The release of the EOS M3 suggests Canon’s compact system has a long-term future. We take a look at the lenses created for use with EOS M-series cameras

Canon entered the CSC arena later than most other manufacturers. When the EOS M finally arrived in 2012 – a model that inherits many of its internals from the EOS 650D DSLR – it was initially supported by a pair of lenses that included the EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM and the EF-M 22mm f/2 STM pancake lens. In the three years since, Canon has added a further two lenses to the EF-M range, in the form of the EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM and the EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM.

Third-party options

Samyang produces the 8mm f/2.8 UMC II Fisheye (£284), 12mm f/2 NCS CS (£332) and 300mm f/6.3 ED UMC CS (£290) lenses, while Tamron also makes the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC (£339) in EF-M mount. The recent arrival of the new EOS M3 should be looked on positively, suggesting that Canon’s focus is back on its CSC system, having released a flurry of new DSLRs of late. With the EOS M3 arriving so early in the year, we can keep our fingers crossed that more lenses will arrive later in 2015 to bolster the current EF-M range and underline the company’s commitment to its smaller system.

Mount adapters

At the time of the EOS M’s launch, Canon also released the EF-EOS M mount adapter (£109), which, as its name suggests, allows users of Canon EOS M-series cameras to mount any lens from the manufacturer’s huge range of EF and EF-S optics. It works with all Canon autofocus lenses made after 1987 and offers complete electronic communication for AF, automatic aperture control and image stabilisation.

What’s missing?

At the telephoto end, the furthest you can currently shoot is 320mm, while at the widest end you can’t go any further than 18mm (equivalent). The EF-M lens range is missing a few key optics and one we’d really like to see added includes a high-quality, fast 35mm prime for portraiture. An ultra-wideangle zoom for those with an eye for landscapes, and a fast prime with an equivalent 85mm focal length, would also be welcomed in the EF-M lens range.

Top Canon EOS M-series lenses

Canon-EF-18-55mm-f3.5-5.6-IS-STM

EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM – £220

The current standard zoom with a focal length equivalent to 29-88mm in 35mm terms

Canon-EF-M-22mm-f2-STM

EF-M 22mm f/2 STM – £190

Equivalent to 35mm, this is the only prime lens available for EOS M cameras

Canon-EF-M-11-22mm-f4-5.6-IS-STM

EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM – £350

A wideangle zoom with Canon’s Stepping Motor (STM)

Canon-EF-M-55-200mm-f4.5-6.3-IS-STM

EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM – £300

Designed to bring far-off subjects within reach and equivalent to 88-320mm in 35mm terms