YI M1
- 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 4096 x 2160 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 350g - 114 x 64 x 34mm
- Revealed September 2016
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
87 Imaging
59 Features
66 Overall
61
YI M1 summary
YI M1 is YI's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera originally revealed on September of 2016. It uses a 20 MegaPixel, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a full resolution of 5184 x 3888.
The M1 is positioned #54 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & over all #290 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please use our Smart camera finder to find camera rankings based on your personalized requirements.
The following is a chart of different factors used in the rating system.
YI M1 Gallery
You can check the M1 from different angles in the gallery underneath.
YI M1 Pros and Cons
Below is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the YI M1 based on criterias which are generally regarded as useful in a digital camera.
YI M1 Sensor details
The dimension of the sensor in the YI M1 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor is able to capture 5184 x 3888 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe CMOS sensor has 20MP and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 25600. RAW format is saved so you have wider room to maneuver in post.
The image underneath illustrates the M1's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The M1 sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is pointed out in green.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTo get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
YI M1 dimensions
YI M1 has a weight of 0.77 lb (350g or 12.35 ounces) & the volume of the camera is 114mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.3"). The weight of average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329g so the YI M1 is similar as compared to its competitors.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneDown below is a image of the YI M1 besides a softdrink so you can get a feel for its scale.
The top view under will show the button arrangement on the M1.
YI M1 Lens specs
The M1 fits the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses on sale. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the M1.
YI M1 Connectivity
The M1 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- Bluetooth Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that have NFC or Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily transfer files and at times change camera settings without connecting physically to the camera.
Certain applications even allow a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external display. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.
YI M1 Video specs
The highest possible video resolution in the YI M1 is 4096 x 2160 and you can shoot in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 2160p provides an exceptional resolution for video recording. You are able to crop to 1080p in order to get better results. Be mindful of the massive file sizes and ensure you have got good SD cards that have fast write speeds. The camera does not offer a microphone or headphone socket so you get little control over the audio. It is probably a better idea to take a look at another model if you require decent audio for your videos.
YI M1 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing on the YI M1 so you need to be careful in wet or dusty situations.
YI M1 Screen and Viewfinder
The YI M1 houses a 3" fixed display supporting a resolution of 1,040k dots.
Moreover the display is touch friendly so you are able to set focus points and change settings by using your fingertips.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe View Finder details for YI M1 are below:
- ViewFinder None
For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders can be quite valuable.
YI M1 Shutter specs
YI M1 continuous shooting rate is 5.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.
YI M1 Flash and Hot shoe specs
YI M1 features external flash support but is without built-in flash.
YI M1 Autofocus specs
YI M1 features just Contrast Detect Auto Focus & does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and precise in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which makes it useful for portraits.
It boasts 81 focus points to choose from. YI M1 has tap to focus. You can use your fingers in order to switch focus points. YI M1 has manual focus if needed for low light scenarios or you require more accurate focus control.
YI M1 Battery life
The battery life on the YI M1 is designed to last for 450 photographs as per the CIPA measurements which is higher than the usual in comparison to its class. The average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 features the best (750) battery life for this class of cameras.
Following is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras having the strongest battery life:
YI M1 for different kinds of photography
The following illustration gives a outline of the YI M1 for different kinds of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section underneath.
YI M1 Portrait photography features
The YI M1 gets a score of 75 which is very good, meaning that it is a very decent fit to use for portrait photography. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor size, RAW support along with the ability to work with external flash.
YI M1 Street photography advice
Coming in at a very good points total of 73, the YI M1 is a good choice to use in street photography. A good street photography camera provides a good balance of image quality and portability.
Sports photography with YI M1
A moderate sports photography points total of 54 indicates the YI M1 is somewhat acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera needs fantastic focusing plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.
Travel photography with YI M1
Portability is pretty important in choosing a camera for travel. On the whole, the YI M1 gets a awesome 78 for a travelling camera which makes it a excellent pick to take with you on your travels.
Landscape photography with YI M1
For anyone who is looking to buy a camera for landscape pictures, the most significant aspect is going to be image quality. The YI M1 at it's brilliant grade of 76 for a landscape camera is a brilliant option compared to its rivals.
YI M1 Vlogging advice
A camera for vlogging should have a articulating display screen, microphone port and preferably image stabilization. Considering everything, the YI M1 is simply not acceptable as a vlog camera as it receives a awful score of 33.
YI M1 Alternatives
If you want replacements to the M1, here is a range of the top rated cameras which fall into the family of Entry-Level Mirrorless.
The line chart below gives you a summary of the M1 vs it's top scoring competitors shown above.
There are more cameras you might consider as alternatives. To go through a extensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.