The EOS M5 finally brings DSLR-level performance to Canon's mirrorless series.

Ergonomic design; Enthusiast-friendly control layout; Fast Dual Pixel autofocus; Good still image quality; Nice wireless connectivity options

No 4K video; Lens lineup lacks enthusiast options; EIS no substitute for sensor-shift stabilization

Canon launched the EOS M5 just a few days before 2016's Photokina, the massive bi-annual photography show in Cologne, Germany. It was a clear sign that the company was starting to take its mirrorless proposition a little more seriously.

Nice OLED eye viewfinder; Varied connectivity options; Useful touchscreen

No 4K video recording; Pricey

It’s great to see Canon finally taking CSCs seriously, and coming up with something that competes with big-hitting rivals from Fuji, Olympus and Panasonic. This is a camera that’s more than capable of taking some very nice images, and it’s also enjoyable to use. If you’re already a Canon user, or perhaps have been in the past and are looking to downsize, it’s very tempting. Fast-moving wildlife, sports or action photography might not be its strength, but it’s still a great option if you like to photograph stationary subjects. On the other hand, if you’re not already invested in Canon, it’s hard to recommend over more established CSCs - especially at the M5’s launch price. There’s nothing truly “special” about this camera, and while it’s a good all-rounder, it could do with being a couple of hundred pounds cheaper. Hopefully that’ll be the case in a few months’ time. Buy the EOS M5 here from Cannon

Lots of quick access dials and buttons; Bright and clear viewfinder; Tilting touch-sensitive screen;

M-mount lens range limited; Screen not fully articulated; Pricey;

Great for the money, do not think you can get more today. However, I have not had time to test it with some EF-M loopholes than just the EF-S and a couple of older manual. Larger than its predecessor. Quick focus both manually and automatically. ISO useful way over 1600 which was my previous limit.

Canon's latest compact system camera is perhaps the first time the company has launched a CSC for a "serious" audience. The EOS M5 features a 24.2 megapixel, APS-C sized sensor, which is joined by a Digic 7 processor. It is, in essence, a miniature version of the Canon EOS 80D.

I have an M1, M3, 6D, and 60D. I never had a problem with quality of the photos from the M series (I have a 2 X 3 foot very clear enlargement from the M1 on the living room wall), but the camera was slow. I hesitated purchasing the M5 because I already had the M3, which also has 24 megapixels.

The EOS M5 has plenty going for it. Shooting smooth, properly focused video is incredibly easy, and the new 24MP sensor has made great strides in overall image quality. Dual Pixel autofocus makes for faster, more precise focusing and really makes the M5 shine with adapted lenses.

Prefect compliment to my full frame DSLR. Precisely what I was looking for, Prmiarily a Nikon shooter but this Canon is quite good though I need some time to get used to the differences in the menu structure vs. Nikon.. Well made and nice fit in hand. Feels like a mini DSLR.

very good image quality; fast focusing for mirror less; great ergonomics in a small package

a bit pricey and could use more fast native lenses in lineup; Battery life could be better but I understand, they were looking to keep the weight down so a minor compromise needed in battery capacity

Although Canon launched its first mirrorless camera, the EOS M, back in 2012, the company has never quite seemed to take the idea seriously until now. The original EOS M was over simplistic and painfully slow at focusing, and while last year's EOS M3 was much improved, it was hamstrung by the lack...

+ Superb control layout and handling for such a small camera; + Excellent image quality in both JPEG and raw; + Works extremely well with a wide range of EF-mount SLR lenses; + Easy-to-use wireless communication using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Relatively small and over-contrasty electronic viewfinder; Shutter is noisier than most mirrorless rivals; Price is very high