Small yet mighty, Simple yet elegant, the perfect prime for EOS M cameras on the go!

I don’t know what it is about the EOS-M Cameras. They’re simple, compact, easy to use, and do a damn good job for what they are. Newer EOS M bodies have 24-32 megapixel sensors, all current models have canon’s Dual Pixel AF system which rocks, and I’ve yet to come across one that doesn’t have a screen you can actually use outdoors. I currently have an EOS M2 as my sole EOS M series camera. I plan on changing that to either the M5, M6 mark II, or the M50 once I can make up my mind. That’s for a future post though. Let’s talk about this prime and why it’s essential for anyone shooting EF-M mount cameras.

Note: I ended up going a different route and went with an Olympus Pen E-PL5. I do still have the M2 though, as it’s just a fantastic little camera.

Check out the gallery below to see the full sized photos to view the sharpness.

Specs

Apeture Range: f/2 to f/22
Focual Length: 22mm
35mm Equivalent: 35mm
Lens type: prime
Image Stabilization: nope
Size: approx .9” x 2.7” x 2.7” when mounted with lens caps off
Filter Thread: 43mm
Included lens hood: also nope

This lens covers some solid bases. Applying the crop factor, it’s a 35mm equivalent. Its aperture ranges from f/2 to f/22. It is a solid little prime lens for street or general purpose photography. Focus is smooth thanks to canon’s STM focusing, and reasonably quick. It’s not the fastest yet is quick enough to keep subjects in focus when recording video. That STM autofocus paired with the Dual Pixel AF cameras makes it a great lens for studio video. It can keep a subject in focus comfortably without lagging to keep up with quick forward and back head movements. For video, it’s biggest downfall is that it doesn’t have Image Stabilization.

Shooting the 22mm F/2

Straight out of camera, this lens makes for a perfect run and gun lens for fun.

Let’s start with the basics of this lens, it’s sharp and it’s got a wicked vignette. This vignette is easy to fix in post, so I find it less than a real problem. It’s sharp though. Focusing the lens is a speed that isn’t lighting fast, but I wouldn’t call it slow on any given day. It’s quite to focus, and this lens would be a solid option for street photography or something to kick around on a hike. It can be a portrait lens, but remember it is a wider focal length, so up close portraits may not be quite flattering. It never stopped me, and it can give a solid background blur, it also produces contrasty and saturated results.

It’s compact too, which is another reason it’s great to use as a street lens. Its sharp results and minimal design makes it seem sneakier then a large DSLR or Mirrorless camera. It’s a solid and classy addition to any EF-M mount camera. I love using this lens when I’m going out blind. It’s wide enough to be useful for environmental shots, yet tight enough for the rogue portrait if you need it. It’s a great general purpose lens if you prefer primes over zooms. It’s quite a lovely lens to have in your kit.

The lens is made from metal and plastic, but the mount is metal. It’s really just the focusing ring that is made of plastic, and it doesn’t feel cheap. The inner lens body that focuses is also plastic, but again feels quality and reliable. This is a quality lens, and feels like it will stand the test of time.

Where it falls flat

This lens has a lot of vignetting. Expect to correct for this in post or to use it to your advantage in composure. It' lessons as you stop down, but honestly unless I was at f/8 or higher it was noticeably there. Pair that with an old EF-M series camera like the EOS M and expect to see some noise creep back into your photo. It’s not the end of the world by any means, and if you are aware of it you can take advantage of it, but just be warned, expect a vignette.

Even with it’s shortfalls, if you know how to use it, it can create some truly stunning images.

The lens is sharp, but it also lacks image stabilization. This isn’t so much of an issue, but in dark situations, it’s less than a stop different than any of the kit lenses at their widest. Now those are zoom lenses, and once you get to that 22mm mark, you may hit that one stop difference. All the kit lenses do have image stabilization though so the lost off light is offset by stability of the camera. EF-M mount cameras are light and compact, so they don’t get the better stabilization you get from a heavier camera in my opinion. This is made even worse when using the lens with a camera that lacks a viewfinder. Keeping 3 points of contact on an EOS M2 is a difficult proposition put mildly. Keep your shutter speed faster than you expect and you won’t have too many issues.

This is an EF-M lens, so you won’t be able to put it on any other bodies except the EF-M mount. This lens won’t go with you if you go to the RF mount or EF mount, so expect to only have it with your EOS M series bodies.

Last we have to talk about the price. This was one of the first EF-M Mount lenses, and it still cost $250 to pick up new. Refurbished pricing will get it to about $200 bucks, and used around $100-$150 depending on condition. If you have an EF to EF-M adapter then getting a Nifty 50 or Canons 24mm f/2.8 pancake lens feels like a better value proposition. Both are optically sound, and are lightweight yet sharp optics.

Should I pick one up?

If you don’t have an EF to EF-M adapter then yes. It’s worth every penny. If you do then the 24mm f2.8 may be a better option. It’s cheaper and only one stop of light less than the 22mm f/2. If you want a compact lens to keep on you or you don’t have an adapter then this may be the better option. It’s really your call to say if its the right lens for you.

More arbitrary scores that really mean nothing!

Sharpness: 8 out of 10 - I’m really surprised at how much detail this little lens can grab.
Design: 10 out of 10 - It’s so well built and looks perfection the end of the EOS M2 and many other bodies. It feels very sturdy and it can take a few dings.
Contrast: 7 out of 10 - It’s punch enough but not over the top. details come though nicely and don’t feel washed out or overly done.
Speed: 5 out of 10 - it’s fast enough that it doesn’t feel slow, and I never hit a situation it couldn’t keep up with. It’s not lighting quick by any means though.
Accuracy: 10 out of 10 - It’s hard to find a mirrorless lens that isn’t accurate these days it seems.

So that would be 40 out of 50. It doesn’t mean anything. Only you can tell if this is a lens that will be a great addition to your kit. Give it a shot and see how it goes.