Review - Canon EF 40 f/2.8 STM

[Canon Rumors]

Discuss the review of the Canon EF 40 f/2.8 STM here.

[TrumpetPower!]

Long Live the Shorty McForty!

b&

[FrutigerSans]

The question kept distracting me through the whole review:

Did you REALLY pour syrup on the pancake??? I imagine it would have been much too sweet for the pancake’s own good.

[Waleed]

It's a lightweight sharp lens that works.. If you're into street photography, it's a nice lens for it (full-frame: 40mm, crop sensor: 64mm).

I did notice that my lens tends to forget to focus (when on AF), and the remedy is usually to remount it again; I think something is wrong with the connectors. I checked with another friend that has it, and he's encountering it too.. Anybody else experiencing that?

[Dylan777]

Love the shorty

[distant.star]

.
From a magazine editor's standpoint, this is pretty blah with uninspiring images. Very little useful information.

Roger, at LensRentals said all that needs to be said in four sentences:

"This is really an amazing lens. Little pancakes are cute and all, but usually aren’t of very good image quality. This one has exceptional image quality and does it at an amazing price. Probably the best bargain of a prime lens that exists, anywhere, for anything."

[Rienzphotoz]

I bought this lens last year, but am yet to do any serious photography with it ... I took some boring photos of household items (like the image below) just to check the lens. Then I updated its firmware in Sep 2012 ... that's about what I did with this lens ... for whatever reasons, I don't use this lens at all, but it stays in my camera bag all the time "just in case" if I ever need it 
PS: This boring image was made with 5D MK III, EF 40 f/2.8, 1/80 sec, f2.8, ISO 3200, AWB, Standard Pic Style, One shot-AF, Spot Metering ... straight out of the camera.

[ageha]

That's called a review these days? Amazing. Why not make a head line out of the other 100 reviews of that lens?

[TrumpetPower!]

To those who don't know what to do with the Shorty McForty...

...take the grip off your 5D (or, better, the 6D!) and put on a wrist strap, put it in green square mode, turn on live view, and now, as far as non-photographers are concerned, all you've got is a slightly oversized P&S camera. Hand it around the table at the party and nobody will think twice. As a wedding photographer, get in the conga line with the rest of the guests taking snapshots. Use it on the street.

You've got something that, even at second glance, to most people, just looks like a high-end P&S camera. And not a one of them will realize that it's really the reigning IQ / low light monster it actually is.

And, yes -- the optics in the lens are right up there with any L zoom, including the latest ones.

And, if nothing else? It makes a perfectly serviceable body cap....

Cheers,

b&

[Rienzphotoz]

And, if nothing else? It makes a perfectly serviceable body cap....

Keeping Canon's recent pricing strategy in mind, it might not be long when the body caps might become more expensive than this lens   ... maybe we should buy a few of these shorty forties, just in case.

[DanielW]

All I can think of is that other glass... Old Speckled Hen, hopefully...

[neuroanatomist]

I really like the 40/2.8.  IQ is very good, and the size makes it very convenient.  My normal use for the lens is when I'm using a big white zoom, either the 70-200/2.8L IS II or the 100-400L.  I carry that setup with a Blackrapid strap connected to the tripod collar, and the small size of the 40/2.8 means it fits in my pocket.  When I need a wider FoV, I unmount the zoom and leave it attached to the Blackrapid strap, holding the camera with the 40/2.8 in my hand.  If I wanted to do something similar with a 35L, 24-105L, etc., I'd have to put it in a lens case on a belt strap.

[Rienzphotoz]

I did notice that my lens tends to forget to focus (when on AF), and the remedy is usually to remount it again; I think something is wrong with the connectors. I checked with another friend that has it, and he's encountering it too.. Anybody else experiencing that?

I think you have not heard of the firmware update that fixed this issue ... go to the below Canon webpage, select your operating system and you will find the firmware update ... follow the instructions
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_40mm_f_2_8_stm?selectedName=DriversAndSoftware

[Lord_Zeppelin]

Not sure I understand the people complaining about this review. Since when have the reviews here been anything more than personal, real-world usage? That's what's good about them. If you want the technical, $1000 worth of software and optic-testing equipment reviews, you know where to go to get that.

I thought it was a good review, and provided some real-world perspective. If I had to complain, and this isn't a complaint so much as a question, why didn't you use it for some short videos. I mean, isn't this lens primarily aimed at DSLR video use over still photo?

I would totally buy this lens over the nifty-50 based on the tighter build quality alone, not to mention the focusing system.

[dolina]

Guys don't be too hard on the reviewer. Like any review it is but one man' opinion and personal criteria. I had the 50/1.8 and I rather have the 40/2.8 due to the optical quality.

I had Cps upgrade my firmware the day I bout it.