I've been on the hunt for a compact mirrorless camera and I've finally found the one to suit my needs: the Canon EOS M3. This little camera packs a lot of power into something so small and compact and will serve as my go-to/alternative from my 5D Mark III.

Here's some highlights (via: Canon UK):

24.7 megapixels (sweet)
22.3 x 14.9 CMOS sensor
EF-M mount (compatible with EF & EF-S lenses with the adapter)
49 AF points + hybrid CMOS AF System
ISO 100 - 12800
Tilting 3.0" touch-screen LCD (very cool)
4 - 5fps
Built-in wifi (my favorite)

Grip

The grip on the M3 is really nice. It has a DSLR feel to it and the little bulk it has gives you more stability and control. The grip underneath the exposure dial is also a great touch for added stability. I'm glad Canon improved the grip on the M3 verses the previous M models which it lacked, a lot.

Autofocus

I did a lot of research on Canon's M models and the big thing a lot of users complained was the slow auto-focus on the M and M2. Now, on the M3 it's a lot faster. I won't go into much detail but if I were to compare it to anything like my 5D Mark III, it's up there. I have no problems with the M3's autofocusing.

Adapter

I'm glad I purchased the EF-M adapter. Now I'm able to use my 24-70mm. Of course this adds a ton of weight to the build but I think it's worth it since there's a limited number of EF-M lenses. I've tried the adapter using the 70-200mm f/2.8 & 100mm f/2.8 macro and there's no loss of communication between the lens and camera through the adapter. Well done, Canon.

User Interface

The user interface on the M3 is pretty straightforward if you're familiar with Canon. Bottomline: everything is where it should be.

It will take some time to get used to the touch-screen but it's cool that it tilts and it's also the ultimate selfie camera. There's also the option of "touch shutter." Instead of pushing down on the shutter, with "touch shutter," enabled tapping the screen will set the shutter to go off. Probably won't use it but it's a nice feature.

Samples

All the photos seen above were taken using the EF-M 22mm f/2.

Improvements

Built-in viewfinder. There is the optional EVF DC1 that attaches to the hot-shoe but it would be more convenient if it was already on the M3. Now there's one more thing to buy,
Wifi/remote app shooting: Canon's EOS Remote app is handy. You can control the whole camera via the app but once you're out of range (10ft+) the connection is loss. The best part is your phone's screen now becomes the viewfinder for the camera. So, if there's a way to strengthen the signal of the wifi that would be perfect. I wanted to walk further on the shots seen above but I had to stay in the camera's range.

Conclusions

I'm really happy with this little M3. I've only shot with it once since it arrived from Japan but I think this one's a keeper. I've seen some rumors that the M3 may make it's way into the states which I hope it does. It really is a great alternative to my bulky 5D Mark III which was just too heavy to carry around when I went on hikes. The M3's small and compact body does not take away from the quality of images it produces.

Happy shooting!

RD

All photos were taken by me.