Canon EF-M 18 55mm F3 5 5 6 IS STM Review | 54 Data compared

The Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom lens delivers a mediocre performance on the mirrorless Canon EOS M camera, scoring 60.5 points in testing. The review highlights a massive drop-off in image sharpness between the center of the frame and the corners. While stopping down the lens reduces this discrepancy slightly, diffraction at f/11 already degrades the center sharpness at the 55mm focal length, making a balanced exposure difficult. Furthermore, the lens suffers from heavy barrel distortion of nearly five percent when shooting at its widest focal length. On the positive side, the lens features built-in optical image stabilization and an STM stepping motor. Stepping motors are industrially favored for mirrorless systems because they generally allow contrast-detect autofocus systems to lock focus faster than traditional ultrasonic motors. However, on the EOS M body, Canon fails to deliver on this speed promise, resulting in underwhelmed autofocus performance. Ultimately, the review concludes that at a price point of 560 Euros, this kit lens is not a bargain given its technical flaws.

The Canon EOS M, as reviewed by Digitalkamera.de, is a compact, well-built camera featuring a high-quality magnesium alloy body, an intuitive touchscreen, and excellent image quality up to ISO 400, with usable results up to ISO 1,600. Key strengths include a 3.5mm microphone input, a high-performing 18-55mm kit lens, and an EF lens adapter that fully supports existing Canon DSLR lenses. Digitalkamera.de

The OpticalLimits review of the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 STM IS lens highlights its surprisingly premium design despite being a standard kit lens. The author praises the sturdy metal body and metal mount, which contrast nicely with the cheaper plastic builds typical of its class. Additional design pros include smooth zoom and focus rings and an integrated image stabilizer estimated to deliver a realistic 3 f-stop efficiency gain. Performance-wise, the inclusion of a Stepping Motor (STM) ensures smooth and quiet continuous autofocus during video recording. However, the reviewer points out several limitations, noting that Canon’s slow pace in developing the mirrorless EOS M system left it with few lens choices. A notable physical con is the inner extending lens tube, which is made of plastic rather than metal. The autofocus speed is merely adequate, largely because it is held back by the camera body's subpar AF performance. Finally, the lens utilizes a focus-by-wire system for manual operation, which lacks mechanical feedback, though it fortunately avoids noticeable "pumping" artifacts during use.

The dkamera.de review highlights the Canon EOS M's premium, compact metal body and excellent image quality, driven by an 18-megapixel APS-C sensor and DIGIC 5 processor. Key strengths include a highly responsive 3.0-inch touchscreen and compatibility with EF/EF-S lenses via an adapter. Conversely, the review identifies significant drawbacks, specifically a sluggish hybrid autofocus system and slow shutter lag that limit its use for fast-action photography. The camera also lacks an electronic viewfinder and suffered from a limited native lens selection at launch.

The Canon EOS M mirrorless system camera features a 17.9-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3-inch high-resolution touchscreen display with 1.04 million dots, and a hybrid autofocus system that combines phase detection and contrast measurement. Priced at a premium manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of 849 Euro, this camera comes bundled in a kit that includes the Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and an external Speedlight 90EX flash unit. Designed with a high-quality metal body, the device offers simple menu navigation, an exceptionally fast operating speed, and a rich dynamic range capable of capturing highly detailed shadows and highlights. On the positive side, the review highlights the camera's high optical efficiency, excellent color sharpness, and contrast-rich display, noting that the image resolution remains sharp and stable right up to the image borders. However, the camera suffers from notable downsides, including weak image noise levels despite its large sensor, significant image distortion (3.2%) when shooting at wide angles with the kit lens, and a lack of a built-in viewfinder or an adjustable/tiltable screen. Additionally, at nearly 500 grams with the...