Other reviewers have noticed that the image at 1080P is a bit blurry, like it is visible in this review, which is a shame because the rest of the features in the stills department are not bad. I was thinking of buying one to use as a second body for my Canon glass but that poor video quality is an issue to take into serious consideration, so I will have to wait until they solve that issue. As usual thanks for your review.
It seems like the kind of footage that something like a Sony a6300/a6500 and the the M5 can produce is pretty much a night and day difference. It’s too bad; I’d love to see better from Canon.
I'm late to the M5 game, having purchased one of the last ones from B&H for a GREAT price as it's discontinued. But, that made it possible to add the 32mm f/1.4 lens to the 18-150mm kit lens. I was prompted to make the purchase in an attempt to lighten my hiking pack from my Canon R and lenses. Achievement unlocked! I'm sure videographers would find it hopelessly out of date, but with the exception of eye-detect, it works great for photos, and as I enter my 7th decade, I found ascending the hills of the Pacific Northwest this summer WAY more pleasurable. Now that Canon seems to be signaling the end of the M line, I hope that that doesn't mean heavier equipment. I like to leave that in the lowlands.
Hey Dustin great review! I've had the M5 for a nearly 2 weeks and I prefer it over the M3 in every way. It doesn't seem to happen to everybody, but do you lose your customer function settings every time you remove the battery? Also do you like the strong saturation of the EVF? I don't shoot any sports or do any paid work so the M5 is pretty much a perfect camera for me, especially with the 22mm f2 attached. If Canon put a FF sensor in the body and made it a tiny bit bigger, I would honestly love it and buy it straight away!
I have seen the oversaturation issue, and I've had a few times when I lost a setting or two that I had changed. Hopefully those are things that can be fixed via firmware.
Thank you for great review. I follow a few photographers and their tutorials/reviews but yours are much more on the professional side of things, really great to watch and recieve a lot of information. Its a shame some reviewers use to act like weirdos in their videos, here I can see professionalism. Subscribing now
Thank you Dustin, I have watched so many of your Canon videos and lens reviews! You are always very helpful, professional and informative. Canon products are the only ones I purchase so I am always looking for more content and tutorials.
Great review of the M5. Looks like a nice camera. But one big turn-off for me is the lens-mount. I have 5D3 fullframe (EF-lenses), and 80d crop (EF & EF-S lenses). And now a third EF-M mount. Yes, you can use the adaptor, but why don't they make it with the EF-S mount - sensor-lens distance, and therefore not that pocketfriendly i guess - but i don't need a third mount.... The camera with the adaptor is bulky too.... The stills in your review are looking great, but your video is a little too contrasty for my taste. I'm sure, that i could find setting which would suit my taste better - we're all different - luckily enough. Would be a boring world if there wasn't different taste and ideas.
Henrik N. Jensen: the smaller sensor flange distance has quite a bit of advantage in lens design. It makes retrofocusing obsolet in many cases and therefore lenses much smaller. Look at the 22mm f2.0...
I know there are advantages. But they are lost with the adaptor anyway. I have glass for more money than a new family-car :-) :-) - mostly EF-lenses. It will be hard for me to invest in even more glass. And they don't make any real great EF-M lenses yet.
Thanks for your reply Dustin. A good point, that it's possible to adapt more legacy-glass. Maybe even old Nikon and Pentax lenses. I see a market for adaptors :-)
Having used the M5 for about 3 months, I find the camera is best suited for landscape and urban photography. I have the adapter which does allow me to use the EF lenses I have, but, due to the small size of the body, most of the prime lenses are too heavy. The 70-200 f/4 with the adapter works nicely and the other M Series Lenses I have work okay. Right now, I would say just using an APS-C Body makes more sense, until, or if, Canon is able to improve on the M5, therefore, I shoot mainly with my Olympus M1 Mark II with my Pro Lenses when I want to go light. Hopefully, I will stumble upon a replacement for my 5D Mark IV which will cause me to want to rid myself of all the weight I lug around in my landscape shoots. Olympus, so far gets more use, so, perhaps I will settle on a Fullframe Mirrorless in the future.
thank you for your review, sir...I know I am quite late, but I got this camera just recently, second hand for less than 300€. I love it for everything but ai servo and shootings of moving subjects. I use adapted ef/efs lenses, and I get LOTS of misfocused shots whatever shutter speed and aperture are. No complaints in one shot.
2:04 Clouds amaze me. Just thinking of the emmense energy required to suspend those millions of liters of water up there. Great shot of a mind-blowing subject!
Hi Dustin, I love the detail of your videos. How would you compare the 1080 video quality of the m5 to the m50 and m6 ii? I know the bitrate is lower. Do you think the difference in video quality is significant? The reason I’m looking at this old M5 is that it’s tilt down (which I prefer) and has a viewfinder (for shooting video in sunny conditions). Thank you for the assistance sir. Take care.
Im coming from a Canon EOS M3 but im trying to decide between the Canon Eos M5 vs the Canon 80D...Im more of a Stills Photographer that does some Video. Leaning towards the M5 because I love Focus Peaking. Is it the right choice? Can I do light portrait work or events with the M5? I have 2 prime ef lenses I use with the EF adapter.
If you've been using some of these lenses on the M3 then you have a good idea of the balance. The autofocus is vastly improved on the M5. If you want Focus Peaking, then the M5 is a good choice. The 80D is the better event camera, but the M5 works fine, and actually has a bit better high ISO performance.
Great review, as always, Dustin. Just one point: the issue you mentioned with your M3 being slow at taking the 3 shots in HDR mode must be a fault with your camera. I couldn't remember that ever happening with mine, so I tested it just seconds ago. Nope, it went snap, snap, snap in a fraction of a second and then took a few seconds to process the final image. It is equally as fast at snapping the 4 shots in High ISO NR "mode" and Handheld Night Scene mode.
