Canon EOS M5 may be the company's first competitive mirrorless camera

With the EOS M5, Canon takes a step toward offering a mirrorless model that might finally compete with its entry-level dSLRs as well as other interchangeable-lens competitors. The camera has the specs and the features to surpass the EOS Rebel T6s/760D, at roughly the same price. I can't help but wonder if it's a tacit acknowledgement that while entry-level dSLRs are still selling, the popular ones are around $600 or less, so it doesn't matter anymore to Canon if they cut into the next price tier up.

Canon plans to ship the body and a kit with the EF-M 15-45mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM lens in November for $980 and $1,100, respectively. I don't have non-US pricing for anything yet, but those directly convert to roughly £740/AU$1,310 and £830/AU$1,470. A kit with the EF-M 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM lens for $1,480 (£1,120, AU$1,980) will follow in December; you'll be able to buy the 18-150mm lens for $500 (£378, AU$670).

Canon's new EOS M5 mirrorless looks more like a dSLR

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That new EF-M 18-150mm lens is a compact substitute for the older 18-135mm IS STM, with a longer maximum focal length of 240mm-equivalent, intended as a general-purpose option for the single-lens customer.

What's notable

• The sensor. One of the biggest complaints about Canon's previous mirrorless models (like the M3) has been sluggish performance. Canon incorporates its Dual Pixel CMOS into the M5, the same sensor that's in the 80D, which should provide much better autofocus speed and tracking performance than the hybrid CMOS in the M3 and T6s/760D. It also facilitates the M5's finally competitive continuous-shooting rating, 7fps with autofocus and autoexposure, and Canon claims its image quality will match or surpass that of the 80D.
• Image stabilization. With the M5, Canon joins the club of mirrorless manufacturers offering hybrid (optical plus sensor shift) stabilization, with 5-axis compensation.
• Design. It has a far more dSLR-like appearance. This is the first Canon mirrorless to incorporate a built-in electronic viewfinder and a real grip. The touchscreen display tilts down for selfies.
• Features. Canon picks up Olympus' formerly unique capability of using the back LCD as a touchpad when you use the viewfinder to select autofocus areas. Like some of Nikon's cameras, it also adds Bluetooth for maintaining a persistent low-energy connection between the camera and your phone, in order to quickly wake Wi-Fi for remote shooting and file transfers.

My take

It's nice to see Canon finally taking mirrorless seriously and the M5 looks like the company's first real contender in that market.

But it still has to face the similarly priced Sony A6300, which has several advantages, including faster continuous shooting with a sophisticated autofocus system, the ability to shoot 4K video, better battery life, a more compact body and support for a larger selection of lenses without requiring an adapter. However, Canon's hybrid optical stabilization system does get a win over the A6300; Sony stuck with optical-only for that camera.

Comparative specs