Canon EOS M5 & Best Lens Selection >> "Pulled the Trigger"

For weeks I mulled over mirrorless for a 3rd camera to use as extra, backup and light weight forest exploring. Amidst scads of reviews, I came to the conclusion that the M5 is not limited to few lenses, but has virtually the best assortment of lenses available among most camera brands. Unlike Sony that has several proven hiccups adapting to Canon's great lenses, the M5 natively functions and focuses with most Canon glass, and plenty of 3rd party glass made for Canon.

One of the more common negatives in review comments was lack of 4K, but I could care less about 4K. I really prefer 1080 for the few times I do, but 99% of the time shoot portraits and landscape. I feel that most people who get a camera because they hear it has 4K, rarely use it anyway.

Presently, I have a Canon 5D mk iii and Canon 5DS. Last night, I ordered an M5 EOS refurbished from Canon USA with a FREE Canon lens adapter for a total of $748.00.

I may just get the 18-150mm in the M mount group for a small do-most-everything lens. Otherwise, I have plenty of other lenses to adapt. There's also the 40mm pancake, 50mm nifty fifty and some other light weight primes I may add to a kit for this M5. The photo below is from years ago, using another camera (60D). It represents "pulling the trigger" on this new purchase that took weeks to think about. For others, maybe the EOS M5 seems limited for lenses. But for my shooting and kit, the EOS M5 is more unlimited than my 5D mk iii or Rebel I used to have.

Congrats on your purchase! I recently sold my 7D2 as my 80D was a better all around camera for me since I don't shoot a lot of sports or BIF. I didn't feel the need to keep the 7D2 as a backup but did want some kind of backup, so I purchased an M6 since a lot of my shooting is done in live view anyway. I had an M3 in the past and loved it, but the slow AF would get me when shooting small children, however the M6 focuses way faster and has great color rendition.

I tested all of my lenses on it, and they all work perfectly including using the Sigma 150-600 C with a Kenko Teleplus 1.4x TC, which my 7D2 did not like. The best lens on it, just like on my 80D, is my Sigma 18-35 f/1.8, followed by my Sigma 50-100 f/1.8. Neither surprised me, but what did surprise me was how well the Canon EF-M 15-45mm works for such a tiny, lightweight lens. Can be had dirt cheap on eBay from Hong Kong, delivered to me in CT in one day! My next purchase will probably be the Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 lens for astrophotography, just have to find somewhere dark enough to use it around here!

Hope you enjoy your new toy, I know I am!

-Joe

TreeburnerCT wrote in post #18479950
Congrats on your purchase! I recently sold my 7D2 as my 80D was a better all around camera for me since I don't shoot a lot of sports or BIF. I didn't feel the need to keep the 7D2 as a backup but did want some kind of backup, so I purchased an M6 since a lot of my shooting is done in live view anyway. I had an M3 in the past and loved it, but the slow AF would get me when shooting small children, however the M6 focuses way faster and has great color rendition.

I tested all of my lenses on it, and they all work perfectly including using the Sigma 150-600 C with a Kenko Teleplus 1.4x TC, which my 7D2 did not like. The best lens on it, just like on my 80D, is my Sigma 18-35 f/1.8, followed by my Sigma 50-100 f/1.8. Neither surprised me, but what did surprise me was how well the Canon EF-M 15-45mm works for such a tiny, lightweight lens. Can be had dirt cheap on eBay from Hong Kong, delivered to me in CT in one day! My next purchase will probably be the Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 lens for astrophotography, just have to find somewhere dark enough to use it around here!

Hope you enjoy your new toy, I know I am!

-Joe

The 80D you mentioned was one facet that had me holding off a few days. I was narrowed-down to the M5 or 80D. Then decided to go with the M5 because it's the more compact, and I wanted to experience mirrorless. This will be my first time iwth touchscreen in a camera too.

Would love to try the Sigma 18-35mm 1.8, but I often shoot forest, and around f/5.6 to f/11 for depth of field. So I'll probably use my primes for large aperture ... 35mm 1.8 ... 50 1.2, etc.. I've got a mix of Tamron and Canon (but have enjoyed Sigma too). The Rokinon 12mm is of interest too. I've bought and sold fisheye twice before, but I suspect I'll keep my next purchase. Question is whether to get the fisheye for the full frame or M5, but the compact size of the 12mm as M mount makes sense because my "BAG" just grew to two bags a couple weeks ago. One Lowepro backpack and one Lowepro rolling bag. So every choice now is involving weight and size much more. In fact, I bought a Canon 70-200 f/4 IS for my full frame to lighten the load when exploring forest and hiking. But now I'm looking forward to trying it with the M5, which wasn't even part of the game plan 6 weeks ago when I ordered that lens.

FYI, if you do get a 15-150, check it for sharpness. Some people have complained about it, where as others say it is good, so I'm thinking there might be a bit of copy variation. My copy is definitely sharp, even wide open (a little softer in the corners of course).

ejenner wrote in post #18480220
FYI, if you do get a 15-150, check it for sharpness. Some people have complained about it, where as others say it is good, so I'm thinking there might be a bit of copy variation. My copy is definitely sharp, even wide open (a little softer in the corners of course).

Maybe if I decide on that lens, I should wait to drive up to Portland. I'm in southern Oregon with no camera stores. I go north every few months, where I could put one on my camera at one of a couple camera stores and look at one first-hand. I just ordered spare batteries and another charger this morning. The item in the video is what I ordered a few days ago. Could use on any camera, but now with the M5 on the way, it's the body I'll use this with. the videos just shows the mixer and shotgun mike. I ordered the kit that also includes a lav microphone (and may order a 2nd lav mic)

Ended up selling a lens I had listed so I pulled the trigger too, but decided on the Rokinon EF-S 10mm f/2.8 instead of the EF-M 12mm f/2 so that I could use it on both my 80D and M6. Trying not to invest in any EF-M lenses other than the 15-45 so that my glass will work on all my bodies.

Hope you're enjoying the M5 as much as I am the M6!

-Joe

One thing to keep in mind with the M5/M6 is the DPAF is not cross type focus, it will not focus on horz. lines in low light. I found twisting the camera 45 degrees helps. Also very low light and 6.3 zooms work poorly on the M5/M6, this comes as a surprise to some. A must have lens for the M5 is the 22 f2, its really great, I picked up a Canon refurb for $180

I do love the 18-35A on my M5 it's a pleasure to use, the 50 stm also works very well. I used my M5 with the 150-600C + 2x for the eclipse, f13 and the focus was perfect.

TreeburnerCT wrote in post #18480587
Ended up selling a lens I had listed so I pulled the trigger too, but decided on the Rokinon EF-S 10mm f/2.8 instead of the EF-M 12mm f/2 so that I could use it on both my 80D and M6. Trying not to invest in any EF-M lenses other than the 15-45 so that my glass will work on all my bodies.

Hope you're enjoying the M5 as much as I am the M6!

-Joe

I was thinking along those lines too and whether to get wide angle or fisheye for just the M mount ... or other that fits my bigger camera too. The small weight of the M mount looks appealing, but apparently the weight and size difference isn't that far apart. Haven't made the final choice yet. Would like one M mount zoom too.

Are you familiar with the "international" version M lenses shown on Amazon? No warranty ... but are they serviceable?

mdvaden wrote in post #18481182
Are you familiar with the "international" version M lenses shown on Amazon? No warranty ... but are they serviceable?

If these are the same as 'grey market' (and they appear to be), then they are exactly the same lens, assuming you buy from a reputable grey market 'dealer' - there are known reputable ones, and of course you should have Amazon to back you up. They should have decent return policies as well, although return shipping might not be cheap, although I see some/many are shipped from the US.

Also, and absolutely no guarantees (don't come back to me if this is wrong), but in the past Canon has honored warranties on at least some of these items. It might depend on how egregious the defect is - i.e. I would not send your grey market lens in because it has a bit of dust in it.

Also, for something like a camera, they may or may not have an English manual and local market plugs - e.g. chargers will be for the desired market, not US plug. Fortunately chargers work anywhere with a straight adapter. But if you like to buy-and-sell items, it might not be the best.

It also looks like some items may be 'repackaged', which means you likely will not get an original box and packaging. You might just get the lens, caps etc.. in a brown box. Some prices look really good - I mean for less that 1/2 price on some EF-M lenses, that worth looking at IMO, especially as they are hard to find used right now. Who needs a $100 box?

I almost pulled the trigger on that same refurbished deal for $748, but I needed a new PC, too, and a great deal popped up on one so I spent my funds there instead.

I still want to add an M5 in the future, though, as an upgrade to my original EOS M. The original takes great photos when you can work around the body's limitations. However, the poor auto focus performance and lack of a viewfinder frustrate me at times. The M5 should improve on those issues. I find the EOS M is a great complement to my full size dSLRs -- a 5D3 and 7D2 -- for times when I want something small and light.

I do not currently have the EF lens adapter for the M. A friend owns one, so I did play with it a little, but found that attaching my large EF lenses to the small M body defeated the purpose of why I bought the M in the first place. I've been using just the EF-M 22mm f/2 pancake and EF-M 18-55mm STM lenses, and that has been enough for my use. I do like the smaller profile and slightly wider angle of the EF-M 15-45mm, though, so may pick one of those up during a refurb sale in the future, too, and sell the 18-55 to my friend who owns the adapter.

I think that the nice thing about the M5/6 is that it is versatile. There is no 'one' way to use it. I thought I'd use it more with my EF lenses, but apart from the 400, that has not been the case. OTOH I really like the M lenses for my use and never thought I'd use it with the 400, but that has turned out great.

There might be an even better deal on M5 refurbs - Canon Rumors has put up that if you use the promo TREATPLEASE, you get another 15% off until the 31st.

http://www.canonrumors​.com …pular-refurbished-lenses/

Edit:

I see that promo code also listed on the Canon site

https://shop.usa.canon​.com …urbished?WT.mc_​id=C126149

Scott M wrote in post #18483054
I almost pulled the trigger on that same refurbished deal for $748, but I needed a new PC, too, and a great deal popped up on one so I spent my funds there instead.

I still want to add an M5 in the future, though,

Apparently the discount code ejenner suggested in the previous post is also noted at Canon's page for the refurbished M5 until October ends. That means someone could get the same M5 plus the adapter included for $638 ... sounds like a sweet deal. Might be a good time to pull the trigger again ... actually, if I hadn't just bought a bunch of other components last week, it's almost tempting to get a 2nd one.

If you decide to pick up an EF-M 15-45mm check out eBay - I picked mine up for under $150 from a seller in Hong Kong and it arrived the next day! Grey market, yes, but who has such a cheap lens serviced anyway? If it breaks just buy another. Still loving my M6 but I mostly use it with the adapter with my 18-135mm IS STM when I don't need the extra IQ of my fast Sigma aps-c zooms.

-Joe

Got the M5 two days ago. Only shot a few images of the front yard plants and could tell right away this camera is much better than anticipated. It's almost tempting to buy a second one. Photos look great, color looks nice, menu is easy to learn and the touchscreen works like a charm.

My first shots were with the 135mm on the adapter that came with it.

I recently bought the M6 with the 15-45 as a walk around combo when i don't take a DSLR
Great purchase i really like it
I also bought a 3rd party adapter and the 55-250stm such a great light combo that i found myself not taking the 70-300L that i love because of weight
Here is an image from NY during a business trip