photo:canonefstdzoom
Canon EF standard zoom lenses and primes
prime lenses
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
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46mm (56mm on 1.6x)
$A2400
EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
announced Nov 2012
$849.99
EF 35mm f/2
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46mm (56mm on 1.6x)
$A490
EF 40mm f/2.8 pancake
introduced in 2012
fly-by-wire manual focus but not as nice a feel or accuracy as Panasonic or Olympus lenses
quiet but not silent AF using Canon's new STM AF
AF in video mode is only available with certain cameras such as Canon 650D, and even then it is slow
not internal focusing
close focus to 0.3m
52mm plastic filter thread
soft corners on full frame with some vignetting, CA and average distortion but otherwise a reasonable performing lens being sharp in the centre wide open
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TS-E 45mm f/2.8 tilt shift
50mm prime lens comparison tests
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
introduced in 2014
13 elements in 8 groups incl. 3 SLD and an ASPH rear element
internal focus,
9 rounded blades but still gives reasonable sunstars stopped down
close focus 0.4m
fast AF with instant MF over-ride
no hard infinity stop
no DOF scale
no IR index
77mm plastic filter thread
no moisture sealing
815g
$US950/$A999
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sharper and with less distortion than any other 50mm lens of any brand, however, you have to look closely in the edges to see the difference compared to the 50mm f/1.8 II
bokeh is fair to good wide open
some coma in the corners
no visible distortion and minimal vignetting wide open
too darn big and heavy to actually want to carry it around all day - most would prefer the 50mm f/1.2L instead
the ribbed rubber rings grip very well, but have sharp ridges and are much less comfortable than the pro lenses
has some focus breathing - image gets larger as focused more closely
ghost resistance is great and no flare problems nor apparent lateral CA
Sigma 50mm f1/4 EX DG HSM
introduced in 2008
far better than the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and better than the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II
produces amazing bokeh, colors, contrast sharpness and center sharpness is very impressive although may be a touch soft wide open
BUT big, heavier, and slowish AF and the cheap focus ring
9 blades
close focus 0.45m
77mm filter
505g
$A448
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
introduced in 1993, not worth the price
average build quality
poor, soft, dreamy look wide open - so most would be better off with the f/1.8 II which is at least adequately sharp wide open although bokeh will be nicer stopped down compared to the f/1.8 which only has 5 blades
8 conventional blades for 8 point sunstars
no usable DOF scale
58mm filter
Micro USM motor with full time MF
290g
$A420
metal mount
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EF 50mm f/1.8 II
introduced 1990
the “nifty fifty”, inexpensive, all plastic build, poor manual focus ring BUT good value optics for the money
optics match the 50mm f/1.2 and f/1.4 lenses at f/4 onwards and practically as good as the f/1.4 lens at f/2.0
the f/1.8 has a better DxOMark score than the f/1.4 lens when both are used at f/2.8
52mm filter
only 5 blades gives pentagon bokeh highlights, but may be handy for 10 point sun stars
no DOF scale
loud, screechy micro motor but no full time MF
123g
can buy for around $A120
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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
EF 85mm f/1.2L USM
a very expensive L lens which gives one of the narrowest depth of fields available for portraiture work
a must have for many wedding photographers
AF is very slow which limits its utility
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
pro zoom lenses
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM II
introduced in 2012
all-new optical design, designed to provide improved imaging performance right across the frame and reduced distortion compared to its predecessor
smaller, lighter design and weather-sealed construction
23 elements in 18 groups incl. 2x UD and 1x Super UD aspheric element
close focus 0.38m (1:4.75)
82mm filter
9 rounded blades
805g, 88.5 mm diameter x 113 mm length
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
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RRP $A2700 great lens but no IS and its heavy.
reverse zooming mechanism with maximal extension at wide angle means lens hood is much more effective than the one on the 24-105mm
seems there is some variability in optical quality between lenses
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Canon EF 24-70mm f/4 hybrid IS USM
announced Nov 2012
~25% smaller than the 24-70mm f/2.8L
“3-4 stops” IS and “2.5 stops” IS for close up
15 elements in 12 groups incl. 2x aspherical, 2x UD
9 circular blades
close focus 0.2m (1:1.4)
83.4x93mm long
600g
77mm filter
water/dust protection
~$1500
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2.4% barrel distortion at 24mm
0.7% pincushion at 70mm
1.8 EV vignetting at 24mm f/4
sharpest at f/5.6, although corners hit sharpest at f/8
lat. CA well controlled at 0.7px average
minimal longitudinal CA
bokeh better than the 24-70mm f/2.8L II but still a bit “nervous” and there is vignetting cat's eyes appearance towards the edges
“the most worrisome flaws are, however, focus shifts - thus if you stop down the focus point is pushed towards the background (Residual spherical aberrations / RSA). This can be a game spoiler in some scenes (specifically close focus).”
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 IS L
Canon EF 28-135mm
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
consumer grade lenses
photo/canonefstdzoom.txt · Last modified: 2019/11/16 11:05 by gary1