Canon is one of the last major camera manufacturers to release a compact system camera despite its long history. So was it worth the wait? Well, if you're familiar with Canon S-series compacts, you'll certainly find the EOS M looks reassuringly familiar.

The Canon EOS M is a compact camera with interchangeable lens with a CMOS sensor APS-C 18 MP and DIGIC 5 image processor 14-bit. The camera is equipped with the nuvo Ybrid AF system for a continuous auto focus for both video and photos to (1080p Full HD video with stereo audio and Video Snapshot...

CMOS sensor APS-C 18 MP; touch display 7.7 cm and 1.04 million points, Scene Intelligent Auto, Creative Filter; Video Snapshot, Full HD 1080p, 14-bit DIGIC 5; Hybrid AF System for photos and videos; sensitivity, ISO 100-12, 800, expandable to ISO 25, 600, Basic Functions

Price

Being a long time Canon user I bought this second hand in excellent condition for a ridiculously good price ($[*] Australian including both lenses and flash) as a 'walk about' digital camera with good technical image quality (my 5D Mk II and lenses are a bit over the top at times).

Consistent Output; Durable; Easily Interchangeable; Lightweight; Strong Construction

No Electronic Viewfinder; Slow Focus; Touchscreen Sensitivity

Canon has left it late in the day to release its first compact system camera: the EOS M. While other manufacturers have had a few years' head start, Canon has had the advantage of watching its competitors and the reactions of customers.

The EOS M is Canon's long-awaited entry into the mirror-less compact system camera market. Announced in July 2012 it employs an 18 Megapixel APS-C sensor and a new EF-M lens mount with a 1.6x field-reduction factor.

Small lightweight simple body; 3 inch 1040k bright 3:2 touch-screen; 18 Megapixel APS-C sensor; Compatible with EF & EFS lenses using adapter; 1080p movies at 24; 25 or 30p; External microphone socket

Only 2 native EF-M lenses at launch; Sluggish AF performance; No electronic viewfinder option; Record button dead in non-movie modes; No built-in stabilisation

The EOS M, announced today, has been anticipated ever since the company announced the PowerShot G1X in January. Interestingly, the new camera is totally unlike the G1X, except in packing a large sensor into a compact camera body.

Canon's first CSC has arrived in the shape of the EOS M. Has the wait been worth it? We find out in the What Digital Camera Canon EOS M review

Touchscreen interface; image quality; top-end finish

AF and burst shooting could be faster; no Wi-Fi; limited lens support at this time

This is as close as you're going to get to a dSLR without actually buying one. The real highlight is the touch interface which makes it easy to fix the settings you need. Performance was good overall, although a little muted on an overcast day, and although the choice of native lenses remains fairly...

Large sensor; Great touch-driven interface; Excellent build quality; Price

Narrow selection of native lenses so far; Muted tones on overcast day

Camera is small, lightweight, and compact. Images are equally as sharp as the Rebel, and colors are brilliant. It's a great Leica style camera for carrying on hikes, in the city, or on holiday. I do not like the slow focus, and shooting at night requires the purchase of an external flash.

Everyone and their uncle these days seems to want a DSLR. However, these are bulky, expensive, and overwhelming for most new users. But the recent slew of mirrorless cameras with the APS-C sensor is all set to change that.

Light weight; Brilliant colour reproduction; Quick to focus (with firmware update); Responsive touch screen; Easy to use; Loads of imaging options; In-body peripheral correction; Stereo speaker and external mic output; Well-built 18-55mm STM lens; EF lens adaptor that lets you load any lens on the...

Adaptor is expensive; No EVF; No Flash; Not too many lens options; No inbuilt GPS support