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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens Preview


Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens

Canon has now introduced three EF-M lenses for the EOS-M camera recently. The latest one is the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. This camera will have a new Firmware 2.0 available on June 26. You can read the latest post on this topic here. This lens is available for pre-order on Amazon GermanyFranceJapanWexPhotographic - UKHong Kong and many other Internet retailers. However, this lens is currently not available for the US market.

Main Features of the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens

  • Ultra-wide 11-22mm EF-M zoom lens
  • Compact, retractable lens design
  • Smooth, quiet STM focusing in movies
  • Dynamic IS for steady movies
  • 3-stop optical Image Stabilizer
  • Manual focus ring
  • Lens Construction: 12 elements in 9 groups
  • Closest Focusing Distance: 0.15m
  • Filter Size: 55mm
  • Max. Diameter x Length: 60.9 x 58.2mm
  • Weight: 220g

DPReview has posted a preview of the EF-M 11-22mm lens. Below is an excerpt from their article :

"It's now almost a year since Canon unveiled its first foray into the mirrorless camera sector, the EOS M. The camera was launched with two lenses, the EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM kit zoom and the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM 'pancake' prime. But while most other manufactures have gone out of their way to provide 'roadmaps' of upcoming lens releases in an attempt to convince potential buyers of their commitment to these new systems, Canon has remained stubbornly quiet. But now EOS M owners have a new lens to consider: the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM wideangle zoom. Note though that the lens hasn't been officially released in the USA, and we have no indication whether it will ever be sold in this market.

The lens offers a zoom range equivalent to 18-36mm on full frame, which is a little less ambitious than its closest competitor, the Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS (15-24mm equiv). To an extent this is a trade-off for its relatively compact design; it uses a retracting barrel reminiscent of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm 1:4.0-5.6, and is about the same size as the 18-55mm kit zoom. This means it's much smaller than Canon's EF-S 10-22mm f/4-5.6 USM wideangle zoom for its APS-C SLRs. One oddity is a 55mm filter size that's not shared with any of Canon's other current lenses.

The 11-22mm is Canon's first wide zoom with image stabilization, which the company claims will allow shooting at shutter speeds three stops slower than usual without the image being degraded by blurring from camera shake. It also includes Canon's 'Dynamic IS', which offers a wider range of correction during movie shooting. Focusing - both auto and manual - is handled by a linear stepper motor, which promises silent operation during movie recording.

Canon is making grand claims for the 11-22mm's optical quality, and saying that its 12 element / 9 group design will offer significantly better image quality than the (already well-regarded) EF-S 10-22mm. The lens we used to prepare this preview wasn't sufficiently finalized for Canon to allow us to shoot sample images, but we'll look at how well it performs just as soon as we can. Until then, read on to find out more about the lens's design and operation.

The EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is Canon's third lens for its mirrorless EOS M camera, and adds a useful wideangle capability in a package that's impressively compact - especially considering that it's got optical image stabilisation too. Our initial feeling is that it's a rather nice little lens that's pretty well-built, and a good match for the EOS M. It could well offer an interesting alternative for landscape or travel photographers who want a wide zoom, but wish to reduce the weight of the kit they're carrying.

Arguably the bigger question, though, is whether Firmware 2.0.0 will improve the EOS M's focusing performance to make it a more credible contender in this market. Because, however good the 11-22mm turns out to be, at the moment it only works on a single camera that's just a little underwhelming compared its peers - especially in terms of autofocus performance. If Canon really wants to compete seriously in this increasingly popular segment, it'll surely have to get up to speed sooner rather than later."

You can read the entire article here on DPReview's website.

MichaelDanielHo.com

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