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Archive 2012 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

akin_t
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p.1 #1 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Can anyone speak to the performance of the EF 28mm f/1.8 around f/1.8?

I have a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, but I find that I sometimes miss my 35mm f/1.4L ... Sadly, money is an issue and I don't think I am ready to spend another $1,000 on a prime.

How does the 28mm f/1.8 hold up compared to the 35mm f/1.4L? I will be shooting this at maximum aperture most of the time.

Jan 17, 2012 at 04:13 PM

JohnBrose
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p.1 #2 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

It's not real great wide open, I would suggest the Rokinon 35 f1.4 if you don't mind manual focusing or wait until they release their 24mm in about a month. If you are still shooting on a small sensor, you could check out the sigma 35mm, I've heard good things about it, but don't buy sigma myself.

Jan 17, 2012 at 04:16 PM

Ian.Dobinson
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p.1 #3 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

akin_t wrote:
Can anyone speak to the performance of the EF 28mm f/1.8 around f/1.8?

I have a 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, but I find that I sometimes miss my 35mm f/1.4L ... Sadly, money is an issue and I don't think I am ready to spend another $1,000 on a prime.

How does the 28mm f/1.8 hold up compared to the 35mm f/1.4L? I will be shooting this at maximum aperture most of the time.

why are you not considering the Sigma 30/1.4? . the one I had was great at 1.4

Jan 17, 2012 at 04:45 PM

willm02118
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p.1 #4 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

I just bought this lens and tested it on a 1D III and a 40D. I find it pretty sharp even at f1.8. I had the Sigma 30 and this lens is much more accurate in focusing and just as sharp. I also had the Sigma 20 f1.8 and I find this to be sharper than that too. But the Sigma 50 wins in sharpness between the two. The sharpness is comparable to the Canon 85 f1.8. But stop it down a bit and this lens really shines. I'm amazed that it's sharper at f2.8 then my 28-70L at 28mm. I have no regret paying full price for this lens. And it's so small and compact that it makes a great close up portrait lens.

Jan 17, 2012 at 04:53 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #5 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Mine was pretty poor wide open and not nearly as good as my 28 2.8 at F2.8. Probably lots of sample variation on this model as opinions are all over the map.

Jan 17, 2012 at 05:27 PM

gwaww
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p.1 #6 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

My Sigma 24 1.8 is fairly sharp ay 1.8 and very sharp stopped down. I use it on both a 5D and a 7D. Obviously it will have better corner sharpness on a ASP-C camera.

Jan 17, 2012 at 05:33 PM

GC5
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p.1 #7 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

I've currently got both. The 28 1.8 isn't as sharp as the 35L at 1.8, but it's certainly useable. Improves significantly when you stop down.

Jan 17, 2012 at 06:02 PM

D. Diggler
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p.1 #8 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

willm02118 wrote:stop it down a bit and this lens really shines. I'm amazed that it's sharper at f2.8 then my 28-70L at 28mm.

Yeah, I'm always pleasantly surprised by how sharp Canon's 28 is stopped down a bit! FAST focus. Accurate focus. Good colors. Really this lens doesn't get the respect it deserves.

Jan 17, 2012 at 06:28 PM

D. Diggler
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p.1 #9 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

GC5 wrote:The 28 1.8 isn't as sharp as the 35L at 1.8, but it's certainly useable.

Agreed.

Jan 17, 2012 at 06:32 PM

willm02118
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p.1 #10 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

I think the price for such a little lens has turn many people off. If it was as big as the Sigma 20 f1.8, it might get more respect?

Jan 17, 2012 at 07:05 PM

Will Patterson
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p.1 #11 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

I really liked my 28 1.8 when I had it. It was great wide open, I thought.

Jan 17, 2012 at 08:22 PM

svassh
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p.1 #12 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

D. Diggler wrote:
willm02118 wrote:stop it down a bit and this lens really shines. I'm amazed that it's sharper at f2.8 then my 28-70L at 28mm.

