Very Different Winter (Canon EOS M5) by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Saguaro - King of Silhouettes by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

With the 18-150 STM lens:

Picturing Arizona by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Morning in the McDowells by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Like a Statue by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Cholla Bones by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Painting the West by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

Awaken to Wonder by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr
(these last two were in Flickr's Explore and have been very, very popular)

With the EF 22mm f/2

A Celebration of Life by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

 

[JoeWhitnallPhotography]

Great Review

 

[slclick]

Great Review

and examples!

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Great Review

and examples!

Thanks. Obviously a little bit of "cherry-picking" in what I share, but the camera is very capable.

 

[Bennymiata]

Gorgeous shots!

All the reviews say the M5 is expensive, but when you use it and see images like those above, I think the M5 is reasonably priced.

 

[AvTvM]

Gorgeous shots!

All the reviews say the M5 is expensive, but when you use it and see images like those above, I think the M5 is reasonably priced.

I don't see it that way. I think Canon significantly overcharges for M5. 80D is sold for lower price, despite way higher manufacturing cost - more parts, more difficult assembly, adjustment, quality control, more after-sales warranty repairs, etc. - and has still better AF and identical IQ compared to M5.

 

[slclick]

Gorgeous shots!

All the reviews say the M5 is expensive, but when you use it and see images like those above, I think the M5 is reasonably priced.

I don't see it that way. I think Canon significantly overcharges for M5. 80D is sold for lower price, despite way higher manufacturing cost - more parts, more difficult assembly, adjustment, quality control, more after-sales warranty repairs, etc. - and has still better AF and identical IQ compared to M5.

http://tinyurl.com/jn4u94u

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Gorgeous shots!

All the reviews say the M5 is expensive, but when you use it and see images like those above, I think the M5 is reasonably priced.

I don't see it that way. I think Canon significantly overcharges for M5. 80D is sold for lower price, despite way higher manufacturing cost - more parts, more difficult assembly, adjustment, quality control, more after-sales warranty repairs, etc. - and has still better AF and identical IQ compared to M5.

That point is valid, although the sensors are not identical. They have a different performance in low light, for example, and the M5 has a higher native ISO range as a result. A little less pattern noise.

Your point about AF is valid, though. I note in the written review that the M5 inherits the DPAF from the 80D, but not its rather excellent PDAF. PDAF tracking is still much better than DPAF tracking.

 

[jeanluc]

Dustin

Thanks for the great review.

I also recently got an M5, and am very impressed. It's functionality and ergonomics are great for anyone used to a 5d body, and took very little getting used to.

I also have a 5D4, but have not had a chance to really use it a lot yet. But the M5 compares very well in terms of IQ in most situations with the 5D3 for sure.

I have used the 18-55, 11-22 and 50-200 M lenses; am pretty happy with them.

I was wondering about sunstars....none of these really seems to make great ones compared to my FF lenses. I realize there is a big difference in build etc, but was wondering if you or anyone else can comment on this.

I will post a couple of images later today.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Dustin

Thanks for the great review.

I also recently got an M5, and am very impressed. It's functionality and ergonomics are great for anyone used to a 5d body, and took very little getting used to.

I also have a 5D4, but have not had a chance to really use it a lot yet. But the M5 compares very well in terms of IQ in most situations with the 5D3 for sure.

I have used the 18-55, 11-22 and 50-200 M lenses; am pretty happy with them.

I was wondering about sunstars....none of these really seems to make great ones compared to my FF lenses. I realize there is a big difference in build etc, but was wondering if you or anyone else can comment on this.

I will post a couple of images later today.

One thing I have noted is that the single biggest weakness of a number of EF-M lenses is flare resistance. That's also true of the new 18-150mm, which is actually a pretty strong lens in many ways. My review of it comes next week.

 

[Crosswind]

Hey Dustin. Great review - as always!

I also bought the M5 recently and I'm very happy with it (coming from a 6D - and I'm not disappointed).

There's only one negative point about this camera; it is made out of very very cheap plastic and I don't know if that's gonna be a problem in the long run. Even when I carefully grab it, sometimes the grip part "creaks and cracks" a bit (even with smaller lenses on it - like my 24mm 2.8 IS USM you can see in the picture). And the screen also makes some noise when I tilt it down. Even the EOS M10 (which is my backup body for now) is made out of higher quality materials.

That's a bit questionable for a pricetag of over a 1000 bucks. I hope that Canon will do better in this regard with their next high-end EOS M body.

Another minor con is that there is only one card slot, and it shares one place with the battery compartment (that's a bit inconvenient) and that the body is not weather sealed. But otherwise... it's my perfect little travel companion!

The things I like the most about it is especially the excellent image quality at low ISO (better than the 6D), small and lightweight body, great ergonomics, integrated EVF, big and flexible display, quick AF, 9 FPS... and of course that it can take all my EF lenses with the supplied adapter (I do not own a single EF-M lens) and it works perfectly.