A taste of pro photography with the Xiaomi M1

The XiaoYi M1 combines the ease of use with the creativity of being able to swap lenses, if you are looking to extend your photography beyond clip on smartphone lenses and Instagram filters, this is one attractive option.

XiaoYi M1 packs a punch

• Inside is a Sony IMX 269 20 mp 4/3 sensor with 81 point autofocus capable of 5 frames a second continuous shooting and 4K at 30 FPS. Similar cameras using this same sensor, such as the Panasonic CG8, are more than double the price.
• The Xiaoyi is really light and has a dense plastic frame.
• Physical connectivity, there is a standard shoe mount on the top and behind a cover is a USB HDMI and SD card slot.
• Wireless options, both Wifi And Bluetooth are available, you can connect to your smartphone to change settings, install scene modes and access photos from the camera for instant upload to Facebook.

The controls of the Mirrorless Xiaoyi M1

At a glance, it looks overly simple and has just a few buttons and wheels. This plays out well because you don’t really have a learning curve, you can almost pick it up and start snapping. You can access the full depth of the cameras functions in the smartphone-style screen menu.

Although it feels bare if moving from a DSLR, having only the few core functions as buttons make it an attractive options for those transitioning from their camera phones to a dedicated camera. You are not overwhelmed with adjustments at every edge like a traditional DSLR and can quickly operate the basics almost straight away.

Inside the digital menus

The UI is based around a 3 page home screen, swipe left or right to slide between pages. The middle is the camera live preview, swiping left enters settings and swiping right enters scene modes.

XiaoYi M1 full settings

Here are the 3 pages of full settings , all options are not available in all shooting modes and they will toggle grey when not available.

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The unique composition features

Xiaomi trains you in composition techniques with their overlay examples, you basically choose a photo you like and it will help you to recreate the scene. You can toggle between wire frame and a photo example. The portrait section is full of girls only tho and lacks any options for the lads. Xiaomi is known for their updates and we are expecting this area to improve over time.

A Test Photo

Here is the first shot we took with the camera in the default setting ins auto mode.

Video Quality

We should be uploading the video over the weekend as we are intending to complete some low light night time shots.

The auto focus also performs ok in video mode, it is noticeably slower than when in photo mode. You can also jump into manual by rotating the focusing wheel for more control over the scene.

Lens and compatibility

The included  YI 12-40mm F3.5-5.6 lens has a digital focusing ring and a mechanical zoom ring. This lens is ideal for general shooting. For a  versatile set of shooting options, add a second lens with a wider aperture and you have a.

MFT standard lens mount.

By incorporating an MFT mount you are given the creativity of not only sticking with Xiaomi lenses. If you have a collection of other branded MFT lenses you can simply click them into the M1 for instant adaptability.

Image stabilization

There is no image stabilizer in the body, so you won’t have stabilization unless your lens has it. That’s not a deal breaker as many other cameras also do not have native stabilization. Using a gimbal or tripod in low light or shaky scenes will reduce shake.

Bluetooth Wifi and the Xiaoyi M1 App.

Light easy to operate and all around great performance. By hitting a low price of just over $400 (@ Oct 2016) it is clear Xiaomi are entering with a similar strategy to their phones, beat the competition on price.

The Xiaomi M1 is available here and ships to most destinations in the world. Discover mirrorless with the XiaoYi M1.