Feedback wanted - 18-150 vs. 18-55 + 55-200 combination

Hi Folks, I know there have been some threads on this topic before, but I want to pose the question from my own standpoint. Especially if any of you fine folks have already done what I am thinking of below.

Situation: I recently sold my M3 and purchased an M5. I already have the EF-M 18-55 + 55-200 combination. The 18-150 is on sale Refurb for a very attractive price at the Canon store. I also have the adapter + the EF-S 55-250 STM.

Question:  In light of the above, would you buy the 18-150 with the intention of selling the EF-M 18-55 + 55-200 combination?

Any real life experience with this would be especially appreciated. TIA.

Since buying the 18-150 I’ve barely used the 18-55 or the 55-200. I’m going to find it hard to sell them but I suspect the 18-150 will stay firmly on my M.

Jay_B wrote:

Hi Folks, I know there have been some threads on this topic before, but I want to pose the question from my own standpoint. Especially if any of you fine folks have already done what I am thinking of below.

Situation: I recently sold my M3 and purchased an M5. I already have the EF-M 18-55 + 55-200 combination. The 18-150 is on sale Refurb for a very attractive price at the Canon store. I also have the adapter + the EF-S 55-250 STM.

Question: In light of the above, would you buy the 18-150 with the intention of selling the EF-M 18-55 + 55-200 combination?

Any real life experience with this would be especially appreciated. TIA.

All are good lenses.  I don't think IQ is not much far off from either combinations. The question is whether you are going to be content with a single 18-150 lens. Put another way, will you miss the max 250mm of the 55-250 stm? or the 200mm of the EF-M? If not, well, the 18-150 should be fine as your single lens. Unless you will miss the wider 15mm of the 15-45.

FYI, and to illustrate the point,  in my MFT system, I have a 12-60 kit lens. Tha't's 24-120 35FF equiv. But at times, I wanted a longer reach. Temporarily, I got a cheap 40-150 (80-300). Very nice range. But I am missing the wide end. I have to switch lenses and sometimes I will miss the shot or I don't have the long range lens with me. So, I got an Olympus 14-150 (28-300 35FF equiv). Now, I am not wanting in range. I lost a bit on the wide end. But that's ok. I rarely miss that.

The reason for the 18-150 is to have an all in one lens. Much not any different from the 18-135 STM in the.  If you like the 18-150, and still have a need for a longer reach, maybe what you should keep is the 55-250 stm and sell the 18-55. You can't get much from that, but that's the it goes.

In the Sony aps-c world, I also have an a5100 with the 16-50 kit lens. I also have the 18-105 f4 OSS. Very nice lens. Sharp and cheap for what it can do. But I also kept the 55-210 OSS in case I will need something longer. So far, I rarely use the 55-210. Maybe I should sell that. But without anything long, I'd rather keep it. Unlike my 14-150 (28-300 equiv), 105mm in aps-c is only up to around 157mm in 35FF.

In summary - if you need an all around lens with no more lens changing, the 18-150 is the best choice. If you need the 200mm- 250mm top end, you may opt for the 15-45 and 55-200 EF-M combo. Or combine the 18-150, sell the 15-45 and your 18-55 and keep the 55-200 for those times you may need something longer.

So, that will be either an  18-150 + 55-200 combo or an 18-150 + 55-250 stm combo. I think I'd go for the 2nd option if it were me, especially if I don't use the 55-250 stm a lot.

There is no right or wrong answer really. At the end of the day, just ask yourself which one you will miss most if you won't have it.

Rockin_Robin wrote:

Since buying the 18-150 I’ve barely used the 18-55 or the 55-200. I’m going to find it hard to sell them but I suspect the 18-150 will stay firmly on my M.

RR, do you notice any difference in IQ? I have read D. Abbot's review. I have seen the comparison shots on The Digital Picture, which lead me to believe that he received a bad copy of the 18-150. Still, I am more interested in your personal satisfaction or lack thereof in this lens. My intent is to use it most of the time...

Thank you for the thoughtful replay, caterpillar. I was looking to sell the 18-55 AND the 55-200, keep the 55-250, as you suggested.

Perhaps I should clarify my goal. In the interest of consolidating my kit, while preserving most of the versatility, I was interested in the forum participants' thoughts on the following:

• I have the M5 (new to me) and the EF-M 18-55, 55-200, 11-22, 22, and the EF-S 55-250 STM + adapter.
• I am looking to consolidate by selling 18-55 + 55-200 and replacing them with the 18-150 to add convenience for travel and lens changing. It would also add the Digital IS for video, which I don't have now.
• The 18-150 refurb is on sale now for a very good price
• I would keep all the other lenses

In anyone's experience, will making this move cause a loss of IQ?

Jay_B wrote:

Rockin_Robin wrote:

Since buying the 18-150 I’ve barely used the 18-55 or the 55-200. I’m going to find it hard to sell them but I suspect the 18-150 will stay firmly on my M.

RR, do you notice any difference in IQ? I have read D. Abbot's review. I have seen the comparison shots on The Digital Picture, which lead me to believe that he received a bad copy of the 18-150. Still, I am more interested in your personal satisfaction or lack thereof in this lens. My intent is to use it most of the time...

As far as I am concerned the 18-150 is equal to the 18-55 and up to about 130mm is the same as the 55-200. So I only use the 55-200 if I need the reach.

I am a new owner of the M6. I have the non-STM version of the EFS 55-250. I have experienced issues with it as I posted yesterday. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4229179

The IS mechanism is running constantly even with lens IS turned off. If you have the same experience with the STM version I would advise you to keep M50-200. Also reviews suggest superior performance to EFS version except at 200mm.

