Fast 35mm wide-angle lens. With a minimum focusing distance of only 0.8 ft. (25cm), you can approach the subject closer and still obtain a more natural wide-angle effect. You can even obtain good background blur for portraits.
6Minimum focusing distance of only 0.8 feet (25cm)
You can approach the subject closer and still obtain a more natural wide-angle effect
Beautiful background blur at wide apertures
7 elements in 5 groups
The Canon 35mm f2 is a lens of excellent value and performance. One of the sharpest lenses ever, hands down!
Build is similar to the 50mm 1.8 mk2 lens except that this lens has a metal mount instead of plastic. It also has a distance scale like old school lenses...actually it is actually one of canons older lenses. Focus is not bad considering it does not have USM. Unlike the 50mm mk2, the focus ring does not rotate on autofocus which is good. It has a bigger and better focus ring too. Ultra sharp details if used as a portrait lens. Similar to the 50mm. This in my observation is sharper at wider apertures. At f2 it is really sharp. Sharper when you stop down. Excellent focal range when used on a non full frame camera.
The only complaint I have is the washed out colors. On this aspect the 50mm 1.8 is better, giving you more contrasty images. The solution to this is post processing. Other than that I highly recommend this lens.
Highly recommended for non full frame cameras. Good for full frame users too!
This little lens is a joy to use - it is, at once, light weight, fast, sharp, and small. Due to its physical dimensions, it is unobtrusive when mounted and focuses both quickly and accurately. I does NOT use an ultrasonic motor, but there are no problems with it hunting for focus or noise ( just a soft buzz ).Because of its focal lenth, maximum aperture, weight and size, it makes an excellent 'normal' lens for an APS-C camera. Due to its age and contruction, it may well be discontinued, so get it while you can.
I've only had this lens for a couple weeks, but the softness of the images at the wider apertures is really noticable. From f/2.0 to f/3.2 things are very soft. By f/4.5 the sharpness becomes quite good and seems very sharp at f/5.6.
I had hoped to use this lens as a replacement for the kit lens that came with my T1i, but the image quality at comperable settings (35mm, f/4.5, 1/60s) is no better with the 35mm fixed lens. When I open up the aperture to get better low-light performance, the sharpness goes out the window, so it's hard to decide if that trade off is worthwile.
The auto-focus seems adequate, and the noise of the auto-focus motor is really not an issue. If it were sharper across all apertures it would be a 5-star lens, no doubt.
I have tried many lenses for indoor sports but this one has to be the best.I shoot mainly Taekwondo action in bad lighting and this lens never lets me down .Starting at f2.0 to f2.8 my pictures are tack sharp every time.I use the 50D and this combo is just the best. The other great prime lens I use is the 100mm f2.0
Feedback
Cameras
Product Advisories
Where To Buy
Find a Retail Store
