A Brief Hands On: Canon EF 24 f/2.8 IS

[Canon Rumors]

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The Little Prime
I was happy to see the new EF 24 f/2.8 IS available to play with. As I mentioned above, they didn’t have the new 28 f/2.8 IS around for me to mess around with.

I was part of the “what the?” crowd when this lens was announced. Though over time, I’ve warmed up to the idea a bit and hope this is the beginning of new small non-L primes being announced.

Canon EF 24 f/2.8 IS USM

First impressions?
It’s small, light and feels well built. The AF was fast and it appeared as sharp as any other Canon non-L prime on the surface. This would be a great prime to walk around with on a small body. A mirrorless with an EF adaptor?

It’s Canon’s hope that the lens will become a favourite of the videographer crowd. The price tag is high, $850 or so, but based on appearance and a few test shots, it may not be overpriced.

5D Mark III & 24 f/2.8 IS | EXIF: 24mm f/2.8 1/320 ISO: 2500 | Click for full size

5D Mark III & 24 f/2.8 IS | EXIF: 24mm f/2.8 1/125 ISO: 1250 | Click for full size

I’m more interested in spending some time with this little prime than the new 24-70, I know I’m weird.

cr

[hmmm]

Second shot: Purple fringing on the ceiling lights in the extremes of the frame.   It wouldn't be so bad in a $500 lens, but for $850...?   

[Marsu42]

Second shot: Purple fringing on the ceiling lights in the extremes of the frame.   It wouldn't be so bad in a $500 lens, but for $850...?   

It's not that much and outside a 16:9 video frame, and I guess would hardly show up on video anyway. Furthermore I don't think that's a production version of the lens and probably has been thrown around a lot when ferried from a to be, so let's wait and see.

[DianeK]

Hmm, there's actually both purple and green fringing.  I was waiting for this as a video and indoor family gathering lens but looks like I may revisit my other plan of picking up a used EFS 17-55.  CA is just one of those things that makes me crazy.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Purple and green fringing can be quicklly and easily removed in LR 4, starting with the RC2 version.  Its now a thing of the past for me.

[Etienne]

Second shot: Purple fringing on the ceiling lights in the extremes of the frame.   It wouldn't be so bad in a $500 lens, but for $850...?   

Looks pretty minor. You have to compare this to other 24mm lenses.

[mb66energy]

I’m more interested in spending some time with this little prime than the new 24-70, I know I’m weird.

You are not weird or I am too ...

I found the old 24/2.8 in a shop five years ago - second hand for 150 EUR (or similar $) and I love that lens for APS-C due to its
- great focal length for natural views (I am happy that the 40mm comes if/when I go to FF)
- brilliant images
- compactness
- light weight
- good close focus range

Zooms are flexible but very LAAAARGE and have some disadvantages when it comes to contralight situations. So perhaps it is a matter of AND and not OR: Zoom for flexibility AND prime for compactness, maximum IQ, contralight situations.

[mb66energy]

Hmm, there's actually both purple and green fringing.  I was waiting for this as a video and indoor family gathering lens but looks like I may revisit my other plan of picking up a used EFS 17-55.  CA is just one of those things that makes me crazy.

For video: Scale these images down from 5760 px width to 1920 px width and look if the fringing (which is most probably CA) is still strongly visible.
For photography: use some CA removement tool (DPP does it).

But I understand that these deviations from reality make you crazy - I hope that the function to remove CA on the fly during video (if I read the info correctly the 5D mark III has it) trickles down to APS-C bodies ... and CA is just a minor issue in the future for ALL our lenses.

Best - Michael

[Etienne]

I’m more interested in spending some time with this little prime than the new 24-70, I know I’m weird.

You are not weird or I am too ...

I found the old 24/2.8 in a shop five years ago - second hand for 150 EUR (or similar $) and I love that lens for APS-C due to its
- great focal length for natural views (I am happy that the 40mm comes if/when I go to FF)
- brilliant images
- compactness
- light weight
- good close focus range

Zooms are flexible but very LAAAARGE and have some disadvantages when it comes to contralight situations. So perhaps it is a matter of AND and not OR: Zoom for flexibility AND prime for compactness, maximum IQ, contralight situations.

Me too.

I don't want any more zooms. I may pick up the new 24 or 28 for light weight walk around if it's a sharp and contrasty performer even at 2.8.

[FunPhotons]

I’m more interested in spending some time with this little prime than the new 24-70, I know I’m weird.

You are not weird or I am too ...

I found the old 24/2.8 in a shop five years ago - second hand for 150 EUR (or similar $) and I love that lens for APS-C due to its
- great focal length for natural views (I am happy that the 40mm comes if/when I go to FF)
- brilliant images
- compactness
- light weight
- good close focus range

Zooms are flexible but very LAAAARGE and have some disadvantages when it comes to contralight situations. So perhaps it is a matter of AND and not OR: Zoom for flexibility AND prime for compactness, maximum IQ, contralight situations.

Me too.

I don't want any more zooms. I may pick up the new 24 or 28 for light weight walk around if it's a sharp and contrasty performer even at 2.8.

Agreed - in candid photography the big setup is too intimidating. I have a Fuji X100 and the thing frustrates me much of the time with missed shots and I miss my Canon. Unfortunately Canon doesn't seem to have a small decent prime, I'm hoping the 24mm will fit the bill.

[rcarbonell]

I don't see the point of buying standard lens with only 2.8 wide open (24mm, 28mm, 40mm).. Combine the price of 2 of those lenses and you can get urself a 24-70 or 17-55. I still think that canon should come up with an Ef-S 30mm 1.4IS this one lens I'll be willing to pay $850 for.

[tankobear]

Second shot: Purple fringing on the ceiling lights in the extremes of the frame.   It wouldn't be so bad in a $500 lens, but for $850...?   

Totally Agree with you. Though its funny how the scene looks weird but the guy's nipple totally focused LOL kinky lens! Jking.

[EchoLocation]

I don't see the point of buying standard lens with only 2.8 wide open (24mm, 28mm, 40mm).. Combine the price of 2 of those lenses and you can get urself a 24-70 or 17-55. I still think that canon should come up with an Ef-S 30mm 1.4IS this one lens I'll be willing to pay $850 for.

This.
I own a Sigma 50 1.4 which is excellent optically, very sharp and creamy bokeh and I paid 450 dollars for it.  it is 1000x more solid looking and feeling(i'm betting, haven't touched the Canon, but it looks pretty slight.)
850 dollars for a plasticy looking, not fantastic optically, f2.8 lens just doesn't even make any sense to me. I would never consider buying a lens like this(F2.8 , and build quality) at that price.
Nikon just released a 28mm 1.8 for $699 which is at least as good optically from the test shots I have seen.
Why is it that all new Canon gear is more expensive and rather underwhelming than that of their competitors.
I was very eager to buy the 24-70 II but at the price it's a non starter for me.
I would consider the 24mm or 28mm if they were F1.8
I would definitely consider the 5DIII if it was 2800 dollars, or even the same or less than the D800.
I am eager to spend money(I have a 5DC and a 24-105 with my Sigma 50 1.4) to upgrade, but they way things are going I'm waiting to see about the D600 and Canon's DSLR/Mirrorless response.