Great review, thanks Dustin! So I decided to pick up the 80D. Believe me I really wanted the M5 for its light weight and size, but in the end I just felt that canon took away too many features compared to the 80d. No headphone jack, fully articulating screen, and limited video compression formats made it a tough sell for video. If I was just shooting stills, I'd go for it. I just started using my crane stabilizer and if I'm wrong please correct me but it seems like the flip out screen of the M5 would get in the way of the stabilizer? With the 80d I had the screen flipped out to the side and it really helped with certain types of footage and camera positions.
You're right. The M5's screen isn't nearly as useful with the Crane. In fact, the eye detector (that switches to the EVF) gets triggered by the one of the motor positions on the Crane and will turn the screen right off sometime. The 80D is definitely a better choice used on the Crane.
Any chance you will redo your ef-m 55-200 review with the M5 body, so you can clarify if the speed issues were only because of the body limitations or if the lens plays a role in that too? Would be much apreciated. Thanks!
I can definitely verify that the lens focuses better, though focus speed still isn't as good as the new 18-150mm, which seems to have a little of the Nano USM behavior of the new 18-135mm USM lens.
Great review. One quick question. For hiking and landscape photography, what would be the best choice of “good glass”, for light weight but very good sharp photos? Thanks
Thank you Dustin for another thorough review. Did you shoot the review itself on the M5? You seem far from the camera and have good focus. How did you get good focus if you shot it on your own? I thought remote video trigger is disabled with the M5!
I did shoot it on the M5. With DPAF it is easy to get accurate focus if you turn on face detect + tracking. It is almost magically good for this. That being said, I shot this episode with a manual focus lens. It was a wide angle lens, though, and it is pretty easy to get everything in focus if you know what you are doing.
Hi Dustin, great field review! Could you highlight the big differences compared to the 80D, I am the fence in buying either of them, not sure if the M5 could really replace the 80D, which is pretty awesome, but little big and heavy to lug around. Regards, Simon
The 80D is a great camera and I love the articulating screen. The M5 comes with a little better image quality, has the built in stabilization for video, and is obviously a lot smaller. There's some give and take for both of them. Here's my recommendation: if small and light is your priority, the M5 is an easy pick. If you are going to shoot sports and action, though, the 80D is still the better option.
Good Morning Dustin, I've recently got my copy of this Camera M5 along with the 22mm f 2.0 lens. I've also got a Samyang fisheye 12mm f2.8 (FF) with the adaptor ring. Is there any particular settings on the menu that I should set in order to shoot with a manual lens? Thank you very much, happy sunday!
Thanks Dustin, your reviews were decisive. I was looking for the appropriate tab into the menu settings in order to set shutter release without the lens. Thanks again, Luigi.
I had no real trigger with me, so I had one powerful flash unit (Metz 64 AF-1) mounted on camera and fired up into a Lite Genius Lite-Scoop to spread the light and give a more pleasing result. The Lite-Scoop works very, very well.
You bet. bhpho.to/2jYEdv5. I have three different variations, and they all work great. It's what I use when I need to shoot portraits or weddings via air travel or in windy conditions where a soft box won't work.
Dustin thanks for another great field review. I'm a newer M5 owner and I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Canon EFS 10-22 vs the EFM 11-22? I have the 10-22 but I like the M5 so well I thinking about getting the M 11-22. I own the 10-22 and have the adapter but I'm loving the small M lens. Any thought on the two lens compared?
Great video again! I agree completely with everything... I'm pretty amazed at what a huge failure the design of the flip screen was though. It was like they either don't care or somehow no one thought about it.
It does seem like a pretty huge oversight. Obviously engineering the fully articulating screen must have presented some challenges, as you would think that would have been their first choice.
Dustin Abbott the vloggers love this tho- they say that when they look at themselves at the screen it looked like they were still looking at the lens, compared to having to noticeably look at the side of the camera in a fully articulated screen
Do you believe the M5 can fully replace an entry level DSLR? I am considering changing from the t6i (EOS 750D) to the M5, just for the lenses available for MILC, such as the Rokinon 12mm f/2, the Canon 22mm f/2 and the new Canon 32mm f/1.4. Also, is it capable enough for wildlife photography with telephoto lenses such as the Canon 400mm f/5.6? I don't know if it will be too small to work with, since the t6i already feels small.
No problem replacing a T6i with the lenses you mention that are native mount. As for the big white, I haven't tested with that lens, so I can't comment.
hi dustin great review as im looking for a camera for my family photos and videos without the bulk of my dslr but not have to buy a new set of lens as i have a few canon lens. a few questions include how well does the m5 work with the zhiyun crane, im trying to create nicer home videos of my toddlers. another question would be how is the af tracking in both video and photos eg is the face tracking usable and acceptable for say a toddler running around for both video and photos. i like the a6500 but would love to stick with my current canon lens. keep up the great work and i apperciate the time youve taken to reply to my other posts. have a great day. oh one more comment to put it into context , i use a 5dsr for my serious non family shooting and the video tracking is crap, af servo for toddlers moving is great. and i cant get a decent small gimble for a large dslr
+Raymond Wong The 5DsR does have terrible Video AF Servo. The M5 does a great job with tracking (DPAF is perhaps the best tech out there for that). I still don't think any mirrorless is quite as as a DSLR for tracking stills action, but the M5 is much better than any previous Canon mirrorless. I think it should work for your purposes, and yes, it works great on the Crane.