Yeah, I'm always pleasantly surprised by how sharp Canon's 28 is stopped down a bit! FAST focus. Accurate focus. Good colors. Really this lens doesn't get the respect it deserves.

Yep, I agree was on my camera alot. I regret selling it and still consider buying another one every time I see one for sale. Thought I could replace it with a 50 1.4 but still prefer the 28 1.8. Great multipurpose fast prime.

Jan 17, 2012 at 09:50 PM

atroester
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p.1 #13 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Will Patterson wrote:
I really liked my 28 1.8 when I had it. It was great wide open, I thought.

I've heard there's some varying copies, but I've shot my 28 f1.8 wide open quite a bit and I really can't find anything to complain about. Maybe I got a sharp copy? I shot it side-by-side my 50 f1.4 night after night and in low light, I felt the dreamy-softness of the 50 f1.4 was less acceptable than the 28's performance under f2.

I immediately traded my 50 f1.4 for an 85 f1.8 and kept my 28 f1.8.

All that to say, at the very least -- it must be agreed upon that there are some great copies of the 28 f1.8 out there. For me, it has been a real bang-for-the-buck lens and I plan on hanging on to it indefinitely. Don't let the negative reviews deter you, but instead let them motivate you to see sample shots from the copy you are about to buy.

It's an almost 1:1 ratio of very positive reviews to a negative review, and it's not the first time Canon's QA procedures have come into question.

Jan 18, 2012 at 02:20 AM

Chengdu Nanhai
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p.1 #14 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

I am currently using a second copy of the 28 1.8, which works just as beautifully as the first copy I owned. I know a lot of people are fans of the Sigma 30 1.4, but personally I wasn't impressed during the brief time I used one. I really do not understand the negative feedback on the 28, a sharp little lens with great AF. The price is a turn-off though, I'd appreciate it a lot more if it were the same price as the 50 1.4

Jan 18, 2012 at 08:38 AM

Trevor Sowers
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p.1 #15 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

http://trevorsowersphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/canon-ef-28mm-f18-usm-lens-review.html

It's a great lens and unlike the Sigma it also works beautifully on a 5D if you ever go that route in the future.

Jan 19, 2012 at 03:05 AM

galenapass
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p.1 #16 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Probably most users are centering their subjects when shooting the 28 f1.8 wide open. Could also be the difference between a use on a crop versus full frame. It's sharp in the center, no doubt, but the sharpness quickly fades towards the edges. That was my experience on full frame. One of the reasons I went with Nikon glass at the short end.

Jan 19, 2012 at 03:17 AM

Trevor Sowers
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p.1 #17 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Yes when it is wide open you need to keep the subject within the area of the focus points on a 5D MKII. Once stopped down to 2.8 though it is quite good over most of the frame and at f/4 it is all good except for the very corners.

Jan 19, 2012 at 03:43 AM

galenapass
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p.1 #18 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

One could also argue that shooting a wide open at f/1.8, 99% of the time the subject is in the center of the frame anyway, and the poor edge performance actually assists in isolating the central subject.

Jan 19, 2012 at 03:56 AM

Snopchenko
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p.1 #19 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Trevor Sowers wrote:
http://trevorsowersphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/canon-ef-28mm-f18-usm-lens-review.html

It's a great lens and unlike the Sigma it also works beautifully on a 5D if you ever go that route in the future.
Ah, Trevor, good that you chimed in. I was about to perform a summoning ritual.

I remember you explaining the subject to me (and a few others who were interested) in the previous round of "28/1.8ish" threads.

AFAIR the center sharpness of this lens gets a big boost at f/2 - f/2.2.

Jan 19, 2012 at 08:08 AM

Writer_Head
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p.1 #20 · EF 28mm f/1.8 performance at f/1.8?

Some "night for day" shots on a 5D with very low light. f1,8 ISO 1600 1/50 and pushed about +2EV in ACR.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jan 19, 2012 at 03:00 PM

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