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The Sweet Spot

Started Jan 19, 2020 | User reviews thread
OP RLight Senior Member • Posts: 4,414
Trading blows (on paper)

thunder storm wrote:

RLight wrote:

thunder storm wrote:

If it's impossible to justify the M system because of the lack of a preferred zoom, you just start comparing to the AF of the G1X III so you can justify it anyway.

To me it's pretty simple: you won't be satisfied with anything less than the RF f/4.0 L as a zoom. That lens is the sweet spot between good IQ and acceptable size. Just keep the 24-240 as your 106-240 with some added flexibility on the wide end, and you're good to go.

M can't give you what you want. Certainly that 15-45mm can't give you what you want. Don't do it.

The RF 24-240 is going, just posted it. It’s a decent lens but not truly compact. It gets left home for a PowerShot 99/100 times.

Regarding the 24-105 f/4L? Still too big.

That's as bright as you want your M zoom.

RF f/4.0 L IS = 3.29 x 4.22" / 83.5 x 107.3 mm, 700grams

Sony crop 17-55 f/2.8 = 2.87 x 3.94" / 73 x 100, 494 grams

So yeah, that's 206 grams more, but you're getting ILIS, a better range, better performance, Canon handling, Canon colors, and more compatibility.

Now that 15-45? We’ll see. The G1X III isn’t up on flea bay just yet for a reason. I’m giving it another go. It’s a gamble, I may hate it and it goes back to Amazon.

The camera I want doesn’t exist. The G1X III / M + 15-45 is the question, which is “better”? I’m trying it.

Unfortunately the small and slow zooms aren't very good. I was thinking about the RF 24-105mm stm, but I will pass.

Canon could use an updated stock zoom for the M, or, updated PowerShot G1X, or both. Those may never materialize…

The RF f/4.0 L exists. If that's too big I'm not sure if you want to have something manufacturers don't want to produce or something physics don't allow for.

The G1X III exists. Physics permit. I didn't say it had to be a constant aperture zoom. Now granted, part of why it can exist is it has a permissive lens mount (virtually no flange distance, self-collapsing into the body itself). Sony's 16-50 f/2.8 exists because of heavy corrections which cannot be disabled. Frankly I'm fine with both. The RF 24-240 exists because of correctional data, and is a good lens, it's just too big to want to carry everywhere like say an M or PowerShot G, but, is an optical achievement being that good of an optic, that small, and powerful, it's just not small enough frankly like say an EF-M 18-150 is. The trouble with the G's, they still lack oomph in some regard, be it IQ or AF.

If you're accepting small zooms are dark, I think it's the first. If you want something bright yet compact yet very good it's the last.

That said, I'm interested in your observations. You're reminding me I still have to sell the ef-m 15-45mm.

I've written off the 15-45, till now. That's what's changed here. Also, market conditions have changed; the M and G lineups are probably "complete", whether or not they are the market now says so. Looking at my shots from the G1X III from the last few months carefully, I've found I need to be more careful, and have gotten sloppy, leaning on the AF of the camera, which you just can't on that camera. On the other hand, looking at my product from the M6 Mark II, makes me think this really needs a revisit. Maybe Canon isn't nuts after all bundling a 15-45 with it. That said, I'll be checking copy variance...

Will just a MTF chart do? Any suggested tests to check copy variance? I was going to do the MTF on a tripod, with e-shutter...

I'm not sold the M6 II + 15-45 is "better"

Pros for the G1X III:

Leaf Shutter

Weather Sealing

Sharper Lens

More portable

Fully Articulating screen

Faster zoom

.

Pros for the M6 Mark II

Better AF

More Megapixels

More ISO performance

Better video output

Lens swaps possible

.

Where things trade blows:

Faster zoom of the G1X III vs more ISO performance of the M6 II

Sharper lens of the G1X III vs more megapixels of the M6 II

Better AF, AWB and JPEG engine vs weather sealing, fully articulating screen, more portable, silent shutter of the leaf shutter

.

This is a system vs system battle, but, focus on the 15-45 against the G1X III, fight.

 RLight's gear list:RLight's gear list
Canon EOS R3 Canon EOS R50 Canon RF 28-70mm F2L USM Canon RF-S 18-45mm Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5.0-7.1 IS STM
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