Just a thought but if you want a one camera + one lens set-up for convenience then a fixed zoom compact or bridge camera would be a sensible option. With your present gear adding M15-45 would give opportunity for wider angle and digital IS. These M lenses are so small that carrying all three should not be an issue, IMO.

njc7 wrote:

I am a new owner of the M6. I have the non-STM version of the EFS 55-250. I have experienced issues with it as I posted yesterday. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4229179

The IS mechanism is running constantly even with lens IS turned off. If you have the same experience with the STM version I would advise you to keep M50-200. Also reviews suggest superior performance to EFS version except at 200mm.

I have had the 55-250 STM for some time and have found it to be acceptably sharp. It is also 1/3-stop faster on both ends + gives you up to 400mm equivalent. No focus issues with either M3 or M5, once the lens firmware is updated. The big issue with the lens is the size, once you add the adapter.

Just a thought but if you want a one camera + one lens set-up for convenience then a fixed zoom compact or bridge camera would be a sensible option.

Agreed, and I do have the Panasonic ZS100, which takes very good stills + excellent 4K video. The M5 is superior on stills, low light, and overall detail and allows some versatility with macro, flash, etc.

With your present gear adding M15-45 would give opportunity for wider angle and digital IS. These M lenses are so small that carrying all three should not be an issue, IMO.

Good suggestion, although I have no trouble changing to my 11-22, as the range is quite useful for a lot of shooting. Thanks for you thoughts, njc7!

Jay_B wrote:

Thank you for the thoughtful replay, caterpillar. I was looking to sell the 18-55 AND the 55-200, keep the 55-250, as you suggested.

Glad to be of help!

BTW, don't worry about optical quality. Most of today's lenses, even kit lenses are pretty good optically, unless one bad copy pops up, which is now rare these days.  But remember, these are kit lenses, so don't expect them to be L class or fast. Adjust your expectations accordingly!  If in doubt about their performance,  read the reviews or watch the reviews in youtube. That's what I do.

I always have something long, even if it is not expensive. You'll never know when you are going to need it. Besides, they don't cost much anymore, especially the new models and if you buy 2nd hand. Just avoid the older designs, (eg. the pre 2007 75-300's or 70-300's) as they are not as good as today's 70-300 or 55-250/200.

Whenever possible, try to your  mid-end covered, then the long end. If you tend to use the wide end more, go for that first. In the end, what you want is to have one wide, one mid, and one long. That should cover your FL range well.  Go for used lenses if you think you won't use a certain range often. But before that, go for your most often used FL/range and if you think you need more performance, go prime or fast zooms to cover that range.  Always put money first on those FL/range that you will use often or in need of or if you are a pro, the one you will make money most from.

IMHO the best replacement for the 2 zoom set is the Tamron 18-200mm in EF-M mount.

There is no formal review in comparison, but it is said to be as good or even better than the 18-150mm.

I used it now for many years since M and now on M3. As I plan to buy the M6, I recently had a necessary firmware update done by Tamron (still on warranty) and its IQ holds up easily against 2 zoom set.

Thank you all for your valuable input. I have decided to keep what I have and continue using it for now. Some excellent suggestions + points for and against were made.

Form factor was the key reason to keep the current kit in the end. I put the 55-200 (same form as the 18-150) on my new M5 and handled it for awhile. I knew after a few minutes that I would rather use the 18-55 and change lenses when needed, than have the 18-150 "glued" to my cam most of the time. I like the feel of the shorter lens most of the time.

Jay_B wrote:

Thank you all for your valuable input. I have decided to keep what I have and continue using it for now. Some excellent suggestions + points for and against were made.

Form factor was the key reason to keep the current kit in the end. I put the 55-200 (same form as the 18-150) on my new M5 and handled it for awhile. I knew after a few minutes that I would rather use the 18-55 and change lenses when needed, than have the 18-150 "glued" to my cam most of the time. I like the feel of the shorter lens most of the time.

Jay,

Either decision would have been fine.  I can say that i own all three, and initially felt as you do that having the 18-55 on the camera was a good decision and opt foe the 55-200 when needed, but now after nearly a year with the 18-150, i find the ergonomics excellent and while i too felt the IQ of the two lens setup had slight benefits over the single 18-150, i no longer feel that way...EXCEPT, of course when the additional 50mm of reach is needed.  for me the 18-150 has not only become a lens of convenience but it more so then the 18-55 or the 55-200 continues to impress me with its abilities as i push it at times rather then choose to change lenses.  It handles low light and action better then expected if a little care is taken in settings and of course its a great all around "point and shoot" lens.  As i personally have over the years moved more and more to fine tuned primes as my choice, partially out of size, partially out of speed and IQ, i have found the 18-150 like the 11-22 both able to excel when you learn them.  that said the 18-150 is not the default lens on my M5 the 35 f2 IS is but the 18-150 when paired with the 22mm (for low light and speed) is a great tight little package to build off of for the4 M system.  For me the four lens kit of (M natives ) 11-22, 22,18-150 along with either the 35f2  or 50 1.8 make for an all around great kit.. keeping the 55-200 or even better your 55-250 for length when you know you will need it and call it a day.  Problem is right now not sure how strong the market is for resale of the 18-55 as the 15-45 is now the base kit lens on all canon sales it seems.  I gave mine along with my original M and a refurb 22mm to my wife so she now has a nice little kit as well.

mp

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60344138