Dustin Abbott thanks for taking time to respond. The 5dmk4 would be my canon choice if i were buying today but the 5dsr is amazing. Ill supplement it with the m5. I just tried it out at a local store and the dual pixel af is no joke. The face tracking is awesome and the face tracking in video is great. Its leaps ahead than thr original m. My hesitation is the a6500 is so much better but around 600$ more for the body and then ill have to spend more on the sony lens ecosystem, where as i already own a ton of canon lens. Love your videos and keep up the great work!
thx for the reviews! I just ordered one from thecamerastore.com yesterday and should arrive before the weekend. Picked up a EF to EFM adapter unopened one off CL for a steal of a price also. Can't wait to put on my 200 f2 onto the m5 for fun
I actually switched to Sony mirrorless because I primarily use a camera like this for video work for my channel, and I've gone exclusively 4K for all my video work. It's a great camera otherwise.
Nice review. I do have mine, too. It is going to replace my µ43 stuff. Having only one system to support makes photography less expensive.... What astonishes me: we have more or less the same lens setup on EOS M. But I was missing was the 28mm f3.5 macro.... For traveling: I am still a bit unsecure between the nifty fifty or the Milvus 50mm f1.4.....
Many thanks Dustin, I am very tempted to buy into this system to supplement my DSLR (still need a second DSLR body). As a point of interest (and as previously discussed re lack of Zeiss glass) I notice that Samyang make a good selection of lenses for the M series. If you ever considered a comparison between the native Canon lenses and the Samyang's, I would find that very interesting/helpful. I know you have reviewed some Samyang lenses but wonder how they compare directly to the Canon line up. Great review and thanks again.
Gary, there really isn't much to compare. The Samyang lenses are large aperture manual focus prime lenses. They are basically the opposite of the lenses that Canon has made, so you can't really compare them. The Samyang primes are very sharp (better than any of the Canon lenses), but are more work to use due to being MF only.
Thanks Dustin, I actually love manual lenses, started with a practice TL with the old floating needle meter, and 50mm lens Come to think of it I remember you mentioning to set the shutter release to 'no lens' as the camera doesn't recognise them on the M5. It was sharpness I was interested in primarily and will re-watch you reviews. I think I would use manual lenses on the M5 95% of the time anyway. I'm even thinking about buying a vintage SLR for fun. Thanks very much for your reply and keep posting. Gary
This might be more for when you get home and if you even kept those lenses, but have you tried the M5 with 3rd party lenses? I've been thinking of an 80D with the Sigma 18-35 and maybe a used 50-150 and an ultrawide Toking lens, but having played with an A7SII my church owns I'm loving the idea of having an EVF and focus peaking. The size and weight aren't really of a concern, and for only €130 more for an M5 with a lens adapter I'm wondering if those features are worth it, but no point in getting it if the performance with non-Canon lenses is sub par! If you have any experiences with this I'd love to hear them :)
I really hope Canon can have in-body sensor shift stabilization in their mirrorless lineup. Still, it doesn't have 4k, no log file. It's a nice camera for still photographer who owns Canon DSLRs already, and it's a good, flow feeling camera as well, but honestly as a Canon user, I expect more at this price, especially now Fuji has announced XT-20, SONY has A6500.
I don't disagree, though the M5 also has its strengths when compared to those cameras. But the lack of 4K (while not unexpected because of the 80D) is pretty disappointing when you consider how widespread 4K support in a number of cameras has become.
Sorry I may be a bit late to the party but I've got a question. I'm thinking about buying a Mirrorless Camera and was tending towards the M5, I've often read that the Sony a6300 or Fuji X-T1 is better for photography which is my main goal but what bothers me are their lenses. I don't have that much knowledge and it seems to me that good Sony/Fuji lenses are pricy compared to what I can get for the M5 with the adapter. For example the Canon 10-18mm seems to be a total powerhouse for 250 bucks and for the Sony equivalent I'd have to pay twice as much or more even if they may be slightly better. The Fuji X-T20 is coming out soon and I think I'll wait till then to decide but I'm still really torn. The M5 seems to have some really great features like changing focus with the touchscreen and instantly beeing able to see it in the EVF, would it not have that feature I'd may go for the 80D even though I sure would prefer a small body since I'm mostly gonna use it for everyday photography and vacations. Also I don't know how much I need weather sealing, I don't plan to shoot in the rain but I wouldn't want some rain to hinder me from taking great pictures. And even if the Fuji X-T20 convinces me I still don't know if it'd be smart if I dont want to spend 600+ on lenses. Would be great to hear your opinion since you seem like a genuine guy and I really liked your Video. Thanks a lot if you decide to reply!
Fabrice It sounds like the M5 might be a nice option for you. The M5 is an excellent stills camera with great handling. The advantage to the a6300 might be for video, but not really stills.
I agree, either Fuji or Canon is a better still camera than Sony in terms of handling, controls and menu system. Fuji doesn't have a lot low budget lenses in their line up, but canon does, especially when you use an adapter and count all EF and EFS lenses in.
The upcoming Fujifilm X-T20 is rumored to have a touch screen and a price tag of around 899 euros (body only). It would be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Canon EOS M5.
I HAVE An older SONY A33, APS-C A mount, WEIGHS LESS THEN 15 OZ WITHOUT CARD AND BODY.....This camera is light as mirrorless but how would you rate it's image sharpness against this canon M5 or sony mirrorless???.....I use pro grade lenses.......
i wanted to go out and buy one of these - but that screen problem really had me sour. image quality is always going to be good but articulation is beautiful! i also prefer to get better video features than photo ones.
Hi Dustin, thanks for the video. I've seen mentioned in a couple of forums that when a lens with internal IS is fitted the IS is active all the time the camera is switched on and not just on half pressure of the shutter button. I've not seen it reported in any review so wonder if you found it happening in your use.
This would only be the case if you had the "Continuous AF" setting on. If that is the case, the lens' IS would probably be on to keep things steady. I'm not a big fan of that in most settings and just turn that setting off.
It probably would have been the case if you were using DPAF and continuous focus. Prior to DPAF Canon didn't really have continuous AF servo focus in Live View.
