The Canon EOS M line was easily one of my favorite camera systems, great for its compact size and quality. Despite being discontinued, the EOS M had a cult like following when it was an active mount, and Canon now has an opportunity to resurrect it in a new form: as a fixed-lens camera system to compete directly with the highly successful Fujifilm X100 series. Here’s why this move makes sense for Canon.
The Cult Following
Canon’s EOS M series has always enjoyed a strong and loyal fan base. These cameras were particularly popular in Japan, a market known for embracing compact and stylish cameras. The EOS M’s success wasn’t simple because it was a Canon branded camera but more due to its size, performance, and price. Many photographers who hadn’t swapped to Sony hadn’t fully tried Mirrorless yet and this was a great entryway for them (myself included).
It didn’t get the most love when it came to lenses but its core lineup along with a few of the available third party options made it quite an attractive carry around kit. Reintroducing the EOS M line as a fixed-lens camera would capitalize on its existing recognition and give Canon users a compact camera with the colors and IQ they’re familiar with.
Instead of creating an entirely new product line, leveraging the EOS M name would offer Canon a significant advantage in marketing. Just the news of a new M series camera would get people interested to see if it’s something new or they’re reviving the line. Photographers already trust the brand and know what it previously had to offer. By reviving the line in this updated form, Canon could tap into nostalgia (well slightly since it’s not like the EOS M mount is decades old) while addressing a growing demand for premium compact cameras.
Already Practically Pocketable
One of the defining traits of the EOS M series was its compact design. Models like the EOS M50 Mark II were small and lightweight, making them easy to carry around and nearly pocketable in certain cases like when paired with the 22mm f/2. This foundation makes the M series a natural candidate for transformation into a fixed-lens system, especially if it featured some improved fixed version of the 22mm pancake lens. The lens wasn’t the sharpest or fastest to AF but it was more than decent and with modern improvements it could be even better.
Canon could build on the compact form factor by incorporating newer, more advanced sensors into an EOS M-style body. Using an existing sensor from one of their RF bodies could offer all the benefits from that mount while saving costs over developing a brand new sensor.
Additionally, the fixed-lens format could allow Canon to push the boundaries of aperture design, offering a slightly wider aperture for better low-light performance and bokeh. I don’t have any technical knowledge in camera design but I’d assume by not having interchangeable lenses there would be more room for Canon to add new features and improve the build quality compared to the EOS M bodies which could be a bit plasticky.
The Demand is There
The market for fixed-lens cameras is growing, driven in large part by the runaway success of the Fujifilm X100 series. These cameras have proven that enthusiasts and professionals alike are willing to invest in premium compact systems. However, the X100VI’s high price point (roughly $2700 AUD for me) creates an opportunity for Canon to disrupt the market with a more competitively priced alternative. In saying that, Canon is the furthest thing from being competitively priced in Australia so it may be country dependent.
In a 2022 interview with Canon representatives it was revealed that the EOS M series accounted for approximately 30% of Canon’s sales which is quite significant. Canon does have its own fixed lens cameras in the GX line although I’ve never personally seen that reach the level of popularity that the M series did.
You could have the clear distinction too that the EOS M line is your compact fixed lens system then your RF APSC system is a more prosumer interchangeable lens system.
I know they have their fans but when you look at these cameras compared to something like the Fuji X100VI they look more like your standard cheap point and shoot than a capable compact camera. If Canon were to take the good parts of GX line and EOS M series then they could easily make a compelling option that many would likely purchase.
Finding stock of popular fixed lens cameras like the X100VI can be a challenge so by Canon introducing a new series like this it could create much needed competition which will benefit everyone. Even if you don’t shoot Canon, the existence of this body alone could push competitors to increase production and reduce prices in order to compete.
A Smart Move for Canon
Now obviously we have no clue if or when this body will ever exist but to me it seems like a win win. Canon obviously know how to make cameras which they make very well so this could just be another success and money maker for them. For photographers, this could potentially be another great option aside from Ricoh and Fujifilm which are often in limited supply. We have no clue what the future holds but hopefully it’s more (competitively priced) compact cameras.
I took all images in this post with EF-M bodies and lenses.
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