Now, Even Beginners Can Shoot Like a Pro.


Thats what the Yi M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera claims it to be. XiaoYi Company has accomplished a lot in the field of action cameras with the Yi Action Camera and the Yi 4k Action Camera, as well as the widely popular Yi Home IP Camera. Now, they are trying to capture mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera market as well.



Not bad for a first time DSLR holder, your favorite Xiaomi Reviewer Mitch002 traded places with the gasoline boy and he was able to take this photo in just one simple click, indeed making a beginner look like a Pro. Now I can relate to their claim.





Their latest ventured product, XiaoYi M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera is made of DSM Arnitel ThermoPlastic, weighs only 280 grams, is designed in an elegant minimalistic style, this is available in two colors — Storm Black and Ice Silver.





The story revolves around whats packed inside this camera, which makes it something worth owning.
Yi M1 uses an effective 20MP Sony IMX269 Four Thirds sensor which allows shooting in RAW and JPEG formats and has the power and ability to shoot 4K / 30P video.





Yi M1 Digital Camera basically is designed for people who wants a taste of DSLR but is not willing to spend that much for the said professional camera. This camera is way better than any smartphones can offer due to the power to attach a DSLR lens.





This camera deploys the same concept like that of the smartphone camera, point and shoot. The 3 inch touchscreen panel and two physical buttons should facilitate that smartphone like photo snapping experience.






One of the upside of the Yi M1 is to connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth Technology and upload photos from your camera to your friends and social media in real time. This feature is not widely available in DSLR.





Get ready to shoot outstanding moments with excellent video quality — 4K at 30 frames per second and Full HD at 60 frames per second.





The camera shutter speed is 1/4000 s ~ 60 s, the range of ISO is 100–25600.





It is a pleasant surprise that you can choose among two lenses that come in the kit. Single Lens retails at 2199 RMB and Two Lens package retails at 2999 RMB.





More conventional Yi 12–40 mm f/3.5—5.6 will be supplied with the camera, and prime Yi 42.5 mm f/1.8 can be purchased separately or in a kit, both lens are equipped with image stabilization technology.





The camera mount is universal and can easily be attached with over 50 different lenses accordiing to Yi.





The supplied Lithium-ion 900 mAh battery allows you to record up to 7 hours of 4K video or take approx. 450 photos. The supplied charger will recharge your battery within 180 minutes as the company claims.









UNBOXING Video:

Whats in the Box:

• Yi M1 Wrist Strap
  
• Yi M1 Shoulder Strap
  
• Yi M1 UV Lens
  
• Yi M1 Shoulder Bag
  
• Yi M1 Battery Charger
  
• Yi M1 Camera Battery
  

3D view of the Yi Mirrorless Camera:





























Specifications:

• Sony IMX269 20.16 MP sensor
  
• ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600
  
• Shutter Speed: Vertical-travel, mechanical, electronically controlled focal-plane shutter, 1 / 4000s ~ 60 s
  
• 3-inch, 720×480 LCD Touchscreen
  
• Camera Size: 130.4 mm (W) x 93.5 mm (H) x 63.1 mm (D) (excluding protrusions)
  
• Firmware Upgrade: camera firmware upgrades through Yi M1 app, lens firmware upgrade through both — app and camera
  

Input / Output:

• USB 2.0
  
• HDMI (Micro HDMI)
  
• Bluetooth 4.0
  
• Remote Control Through Smartphones
  
• Wi-Fi Supported (2.4G)
  

For more technical specifications, you can check it here.


Photos:
Compressed due to some files are beyond 9MB!


























































Now lets compare it side by side with the Canon EOS 600D and see some of its shots





Side by Side Photos:














Conclusion:
The build is quite sturdy. Overall design is good (grip isn't awkward). Interesting design of the prime lens (with macro mode that allows users to shoot nearer to subject since it's a prime lenses and doesn't zoom) but no manual focus mode. Zoom lens locking mechanism is a bit weird (have to pull back the unlock to fully retract the lenses). Lenses uses the MFT platform (according to some tech site they tried Panasonic and Olympus lenses and it worked). While colors appears to be more correct in XiaoYi, it is a little bit lacking in the contrast department I think (check the comparison, colors are a little dull/dead in my opinion). Touchscreen focus is a big help with its 81 point autofocus (autocontrast too).


Is it a worthy buy? Im happy with the results compared to the Canon EOS 600D, now the colors looks more real especially on the Amazfit watch, the color of the strap is the same as the one in actual. Canon took it a little more reddish, but sharper. Now if you want to carry a DSLR like camera without the hulk of a size of that in the DSLR, this is your best bet. I recommend this camera to anyone who loves photography on a budget and who would like to become a Pro someday.


Yi M1 Mirrorless Digital Camera