Canon 15-45mm
f/3.5~6.3 EF-M IS STM
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility Specs
Performance Usage Recommendations
Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM (Comes in this dark gray-black or in silver, 49mm filters, 4.5 oz/129g, 0.8'/0.25m close focus, about $299 and also comes inexpensively as a kit with EOS M cameras). bigger. I got mine at Adorama with my EOS M5; I'd also get it at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally-approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
January 2017 Canon Reviews EOS-M EF-M lenses all Canon Lenses Flash All Reviews
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
Cozy Christmas Fireplace, 26 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 19mm at f/4 hand-held at 1/50 at Auto ISO 1,600, Perfectly Clear.) bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
Fire at the Teppan Grill. (Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 45mm at f/6.3 at 1/60 at Auto ISO 500, Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
Mario's, 26 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 28mm at f/4.5 hand-held at 1/40 at Auto ISO 4,000, Perfectly Clear.) bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer. Remember that only the rear wall is in focus, not the tables.
Candy House, 27 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 21mm at f/4 hand-held at 1/40 at Auto ISO 2,000, Perfectly Clear.) bigger or full-resolution © file to explore on your computer.
Desert Marriott, 27 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 15mm at f/3.5 hand-held at 1/40 at Auto ISO 2,500, Perfectly Clear.) bigger or full-resolution © file to explore on your computer.
Fisherman's Landing, 27 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 39mm at f/5.6 at 1/60 at Auto ISO 400, Perfectly Clear.) bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
Walkway, 27 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 15mm at f/3.5 at 1/50 at Auto ISO 1,600, Perfectly Clear.) bigger.
Desert Fountain at Dusk, 27 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 45mm at f/6.3 at 3 seconds at ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
My Thai, December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 35mm at f/7.1 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
Introduction
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This tiny, retractable Canon 15-45mm lens takes great pictures and weighs nothing.
It has great optical performance and focusses super close.
It's an ideal lens for any Canon EOS-M camera, but it won't work with any DSLR.
Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM. bigger.
Compatibility
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
This lens works only on Canon's EOS-M cameras.
It won't attach to any other Canon camera — forget about it with a DSLR.
Specifications
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
Name
Canon calls this the EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM.
EF: Electronic Focus, as all Canon's lenses have been since 1987.
EF-M: Only works on EOS-M cameras.
IS: Image Stabilization.
STM: Stepper Autofocus Motor.
Optics
10 elements in 9 groups.
3 aspherical elements.
Diaphragm
Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM. bigger.
7 rounded blades.
Focal Length
15~45mm.
When used on EOS M cameras it sees the same angle of view as a 24~70mm lens sees when used on a 35mm or full-frame camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View
84° 30' ~ 33° 40' diagonal.
Autofocus
Internal focus.
No external movement as focussed, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Close Focus
0.8 feet (0.25 meters).
Image Stabilizer
Rated 3.5 stops improvement.
Filters
49 mm filter thread.
Size
2.40" maximum diameter ×1.76" extension from flange.
60.9 mm maximum diameter × 44.5 mm extension from flange.
Weight
4.545 oz. (128.75g) actual measured weight.
Rated 4.6 oz. (130 g).
Price, USA
$299, January 2017.
Much less if gotten as part of a kit:
Canon EOS M5 and EF-M 15-45mm kit. bigger.
Performance
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
Overall Autofocus Bokeh Distortion
Ergonomics Falloff Flare & Ghosts
Lateral Color Fringes Macro Mechanics
Overall
This is a great little lens for great little cameras.
Autofocus
Autofocus is slow, but that's because Canon's EOS-M cameras as of 2017 are slow. I'm unsure how fast this lens may focus on newer cameras.
Bokeh
Bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is pretty good — but with a lens this short, things rarely get out-of-focus.
For the softest backgrounds, shoot at 45mm and get as close as possible.
Davis 6250 weather station, December 2016. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolutions images properly).
Davis 6250 weather station, December 2016. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolutions images properly).
Distortion
Distortion is strong barrel at 15mm and moderate pincushion at 45mm, but it's easy to correct with Photoshop's lens distortion filter. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.
at 10' (3m) |
Correction factor with uncorrected images |
15mm |
+4.50* |
18mm |
+1.50* |
24mm |
-1.00 |
28mm |
-1.00 |
35mm |
0.00 |
45mm |
+2.20 |
© 2016 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
* Some waviness remains after this correction.
Oddly as of January 2017 the Canon EOS-M cameras don't offer in-camera correction.
Ergonomics
Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM. bigger.
It's an easy lens. Most of it is the zoom ring; grab and go.
Falloff
Presuming you have Peripheral Illumination Correction turned ON (Menu > Camera 4 > Lens aberration correction > SET > Peripheral illum. in the EOS M5, for instance), there is no visible falloff.
Flare & Ghosts
I noticed no unusual ghosts or flare.
Lateral Color Fringes
Presuming you have this correction ON (Menu > Camera 4 > Lens aberration correction > SET > Chromatic aberration in the EOS M5, for instance), there are no visible lateral color fringes.
Macro
Macro performance is excellent:
Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843, 27 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, 45mm at f/13 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).
1,200 x 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).
You're seeing dust and the texture of the silver paint on the watch face.
If this crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 x 30" (50 x 75 cm).
If this crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 x 60" (1 x 1.5 meters).
Mechanical Quality
Canon EF-M 15-45mm. bigger
This 15-45mm is all plastic.
Filter Threads
Plastic.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Plastic.
Front Barrel
Plastic.
Focus Ring
Plastic.
Zoom Ring
Plastic.
Rear Barrel
Plastic.
Internals
Seem like all plastic.
Moisture Seal at Mount
No.
Mount
Plastic.
Markings
Paint.
Serial Number
Laser engraved in black on the bottom of the black barrel near the mount.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Very mild clicking.
Made in
Taiwan.
Sharpness
Yes, it's super sharp.
The only limitations are your skill as a photographer.
Penguins and Igloos, 24 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 23mm at f/8 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
Fan Palm, 28 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 45mm at f/6.3 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
Two Palms, 29 December 2016. Canon EOS M5, Canon EF-M 15-45mm at 18mm at f/7.1 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer.
Image Stabilization
The stabilizer is fine, I was never able to make a blurry shot even hand-held outdoors at night.
Sunstars
Dawn, 7:23 AM, 07 January 2017. Canon EOS M5, 45mm at f/9 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 100. bigger.
It's rounded blades don't do much in the way of sunstars. This is about the best I could get.
Usage
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
To retract, slide the catch forward with your thumb as you rotate the zoom ring past the 15mm setting to the dot ●.
Recommendations
Top Sample Images Intro Compatibility
Specifications Performance Usage
This is a great little lens for any EOS-M camera. So long as 45mm is long enough for you, this lens does everything well.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya HD3 49mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints, and is also multicoated.
For less money, the B+W 49mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
I got my 15-45 at Adorama with my EOS M5; I'd also get it at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new lens before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Help Me Help You
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.