Canon EF-M - A manual focus camera that takes only Canon EOS EF lenses

But where were all the people who said they'd wanted it? Apparently in one of those alternate universes, very likely, where the Edsel is Ford's leading line of cars.

I have no ads for the camera and I do not know the original price, even in yen, since this camera was never sold in Japan so the Canon Camera Museum ( (link) ) lists no price. Presumably it was cheaper than the Rebel, but of course the AF circuitry in such a camera is not expensive, once its mass manufacturing costs are 'amortized'. "Take control" was the motto. Apparently not all that many people wanted THAT much control. One post indicates that one Japanese shop re-imported it and offered it for 18,000 yen for body only ( http://www.ne.jp/asahi/japan/manual-camera/efm1.htm ). The price in Japan for the Canon EOS 1000 was much higher than that ar 47,000 yen for body only ( (link) ). I found one new in box example offered on eBay at around US$100, but I bought a used one for about $30. It did turn out to have a partially flawed viewfinder information panel, but it is still usable and for the price, I'm not complaining. It often sells used for around $90, but my $30 price is not uncommon for those with patience.

The Rebel/1000 price at its introduction in Japan was 69,000 yen with EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6. The 'normal' lens for the EF-M was listed as the EF 50mm f/1.8, but the manual shows the same 35-80mm zoom in many examples. Needless to say, one EF lens that will not work with the EF-M is the original Power Zoom 35-85mm which lacks a focus ring altogether!


Canon at the link above gives the specifications:

The fixed, pentaprism viewfinder has a magnification of 0.75x (50mm at infinity) and 90% coverage. The matte focusing screen has a combination rangefinder. The 7-segment LCD within the image area displays numerals and text for the shutter speed, aperture setting, incorrect exposures, exposure level, film speed, AE lock, and flash ready.

Three-zone evaluative metering. partial metering at center, and center-weighted averaging metering are also provided.

The Canon EF mount has the electrical contacts to the lens, but these control only the aperture set on the lens, since focus is completely manual. It is essential, of course, to turn off AF on lenses without full-time manual focusing capabilities.

By the way, note that the mount is another of those PLASTIC mounts like the EOS 700. ;)

Despite its intentionally basic form, this was actually quite sophisticated. As is the case with most of the EOS film cameras, L on the aperture dial is "off". If the shutter speed dial AND the shutter aperture dial are both set to "A", then the camera operates as a program-exposure camera with both the speed and aperture being selected automatically. If, however, a specific shutter speed or aperture is chosen on the appropriate dial, then the camera operates as a shutter-preferred or aperture-preferred camera.
If both dials are turned to settings, the camera is totally manually and exposure is chosen by turning one or both dials and noting the under- or over-exposure on the display in the viewfinder. Exposure compensation has its own control, together with buttons on the back that otherwise are exposure-lock and self timer controls.

One feature of the Canon EF-M is more-or-less unique, however. It has a special viewfinder screen that is designed for MANUAL focus with EF lenses. This consists of a fairly bright ground glass, with a central micro-prism ring and, within that, a prism rangefinder. Many people seem to have found this a source for a finder that could, with some difficulty, be installed in other EOS cameras, film and digital. It's my impression that it is actually superior to the MF screens offered by Canon today for some of their digital cameras. In any case, broken or not EF-M cameras have been plundered to get this screen - perhaps another reason for it's maintaining value pretty well, both in terms of utility of the screen and destruction of the relatively few of them that are out there.

Of course, I suppose the only mystery about this camera so far as this report is concerned is how well it works with my variously reworked eyes, mark ii. Does the manual focus work, in other words?
Yeah, I guess so. It seemed easy to focus. Of course, it is absolutely crucial that you remember to turn off the AF on the lens if it is not one of the newer USM series. Otherwise, you may experience what is known as the dread AF "crunch" as you destroy the AF mechanism in the lens.

Here are a few examples. These are all shot with a Canon EF 35mm f/2 lens in manual mode. I thought about using my Canon EF 24-105mm lens, but to be honest putting a 670g lens on a 390g camera body doesn't balance out all that well. :)

The film was Walgreen's version of Fuji 200 C/N film. These are "un-shopped" except for adjustment of the scans for exposure and 'spotting' some of the inevitable film 'spots.' Exposure adjustment and some color adjustment is necessary because of the scanning process and settings. The negatives were of good, on-the-dot density.

By the way the first pictures here were Tv, Av, and M (to put it in current terms), but the later images were program.

The winter has been so mild, and so warm recently that many trees are starting to bud. They will be punished, I'm afraid.

The library has also moved to completely electronic access, which is even more fortunate for those of us who work from home (retired :).