Canon EOS M

[milkyjoe]

Hi,

Does anyone use one of these cameras for astro use and normal use, any good?  I've been reading a lot of difference of opinion reviews, I hear the image quality lacks sharpness compared to something like a 650d?

I'm thinking of getting one of these or the 100d, but the EOS M is on offer at the mo at Argos for £199!!

Thanks in advance.

Rick.

[Psychobilly]

Still haven't pointed mine skywards...

The battery life isn't very good... Bulb mode exposure are via an IR remote - I use my Android  smartphone - Samsung Galaxy S4 which has an IR transmitter and DSLRShutter app... 

Do you want to use it for widefield with lenses or put it on the back of a scope...?

There's no a massive selection of EOS-M  EF-M mount lenses - a few third party ones are starting to appear... You can get an EF-M to T adaptor.

The mirror less design  has a very short register (Mount to Focal Plane) distance so there's plenty of "scope" for adaptors to use just about any lens on it... The Canon EF-M to EF adaptor is expensive - I bought mini as lightweight backup APS-C sized sensor body for my Canon  DSLR's...

I need to re-shoot the dark frame tests I was doing a few weeks ago as I had forgotten that I had reset the camera so the NR was on - DOH...

There was some purple glow starting to spread along the bottom edge of the frame as the camera warmed up...

I will have a play when I get home tonight..

Peter...

[happy-kat]

Second hand lens this camera from when I was researching opens up the canon FD lens mount and will not need an adaptor with a glass element to reach focus unlike using an FD lens on an EOS.

[milkyjoe]

Psychobilly:

How do you find the camera for normal daytime use, no slr is perfect for astro work; I used to have a 1000d, but it started acting up in the cold weather a few years ago.  Should I spend a bit more cash on a "proper" SLR, such as the 100d, which seems like a nice camera or maybe a 1200d?

happy-kat:

I am not sure I follow you?!  (sorry, I am a noob *blush*)

Thanks.

[Psychobilly]

It's capable of producing very good results for daytime use...

I have the 18-55 EF-M STM lens and also the canon EF-M to EF adaptor so I can use any of my Canon lenses on it... I use it for macro mainly.. For action shots the touch screen control is fiddly, the AF is slow  and the shutter lag to long,

I would probably go for one of the DSLR's if it was going to be my only camera...

Peter...

[Earl]

I picked one up as a happy snapper delux and it has taken over for general use as is nice and compact.

[Thalestris24]

Hi

Anyone tried one at prime focus (I see FLO does a t-ring)?

Just curious

Louise

[happy-kat]

The old lens from the 60-80s canon had an FD mount.

On an EOS with adaptor infinity focus is not reached unless there is a lens element in the adaptor this makes for low quality images. However the EOS-M can use these old FD lens mounts without needing a glass element in the EOS-M to FD adaptor so it opens up very cheap old lens on the second hand market.

[Psychobilly]

Hi

Anyone tried one at prime focus (I see FLO does a t-ring)?

Just curious

Louise

It will be interesting how "thick" it is... It needs to provided a register of 55mm to be compatible with t-mount lenses... like this...

http://www.fotodioxpro.com/lens-mount-adapters/mirrorless-dslr/canon-eos-m-mount/fotodiox-t-t2-mount-lens-to-canon-eos-m-mount-camera-lens-mount-adapter.html

Of course for astro use it can almost be "anything"...

I'm currently running ISO 800 darks at 1,2,4,8, and 16 mins exposures having made sure that all In camera NR is off and also the lens correction is off...I  will upload the raws and jpegs to my drop box later and provide links...

Plenty of options for legacy lenses...

http://www.fotodioxpro.com/lens-mount-adapters/mirrorless-dslr/canon-eos-m-mount.html

OK the darks are uploaded...

Jpegs (not ideal) ranging from 3-13MB

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%2060s.JPG

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20120s.JPG

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20240s.JPG

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20480s.JPG

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20960s.JPG

EOS-M Raw Files (.cr2)  19-32MB

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%2060s.CR2

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20120s.CR2

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20240s.CR2

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20480s.CR2

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8191904/Canon%20EOS-M%20Darks%20Test/EOS-M%20Dark%20ISO800%20960s.CR2

Peter..

[Thalestris24]

Hi

Our FLO does a standard t-ring for it: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/t-rings.html

So it should connect to any scope. I was thinking it might be happy with all the scopes that dslrs aren't happy with e.g. 130p, 150p etc.

That would solve people's focus problems though I've no idea how it would perform or if there are any problems using it with the usual software etc.

It would be interesting to know even though I've no plans to get one myself!

Louise

[Psychobilly]

Hi

Our FLO does a standard t-ring for it: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/t-rings.html

So it should connect to any scope. I was thinking it might be happy with all the scopes that dslrs aren't happy with e.g. 130p, 150p etc.

That would solve people's focus problems though I've no idea how it would perform or if there are any problems using it with the usual software etc.

It would be interesting to know even though I've no plans to get one myself!

Louise

You would need to see a pic of it - if it is a "Standard" t-ring then you would have the same register as a DSLR and so would have the same problems... The whole point of the "standard" T-rings is that they provide the same Register for any camera body (55.0mm) so that the same lens can be used on all bodies...

The T-Ring  has been "adopted" by  the astro community but was originally developed for  photography with lenses... You can now get low profile t-rings which are great for solving back focus issues with astro kit...

Peter...

[happy-kat]

I have to move my truss down about 3 inches on my 130p didn't think the register difference on the EOS-M was that big to a say 1000d.

