Update: Adorama and Amazon also discounted the Canon EOS M to $299 with the 22mm and $349 with the 18-55mm. This could definitely mean that the next Canon M system camera is on the way.

B&H has some real Canon EOS M steals:

• Canon EOS M with EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens for ridiculous $299 (click here), also available in white for the same price
• Canon EOS M with EF-M 18-55mm IS STM lens for just $349 (click here)

These are never seen price drops for the EOS M kits. And now that the EOS M got the long awaited firmware update that solved all the Auto-Focus issues, these kits are even more interesting. Click here to see how much the new firmware improves AF performance.

Just $299 for the EOS M with the EF-M 22mm is a great bargain. This may the best time to get one. Hurry up since they have limited supply, and these deals won’t last long. However, they expire July 9.

Canon EOS M specs:

• 18.0 MP CMOS (APS-C) Sensor
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor
• Full HD 1080p Movie with Focus Tracking
• 3.0″ Touch Screen LCD with 1040K-dots
• Touch AF and Multi-touch Operation
• Hybrid CMOS Auto-focus for Photo & Video
• Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S Lenses
• ISO 100-12800, Expandable to 25600 (H)
• Canon’s First Mirrorless Camera

Update: I just installed the new firmware: It Works GREAT!! :-)

The long awaited firmware update (v. 2.0.2) for the Canon EOS M is available for download.

Got to “Support and Drivers”, then choose your operating system and then you can download the firmware.

Details of changes:

Firmware Version 2.0.2 incorporates the following fixes and improvements.

1. Improves focusing speed in One-Shot AF mode.

2. Now supports EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. *When placing the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM without conducting the firmware update, although rare, at times the EOS M will not function.

3. Corrects errors in the Simplified Chinese, Hungarian, Traditional Chinese and Korean language menus.

Firmware Version 2.0.2 is for cameras with firmware Version 1.0.9 or earlier. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 2.0.2, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

If you wish to update your camera’s firmware, please read this page carefully before using the download service.

Preparations for a firmware update:

Windows: After the downloaded compressed file (.zip file) is extracted, a firmware folder is created. *Extracting the downloaded file: Right-click the zip file, and then select Extract All to extract the file.

The extracted folder contains the firmware (file name: EOSM1202.FIR , file size: 17,743,884 bytes) and instructions on the firmware update procedures (a PDF file in five languages: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese).

Before starting the firmware update operations, please confirm the contents of the download, and carefully read through the firmware update procedures.

Thanks to Daero Lee (YouTube) we have some videos showing how the upcoming firmware update for the Canon EOS M performs with the new EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens.If I got it right, a pre-production model of the 11-22mm was used. For the time being, the EF-M 11-22mm IS STM lens can be pre-ordered at Amazon Germany and at DigitalRev.

The firmware update for the EOS M seems to hold what it promises: a definitely faster auto-focus. The AF performance was the EOS M’s biggest issue, and that’s a pity, since the EOS M is a wonderful little camera with an amazing image quality. If the firmware update delivers a better AF (and it looks as if it will do), then the EOS M could have a big comeback, especially if you consider that the price is now much lower than when the EOS M was introduced.

Canon EOS M price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

The first video shows Touch AF performance.

More EOS M firmware 2.0.2 test videos by Canon Korea, five of them. You can use Google translation but the videos will not show up. The linked page appears to be an introduction to the bells and whistles of the upcoming firmware update for the Canon EOS M. There are also instructions for the download of the firmware, but you have to be registered at Canon Korea :-)

[via chzycamera.com]

Canon EOS M & EF-M 22mm f/2 STMB&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA