Canon EOS M: specs, features, release date, and price for the long-awaited mirrorless camera

To describe Canon's entry into the mirrorless camera market as highly anticipated would be doing the anticipation of its fans a disservice. Countering Nikon's J1 and V1, Sony's NEX series, and the Micro Four Thirds catalog from Olympus and Panasonic, the EOS M takes up the mantle of being Canon's first serious attempt at splicing the portability of a point-and-shoot camera with the flexibility and quality of a DSLR. It is compatible with the Japanese company's wide range of lenses — albeit via an adapter — and is equipped with an 18-megapixel APS-C-sized sensor, allowing it to ably emulate its bulkier siblings in a great variety of situations. Launching in Japan this September, the Canon EOS M should be available globally by October, though pre-orders are already being taken in the US at $799.99 for the interchangeable lens camera and its kit 22mm f/2 lens.