Monday, May 26, 2014

Canon reveals EOS M2, its second-gen mirrorless camera

The Canon EOS M2 with the EF-M 18-55mm lens.

The Canon EOS M2 with the EF-M 18-55mm lens.

(Credit: Canon)

Canon announced the EOS M2 Tuesday in China and Japan, updating the autofocus system that was the chief weakness of the company's its first-generation high-end "mirrorless" compact camera.

The EOS M2 includes Hybrid CMOS AF II, an updated autofocus system that Canon said is faster than the M's system. It also gets Wi-Fi support, but the sensor is still an 18-megapixel model that tops out at ISO 12,800 or 25,600 if you enable its higher-noise expanded range.

It wasn't immediately clear what Canon plans for the EOS M2 in other parts of the world, but the M line is a very competitive segment in the camera industry: models with interchangeable lenses but significantly smaller than traditional SLRs. CNET contacted Canon for comment and will update this post with its response.

Canon, with a much stronger SLR and compact-camera business than rivals, was late to the mirrorless market but has considerable resources when it comes to camera design, manufacturing, sales, and customers that already own Canon lenses. The M line can accept Canon's EF and EF-S lenses geared for full-size SLRs with an adapter, but it ships with smaller EF-M lenses.

Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Nikon, Pentax, and Fujifilm all are vying for a place in the mirrorless camera market. One reason it's so appealing is that the traditional incumbent players -- Nikon and Canon -- don't have as much power. Another is that the compact camera market is dwindling as mobile phones take over mainstream photography needs.

[Via Canon Rumors]

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