Canon M3 PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Canon EOS M3? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Canon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the M3 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Canon EOS M3 below.
In any case, the M3 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on February 6th, 2015, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3364 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Canon M6 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Canon's user guide for the M3
The camera's user guide is 201 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the M3 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Canon EOS M3 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Canon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Canon M3 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Canon EOS M3
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your M3 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Canon M3 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
Canon M3 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the M3.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Canon M3?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Canon M3 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Canon equipped the M3 with the DIGIC 6 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon M3?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800.
Can the Canon M3 be equipped with an optional viewfinder?
Yes, Canon provides the EVF-DC1 as an accessory (here on amazon) that can be mounted on the hotshoe.
Does the Canon M3 have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the M3 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS M3?
Canon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the M3. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the M3 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Canon M3?
Canon embeds the number of shutter actuations in the camera firmware. You can check the number of shots that your M3 has taken up to now by using a third-party app, as described on the Canon M3 shutter count page.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Canon M3?
The M3 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Canon M3 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon M3 for flash photography?
The M3's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.
Does the Canon M3 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Canon M3 use?
The camera gets its power from the Canon LP-E17 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Further reading
How does the M3 stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Canon EOS M3.
Camera Model | Canon M3 | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
Camera Lens | Canon EF-M mount lenses | |
Launch Date | February 2015 | |
Launch Price | USD 679 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 22.3 x 14.9 mm | |
Sensor Area | 332 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 26.8 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.6x | |
Sensor Resolution | 24 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 6 000 x 4 000 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 3.72 μm | |
Pixel Density | 7.22 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12 800 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | DIGIC 6 | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 72 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.8 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.8 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1169 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 4.2 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Canon LP-E17 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 250 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
111 x 68 x 44 mm (4.4 x 2.7 x 1.7 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 366 g (12.9 oz) |
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