On (not) buying a digital camera
by Vinay Gupta • January 16, 2015 • Everything Else • 0 Comments
Canon EOS M or Canon SL1 (called 100D in the UK)
The Canon EOS M is a DSLR sensor and electronics package wedged into a camera the size of an S110 or a Sony RX100. The big lens still sticks out the front, though. But it’s tiny. The SL1 is the same sensor in small, light DSLR body – with better autofocus. The EOS M had a persistent autofocus problem so is now £200 quid.
Rough comparison
http://snapsort.com/compare/
Size comparison
http://camerasize.com/compact/
(that’s the 5D, the SL1 and the EOS M)
Absurdly detailed comparison
http://www.cameradebate.com/
Exactly the same sensor. Both have a 3.5mm microphone in. Bodies and processor are different. The EOSM is *tiny* (compact camera with huge lens), a DSLR-in-a-can, and the SL1 is simply a very small DSLR. Same sensor, very similar electronics.
EOS M *does* work with Magic Lantern. Really well. Has shitty autofocus: 0.75 seconds to get a lock. Otherwise, absolutely great.
http://www.magiclantern.fm/
SL1 also appears to support Magic Lantern. Does not have shitty autofocus.
EOSM plus an adapter ring takes canon EF lenses.
SL1 takes the lenses straight.
Buying options
EOS M stock lens (3x zoom) at Argos £200
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/
EOS M w. 22mm lens (F2) and adapter ring for Canon EF glass £350
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-
SL1 with huge range of lens options
http://www.jessops.com/search?
Note that you really need the IS STM lens for shooting anything which isn’t off a tripod – image stabilized with stepper motors so that changing focus is silent for shooting video.
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In the end, I realized that I did not personally need to own the camera – my existing point and shoot is good enough for youtube, I don’t have the time/energy/software to do much video editing, and I’m a lousy still photographer.
I did need to borrow a real camera occasionally to record talks for work – and that’s what I’m going to do. Simple!
