Re: EF-M 15-45 extremely soft?
1
Lightgreen wrote:
M02 wrote:
My copy of the 15-45, like yours, is very soft at the edges, until you stop down at least a couple of stops. It is the only EF-M lens that I have been disappointed with. All the others have been excellent. Some people like it though, so maybe there is copy variation. I recently acquired a 18-150 which I think is stunning for what it is, so you might consider that.
I gotta ask, off topic, your equipment list, is current?
Amazing, an original 5D, and lenses of that era. Truth told, that's all you need is a couple good primes and a 5D and a good zoom or two.
On topic, yes the 15-45 is a bit soft on the corners. I believe the MTF charts reflect this. It's a compromise made for keeping the size/weight down it would appear. It is sharp in the center though, which is arguably where it counts.
Probably most forum members have seen the photozone review of the 15-45, but if you haven't, here it is:
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/972-canon_m1545_3563?start=1
Yes, the lens is quite soft wide open at 15mm, but stopping down to 5.6 improves the softness rather dramatically. It seems that the other f/stops and focal lengths are very good, maybe not up to the 11-22, but still very good.
One of the problem areas for the m lenses is vignetting. I read somewhere that it more likely the sensor causing this than the lens itself. I wonder if you put the ef-s 24mm with adapter on the M3 or M5 it would show more vignetting (uncorrected raw) the the ef-s 24mm on, say, the SL-1?
If I upgrade my M3 to the M5, I would go ahead and get the 15-45 mainly because there is quite a difference between 24mm (FF) and the almost 29mm (FF) with the 18-55. BTW, I have the 11-22, 22, and 18-55.
Th M5 seems like a fine camera, but it does come up a little short for what I would like. Shutter is a little loud and there is no silent shutter for my stealth moments. The histogram is huge on the M3 and reportedly smaller on the M5. I would also like "blinkies" as an option. Also, having settings show only after slight pressing of the shutter button seems silly. Delay with flash pictures? Crippling to me, but I don't use flash often. So, still pondering. Of course I realize that many, perhaps most, are not bothered by my minor points.