TOKYO, December 3, 2013—Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. announced today the introduction to the Japanese market of a new addition to the company’s EOS M series of high-image-quality digital compact-system cameras: the EOS M2, featuring significantly improved AF performance.

Inheriting the product concept of its predecessor, the EOS M (released in September 2012), Canon’s new EOS M2 delivers image quality on a par with the company’s EOS series of digital SLR cameras in a compact and lightweight design. Compared with its predecessor, the new EOS M2 realizes dramatically improved autofocusing performance and newly incorporates built-in Wi-Fi while achieving a body that is approximately 8% smaller in volume. Accordingly, the M2 not only enables users to capture impressive digital photos with greater comfort and convenience, but also lets them easily enjoy sharing their photos with family and friends.

EOS M2 (Black)With EF-M18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens

Employing Hybrid CMOS AF II, the M2 combines high-precision contrast AF and high-speed phase-detection AF for high-performance autofocusing across approximately 80% of the width and height of the sensor’s imaging surface. Compared with the EOS M, the technology makes possible AF across a wider imaging area than that offered by the earlier EOS M and is approximately 2.3 times faster, letting users realize improved focusing performance and compose shots with greater flexibility while enabling improved tracking response when shooting a moving subject.

Equipped with an approximately 18-megapixel APS-C-size CMOS sensor and Canon’s DIGIC 5 image processor, the EOS M2 achieves a high level of image quality that only a large sensor can make possible while delivering a maximum continuous shooting speed of 4.6 frames per second. Additionally, offering a maximum standard ISO of 12800 (expandable to ISO 25600), the camera lets users capture images with reduced noise even in low-light conditions.

Featuring built-in Wi-Fi, the EOS M2 allows users to use their smartphone as a wireless controller to shoot stills with the camera from afar. Additionally, still images stored on the camera’s memory card can be transferred and saved to a compatible smartphone.

The EOS M2, available in black and white body colors, will go on sale in Japan in mid December at an open price. Canon has set initial production at 20,000 units per month.