Rocky said:
The whole idea of the M is SMALL. All the above suggestions are not small ij size.You can also look into the Leica 35mm lens. I have a 50 years old 35/2.0 Summicron. With the L to EF-M adapter, it is almost the same size as the EF-M 22mm. It is almost as sharp as the EF-M 22mm. However, the Summicron is with better "definition" in fine detail. If you use the Leica 35/2.8 lens it will even be smaller.
Being a 5D user, the M's weren't my primary cameras, so I was able to look at the M in a different light. I got the orig M the M3 and the M5. Beyond the native ef-m F2 22mm and the specialty of the the ef-m 11-22mm, my intent was to use vintage lenses using the Leica M to Ef-m adapter. Since I had my wide and my street lens, I just needed a Wide aperture portrait.
I started with the Voigtlander 50mm F1.5 Nokton. Very close to the Leica 50mm Summicron F2.0 (non-apo) from F2.8 on. I shot them side by side. At F2.0 and especially f1.5, the Nokton exhibited purple fringing on Highlights vs the leica Summicron at f2.0 (its maximum aperture).
As a result I got the Leica F1.4 Summilux and I'm very happy. Its Widest aperture is cleaner, mostly free of purple fringing except in extreme results. You have to go for the $8K F2.0 APO Summicron 50mm to get a cleaner image. The Summilux F1.4 also has IMHO a better ergonomics than the Nokton in terms of the lens hood; on the Summilux you just slide into position providing a much smaller profile and far easier way to put on an ND or Cir polarizer. The built in lens hood slides over the filters very easily. The Norton has a large detachable lens hood. Also the Focus tab (for me) on the Summilux is far easier to focus than the scalloped focus ring on the Norton, but that is a preference. Admittedly sometime I have to opt for the traditional ways of moving the focus ring on the Summilux for fine tune. '
The aperture ring on the Nokton is tighter than the Summilux and less likely to get hit accidentally.
Mechanically the Summilux is superior in build quality but its also more than 4X the cost of the Nokton. The Nokton still has a nice solid metal and glass feel. I think anyone getting the Nokton for the Canon M5 will be very happy as long as they understand the fact that its a manual lens. Keep in mind the Nokton was also a leica M mount since there is no native EF-m Voigtlander. So no Exif data regarding you lens. Just remember to tag it with a keyword if you import it to LR.
Lastly, the micro contrast of the 50mm Summilux has to be mentioned. its the ability to reproduce the inter-tonal shifts between bright and dark. Modern lenses give a more contrasty image by comparison as its seen as being more desirable. I suggest you read this great article on the subject:
http://yannickkhong.com/blog/2016/2/8/micro-contrast-the-biggest-optical-luxury-of-the-world
Committing to the Leica in financially is not as hard as one thinks: Its a lens that can easily be adapted to Canon EF-m, Fuji, Sony's full frame and Aps-c cameras as well as Leica's M rangefinder, SL/T and L Mirrorless bodies. Same with the Nokton but at 1/4 the price. and in the case of the Summilux, it retrains its resale value if not going up. Before the mirrorless craze the same exact 50mm Summilux was under $3k now its almost $4K after the release of the first Leica M9 (and the Sonys and I;m sure Fujis). Assuming it fits your needs, it will be with you as you swap out digital bodies for years. One example I sold my early APS-c collections, i.e. the 7D mark 1, 17-85mm & 10-22mm lens, old 580EX flashes.... the depreciation of that over the last decade was pretty much equal to the 2/3rd the cost of the Summilux. That kind of depreciation just doesn't happen to leica lenses. Something to think about.
With Rangefinder lenses, you get a smaller sized, better balanced Eos-M system that leverages the Tech of a modern digital camera (Focus peaking, high iso, electronic viewfinder) with the character and wide aperture of the range finder lenses. Check them out!
