The Micro Four Thirds Standard is attractive to new companies jumping into the Interchangeable Lens Camera (ILC) market. Take the case of the latest newcomer, the XIAOYI (aka YI, Young Innovator) M1 mirrorless, with a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount, the Sony IMX269 image sensor, which is a 20MP Four-Thirds EXMOR sensor, 4K video at 30 fps, a 3″ 1.04M-dot touch LCD, and Real-time BLE Bluetooth Connection.
The following videos presents YI M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera:
There are two kit lenses available: a 42.5mm (85mm equiv.) F1.8 prime portrait lens and a 12-40mm (24-80mm equiv.) F3.5-5.6 zoom lens. Suggested retail price is US $499 (body + 12-40mm zoom), US $599 (body + 42.5mm prime) or US $699 (body + both lenses). Of course, having the MFT mount means that the YI M1 will also accept over 50 MFT lenses from Panasonic, Olympus and other lens manufacturers.
Left to right: YI M1 camera (Storm Black color), 42.5mm F1.8 and 12-40mm F3.5-5.6 zoom lenses
The YI M1 minimalist design is a tad too close for comfort to that of the Leica T, even sporting a red “dot” (square in this case). On top, there is the shutter button and an ON/OFF switch around it, the Mode Dial with a dedicated Movie button in the center, and a Command Dial. Like the Leica T, it relies heavily on its touch panel LCD for everything else.
Major features:
- 20MP CMOS sensor
- ISO 200-25600
- 81-point Contrast detection AF, sensitive to -4EV
- 4K/30p video
- 3″ 1.04M-dot Touch LCD
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
The following video presents Raw 4K Footage from YI M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera #YIM1:
YI M1 (from left): Ice Silver and Storm Black colors
The M1 is the first generation model and it looks like they have successfully brought together technologies from different companies: MFT mount, Sony sensor, Arnitel thermoplastic elastomer skin-friendly, smooth-to-the-touch materials, etc. and done a pretty good job on the physical side.
They will need to put some finishing touches on their firmware. For example, though the LCD is touchscreen, Touch AF doesn’t quite work as you’d expect. Touch a point on the screen and the AF area jumps there — but does not actually focus; you have to half-press the shutter to engage focus. This should be easily fixed in a future firmware update — and we hope YI implements a friendly firmware update policy like that from Fujifilm. Some reviewers mentioned that the AF isn’t quite as accurate as could be, so this will be another area to work on. (Panasonic and Olympus worked years to perfect their AF, which is now both fast and accurate.)
The Leica T design and red square label put a smile on my face, reminding me of the early years of Hyundai and Kia, when their cars closely ressembled other popular German or Japanese car models. But, look at them now! Some of the most innovative car designs now come from those two companies. Similarly, we are sure it is just a matter of time before the YI young designers boldly and confidently take a courageous step into coming up with their very own innovative designs. After all, they are called the Young Innovators.
PRESS RELEASE
COLOGNE, Germany–Photokina 2016 – YI Technology, a leading, international provider of advanced, intelligent imaging technologies, today introduced the YI M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera, its first professional-grade camera. The YI M1 is a mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera that features Bluetooth® connectivity and a simple app interface, offering the power and features of a professional camera with the ease and connectivity of a smartphone. YI will unveil the YI M1 at Photokina 2016, September 20-25 in Cologne, Germany.
“With the launch of the YI M1, we are aiming to re-energize professional quality photography by making it accessible and simple to use for the average person or amateur photographer,” said Sean Da, CEO and Co-Founder of YI Technology. “Our mission is to bring top of the line technology to professionals and beginners alike in a simple, easy-to-use form and the YI M1 is no exception.”
Stunning Image and Video Quality
The YI M1 offers the ultimate image and video quality capturing 20 megapixel still images and stunning 4K video at 30 frames per second. It features the latest SONY IMX269 Image Sensor, supports ISO up to 25,600, as well as 2000-megapixel and Wide Dynamic Range video. Two lens options include a 12-40mm F3.5-5.6 and 42.5mm F1.8. YI M1 also includes an MFT mount system, which is compatible with more than 50 interchangeable lenses.
Simple, User-Friendly Design
Inspired by the ease of a smartphone, the simple yet sophisticated design of the YI M1 means photographers of any level, from beginner to professional, can capture and share stunning video and images. It features a 3-inch LCD touch screen, intuitive design and comprehensive controls. The lightweight and compact design means the user can focus more on shooting and less on heavy equipment. With the “Master Guide” feature in the accompanying YI M1 App, users can access photography templates, composition guidelines and step-by-step instructions, to shoot like a professional.
Easy Sharing and Connectivity
Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth technology offer users a way to seamlessly connect to a smartphone for fast sharing to social networks.
Pricing & Availability
YI M1 Mirrorless Camera will be available soon in two colors, Ice Silver and Storm Black. US and European pricing and availability will be announced soon on YITechnology.com.
To view the YI M1 in person at Photokina 2016 in Cologne, Germany, please visit YI Technology booth A-032, Hall 09.1.
About YI Technology
YI Technology is a leading, international provider of advanced, intelligent imaging technologies, products, services and platforms. Its development team consists of industry-leading experts from the US, China, Japan, Israel and Europe with several decades of combined experience in imaging technology, algorithms, data analysis, cloud computing and mobile applications. YI is committed to using innovative technology to make everyday life safer, richer and more fun.
YI believes that the very best imaging and sensing technology should be easy to use and accessible to everyone. With the company’s passion, hard work and commitment to combining the highest quality technology solutions with great value, YI aims to provide millions of users of all ages from every corner of the world with peace of mind, and inspire greater connections between families, friends and communities. For more information visit www.yitechnology.com.
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Contacts
Blanc & Otus for YI Technology
Jennifer Pierce, 415-856-5152
Jennifer.pierce@blancandotus.com
pr@yitechnology.com
Pre-order the YI M1 at Amazon.com:
