When you’re Mr. Big, you can get to the party any time you want to.

If Canon were a smaller company, people would be greeting today’s trot-out of its mirrorless system like an ordinary middle-of-the-pack kid who finally shows up at a high school party halfway through. A few friends might say, “hey, where ya been? You’re missing it.” and the rest wouldn’t even notice.

But Canon is the coolest kid in school. I’m remembering an old movie—old even for me, and I’m old—where the sidekick friend says, “But you can’t leave the party!” and the hero says, “I am the party!” The cool kid can come any time she wants to, and nobody minds. By definition, whenever she gets there is the right time to arrive.

Here’s the news in a nutshell: this morning Canon introduced the EOS-M, a small, mirrorless, 18-megapixel, APS-C sensor camera with two interchangeable lenses, one prime and one zoom. It has a touch screen enabling familiar gestures like pinch-to-zoom and swiping, and full HD video.

There are two ways you might react. One is lack of interest—the party’s been underway for a while now, and let’s face it, they ain’t nuthin’ but late. I.e., there are systems out there with multiple generations of product already well established and evolved, and well supported with system accessories and lenses. Maybe you’ve already jumped to mirrorless long ago, and already have your system. Nice try, Number One, but no need.

Or: here comes the biggest dog in the pack, with the most muscle, and they’ve been able to watch everybody else’s mistakes; maybe they just took their time to get it really right. They have the resources. Maybe you’re a Canon brand loyalist and have been waiting patiently for years, and you’re feeling the warm glow of reward today. Finally, no more crappy also-cams from soulless electronics giants who can’t make a sensor. Canon. Mmmm.

The camera is said to be simple, which causes me to perk up—we need simpler cameras, especially in this category. Simple means streamlined, refined, made more efficient, easier and more intutive to use.

Or, it means stripped of features and offering nothing really new or innovative. You’ve got to watch out for that vector and which way it really points.

More on the EOS-M as the news evolves. My personal take? Another post, later.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

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