@@DustinAbbottTWI hi ... 👋 thank you, I bought shinobi 5" sadly there are no connecting cables or mount included however they added power adapter for not much use 🙂, I am happy with quality overall, it works fine but I don't have access to my camera screen and 'Q'uick option 🤏. Thanks again 🤝
I've only used mirrorless from Canon and Sony, but the M5 seems to be as quick as the Sonys, and the DPAF is definitely better for video AF in the Canon
Thank you for your quick reply, Mr. Abbott. May I imply from your response that when shooting stills, there is little difference between the AF performance of the M5 and Sony mirrorless cameras?
At the end of the day I'm not sure if the size of these cameras really matter. If someone is gonna use just one prime lense then okay you may be able to shove the camera in your pockets and risk scratching the screen. But if you use the kit lense (which I think I'll skip and buy other lenses) it won't fit anywhere snug. And if you have maybe 2 primes, it still won't fit in a small area. Chances are anyone who really wants to be able to capture a good shot anywhere will have some lenses and then You probably are going to have a bag, so if that's the case I keep thinking might as well buy the 80d since it's the same and has a screen that flips to the side so it gets in the way of nothing and faster shooting and is weather sealed , also a few more features. I feel like I'm gonna get the m5 and buy the adaptor to get some sharp lenses. So then again I should get the 80d since it's the same camera and I don't need to spend 200 on an adapter. I don't like the idea that it's slightly bigger but I know the m5 really isn't that portable, nor are any mirrorless for that matter.
Question, why is Canon saying this camera has image stabilization when it does not!.it is only for video and Canon is permitting people to believe it is the same as sony's system when it is not???.This is fraud, you still need a stabilized Canon lens for still images when using these new Canon mirrorless cameras...This system of canon's is not in the sensor as Sony's is, therefore it will do nothing for still images you take......This kind of advertising should come back and embarrass Canon, I thought well of Canon, now i am taking another look and question everything they say about their products, Canon's employees do not deserve this.......I personally believe this is a major issue.....I almost bought this camera because they had me fooled......I am very thankful for people as you Dustin, again, thank you.....
With all due respect, Howard, Canon is pretty clear that the IBIS is only for video, not for stills. Canon has always stated that they think Image Stabilization should be done in the lens (where it can be specific to the needs of the lens) rather than in the body. You're overreacting.
Thoughts vs an 80d? As an sl1 shooter I was hoping this could be a great 80d replacement option, but from a couple of reviews it seems like this isn't *quite* there.
That depends on what metric you are looking at. IQ is actually a bit better with the M5. It's obviously smaller and lighter, and has the 5 axis IBIS for video. The 80D's phase detect focus is better, though, and I really like it's articulating screen.
You'll have to ask Canon that. It didn't surprise me, however, as the M5 is a basically a mirrorless port of the 80D in a lot of ways, and Canon elected to not put 4K in the 80D.
Only in the sense that Sony has phase detect. It is more of a hybrid focus system as a part of Dual Pixel AF, but contrast is the primary focus method.
Well I guess that's true. I use it for landscape and macro photography on my travel endeavors. The size of the body and the quality of the sensor AND the 22mm f2 lens are the reasons I am still using it.
buying an m3 this march. gonna be my first camera. any opinion guys? i know there are a lot of cons but, i only earn less than $10 a day and it's the only camera i can afford. wasn't impressed with the t6.
Other reviewers have noticed that the image at 1080P is a bit blurry, like it is visible in this review, which is a shame because the rest of the features in the stills department are not bad. I was thinking of buying one to use as a second body for my Canon glass but that poor video quality is an issue to take into serious consideration, so I will have to wait until they solve that issue. As usual thanks for your review.
It seems like the kind of footage that something like a Sony a6300/a6500 and the the M5 can produce is pretty much a night and day difference. It’s too bad; I’d love to see better from Canon.
I'm late to the M5 game, having purchased one of the last ones from B&H for a GREAT price as it's discontinued. But, that made it possible to add the 32mm f/1.4 lens to the 18-150mm kit lens. I was prompted to make the purchase in an attempt to lighten my hiking pack from my Canon R and lenses. Achievement unlocked! I'm sure videographers would find it hopelessly out of date, but with the exception of eye-detect, it works great for photos, and as I enter my 7th decade, I found ascending the hills of the Pacific Northwest this summer WAY more pleasurable. Now that Canon seems to be signaling the end of the M line, I hope that that doesn't mean heavier equipment. I like to leave that in the lowlands.
The M5 remains a nice little camera for just the kind of thing you describe.
Hey Dustin great review! I've had the M5 for a nearly 2 weeks and I prefer it over the M3 in every way. It doesn't seem to happen to everybody, but do you lose your customer function settings every time you remove the battery? Also do you like the strong saturation of the EVF?
I don't shoot any sports or do any paid work so the M5 is pretty much a perfect camera for me, especially with the 22mm f2 attached. If Canon put a FF sensor in the body and made it a tiny bit bigger, I would honestly love it and buy it straight away!
I have seen the oversaturation issue, and I've had a few times when I lost a setting or two that I had changed. Hopefully those are things that can be fixed via firmware.
And thus the EOS RP was born?
Thank you for great review. I follow a few photographers and their tutorials/reviews but yours are much more on the professional side of things, really great to watch and recieve a lot of information. Its a shame some reviewers use to act like weirdos in their videos, here I can see professionalism. Subscribing now
+Vladimir Brozik Thank you. Professionalism is what I strive for
Thank you Dustin, I have watched so many of your Canon videos and lens reviews! You are always very helpful, professional and informative. Canon products are the only ones I purchase so I am always looking for more content and tutorials.
I'm glad that I was able to help out. Thanks for the feedback.
Great review! I've been looking for detail like this about the M5.
Glad to be of service.
Like always a very superb review! I guess I know now what to get dad for his birthday next month! Thanks D.A.
