EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro offers great results (PICS)

The new EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM lens (on my original release EOS-M)

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CANON EF 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM lens review:
My first observation on the news Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 IS Macro STM Lens is that it’s a great size. Similar in size to the recent EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, this new Macro is shorter (slightly) when collapsed. Whilst it is indeed a true Macro lens, my experiences using it were quite different to using a Macro lens with far greater reach via longer focal lengths. My first pictures with this lens were taken walking about in the shade of tall city buildings very late in the afternoon - followed by some time on the streets at night and followed by a day near the beach. I also took some photographs of Macro subjects on my desk with just the ring-light for illumination plus a few shots of animals.
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Used for the majority of these photographs:

• EF-M 28mm f/3.5 IS Macro STM Lens.
• 43mm Circular Polarising filter.
• Canon EOS-M (original Mk1) camera.
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• Images were taken handheld.
• Images were recorded in JPEG (not RAW).
• Minimal processing (if needed).

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The lens is simple to operate although the Ring-Light ON-OFF Button is fitted flush with the lens body and is hard to find with your fingers (especially in cold weather) without visually looking for it. The lens is supplied with an ES-22 all-METAL “lens hood” which is short and tubular. It also blocks the Ring Light when fitted. This “lens hood” is threaded on both sides and screws onto the end of the lens array. A pleasant surprise was that the lens cap is the same one supplied with the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens … and it fits to both the end of the lens (covering the ring-light) and it also fits the lens-hood - and any filter fitted to the end of it. At just 1.79 inches long and 2.5 inches wide, the lens weighs just 130 grams. The front of the lens must be extended from its “stowed position” before operation is possible. When shooting exceptionally tiny subjects like sugar ants, angle your lens carefully and use the Zoom/Magnify feature on the EOS-M to see what part of the subject is in focus. A technique I found useful (due to the extremely shallow DOF in Super Macro mode) was to lean the camera lens against the fingers of my free hand and use them for a brace
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Circular Polarizer used.

(Super Macro) Bubbles in my mineral water with lemon... at lunch two days ago..
Many Macro lenses have long focal lengths so it’s fun to be able to play with a wide macro for am change. Many insect and invertebrate photographers like wider Macro lenses because it allows the photographer to capture the surrounding environment of the subject. This lens offers a similar experience. And the light weight and diminutive size of this lens will certainly make it attractive to people investing in Canon’s mirrorless EOS-M system. I found the image quality surprisingly good. I was expecting the results for be fairly contrasted at f/3.5 but there was plenty of room to play with the image “levels” in Lightroom 4 and Photoshop... and I found this surprising.
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The lens-hood is threaded for easily-sourced 43mm filters and I was able to experiment with an inexpensive Circular Polarizing filter that I’d bought for using with the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens. The included ES-22 lens hood is also (to my astonishment) made from metal. The resulting images in daylight with the CP filter were naturally quite warm and saturated and I was pleased with the results. The new hybrid Image Stabilization (3.5 stops!) was effective …but can only be turned off via the internal menu of the camera interface. A benefit of Canon supplying a METAL sun-hood will no doubt be revealed when trying to unscrew a stubborn or stuck filter. The tapering of the lens barrel means you can better avoid casting a shadow when using Super Macro.
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Focus Accuracy:
Speed of this lens was acceptable but reminiscent of earlier PowerShot cameras. There were a couple of times when the lens refused to lock focus and each instance involved bright lights, neon signs and reflections ….or they involved almost dark environments (eg a nightclub or headlights on a car) and I attempted to use the ring-light to assist. It worked but the ring-light alone only has a short range. For shots where the lens was confused by reflections, I then turned the manual-focus ring to help the lens find its target and then the AF was able to complete the shot. What I think is happening is that the lens produces bokeh and when a bright light source is out of focus, the points of light produce a sharp-edged ball of colour or light on the sensor… which cameras often mistakenly assume means is focus-locked on a sharp subject. With this lens it happened only a few times and it was when dealing with very bright reflections in sunlight on water and late at night shooting traffic coming towards me. I’ve had this happen with other lenses before but it seemed slightly more prevalent with this lens. I would consider this a MINOR issue and not one that will interfere with your ability to use this lens. Focus accuracy with this lens was very, very good. I could get away with single shots rather than my usual method of taking multiple shots to be sure I captured what I wanted.
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(Regular Macro) A gold nugget alongside a 3 carat diamond (ring flash used)

