Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM "Pancake"

[briansquibb]

Any word on the focus speed/Accuracy when testing the "shorty forty" out ? im wondering how the new STM lenses will hold up vs conventional focusing.

It is accurate
It is reasonably fast
It doesn't hunt

a bit like my 135 f/2

[rhysb123]

The STM is good. Ok, f2.8 isn't as fast as some, but at this price it's a steal.

Seriously, buy one!

[wickidwombat]

i just got a $50 voucher in the email to use at TEDs on any canon camera or lens but their website doesnt have the shorty 40 for me to see how much they are going to sell it for. might be sweet if i can snag one for $150!

My guess is that it's be around $250 at Ted's.  I think I'll buy mine from Leedersville since they were so good to us with the MKIII.  Thanks for the heads up wicki.

yeah I read the fine print $500 minimum spend

i'm just gonna go to leederville

that colour and contrast of those shots straight out of camera are impressive
so far this lens looks like a solid winner

[wickidwombat]

bokeh looks t be quite similar to the 70-200 f2.8 II actually
the more i see from this lens the more i want one

[drjlo]

All right, I'm getting one.  What impresses most is how sharp and contrasty it is wide open at f/2.8 without too much loss compared to stopping down.  I was waiting until we could make sure this wasn't a f/2.8 lens that's really a f/4 lens for any serious use.

[wickidwombat]

oh i wont be using the $50 Teds voucher
If anyone wants it the code is "canon50" use in the checkout minimum spend $500
and limited to the first 150 purchases so not sure how long it will work for

[AG]

bokeh looks t be quite similar to the 70-200 f2.8 II actually
the more i see from this lens the more i want one

Agreed

[briansquibb]

All right, I'm getting one.  What impresses most is how sharp and contrasty it is wide open at f/2.8 without too much loss compared to stopping down.  I was waiting until we could make sure this wasn't a f/2.8 lens that's really a f/4 lens for any serious use.

It makes me wonder if we are seeing the start of a new trend. Higher ISO in the camera and slower lens.

The last 3 Canon lens have been f/2.8 - and they are all quite modestly priced.

Has anyone got hold of the 24/28 f/2.8 so we can compare?

[wickidwombat]

hmmm while the new iso improvements are good I would much rather be shooting at f2 and ISO 3200 than f2.8 and ISO 6400

[swrightgfx]

I would like it to be a little faster but 2.8 does the trick most of the time.

I too thought this, when it was announced, but with the close focus of 30cm, it renders quite nicely, I think.

I'll be buying one at that price!

[briansquibb]

hmmm while the new iso improvements are good I would much rather be shooting at f2 and ISO 3200 than f2.8 and ISO 6400

I was thinking more of the Uncle Ted's and landscapers

Uncle Ted's where a budget lens to go on their Rebel is a good move

Landscapers where f# is less critical.

ie put the money once in the camera and several low price lens is cheaper than cheaper body and expensive lens

The real trick will be to get top IQ from the low cost lens - and one way is to slow it down. 10 years ago a f/2.8 would have been fast

Clearly there will still be a market for the more specialised kit

[candyman]

@ rhysb123



Can you please post some photos taken with the 7D? Thanks, I appreciate it!

[rhysb123]

Some more shots with the 7D!

Another trip around the place where I work - I teach Art & Photography - hence the junk.

Hopefully I'll get outside this weekend.

But, to repeat myself - this is a gem of a lens. I'm very, VERY impressed.

Rhys

[mb66energy]

[...]

The real trick will be to get top IQ from the low cost lens - and one way is to slow it down. 10 years ago a f/2.8 would have been fast

Clearly there will still be a market for the more specialised kit

[...]

IMHO 2.8 @ 40-50mm was quite the standard in the 1960s and sub standard in the late 1970s - so the 40mm pancake is an expensive lens for that combinaton of focal length and max. aperture! But the relatively high price can be understood by severel reasons:

• aspherical lens element
• refined multiple coatings
• compact built (perhaps)
• a stepper motor which is inaudible at low focusing speeds (I have the lens and am impressed)

The 40mm pancake is a tremendous refinement of a classical "species" - a very unique thing in our world. I really like "my little friend" after shooting 100 pictures of nature (see above) - especially the exceptional flare control and the compact size.

Best - Michael

[michaeldorian]

@rhysb123

Totally agree. At this price it's thing is a GEM. The camera just feels so much easier to carry and I want to take it more places. I'm very impressed with the sharpness. I think this will become the lens that will be attached 80% of the time.

5D Mark III - ISO1600 F4