+julio hernandez Thank you. Does dad enjoy photography?
Great review of the M5. Looks like a nice camera.
But one big turn-off for me is the lens-mount. I have 5D3 fullframe (EF-lenses), and 80d crop (EF & EF-S lenses). And now a third EF-M mount. Yes, you can use the adaptor, but why don't they make it with the EF-S mount - sensor-lens distance, and therefore not that pocketfriendly i guess - but i don't need a third mount.... The camera with the adaptor is bulky too....
The stills in your review are looking great, but your video is a little too contrasty for my taste. I'm sure, that i could find setting which would suit my taste better - we're all different - luckily enough. Would be a boring world if there wasn't different taste and ideas.
Henrik N. Jensen: the smaller sensor flange distance has quite a bit of advantage in lens design. It makes retrofocusing obsolet in many cases and therefore lenses much smaller. Look at the 22mm f2.0...
Let me add to this that the EF-M mount is a great place to use legacy lenses, including FD mount glass that doesn't adapt well elsewhere.
Great point, Johannes.
I know there are advantages. But they are lost with the adaptor anyway. I have glass for more money than a new family-car :-) :-) - mostly EF-lenses. It will be hard for me to invest in even more glass. And they don't make any real great EF-M lenses yet.
Thanks for your reply Dustin. A good point, that it's possible to adapt more legacy-glass. Maybe even old Nikon and Pentax lenses. I see a market for adaptors :-)
Having used the M5 for about 3 months, I find the camera is best suited for landscape and urban photography. I have the adapter which does allow me to use the EF lenses I have, but, due to the small size of the body, most of the prime lenses are too heavy. The 70-200 f/4 with the adapter works nicely and the other M Series Lenses I have work okay. Right now, I would say just using an APS-C Body makes more sense, until, or if, Canon is able to improve on the M5, therefore, I shoot mainly with my Olympus M1 Mark II with my Pro Lenses when I want to go light. Hopefully, I will stumble upon a replacement for my 5D Mark IV which will cause me to want to rid myself of all the weight I lug around in my landscape shoots. Olympus, so far gets more use, so, perhaps I will settle on a Fullframe Mirrorless in the future.
I'm hoping that the Sony a7R3 will fill that void for me.
thank you for your review, sir...I know I am quite late, but I got this camera just recently, second hand for less than 300€. I love it for everything but ai servo and shootings of moving subjects. I use adapted ef/efs lenses, and I get LOTS of misfocused shots whatever shutter speed and aperture are. No complaints in one shot.
That's about fair.
Thank you for this review. I love how you explain things, you're very articulate.
That's kind. Thank you
2:04 Clouds amaze me. Just thinking of the emmense energy required to suspend those millions of liters of water up there. Great shot of a mind-blowing subject!
It's true. Thanks for the feedback.
I like it to ..
Hi Dustin,
I love the detail of your videos. How would you compare the 1080 video quality of the m5 to the m50 and m6 ii? I know the bitrate is lower. Do you think the difference in video quality is significant?
The reason I’m looking at this old M5 is that it’s tilt down (which I prefer) and has a viewfinder (for shooting video in sunny conditions). Thank you for the assistance sir. Take care.
That really depends on what you want to do with the footage. For basic work, the M5 is fine. IF you want to do more editing, higher bitrate is better.
Im coming from a Canon EOS M3 but im trying to decide between the Canon Eos M5 vs the Canon 80D...Im more of a Stills Photographer that does some Video. Leaning towards the M5 because I love Focus Peaking. Is it the right choice? Can I do light portrait work or events with the M5? I have 2 prime ef lenses I use with the EF adapter.
If you've been using some of these lenses on the M3 then you have a good idea of the balance. The autofocus is vastly improved on the M5. If you want Focus Peaking, then the M5 is a good choice. The 80D is the better event camera, but the M5 works fine, and actually has a bit better high ISO performance.
Great review, as always, Dustin. Just one point: the issue you mentioned with your M3 being slow at taking the 3 shots in HDR mode must be a fault with your camera. I couldn't remember that ever happening with mine, so I tested it just seconds ago. Nope, it went snap, snap, snap in a fraction of a second and then took a few seconds to process the final image. It is equally as fast at snapping the 4 shots in High ISO NR "mode" and Handheld Night Scene mode.
What you are describing is HDR mode, which only produces a JPEG image. I'm talking about bracketing RAW images (AEB). Try doing that.
Great review, thanks Dustin! So I decided to pick up the 80D. Believe me I really wanted the M5 for its light weight and size, but in the end I just felt that canon took away too many features compared to the 80d. No headphone jack, fully articulating screen, and limited video compression formats made it a tough sell for video. If I was just shooting stills, I'd go for it. I just started using my crane stabilizer and if I'm wrong please correct me but it seems like the flip out screen of the M5 would get in the way of the stabilizer? With the 80d I had the screen flipped out to the side and it really helped with certain types of footage and camera positions.
You're right. The M5's screen isn't nearly as useful with the Crane. In fact, the eye detector (that switches to the EVF) gets triggered by the one of the motor positions on the Crane and will turn the screen right off sometime. The 80D is definitely a better choice used on the Crane.
Any chance you will redo your ef-m 55-200 review with the M5 body, so you can clarify if the speed issues were only because of the body limitations or if the lens plays a role in that too? Would be much apreciated. Thanks!
I can definitely verify that the lens focuses better, though focus speed still isn't as good as the new 18-150mm, which seems to have a little of the Nano USM behavior of the new 18-135mm USM lens.
Thanks for the imput!
Great review. One quick question. For hiking and landscape photography, what would be the best choice of “good glass”, for light weight but very good sharp photos? Thanks
I'm a fan of the Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f/2. Very sharp, very compact and light. It is manual focus only, but easy to adjust to on the M5
Thank you Dustin for another thorough review. Did you shoot the review itself on the M5? You seem far from the camera and have good focus. How did you get good focus if you shot it on your own? I thought remote video trigger is disabled with the M5!
