Canon mirrorless compact system camera announced

Canon has announced its first "mirrorless" compact camera to work with a range of interchangeable lenses.

The device offers users image quality and a degree of control over their pictures previously restricted to bulkier models.

It marks the last of the big camera makers to offer such a device - Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm and Olympus already sell competing kits.

Canon's move should bolster one of the fastest growing segments of the market.

The firm said that it planned to manufacture 100,000 EOS M cameras a month and would put the equipment on sale from mid-September.