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This may seem rather simple (or is it...?)

Started Nov 12, 2017 | Polls thread
MikeJ9116 Veteran Member • Posts: 6,955
Re: This may seem rather simple (or is it...?)
1

Ben Herrmann wrote:

Alright - much has been written in the past (along with bantering back and forth) about preferences between the kit 18-55 and 15-45 lenses.

I periodically get flustered with the two. For example, I love the 18-55 due to it's superior construction and finish - not to mention the longer focal reach. But then I also enjoy (more so lately) the 15-45 due mainly to its wider angle reach. I'm not crazy about the all plastic build nor the slow f6.3 long end, but it is what it is.

I have 3 copies of the 18-55 which came with the earlier M cameras I purchased. I also have 2 copies of the 15-45. I've found with my 18-55 that overall, the sharpness levels are fairly steady across the frame (with the center obviously being the sharpest) - at least with the copies I have. On the other hand, as much as I enjoy the 15-45, I find a certain blurriness on the edges. For example, one copy of my 15-45 is very sharp in the center, yet the left side is fairly diffuse - and on the other copy, the right side is diffuse to a certain extant. It drives me bonkers to see this.

So what am I asking here? For those of you who have both lenses, which do you prefer the most - based specifically on clarity and sharpness across the frame ?

Overall, if I had to choose just one to keep as my standard kit lens (yeah, the ole' gun to the head scenario in which you are forced to choose), I'd easily choose the 18-55.

I don't see a big difference in sharpness between the two lenses I own.  I don't think I have a particularly good copy of the 18-55mm and might have a better than average copy of the 15-45mm.  Since sharpness isn't in the equation, I choose the 15-45mm nearly every time because I find the 15mm end more useful than 18mm.  Then throw in the lighter weight and smaller size and that is more reasons to pick it.

As a side note, I find the new EF-S 18-55mm f/4.0-5.6 to be exceptionally sharp and much better than either EF-M lens I own.  I plan to adapt it to the M3 to see if it performs the same which I don't see why it wouldn't.  Considering this lens can be bought for less than $90 on ebay it is a real sleeper, IMO.  Plus, the smaller size actually makes it a viable lens on an M camera.

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