I did shoot it on the M5. With DPAF it is easy to get accurate focus if you turn on face detect + tracking. It is almost magically good for this. That being said, I shot this episode with a manual focus lens. It was a wide angle lens, though, and it is pretty easy to get everything in focus if you know what you are doing.
Hi Dustin, great field review! Could you highlight the big differences compared to the 80D, I am the fence in buying either of them, not sure if the M5 could really replace the 80D, which is pretty awesome, but little big and heavy to lug around. Regards, Simon
The 80D is a great camera and I love the articulating screen. The M5 comes with a little better image quality, has the built in stabilization for video, and is obviously a lot smaller. There's some give and take for both of them. Here's my recommendation: if small and light is your priority, the M5 is an easy pick. If you are going to shoot sports and action, though, the 80D is still the better option.
Good Morning Dustin, I've recently got my copy of this Camera M5 along with the 22mm f 2.0 lens. I've also got a Samyang fisheye 12mm f2.8 (FF) with the adaptor ring. Is there any particular settings on the menu that I should set in order to shoot with a manual lens? Thank you very much, happy sunday!
Just make sure that the camera is set up to release shutter without a lens attached. That's what will allow the fisheye lens to work.
Thanks Dustin, your reviews were decisive. I was looking for the appropriate tab into the menu settings in order to set shutter release without the lens. Thanks again, Luigi.
I've found that! It was hard and hidden in some of the last menu voices, but it works. thanks
Dustin, really great video on the M5.- at 14.50 you had showed a few group photos taken with the M5, how did you light them and trigger? Thanks!
I had no real trigger with me, so I had one powerful flash unit (Metz 64 AF-1) mounted on camera and fired up into a Lite Genius Lite-Scoop to spread the light and give a more pleasing result. The Lite-Scoop works very, very well.
Dustin Abbott do you have a link for the light scoop?
You bet. bhpho.to/2jYEdv5. I have three different variations, and they all work great. It's what I use when I need to shoot portraits or weddings via air travel or in windy conditions where a soft box won't work.
Dustin thanks for another great field review. I'm a newer M5 owner and I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Canon EFS 10-22 vs the EFM 11-22? I have the 10-22 but I like the M5 so well I thinking about getting the M 11-22. I own the 10-22 and have the adapter but I'm loving the small M lens. Any thought on the two lens compared?
I haven't compared the two, no, but the EF-M lens is considered pretty exceptional.
I haven't compared the two, no, but the EF-M lens is considered pretty exceptional.
Great video again! I agree completely with everything... I'm pretty amazed at what a huge failure the design of the flip screen was though. It was like they either don't care or somehow no one thought about it.
It does seem like a pretty huge oversight. Obviously engineering the fully articulating screen must have presented some challenges, as you would think that would have been their first choice.
Dustin Abbott the vloggers love this tho- they say that when they look at themselves at the screen it looked like they were still looking at the lens, compared to having to noticeably look at the side of the camera in a fully articulated screen
M Bnvnd If you figure out a way to not block the screen or keep it from articulating down, then fine, but it is a pretty tight squeeze!
Do you believe the M5 can fully replace an entry level DSLR? I am considering changing from the t6i (EOS 750D) to the M5, just for the lenses available for MILC, such as the Rokinon 12mm f/2, the Canon 22mm f/2 and the new Canon 32mm f/1.4. Also, is it capable enough for wildlife photography with telephoto lenses such as the Canon 400mm f/5.6? I don't know if it will be too small to work with, since the t6i already feels small.
No problem replacing a T6i with the lenses you mention that are native mount. As for the big white, I haven't tested with that lens, so I can't comment.
hi dustin great review as im looking for a camera for my family photos and videos without the bulk of my dslr but not have to buy a new set of lens as i have a few canon lens. a few questions include how well does the m5 work with the zhiyun crane, im trying to create nicer home videos of my toddlers. another question would be how is the af tracking in both video and photos eg is the face tracking usable and acceptable for say a toddler running around for both video and photos. i like the a6500 but would love to stick with my current canon lens. keep up the great work and i apperciate the time youve taken to reply to my other posts. have a great day. oh one more comment to put it into context , i use a 5dsr for my serious non family shooting and the video tracking is crap, af servo for toddlers moving is great. and i cant get a decent small gimble for a large dslr
+Raymond Wong The 5DsR does have terrible Video AF Servo. The M5 does a great job with tracking (DPAF is perhaps the best tech out there for that). I still don't think any mirrorless is quite as as a DSLR for tracking stills action, but the M5 is much better than any previous Canon mirrorless. I think it should work for your purposes, and yes, it works great on the Crane.
Dustin Abbott thanks for taking time to respond. The 5dmk4 would be my canon choice if i were buying today but the 5dsr is amazing. Ill supplement it with the m5. I just tried it out at a local store and the dual pixel af is no joke. The face tracking is awesome and the face tracking in video is great. Its leaps ahead than thr original m. My hesitation is the a6500 is so much better but around 600$ more for the body and then ill have to spend more on the sony lens ecosystem, where as i already own a ton of canon lens. Love your videos and keep up the great work!
thx for the reviews! I just ordered one from thecamerastore.com yesterday and should arrive before the weekend. Picked up a EF to EFM adapter unopened one off CL for a steal of a price also. Can't wait to put on my 200 f2 onto the m5 for fun
Thanks for another excellent review! In the end, did you end up buying an M5 for your personal use?
I actually switched to Sony mirrorless because I primarily use a camera like this for video work for my channel, and I've gone exclusively 4K for all my video work. It's a great camera otherwise.
Dustin Abbott That’s too bad for use Canon users. I really enjoyed reading and watching your Canon reviews over the years.