[Blazar]

Used my wives EOS-M for a while, and got some ok results (yes I did buy the T ring). but now I use a 600D.

It was fun to throw it on the back of the Edge800, but it won't fit onto the WO star 71.

This was a single 60 second shot of M13:

The DSLR is easier to use due to the flip screen....IMO

[Thalestris24]

Used my wives EOS-M for a while, and got some ok results (yes I did buy the T ring). but now I use a 600D.

It was fun to throw it on the back of the Edge800, but it won't fit onto the WO star 71.

This was a single 60 second shot of M13:

The DSLR is easier to use due to the flip screen....IMO

Hi

Does it not have liveview / Canon utility?

Louise

[Thalestris24]

You would need to see a pic of it - if it is a "Standard" t-ring then you would have the same register as a DSLR and so would have the same problems... The whole point of the "standard" T-rings is that they provide the same Register for any camera body (55.0mm) so that the same lens can be used on all bodies...

The T-Ring  has been "adopted" by  the astro community but was originally developed for  photography with lenses... You can now get low profile t-rings which are great for solving back focus issues with astro kit...

Peter...

Hi

I think that's only true of 'normal' dslrs? The eos-m appears to have a much shorter backfocus as it's mirrorless but, yeah, would need to see a pic. Obviously some people here have already tried it so can confirm

Louise

[Psychobilly]

It's true of all camera mounts... It's all explained here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance

Canon EF-M  is 18.0mmm   , EF is 44.0mm and  T/T2 is 55.0mm

T/T2 Camera lanses  need a register of 55.0 mm   A "standard" Canon EF - T adaptor  adds 11mm (55-44)  , The EF-M one adds 37mm (55-18)    the Adaptor that converts EF-M to EF adds 26mm (44-18)  if you used that you would still need to use an EF to T adaptor to get teh 55mm register to use T-Mount lenses on the EOS-M....

Peter...

[Earl]

I had a t adapter for using EF on EOS-M and it was quiet thick to pad out the backfocus.

[Psychobilly]

In the days of film based astrophotography  the use of a T-mount on astro kit to attach the camera sort of made sense.... You made your various bits and pieces to have 55mm backfocus requirement and there was a whole range of  adaptors readily available to attach just about any camera to the back and you were ready to go...

It's hung around and unless your looking to hang an everyday camera off the back  then it's often a cause of spacing  headaches.,,,

Peter...

[Thalestris24]

Hi

But if you're only using it at prime focus on a scope, the lens spacing won't come into it, will it?

Louise

[Psychobilly]

It all depends on if you can get a non standard- low profile t-adaptor....  The vast majority of the ones you will buy will be standard ones...

There are some low profile ones becoming available, before they were I  the made my own low profile  Canon EF-T adaptor that also had a focus confirmation chip in it...

You could probably gain around 20mm or possibly a few mm less sat the expense of thread depth  with a custom T adaptor  for the EF-M  mount that the ESO-M uses...

So to summarise   An EOS-M with a standard ESO-M  to T adaptor will offer no improvement of backfoucus requirement over any other type of camaera with it's standard T-mount...

Peter...

[Earl]

Hi

But if you're only using it at prime focus on a scope, the lens spacing won't come into it, will it?

Louise

It depneds on your scope, Newts for example come with low Profile focusers to assist afocal focusing as a regular focuser often did not have enough in focus, however with an EOS-M that could in reality be easier as its back focus is less, its tiral and error as normal unfortunaly, but the lack of backfocus added by the camera body for afocal id see as an advantage in this case.

[Psychobilly]

It has several disdavantages which I am sure could be overcome...

The small internal battery is dire - especially seeing as I haven't yet found a way to turn the display off - even when the shutter is open in bulb mode it stays on counting up the exposure time.. Battery life I sorted by  the dummy battery/ External PSU - I use a 6000mAH Lipo for all my DSLR's when away from Mains or Lesiure battery power...

It warms up quite quickly... The noise levels change between subs as sub length increases and you get purple glow growing in from the edges... 

IR only remote and No tethered shooting/control...  Using the DSLRShutter app and the IR blaster on the Galaxy s4 took the phone battery from 100% to 78% ater the 1,2,4,8,16 min set...

The get the gain  back focus will need special adaptors - is there a market for them based on the other issues ... Who knows... and is the gain big enough to make it useful for Newt owners...

Peter...

[Thalestris24]

Not so good then!

Louise

[Psychobilly]

For a compact camera with a decent sized sensor for general use especially if you already have the Canon System accessories it's superb .. and the EF-M lenses are pretty darn good... The MK2 is only available in some markets , and there are a few third party lenses coming out for it...

The 18MP Sensor and DIgic 5 Processor mean that it  can produce  the goods for Landscape and general togging ...

It does look a  bit lost on the back of the 100-400/f4.5-5.6L  and  600/F4L though...

EOS M EF Adaptor Canon 100-400 f4_5-5_6 L IS USM by psmithuk, on Flickr

I tend to use it for macro when I am carrying the big kit around at the same time...

EOS-M Macro Setup #1 by psmithuk, on Flickr

and it does a reasonable job getting around 100 shots out of the battery

Buff Tipped Caterpillars Phalera bucephala on Hazel Leaf EOS-M_0355_DxO by psmithuk, on Flickr

A Magnifying loupe helps steady the camera and make the dispaly readable in sunlight...

Peter...

[happy-kat]

There is a MkIII in Japan that addresses the action shot short falls I read about earlier this year. Not being exported though.