Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Preview

June 2013 | By Andy Westlake

Preview based on a pre-production Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

It's now almost a year since Canon unveiled its first foray into the mirrorless camera sector, the EOS M. The camera was launched with two lenses, the EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit zoom and the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM 'pancake' prime. But while most other manufactures have gone out of their way to provide 'roadmaps' of upcoming lens releases in an attempt to convince potential buyers of their commitment to these new systems, Canon has remained stubbornly quiet. But now EOS M owners have a new lens to consider: the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM wideangle zoom.

The lens offers a zoom range equivalent to 18-36mm on full frame, which is a little less ambitious than its closest competitor, the Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS (15-24mm equiv). To an extent this is a trade-off for its relatively compact design; it uses a retracting barrel reminiscent of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm 1:4.0-5.6, and is about the same size as the 18-55mm kit zoom. This means it's much smaller than Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/4-5.6 USM wideangle zoom for its APS-C SLRs. One oddity is a 55mm filter size that's not shared with any of Canon's other current lenses.

The 11-22mm is Canon's first wide zoom with image stabilisation, which the company claims will allow shooting at shutter speeds three stops slower than usual without the image being degraded by blurring from camera shake. It also includes Canon's 'Dynamic IS', which offers a wider range of correction during movie shooting. Focusing - both auto and manual - is handled by a linear stepper motor, which promises silent operation during movie recording.

Canon is making grand claims for the 11-22mm's optical quality, and saying that its 12 element / 9 group design will offer significantly better image quality than the (already well-regarded) EF-S 10-22mm. The lens we used to prepare this preview wasn't sufficiently finalised for Canon to allow us to shoot sample images, but we'll look at how well it performs just as soon as we can. Until then, read on to find out more about the lens's design and operation.

Headline features

11-22mm focal length range (18-35mm equivalent)
F4-5.6 maximum aperture
Optical IS - 3 stops claimed benefit
Stepper motor for silent focusing in video
Collapsible barrel design

Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM specifications

Recommended retail price	• £379.99 • €399
Maximum format size	APS-C
Focal length	11-22mm
35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C)	18-35mm
Diagonal angle of view	102.1° - 63.3°
Maximum aperture	F4-5.6
Minimum aperture	F22-35
Lens Construction	• 12 elements in 9 groups
Number of diaphragm blades	7
Minimum focus	0.15m / 0.49ft
Maximum magnification	0.30x
AF motor type	• Linear stepper motor • Full time manual focus
Focus method	Internal
Zoom method	Rotary, extending barrel
Image stabilization	• Yes • 3 stops
Filter thread	• 55mm • Does not rotate on focus
Supplied accessories*	• Front and rear caps
Optional accessories	• Lens hood EW-60E • Lens pouch LP814
Weight	220g (7.8 oz)
Dimensions	61mm diameter x 58mm length (2.4 x 2.3 in)
Lens Mount	Canon EF-M

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

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Comments

Total comments: 24

Looks like a fine lens. The problem is the EOS-M body that frankly seems crippled to avoid stealing sales from Canon's own APS format dSLRs.

0 upvotes

"we'll look at how well it performs just as soon as we can"

Why are you already committing to review a fairly specialised lens of a rather unimpressive mirrorless system? Surely you can do better things with your time?

For comparison I noticed that, unless I am missing something (I searched this site), you haven't reviewed the EOS M itself. I can only find a preview from July 2012. So you're willing to review this lens (not the kit lens, not the prime) on a camera you haven't reviewed in nearly a year? Srsly?

1 upvote

Presumably, like all new systems they will review the initial offering s of lenses at the same time. Also, things that aren't good need to be reviewed as well, there needs to be benchmarks of the good and bad you know?

Besides I have owned and used all the major systems and the M isn't nearly as bad as it is made out to be. I will be buying this lens for sure.

0 upvotes

kid.... first it´s canon.

second this will be still a supported mirrorless system when oly and panasonic are broke and gone from the camera biz.

canon just improved the AF speed in one shot focusing about 2 times with a firmware update.

i rather invest money in a canon system then in a system with a questionable future.

it´s not looking good for olympus and panasonic.

0 upvotes

One minor error. The Olympus 9-18mm is not the smallest wide angle zoom available. The Nikon CX (Nikon 1) 6.7-13mm is slightly shorter and lighter, as would be expected with a smaller sensor. It's a terrific little lens, optically sophisticated and modern, and stabilized, too. One of several nice new lenses Nikon has been tempting Nikon 1 owners with.

