I recently bought a used X-M1 and decided to sell my XC16-50mm (which I had bought to replace my 18-55mm) and buy a used 15-45mm. I found the IQ of the 16-50mm to be as good as the 18-55mm in my casual testing (whilst being smaller, lighter and with the extra 2mm on the wide end, although lacking the aperture dial, OIS button and feeling much cheaper).

The 15-45mm is even smaller and lighter again, has another 1mm on the wide end and was ridiculously cheap. I don't particularly like the electronic zoom, but I can live with that for the small size of the lens. I think it takes excellent shots and pairs so well with the X-M1. I'd say try the zoom first to see if you can live with it, but otherwise I highly recommend it!

Oh yes, I also have a 27mm that I bought used and this, together with the X-M1, makes a tiny set-up with great image quality. Add the 15-45mm and you have a small, cheap and pretty versatile street/walk-around set-up.

• 6

Just in case you were curious what the 35 1.2 looked like on an X-M1..

• 7

No experience with the 15-45, but I also broke the mount of my 16-50 recently, and Fuji repaired and re-calibrated it for a little less than € 100,-, which was still cheaper than buying used.

Last edited: Dec 15, 2018

• 8

  Broke the mount on my 16-50 lens earlier this year, and I miss that little unassuming lens. Found out a new one would be a nice christmas present for myself. Then I found reviews on the "new" 15-45 that sounds promising - and even more compact.

.. and while searching ebay , some nice used XF 18-55's out there too.. Camera = X-M1. decisions, decisons.... Maybe just find the best deal , then put the rest of the $$ towards a fast wide angle prime.

Anyone here used both the 16-50 and 15-45?

Yes, and without suggesting trying anything else I can report on the 2 you mentioned. Both produce practically identical images under typical shooting conditions, but the PZ feature isn't as quick or precise as the manual zooming of the 16-50. On some X bodies with the latest firmware, the 15-45 focus ring can be used for zoom "fine tuning" but it's still slower. The beauty of the 15-45 is it's compact size and light weight. One option you have is to simply replace the broken mount on your 16-50 with a new one. Fairly cheap and easy operation.

• 9

You mentioned the 18-55/2.8-4 you saw on eBay...it is a fine zoom lens.

iha

Well-Known Member

• 10

  One option you have is to simply replace the broken mount on your 16-50 with a new one. Fairly cheap and easy operation.

that was my original plan , ordered a new mount on ebay - but found I was a little bit "over my head" as it was without the cable and contacts:

I now see there's replacement mounts with cable available, the repair looks much more feasible.

I also thought of shipping it out for repair but where I reside now, just the shipping costs will be huge.

iha

Well-Known Member

• 11

  No, but my favorite lens is the 7artisans 35mm f1.2. It's a cheap compact option.

ordered this lens from the UK on sunday, stuck in customs for 3 days now..

Will be interesting to see how it works in low light and if I can figure out focus peaking and such stuff, lol!

• 12

  ordered this lens from the UK on sunday, stuck in customs for 3 days now..

Will be interesting to see how it works in low light and if I can figure out focus peaking and such stuff, lol!

Now you have to order a small hood. I ordered mine from ebay i think. I mainly use it to protect the front element instead of using the slip on lens cap.

iha

Well-Known Member

• 13

finally got my 35 F1.2. For sure a compact lens , especially considering its aperture. Have been swamped at work so havent got to use it much except for getting familiar with the use of MF.

Tried looking for a suitable hood but had trouble finding it on ebay

• 15

I used them both. Optically, there isn't a dramatical difference between them, apart from the wider angle of the 15-45. But I didn't really like the power zoom, especially since it has an annoying lag. On the plus side, it is more compact than the 16-50.

dem

Well-Known Member

• 16

I have been trying to make peace with the 15-45 zoom for about a month now. It is fine optically, the OIS is good, it is small but the power zoom part of it is rather annoying...

You turn the camera on, it remembers what focal length you used last and sets the zoom to it accordingly. That's nice, except you never know what focal length you are shooting at (this can only be checked in EXIF data post capture). The camera flashes a zoom bar with W and T at each end and a dot somewhere in between. If you think 30 mm should be right in the middle between 15 and 45, you would be wrong, as it is about 2/3 to the tele end. Fair enough, but a couple of marks between 15 and 45 would have been very helpful.

If you are using auto focus, both by wire rings on the lens are used for zooming.

The "fast" zoom ring is only useful if you want to go all the way to the 15 or 45 end. Catching any intermediate value is impossible with any degree of accuracy. The second, "slow" zoom ring is accurate enough to adjust framing. It is rather slow though and it jumps in little steps, which gets the job done but nowhere near as fast and smooth as a manual zoom.

• 17

I am getting both used split from kit. Already have the 16-50 which is a perfectly fine kit zoom. But the 15mm end of the 15-45 is very close to the FOV with the 14mm, which will be 8-10 times the price.

Anyone used to normal zooms will need to get used to the PZ, but I am not going to touch the zoom. It has been proven to be a perfectly fine ultra wide 15mm f3.5 prime. Which I will use just for landscapes. For something faster like street the 16-50 will be much easier to use.

There are comparisons and reviews which show the PZ 15mm is much closer to the 14mm than it is to 16mm. I am currently badgering X-A5 sellers to sell me the PZ separately, not going well but fingers crossed.

The 32mm f1.2 is perfect for social nights out, but not the easiest to focus so I would get the two zooms and 23mm f2 first.