Our Canon EOS M3 review: a powerhouse with shortcomings

EOS M3
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The Canon EOS M3 is the company’s third mirrorless camera. And it is Canon’s first serious mirrorless camera, with many features and functions that will appeal to the enthusiasts. So, how does the EOS M3 perform and is it right for you?

It seems Canon listened to their customers while developing the EOS M3. Unlike the original EOS M, the M3 gained additional controls, a large grip, and has a 3-inch touchscreen that tilts up (180 degrees) and down (45 degrees). The EOS M3 features a new 24MP APS-C sensor, 49-points Hybrid CMOS III AF system, DIGIC 6 processor, Full 1080p HD video at 24/25/30 fps, ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600), a two-level axis, WiFi and NFC connectivity, 4.2 fps, a built-in flash, 14 bit RAW, and a flash hot-shoe that can be used to mount an EVF. The EOS M3 is a powerhouse with shortcomings. Bear with me for the review after the break. I also start We Shoot EOS M, a forum dedicated to all EOS M shooters, and available to other Canon shooters too.

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Canon Powershot G3 X review (Camera Labs)

Powershot G3 X
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Camera Labs felt the pulse of Canon’s Powershot G3 X, the company’s first compact camera with a big sensor (1″) and a big zoom (25x). The  PowerShot G3 X sells for $999, and reviews aren’t all positive so far. The main winning point of the G3 X is the zoom range.

With a fixed lens model like the Canon G3X, the zoom range is all important and Canon is the clear winner here with a 25x optical zoom with an equivalent range of 25-600mm. The Lumix FZ1000 has a 16x / 25-400mm range, while Sony’s RX10 (Mark I and II) has an 8.3x / 24-200mm range. So the Canon G3X outguns them both, reaching three times longer than the Sony and half as far again as the Lumix. There’s one caveat here though and that’s where video is concerned. The Lumix FZ1000’s 4K UHD video mode takes a crop from the sensor which reduces the field of view, effectively zooming you in a little further. Fully zoomed in in 4K mode the field of view on the FZ1000 almost matches that of the G3X at its 600mm maximum telephoto in 1080p video modes. Head over to Camera Labs for the review.

The Canon Powershot G3 X is shipping at $999 in the USA: Adorama | B&H Photo | Amazon.

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PowerShot G3 X price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA.

Specs:

  • 20.2 MP 1″ High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 6 Image Processor
  • 25x Optical Zoom f/2.8-5.6 IS Lens
  • 24-600mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 3.2″ 1.62M-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • High-Speed AF with 31 Focus Points
  • Full HD Video at 60p; HDMI Output
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
  • ISO 12,800 & 5.9 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Control Ring, Wheel, and Physical Dials

Canon Powershot G3 X reviews and sample pics (Techradar, Luminous Landscape, DPReview, Amateur Photographer)

Powershot G3 X
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Canon’s new large, 1″ sensor and 25x zoom (24-600mm equivalent) compact camera, the Canon PowerShot G3 X ($999), aimed at enthusiast photographers, gets more reviews.

Shooting with the Canon PowerShot G3 X (and real world sample pics) at DPReview

Canon Powershot G3 X review at TechRadar (scores 4/5):

The G3 X delivers SLR-like zoom capabilities in a compact package thanks to its excellent lens and image stabilisation, only falling down when faced with fast-moving subjects. It’s not a beautiful camera, but it’s well built and easy to handle.

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Adorama | B&H Photo | Amazon

Canon Powershot G3 X sample pictures and full review at Amateur Photographer:

[…] the real problem for the G3 X is the competition, in the shape of the incredibly accomplished Panasonic FZ1000 and Sony RX10. Both offer built-in viewfinders and superior ergonomics, meaning that the G3 X’s longer lens becomes its main selling point in comparison. It falls short in supporting the typical photographic opportunities afforded by that extra zoom, with poor continuous shooting behaviour and – again – no viewfinder. Granted, it’s smaller than either of those cameras, but not to a degree that really matters in practical terms.

Canon Powershot G3 X review at Luminous Landscape:

In the final analysis, I believe that Canon are “hiding their light under a bushel“, as the old British saying has it. For someone looking for pro-level image quality in a moderately sized camera with a reach out to 600mm equivalence, nothing can touch the G3X. If long reach isn’t needed then the Sony RX10II is likely a better choice, and if lower price is required then the FZ1000 will be found to be significantly less expensive.

The Canon Powershot G3 X, is shipping at $999: Adorama | B&H Photo | Amazon.  Specs:

  • 20.2 MP 1″ High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 6 Image Processor
  • 25x Optical Zoom f/2.8-5.6 IS Lens
  • 24-600mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 3.2″ 1.62M-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • High-Speed AF with 31 Focus Points
  • Full HD Video at 60p; HDMI Output
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
  • ISO 12,800 & 5.9 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Control Ring, Wheel, and Physical Dials

Canon EOS 5Ds R review (jaw-dropping image quality, Photography Blog)

eos 5ds

Photography Blog posted their full review of Canon ‘s new, 50MP EOS 5Ds R. The “R” version of the 5Ds is the model featuring an optical low pass cancellation filter. From the conclusion:

The Canon EOS 5DS R combines the proven design of the popular 5D Mark III with jaw-dropping image quality from the new 50.6 megapixel sensor. Slow continuous shooting speeds and a limited ISO range by modern standards means that the 5DS R certainly isn’t suited to every photographic situation, with the venerable 5D Mark III and the EOS 7D Mk II being better all-rounders, while the huge file sizes and sheer level of detail demand that you use the best post-processing setup and the latest “L-series” lenses to do justice to the camera. The sheer level of detail that can obtained from the 5DS R and a high-quality lens like the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM is difficult to ignore once you’ve experienced it, though, so if you can commit both financially and in terms of time to the Canon EOS 5DS R, we’d whole-heartedly recommend it. Read the review at Photography Blog.

Forget all the DxOMark discussion, and don’t be worried by the EOS 5Ds/5Ds R scores, since they mean very little at the end of the day. The image quality of the 5Ds and 5Ds R beats anything else out there.

5ds

Canon EOS 5DS: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA | Canon EOS 5DS R: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Canon EOS 5Ds and 5Ds R promo video:

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Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens DxOMarked

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DxOMark published their test results for the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens. From the conclusion:

As the replacement for the original model, Canon have improved just about everything they can from operation through to optical quality. However it’s the performance at the long-end that’s crucial and while Canon have made advances most of the gains are in the outer field where users of Canon’s crop bodies aren’t so likely to benefit. Sure the chromatic aberration is lower and sharpness at the edges is better than the old model but users aren’t going to see any improvement in the center.

The new model is also up against a capable and more accessibly priced rival in the form of the Tamron 150-600mm though it’s larger still and somewhat disappointing at 600mm. For all that, the Canon is an attractive option and a strong choice for the long term. Read DxOMark’s review.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

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