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