I still shoot a Canon 5DIV and 80D and do Canon reviews, but at this point Canon mirrorless was missing some key ingredients for me.
After you made the switch to Sony mirrorless, did you end up selling off all your EF-M lenses and kit?
Nice review. I do have mine, too. It is going to replace my µ43 stuff. Having only one system to support makes photography less expensive....
What astonishes me: we have more or less the same lens setup on EOS M. But I was missing was the 28mm f3.5 macro.... For traveling: I am still a bit unsecure between the nifty fifty or the Milvus 50mm f1.4.....
The 28mm f/3.5 is quite a good lens, and I'm considering getting one if I purchase an M5.
Many thanks Dustin, I am very tempted to buy into this system to supplement my DSLR (still need a second DSLR body). As a point of interest (and as previously discussed re lack of Zeiss glass) I notice that Samyang make a good selection of lenses for the M series. If you ever considered a comparison between the native Canon lenses and the Samyang's, I would find that very interesting/helpful. I know you have reviewed some Samyang lenses but wonder how they compare directly to the Canon line up.
Great review and thanks again.
Gary, there really isn't much to compare. The Samyang lenses are large aperture manual focus prime lenses. They are basically the opposite of the lenses that Canon has made, so you can't really compare them. The Samyang primes are very sharp (better than any of the Canon lenses), but are more work to use due to being MF only.
Thanks Dustin, I actually love manual lenses, started with a practice TL with the old floating needle meter, and 50mm lens Come to think of it I remember you mentioning to set the shutter release to 'no lens' as the camera doesn't recognise them on the M5. It was sharpness I was interested in primarily and will re-watch you reviews. I think I would use manual lenses on the M5 95% of the time anyway. I'm even thinking about buying a vintage SLR for fun.
Thanks very much for your reply and keep posting.
Gary
This might be more for when you get home and if you even kept those lenses, but have you tried the M5 with 3rd party lenses? I've been thinking of an 80D with the Sigma 18-35 and maybe a used 50-150 and an ultrawide Toking lens, but having played with an A7SII my church owns I'm loving the idea of having an EVF and focus peaking. The size and weight aren't really of a concern, and for only €130 more for an M5 with a lens adapter I'm wondering if those features are worth it, but no point in getting it if the performance with non-Canon lenses is sub par! If you have any experiences with this I'd love to hear them :)
Check out my written review (link in the description) for some observations with the EF adapter (and some third party lenses).
I really hope Canon can have in-body sensor shift stabilization in their mirrorless lineup. Still, it doesn't have 4k, no log file. It's a nice camera for still photographer who owns Canon DSLRs already, and it's a good, flow feeling camera as well, but honestly as a Canon user, I expect more at this price, especially now Fuji has announced XT-20, SONY has A6500.
I don't disagree, though the M5 also has its strengths when compared to those cameras. But the lack of 4K (while not unexpected because of the 80D) is pretty disappointing when you consider how widespread 4K support in a number of cameras has become.
Sorry I may be a bit late to the party but I've got a question. I'm thinking about buying a Mirrorless Camera and was tending towards the M5, I've often read that the Sony a6300 or Fuji X-T1 is better for photography which is my main goal but what bothers me are their lenses. I don't have that much knowledge and it seems to me that good Sony/Fuji lenses are pricy compared to what I can get for the M5 with the adapter. For example the Canon 10-18mm seems to be a total powerhouse for 250 bucks and for the Sony equivalent I'd have to pay twice as much or more even if they may be slightly better. The Fuji X-T20 is coming out soon and I think I'll wait till then to decide but I'm still really torn. The M5 seems to have some really great features like changing focus with the touchscreen and instantly beeing able to see it in the EVF, would it not have that feature I'd may go for the 80D even though I sure would prefer a small body since I'm mostly gonna use it for everyday photography and vacations. Also I don't know how much I need weather sealing, I don't plan to shoot in the rain but I wouldn't want some rain to hinder me from taking great pictures. And even if the Fuji X-T20 convinces me I still don't know if it'd be smart if I dont want to spend 600+ on lenses. Would be great to hear your opinion since you seem like a genuine guy and I really liked your Video. Thanks a lot if you decide to reply!
Fabrice It sounds like the M5 might be a nice option for you. The M5 is an excellent stills camera with great handling. The advantage to the a6300 might be for video, but not really stills.
I agree, either Fuji or Canon is a better still camera than Sony in terms of handling, controls and menu system. Fuji doesn't have a lot low budget lenses in their line up, but canon does, especially when you use an adapter and count all EF and EFS lenses in.
Thanks for the review. What about the battery life? with or without eco mode
Battery life on this and the M3 is surprisingly good. I typically get 500-600 shots per charge; basically double what the rating is for.
If you were to get the m5, which of the canon native lenses would you get with it?
I think the standouts are the 22mm f/2, the 11-22mm, and the new 18-150mm is quite good, too.
thoroughly enjoyed. very informative.
Glad to hear it! It's great when people enjoy them enjoy to watch until the end.
The upcoming Fujifilm X-T20 is rumored to have a touch screen and a price tag of around 899 euros (body only). It would be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Canon EOS M5.
Fuji is making some strong mirrorless cameras. I think the Canon is most attractive to those who already have some Canon lenses.
I HAVE An older SONY A33, APS-C A mount, WEIGHS LESS THEN 15 OZ WITHOUT CARD AND BODY.....This camera is light as mirrorless but how would you rate it's image sharpness against this canon M5 or sony mirrorless???.....I use pro grade lenses.......
i wanted to go out and buy one of these - but that screen problem really had me sour. image quality is always going to be good but articulation is beautiful! i also prefer to get better video features than photo ones.