0 upvotes

They mention the Nikon is smaller still.

0 upvotes

Sony NEX 10-18 F4 225 gram
Canon 11-22mm F4-5.6 220 gram

not as wide, not as bright and same weight

What's going on? Is this the best what Canon can do?
Can't understand

1 upvote

My guess is that they're trying to keep the lens compact to take advantage of the biggest benefit of mirrorless cameras - small size. But because they have to maintain full coverage of an APS-C sized sensor they can't really shrink the lens unless they compromise somewhere, and it looks like maximum aperture is where they took the hit.

1 upvote

same weight as NEX 10-18
F5.6 at 35mm !!!!
useless in low light
the only benefit maybe cheaper, NEX 10-18 is $850

Canon thinking is that mirrorless user are not serious photographer and not willing to spend

Big mistake and they will paid for it
in fact I would choose NEX over it just for the NEX 10-18mm alone

1 upvote

Here's a few more numbers you forgot to compare:
Canon 11-22mm: 61 x 58mm, £380
Sony 10-18mm, 70 x 64mm, £670
Different tradeoffs, that's all.

3 upvotes

Well the Canon has longer reach and range. The Canon is also quite a lot smaller and nearly half the price and it loses 1 stop at the much longer end than the Sony. I own both systems (and m43's), I will buy the Canon 11-22mm and have no interest in buying the massive Sony or the 'just as slow, but extremely cheap feeling, but much more expensive Olympus 9-18.

0 upvotes

It's obvious: Canon wants to mantain low price (nex 10-18 costs 700 € this one 300 €) and size (nex 10-18 is the same weight but bigger).

It's not a stupid move.

0 upvotes

i can only laugh when morons say "canon will pay for it"
guys do a reality check... canon is making a PROFIT!!
sony, oly and panasonic are struggling in the camera biz.

and you clowns still question canons product politics.
you are really naive....

the day canon decides to take over the mirrorless market they will.
today they just focus on other systems and make ..did i mentioned it?.. a PROFIT.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

As a long term Canon user, I already gave up on Canon's mirror-less attempts. I started looking at M4/3 gears for a long time and finally pulled trigger for a Panasonic GX1 for $229. The M4/3 lens ranges are far better than this and, oh, the GX1 can actually focus, FAST. Also guess where does the M4/3 fund come from? Selling some of the Canon lenses.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Fascinating,,,, fascinating,,, no wait,,,, I mean that other word,,, tedious. And no,, the GX1 does not focus fast,,,, it just focuses faster than the EOS-M

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

I did the same. Bought G5. Small and light. I was Canon user but I was not willing to wait any further....

1 upvote

Different things for different people. They all have their pros and cons - I hated the M, but somehow bought one and now I love it. My m43's and NEX stays at home and my M is in my bag with me right now.

Yeah focus isn't super fast, but I have had worse. Other than that, it is a fine camera really.

0 upvotes

and who cares?

btw: canon just improved focusing speed on the EOS M about 2 times with a firmware update out in june.

the m43 system will always have a smaller sensor
and i really don´t see usefull size benefit from m43.

m43 will be the small sensor P&S of the future.....

0 upvotes

What I don't get is why this lens is only compatible with the EOS M. What about the EOS100 they just released? Why would you go to all the trouble of designing "the world's smallest DSLR" and then develop compact lenses that can't be used with it?

0 upvotes

You're kidding right? Do you even know what flange distance is?

9 upvotes

What Juck is getting at is that the 100D/SL1 was designed to work with standard dslr lenses that are mounted well out from the sensor. The EOS-M has a very different design, with the lens mount only a short distance in front of the sensor. Lenses designed for the EOS-M not only wouldn't physically and electronically mount on an EOS-100D/SL1, but even if they did attach, they'd be the wrong distance from the sensor, throwing off all kinds of things. It's possible to mount a dslr lens on a mirrorless body with a tubular adapter that holds the lens further from the body, so it is the right distance from the body, but that process doesn't work in reverse.

0 upvotes

The heaviest lens is much more heavier then the heaviest camera. So it is more important to reduce the weight and size of the lens then to reduce the weight and size of the camera.

Canon have the smallest DSLR but got no small lens that goes with it. So eventually why smallest body only?

1 upvote

> Canon have the smallest DSLR but got no small lens that goes with it.

Well, they do have that 40mm (64mm on APS) f2.8 pancake

1 upvote

Because this lens is designed for a MIRRORLESS, which means it isn't and never will be a DSLR... Even completely ignoring the flange distance.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 24