http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/lenses/ef_lens_lineup/lens_wide_pro/ef_28mm_f_2_8_is_usm?pageKeyCode=writeReviewPage
EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM
24309
Overview
A 21st century update to a popular and widely used fixed focal length lens, the Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM is a fixed focal length wide-angle 28mm lens equipped with Canon Optical Image Stabilizer technology, superb image quality and performance perfect for use in any number of photographic applications. Sharp, clear images are easy with an Optical Image Stabilizer that offers up to 4 stops of shake correction while a ring-type USM and advanced CPU with optimized AF algorithms enable faster auto focusing. Aspherical lens elements help improve image quality on the periphery and lens coatings help minimize ghosting and flare. A 7-blade circular aperture diaphragm delivers beautiful, soft backgrounds. Compact and lightweight with outstanding lens performance, it's the perfect lens to go with any EOS DSLR camera whether shooting stills or video.
Sample Images
MTF Charts
EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM
4
5
1
1
excellent for high quality travel pictures
For starters some background: In June this year I bought the new 40mm pancake which reminded me that prime lenses are preferable in many cases. Their discrete size and the lightweight prove beneficial when walking around; but also the fact that they force not to be lazy about image composition I like.
.
Whilst the 40mm is so affordable that it was a risk free just-for-fun purchase, this is certainly not true for the 28mm. It is simply expensive. Up to now I keep wondering what else I could have bought for the money.
.
The key question is, is it worth that price? My first thought when I got it was 'what a bore'; it is rather unexciting in particular when mounted on my 5DII (the pancake is different in this respect). But how does it perform?
.
And that is excellent. Sharpness is just great starting at f2.8; you may find reviews stating that full open the extreme borders show some problems, but these are minimal - they appear just a bit softer. Remember, this is a wide angle lens! Chromatic errors are nearly absent. Color rendition is good as well, albeit perhaps a bit cool. The stabilizer works as advertised, although at 100% I can see some blurring as of 1/6th. Vignetting (up to f4.5) and distortion are visible, but readily corrected in Lightroom.
.
However correct the distortion? Any wide angle lens distorts a face towards the outer edges by their extreme perspective. However the distortion characteristic of this lens tends to mitigate this effect... I will not correct such images, I like the distortion characteristic of this lens!
.
This lens really shows its benefits when shooting video. Although I am not into video and the 5DII remains a bit awkward for this purpose I've shot my most professional looking videos since I purchased this lens.
.
For me the bottom line is that is does what I want it to do. It is a lightweight walk around lens which handles low light well and has excellent image quality. I bought it for travel photography and that is what it is excellent for. The price? Well, I will forget about it once in the future.
February 24, 2013
Feedback
Cameras & Camcorders
Product Advisories
Where To Buy
Find a Retail Store