(Super Macro) A VERY tight closeup of a $1 American bill..
Photographing Macro subjects:
When in the Macro-to-Infinity mode the lens has a 1.0x magnification which allows for 1:1 Macro work. In this setting the camera can shoot portraits, landscapes in the distance, architecture and tiny critters up close. But engaging the lens lock button will allow you to turn the lens all the way to Super Macro mode. In the Super Macro mode, the lens will only Some reviewers have claimed the lens will focus (in Super Macro) at subjects just 1.3cm (13mm) from the lens but my own measurements offered me a minimum focus distance of 1.5cm (15mm). But who can argue over 2mm? Bees are one of the toughest subject I’ve ever bothered to photograph and it take more luck than skill to capture good results. With this lens, the bees were aware of my presence if I got within Super Macro distance and a couple of times the bees zig-zagged in front of my lens to warn me of their displeasure. I suspect they are sensitive to the magnetic fields coming off the camera more than any reaction to the ring-light.
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(Super Macro) - some type of inch-long Beetle larvae - taken today. .
The lens-fitted Ring-Light:
Something Canon deserves some credit for is in allowing the ring light to be adjusted. Don’t confuse it with a Ring-Flash which has far greater illumination output when detonating. With the ring-light, a single press turns the flash on or off but holding down the same button allows you to change the intensity of the light and to turn on both or left or the right side of the light. This is extremely handy because illuminative some macro subjects from just one side is more flattering with using a full-frontal illuminator where both sides of the ring-light would be active. I liked the intensity of this adjustable light and it turns itself off when the lens is retracted or the camera is turned off. I found any battery drain to be negligible although I note that another photographer’s opinion differed. I was able to take 512 photographs with a 3 year old battery in my EOS-M (mk1) camera for the fist set of photographs with this lens. The slightly conical shape of the end of the lens allows you to peer into a flower without the lens catching on the petals. My initial feelings were that the light colour cast (temperature) was too white… but then I think that having “warm white” would have caused problems during post processing for some people. I was able to add just a hint of yellow cast to a picture of a gecko’s eye (a creature I only avoided stepping on in the dark thanks to the ring-light!) and this seemed to give me a more faithful result. The ring-light appears to conceal a pair of dual LEDs concealed on either side of the lens by a diffuser ring. They can only be turned on when the camera itself is powered up. They don’t appear to turn off until either the camera is powered down, the lens is collapsed or the user turns them off manually.
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Circular Polarizer used

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What I liked about this lens:

• Outstanding image quality when shooting landscapes and architecture.
• Great focal length for portraits (44.8mm equiv.)
• Excellent Macro capabilities. (1:1 and 1:2)
• Price is reasonable (if you can overlook the plastic mount)
• Silent STM motor.
• Good build quality.
• Superb results in daylight.
• Normal Macro (1:1) to Infinity is great.
• Super Macro (1.2x) is also quite effective.
• Comes with a dual threaded metal sun-hood …which accepts 43mm filters!
• Ring Light is actually useful within 3 feet.
• Ring-Light is easy to use and easy to adjust.
• Image Stabiliser is effective.
• Nice Bokeh visible in both regular and Super Macro modes.
• In Super Macro mode the minimum focus distance is just 1.5cm (0.59 inches)
• Included lens cap fits both the lens (without the sun-hood) and also the ‘sun-hood’ itself.
• Works fine with the Canon ST-E3-RT Wireless Transmitter and 600EX-RT Flash.

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What I didn't like about this lens:

• Plastic EF-M mounting ring. Why would you do this, Canon? Well, the answer should be obvious: They were chasing the “World’s Lightest Lens” award.
• The light on the side of the lens is flush with the barrel of the lens body… making it impossible to find in the dark. It needs a raised lip or bump on the surface of the light switch.
• Occasional AF confusion when dealing with intense light sources and reflections… including reflections from its own ring-light. Strobing neon and LED lights were the main instigators and this was noted during my first shots with the EOS-M when the camera was released. It’s rare but it’s also not really a problem.
• If you’re not careful when extending your lens, it rotates the lens setting all the way to the “Super Macro” mode… which can’t focus on anything further than around an inch or so from the end of the lens. You then need to engage the lens locking button again to rotate it back to the “normal” use setting…. which allows for 1:1 Macro-to-Infinity.
• Lowlight performance makes this lens a little slow to focus - but I’m using it on the original EOS-M (Version 1). It was fast enough - although other EF-M lenses are slightly faster. Extremely lowlight (eg nightclub, a dark street with no lights etc) was Kryptonite to this camera and it would struggle repeatedly to focus… but those were very dark environments that would be a challenge to other camera. My iPhone managed it though. I photograph quite a bit of venomous wildlife using Macro lenses and this lens requires the user to physically get right up close to the subject (mere millimetres if in Super Macro mode). That might put me at risk from a fatal bite or sting so I’ll still have use for the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens from time to time.

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Circular Polarizer used..
I photograph quite a bit of venomous wildlife using Macro lenses and this lens requires the user to physically get right up close to the subject (mere millimeters if in Super Macro mode). That might put me at risk from a fatal bite or sting so I’ll still have use for the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens from time to time.
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About the decision to use a plastic lens mount. Why Canon? Even the tiny EF-M 22mm f/2 lens has a metal mount. This new lens sells for AUD $499 or USD $299 (compared to AUD $225 for the 22mm f/2 lens)… I can’t think of any practical reasons to use plastic… other than to keep the lens lightweight. You’ll forget about it when the lens is on the camera though.  I believe Canon were hoping to achieve a new record with the weight and size of this lens - and that they achieved this.
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My wife observing a para-glider (off screen) -  Circular Polarizer used..
Conclusion:
I personally recommend this lens and I recommend it highly. This is now my favourite native lens for the EOS-M and I suspect that it will be even more effective on the latest range of EOS-M cameras (eg M-10 and EOSM 3) rather than my own ‘dinosaur’ (EOS-M). I am extremely satisfied with the results I can obtain with it. The price is not unreasonable. It’s relatively simple to use and the ring-light is powered by the EOS-M internal battery. The image quality (clarity & sharpness) is surprisingly good. I think that it looks good on the EOS-M camera and it’s quite versatile in its applications.
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This new lens is a lot smaller than any of the Canon EF Macro lenses to come before it. And you’re not stuck with manual focus or a lens that can’t be used for other subject matter. I suspect the EF-M 28mm f/3.5 IS Macro STM lens is likely to be quite popular with photography enthusiasts. The APS-C crop on the EOS-M sensor means it will produce a focal length closer to 45mm (44.8mm) on the EOS-M. This is a great focal length for portrait photography although some distortions will occur when shooting subjects that are extremely close to the lens elements.
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Closeup of light-globe filaments in a shop window display (no filters) .