Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM "Pancake"

[samthefish]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

If nothing else you have to buy it for the "Shorty Forty" name (and $200 price tag).''

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

 

[mb66energy]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

I received my copy of that lens cap two days before but - like dr croubie - had the problem with the light in the evening (clouds, rain and after that the sun was sleeping).

Yesterday I made a small walk from my home and shot a few pictures to check if it performs as expected. It does. Especially the flare resistance ist absolutely great. The 4 lens group design with today coatings and an aspherical lens which allows a very sharp and contrasty lens ... my first impression. See the more or less crappy (in terms of artistical impression) images at the end of this entry.

One information that came not into my mind before I had the lens on my camera:

• It is focus by wire - turning the focus control ring is only possible if (1) shutter release button is half pressed or (2) live view is enabled.
• Stepper motor is audible. Sounds a little bit annoying (for video users) if focussed fast but: It sounds acceptable when moved slowly - the typical video focussing situation. Beware: Manual focus makes the same noise due to the focus by wire implementation
• The whole lens element array is shifted - no internal focusing mechanism.

Thumbs up: My EOS 40D is now a very compact system with the 40 shorty.

Best Michael

Images:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Contralight scene, raw converted to jpg via DPP, color setting is neutral
[*]Same contralight scene, blackpoint set and contrast reduced, others: same like 1., some 100% cropped areas below
[*]Colors and bokeh, inset image is 100% crop of image center[/list], ISO 400

• Mainly looking at bokeh and color reproduction in mild contralight

 

[briansquibb]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

Looks like some beautiful BOKEH to me :

I like it. I wish it was faster, and with the 50/1.8 mk 1 available for cheaper used....you have a much, much faster lens with probably similar build quality. But the 40mm has some advantages -- especially with STM. Interesting...

Bokeh on the nifty fifty is pretty poor

 

[KevinAv4]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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.

 

[akiskev]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

OMG BOOOOKEEEEEH

 

[briansquibb]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

@ rhysb123



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

 

[rhysb123]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

[...]

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]

Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

@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