If you are a "video first" user, then you are better served with an alternative.
yeah you're right - but I'll still be watching this space! so long as i haven't bought a sony (or something else) in the meantime :)
Dustin Abbott so what other alternative do you recommend for "video first" user?
excellent review thanks for sharing
Thanks for the nice feedback.
Hi Dustin, thanks for the video. I've seen mentioned in a couple of forums that when a lens with internal IS is fitted the IS is active all the time the camera is switched on and not just on half pressure of the shutter button. I've not seen it reported in any review so wonder if you found it happening in your use.
This would only be the case if you had the "Continuous AF" setting on. If that is the case, the lens' IS would probably be on to keep things steady. I'm not a big fan of that in most settings and just turn that setting off.
Thanks Dustin. That's never been the case with any Canon DSLR I've owned and as I use AF-C a lot it's going to be a deal breaker; pity!
It probably would have been the case if you were using DPAF and continuous focus. Prior to DPAF Canon didn't really have continuous AF servo focus in Live View.
Very attractive camera, but €1139 (in my country) is too much.
USA price like €930 would be fine...
That's been a big issue with recent Canon offerings. If you wait a bit, there's a good chance the price will drop.
Thanks for this review!
You bet!
Hi 👋 , can I use external monitor atomos shinobi 5" with Canon eos m5 camera. Thanks 🙂
I don't see any reason why not. It has HDMI out.
@@DustinAbbottTWI hi ... 👋 thank you, I bought shinobi 5" sadly there are no connecting cables or mount included however they added power adapter for not much use 🙂, I am happy with quality overall, it works fine but I don't have access to my camera screen and 'Q'uick option 🤏. Thanks again 🤝
thank you for the effort and the sharing. thumbs up.
My pleasure
In low light, how does the AF of the M5 compare against other brands of mirrorless cameras in terms of focus acquisition and accuracy?
I've only used mirrorless from Canon and Sony, but the M5 seems to be as quick as the Sonys, and the DPAF is definitely better for video AF in the Canon
Thank you for your quick reply, Mr. Abbott. May I imply from your response that when shooting stills, there is little difference between the AF performance of the M5 and Sony mirrorless cameras?
I don't think so. The M5 was a huge step forward for Canon mirrorless.
With the adapter can I use lenses other than canons? For example a sigma 80-200mm?
+Hey There The performance really depends on the lens itself. You just have to try them
At the end of the day I'm not sure if the size of these cameras really matter. If someone is gonna use just one prime lense then okay you may be able to shove the camera in your pockets and risk scratching the screen. But if you use the kit lense (which I think I'll skip and buy other lenses) it won't fit anywhere snug. And if you have maybe 2 primes, it still won't fit in a small area. Chances are anyone who really wants to be able to capture a good shot anywhere will have some lenses and then You probably are going to have a bag, so if that's the case I keep thinking might as well buy the 80d since it's the same and has a screen that flips to the side so it gets in the way of nothing and faster shooting and is weather sealed , also a few more features. I feel like I'm gonna get the m5 and buy the adaptor to get some sharp lenses. So then again I should get the 80d since it's the same camera and I don't need to spend 200 on an adapter. I don't like the idea that it's slightly bigger but I know the m5 really isn't that portable, nor are any mirrorless for that matter.
The birth screen is for the vloggers, not so much the tripoders. So when people look at the screen, it’s a lot less noticeable
Perhaps, but the same would apply if you were using a selfie stick or something similar.
1 day I feel like buying M5, whereas the next one I think I should spend money on my 70D gear ...
It's a tough decision. You really know what is best for yourself.
Question, why is Canon saying this camera has image stabilization when it does not!.it is only for video and Canon is permitting people to believe it is the same as sony's system when it is not???.This is fraud, you still need a stabilized Canon lens for still images when using these new Canon mirrorless cameras...This system of canon's is not in the sensor as Sony's is, therefore it will do nothing for still images you take......This kind of advertising should come back and embarrass Canon, I thought well of Canon, now i am taking another look and question everything they say about their products, Canon's employees do not deserve this.......I personally believe this is a major issue.....I almost bought this camera because they had me fooled......I am very thankful for people as you Dustin, again, thank you.....
With all due respect, Howard, Canon is pretty clear that the IBIS is only for video, not for stills. Canon has always stated that they think Image Stabilization should be done in the lens (where it can be specific to the needs of the lens) rather than in the body. You're overreacting.
Thoughts vs an 80d? As an sl1 shooter I was hoping this could be a great 80d replacement option, but from a couple of reviews it seems like this isn't *quite* there.
That depends on what metric you are looking at. IQ is actually a bit better with the M5. It's obviously smaller and lighter, and has the 5 axis IBIS for video. The 80D's phase detect focus is better, though, and I really like it's articulating screen.
Sweet
Why not put 4k to EM5?.
You'll have to ask Canon that. It didn't surprise me, however, as the M5 is a basically a mirrorless port of the 80D in a lot of ways, and Canon elected to not put 4K in the 80D.
What lens is that at 17:13?
Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f/2
Thank you so much Dustin :) I love your videos! Very helpful filled with information :) Keep up the good work!
(it has phase detect.)
Only in the sense that Sony has phase detect. It is more of a hybrid focus system as a part of Dual Pixel AF, but contrast is the primary focus method.
okay. guess i got something wrong then.
original m user here :P
There are a few out there. I actually have an original M in the family, too, as I gave mine to my son.
Well I guess that's true. I use it for landscape and macro photography on my travel endeavors. The size of the body and the quality of the sensor AND the 22mm f2 lens are the reasons I am still using it.
It delivers great image quality for the size and money.
buying an m3 this march. gonna be my first camera. any opinion guys? i know there are a lot of cons but, i only earn less than $10 a day and it's the only camera i can afford. wasn't impressed with the t6.
I think you will enjoy the M3. It does have a few limitations, but it takes beautiful pictures and is nicely compact.