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EOS-M5 & L Series lenses, plus more.....

TheRogue
Enthusiast

Hello from the UK

I’ve been a lifelong user of Canon cameras. From the original 35mm EOS cameras and all the way through the transition to digital. It would take an age to list what I have owned and used over 30 odd years. So I will refrain from doing that.

The point of my post and indeed joining the forum. I am looking seriously at the EOS M5, not least because of it being able to use the EF lens range.

My questions are, will the (EF) lenses lose any functionality in being attached to the M5?  AND not least, is the camera capable of utilising the exceptional quality of the L lenses? Obviously the sensor in the M5 is smaller. I’m just toying with with that camera and L lenses. Or wether to stick with the M series lenses and wondered if anyone (more knowledgable than me) had any thoughts?

Thanks guys.
Steve aka The Rogue.

70 REPLIES 70


@TheRogue wrote:

This is useful information. I do tend to go for the latest lenses available at the time. So I guess this covers that.


I encourage you to give the EF-M lenses a try. You may fall in love with their lighter weight and size. Remember the best camera (and lens) is the one you have with you. 

 

That doesn't preclude you from buying and using L lenses for when you are going out specifically to do photography. But, you may find yourself carrying your camera and EF-M kit more often with the smaller and lighter lenses. 

This is true. I was going to buy a kit to start and then a couple of specialist L lenses, such as the 85mm f1.2. So the future is looking rosey!

"Besides, even the widest "L" lenses aren't very wide on an APS-C camera."

 

Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Lens, not wide enough for you?

EB
EOS 1DX and 1D Mk IV and less lenses then before!

Waddizzle
Legend
Legend

"My questions are, will the (EF) lenses lose any functionality in being attached to the M5?  AND not least, is the camera capable of utilising the exceptional quality of the L lenses? Obviously the sensor in the M5 is smaller. I’m just toying with with that camera and L lenses. Or wether to stick with the M series lenses and wondered if anyone (more knowledgable than me) had any thoughts?"

 

----------------------------------------------

 

1.  You should not lose any functionality attaching Canon EF/EF-S lenses to the M5 by using Canon's adapter.

 

2.  The "L" Series of lenses are all EF lenses, which means that they should work.  Be aware that with the M5 you may lose some of the AF functionality of super telephoto lenses when you use extenders.

 

3.  The image sensor in the M5 is an APS-C sensor, similar to the 80D.

 

While the M Series of cameras can work with EF/EF-S lenses, the cameras have a MUCH smaller battery to go along with the compact body.  My M3 is rated for 100-150 shots with an M Series lens.  No doubt an L Series lens would afford considerably fewer shots.

 

I immediately discoverd that the M3 has focus peaking LCD display.  Almost from the start I have used my M3 primarily with manual focus WA lenses, which do not drain the battery, at all.  My favorite is a Rokinon 14mm. 

 

With my son, we have also discovered that the M Series is PERFECT for macro photography because of the small body and tilting display.  My son is a master chef, and frequently takes pictures of plates of food.  With a 24MP sensor and DIGIC 6 CPU, the M3 captures very detailed images with the EF 100 f/2.8L USM Macro lens.

 

The M5 is supposed to be an improvement over the M3. 

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."

I have ordered M5 together with EF-M 20/2 and EF-M 15-45. My thought is to travel light. I wish Canon makes more small M-lenses.


Japanese Canon has a list of lenses with focus problem together with EOS M, but I think M5 and the dual pixel will work out. If my thinking is right I will never need to calibrate my 85/1,8 or my 50/1,4 together with the M5. If you can wait, I can tell you after I get it in about two or three weeks.

Please do let me know how you get on.


@Peter wrote:

Japanese Canon has a list of lenses with focus problem together with EOS M, but I think M5 and the dual pixel will work out. If my thinking is right I will never need to calibrate my 85/1,8 or my 50/1,4 together with the M5. If you can wait, I can tell you after I get it in about two or three weeks.


Peter, I wish I could read what is being listed at your link.

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."

jrhoffman75
Legend
Legend
Wide, but it's a fisheye lens.
John Hoffman
Conway, NH

1D X Mark III, Many lenses, Pixma PRO-100, Pixma TR8620a, LR Classic

TCampbell
Elite
Elite

Probably the most significant feature of the lens adapter is the spacing adjustment.  All lenses are disigned with a specific back-focus distance (the distance from the back of the lens (really the rear-most element) to the focal plane.

 

Canon EF and EF-S lenses have a back-focus distance optimized for their camera bodies.  Those bodies have a 44mm distance from the mounting flange on the front of the camera body to the sensor plane inside the camera.  

 

Canon EF-M lenses are optimized for the much shorter 18mm distance from the mounting point on an EOS-M body to the image sensor inside that camera body.  

 

If you merely adapted the mounting hardware but didn't adjust the spacing then the focusing commands wouldn't work as expected and it would be more difficult to achieve decent focus.    It's basically the opposite of putting on extension tubes on a lens (which naturally make closest focus point nearer to the camera lens and slightly enlarge the image) in that you'd end up with your entire focus range being shifted much farther away.

 

The adapter alters the spacing by allowing the lens to mount 26mm farther away so that any EF or EF-S lens is now at the intended 44mm distance.  Of course it also passes through the electronic connections so the camera can talk to the lens and it adapts the mounting ring.

 

So the bottom line is yes, it works, and you give up nothing (except the compact size).

 

Tim Campbell
5D III, 5D IV, 60Da

ebiggs1
Legend
Legend

" I am looking seriously at the EOS M5,..."

 

I think the M5 is a bad idea uless you do just want to use the lenses designed for it.  It is just a fancy-dancy P&S.  There are so many better choices available.  Just my .02 cents but worth every penny.

EB
EOS 1DX and 1D Mk IV and less lenses then before!
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