Despite its position as one for the foremost producers of digital cameras in the world, it could be reasonably said that Canon has been a little late to the compact system camera market.

Canon first hit the CSC shelves in mid-2012 in the shape of the EOS M1. Despite the appeal of the Canon heritage, on the whole the EOS M1 failed to set the world of CSCs alight owing to a number of factors including a high RRP, relatively entry-level specification on poor AF performance.

The EOS M range then lay dormant for a number of years, with the intervening EOS M2 featuring a limited release the an Asian market, perhaps as a result of the lukewarm reception of the EOS M1. Then there’s the fact that to date there are still only some four Canon EF-M lenses on the market, compared to some 17 available for Fujifilm’s X-series of CSCs.

However, Canon has now once again dipped back in to the CSC market with the latest EOS M3. Canon has clearly taken aboard much of the criticism levelled at the M1, and the M3 seems like an altogether different beast.

To begin with, the model features a 24.2MP APS-C sensor as seen in the 750D and 760D, while it also features a new autofocus system and claims of general improvements to its focusing speeds.

The model also features a new design, with a pronounced handgrip now featuring alongside a new control layout.

All of these features suggest that the Canon EOS M3 could well mark the manufacturer’s arrival as a true competitor in the enthusiast CSC market.

You can judge for yourself as to whether the latest 24.2MP APS-C sensor is capable of the goods in this Canon EOS M3 review sample image gallery.

To read our full verdict on the camera, head on over to the Canon EOS M3 review.