DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

M5: why 15-45 instead of 18-55 as kit?

Started Sep 29, 2016 | Discussions thread
Ben Herrmann
Ben Herrmann Forum Pro • Posts: 21,163
Regarding the Canon EOS M...
1

I'm an avid EOS M system user also (m, M2, M3, M100, M50).  But it has become a well known issue that the Canon EOS EF-M 15-45 F3.5-6.3 IS STM lens has massive issues with copy to copy variations (mostly decentering issues).  I know, I had to go through 4 of them before I settled on 2 that were halfway decent.  After sending in my 4th one to Canon repair, I talked with one of the customer service reps there.  The person that I spoke with told me that in the case of the EF-M 15-45, it was the most sent in lens they've seen.  They typically don't try to repair them because just about all of them have decentering issues.  Instead, they replace them with a new one because it's not cost effective for them to try and repair.

This Fuji EX 15-45 F3.5-5.6 IS PZ is superior optically, I can tell you that and that 22.5 MM wide end equivalent really makes a difference (even over the now standardized 24 MM equivalents that you see from other brands).  Now keep in mind, I'm not slamming the EOS M system at all as I find those cameras fun to shoot with.  If you've been keeping up with the various Canon patents, they have a half dozen different patents in the system for 15-45 lens improvements, so I can only hope they finally release a replacement for that lens.  I will say that I do love the compact form factor of the Canon EF-M 15-45.

-- hide signature --

Life can be good - if you allow it!
Bernd ("Ben") Herrmann
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina USA

 Ben Herrmann's gear list:Ben Herrmann's gear list
Canon EOS M Fujifilm X-E2S Fujifilm X-T2 Fujifilm X-T20 Canon EOS M6 +4 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow