The ubiquitous nature of smartphones and their increasingly powerful cameras has meant the compact camera has found itself somewhat superfluous to requirements.
At family events and notable occasions, there are more people using their iPhone or Android handset to preserve memories than the traditional camera.
There are positives to this. Anyone who remembers the days when you had to sneak your camera in to a live music gig will back me up on that one.
Your phone is always there. It’s easy to share photos with friends, family and social networks, and you can do some editing while you’re at it.
The down side, of course, is that while cameras in smart phones are improving – they’re miles ahead of the early efforts – they still can’t quite beat the higher priced stand-alone cameras that we all grew up with. The quality of lenses has improved significantly, but for the most part, zoom is still digital and performance in less than ideal lighting conditions can be hit and miss.
Compare that with a top-end digital SLR camera. You get control over your images by shooting in RAW format and processing on your laptop afterwards; you can swap out the lenses for better zoom, wider apertures or better field of view; and wider ISO ranges mean bad lighting is just one more obstacle you can overcome with a few setting changes. The problem? They’re bulky to carry and cost more than most people would like to spend on a camera.
There is a compromise, however: the compact system camera. The Canon EOS M3 is one such device, offering you the benefits of the compact camera with the power and flexibility that interchangeable lenses can bring. It has a 24 megapixel sensor, an ISO range that goes from 100 to 12,800 and a fast auto focus system.
The good
The EOS M3 is slim in body and light enough even when a lens is attached. That means you’re more likely to throw it in your bag or pocket for spontaneous days out.
It doesn’t matter if you are a complete beginner or a seasoned photographer, the M3 will cater for all levels of experience and ability.
If you are just starting out, there is a built-in intelligent scene mode that automatically chooses the best settings for your shot. If you are more experienced, you can take manual control of the ISO, shutter speed, aperture and exposure.
The EOS M3 has a three-inch LCD screen on the rear, which serves as the viewfinder.
Not only is it bright and clear, but the viewfinder also tilts so you can shoot at awkward angles without having to contort yourself, which gets the thumbs up here.
Most important of all is the image quality, which doesn’t disappoint.
Colour reproduction is good and the images themselves are crisp and clear: Canon’s expertise shines through here.
The not so good
At €770, this is a serious investment. You’ll have to take into account the cost of lenses, which are the EF-M mount. If you want a bit more than what the EF M range offers, you’ll have to shell out more money for an adapter that will allow you to fit other Canon lenses to the M3 body. Plus depending on the lens you choose, your camera might just end up the wrong side of bulky.
The rest
The M3 also shoots video in full HD, which can be easily shared over wifi with the new Camera Connect app. You can also control the camera remotely with the app, which probably means an end to award timer pictures.
There’s also a creative assist mode that allows you to mess about with colour and add effects as you’re taking the photos.
The verdict
HHHH The investment may be a little too much for a casual photographer, but this is the perfect compromise between compact and powerful. Your smartphone battery will probably thank you too.
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