There are some disadvantages to using an unofficial mount or adapter, although we doubt those with an expensive collection of Canon lenses will be complaining about getting an opportunity to use their glass with a smaller camera. There’s also no word on when Kipon will be offering the mount, or how much it will cost, but taking a look at the company’s listings on eBay shows that it should be relatively inexpensive.

While an adpater may be on the cards for various micro four thirds cameras, you could simply spring for Canon’s own mirrorless offering when it’s eventually released. The Canon EOS-M features an APS-C CMOS sensor at 18-megapixels, ISO that ranges from 100 all the way up to 25,600, and has 1080p video recording at 24, 25, and 30 frames per second. Canon has carried across some autofocus tricks from the EOS T4i, and everything can be framed correctly using the 3-inch screen on the back of the camera. The camera is up for pre-order now for delivery in October, and currently costs $799.

[via 4/3 Rumors]

First you’ll see the Speedlite 90EX, this little item a pocket-sized flash you can quickly slip on to the head of your EOS M in real mobile fashion. This device is right between the 270EX II and the RC-6 also revealed today, with the largest costing somewhere around $200 USD and the smallest (the 90EX) costing closer to $90. The RC-6 is a controller that allows you to control the camera and its flash – and video – from afar for right around $25. Final prices on these devices of course depend on your region and choice of store.

There are a couple of straps you’ll be able to buy in each of the different colors that he body jackets come in – black, white, red, and brown. There’s a wrist strap ER-E1 that’s made for hand-holders and a neck strap EM-E1 for hanging out around your head. The EG23-CJ body jacket is an interchangeable series of colors to match or mix and match your way to fashionability, each of them with a lovely material that’s comfortable to touch. The straps will ring up around $30 USD while the jacket will be closer to $45 USD when the time comes – sooner than later!

[via Canon Japan]

Although the target segment might be new, that doesn’t mean Canon isn’t clear on who, exactly, it comprises. The EOS M is ”for people who are interested in photography and want to take better images, but don’t know, or don’t want to know about shutter speeds, aperture and so on” Parry explained.

For that audience, Canon has borrowed liberally from smartphone and tablet UIs, introducing pinch-zoom and swiping gestures to the EOS M’s 3-inch touchscreen LCD. It also offers a Scene Intelligent Auto mode which basically takes the thought out of all shooting scenarios.

However, while the EOS M might end up stuck in automatic mode more often than not, it’s not to say that the camera can’t manage more flexibility. There’s full control over the hybrid AF system and a native ISO range of 100-12,800 (extendable to 25,600), while the stereo microphone has 64-step user-adjustable audio to go with its 1080p Full HD video recording.

If those photography-keen but tech-shy buyers want to get their hands on the EOS M when it hits shelves in October, they might want to order sooner rather than later, though. Retailers are already warning that Canon’s first wave of stock is unlikely to satisfy even pre-orders, never mind those who decide they want the mirrorless camera at the last-minute.

“Initial orders for this product are scheduled to begin shipping in October, but due to the high demand we anticipate being unable to fulfill all customer orders with our first allocation” Amazon warns today. “Product supply from Canon is very limited. Your place in line will be maintained, and we will not charge your credit card until we ship the product.”

The retailer also has pre-order listings for the EOS M accessories, with the Speedlite flash and 18-55mm zoom lens also expected in October and also carrying stock warnings. The basic EOS M kit comes with the camera body itself, the EF-M 22m f/2 STM kit-lens, a neck strap, LP-E12 battery pack, LC-E12 battery charger, USB interface cable and a CD with the various manuals and apps.

Unsurprisingly, given the EOS M being Canon’s first attempt at the mirrorless segment and the huge number of aficionados to the brand, the camera has prompted a fair degree of interest. As well as being more pocket-friendly than Canon’s DSLR range, it uses a slick touchscreen interface which borrows gestures like pinch-zoom from smartphones and tablets.

More details on the Canon EOS M here.

Unsurprisingly, Canon is talking up the balance of compact portability and image quality in its advert for the EOS M. The roughly palm-sized body – shown in black, silver, white and a rather fetching red – is small and sturdy enough to be dropped into a bag without a case, and the touchscreen brings a smartphone-like degree of easy control and navigation.

Canon EOS M promo video:

As for the samples, while Canon is obviously going to pick the shots that paint the EOS M in its best light, we can’t say we’re disappointed with the output. The landscape has some beautifully saturated blues but doesn’t lose the brown tones of the bushes to murk, for instance (click the image for full-size).

As for the macro, it’s as crisp as you’d hope, with evidence of the shallow depth of field Canon is so keen to highlight in its promo clip. You can find video samples here.

The Canon EOS M will go on sale in October, priced at $799.99. More details here.

A stepping motor system in the pair of new lenses for the EOS M – consisting of the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM kit lens and the optional EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens – mean pretty much silent AF, Canon claims, and there’s a stereo microphone integrated with 64-step user-adjustable audio. 1080p and 720p MPEG-4 AVC H.264 footage is captured.

Construction is from magnesium and stainless steel; on the back, meanwhile, is a 3-inch Clear View 1.04m dot LCD touchscreen, complete with multitouch support for pinch-zooming and swipe navigation, and finished off with an anti-smudge coating. The touchscreen is also used for the EOS M’s more consumer-centric editing features, such as Picture Styles to add filters and the like to stills and video, and Video Snapshot which collates a sequence of stills into a video clip, all in-camera.

Meanwhile, Canon’s existing EF and EF-S lenses can also be used with the EOS M, thanks to an optional Mount Adapter; there’s also a Speedlite 90EX flash for the hotshoe, with a 30 foot range at ISO 100. It can also be controlled wirelessly.

The Canon EOS M will go on sale in October, priced at $799.99 with the EF-M 22m f/2 STM kit lens. A white version, with the same lens, will be available exclusively through Canon’s own online store at the same time. Meanwhile, the new EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens will arrive at the same time, priced at $299.99, along with the $199.99 Mount Adapter EF-EOS M and $149.99 Speedlite 90EX flash.