Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Quick Review

[briansquibb]

The bokeh of the 50 f/1.8 is very poor

The bokeh of the 40 f/2.8 is very good

 

[pwp]

this lens might be good as it gets... problem is I have no need for a relativity slow 40mm lens.
i would drool a while over having a new lens and then it would lay around and be used 2-3 times a year.

Think of it as a functional $200 body cap! I might get two.

PW

 

[Stuart]

Still a tough decision - this might be one to rent for a trial.

 

[crasher8]

Just ordered mine. I'm done with older gen AF (50 1.8, 35 f/2) This will stay on my film body primarily since I use the 24-70 there quite a bit and I use the wider half of that lens more than not. Now my Elan 7 will feel like a PnS!

 

[michaeldorian]

this lens might be good as it gets... problem is i have no need for a relativ slow 40mm lens.

i have a 50 mm f1.4 and a 35 mm f2.

i would drool a while over having a new lens and then it would lay around and be used 2-3 times a year.

The size of the lens changes everything. At least it does for me. I think this lens is going to be the primary lens on my body. At least 80% of the time. Especially for video. So far, I'm very impressed.

Here's a quick test shot I just did.

 

[eyeland]

Any thoughts on how it compares to 50mm 1.4 in terms of build, IQ and bokeh?
I have come to the realization that I MUST have a walk around lens with FTM.
I am on a very tight budget atm, but if the 50mm 1.4 clearly outperforms the 40mm in any of the above areas I think it is the one for me
Only reason for me to not get the 40mm regardless, is that my budget keeps me in the aps-c range and I am afraid that 2.8 will make a big difference in terms of VF brightness for MF comparing to 1.4

If anyone has both I'd also love a comment on the focus ring gearing and action

Edit: Forgot to mention that the pricedifference seems to be alot less in Denmark where I will be buying.
40mm 2.8 : 300$
50mm 1.4 : 455$
Do the lens prices usually drop in a manner similar to what is seen on bodies?

 

[wockawocka]

It's exceptionally sharp.

 

[briansquibb]

The 40 feels better than the 50 f/1.4, certainly sounds better and af I would say is faster.

My 50 f/1.4 seems to AF then do small adjustments, the 40 just locked on

Bokeh looks good - but you would have to do a like for like compare.

 

[wickidwombat]

The bokeh of the 40 f/2.8 is very good

I think this is an understatement.
So far the bokeh from real world samples looks exeptional to me
easily comparible to the 70-200 f2.8L being that the 70-200 costs $2800 here and the shorty forty is $199
pretty impressive. in fact so far the IQ of the shorty forty looks to have a very similar feel to the 70-200
it might be an outstanding lens to complement the 70-200 when a little wider Angle is required

I'm really looking forward to geting hold of one of these

 

[Wideopen]

Its become my functional body cap for my 5dm3. I love it.

 

[wickidwombat]

one thing i think the aftermarket can jump on with this is making slimline rear caps for these to they take less room in you pocket. the normal rear caps are nearly as thick as the whole lens!

 

[ramon123]

I'd love to get my hands on one of this new STM lens and see Canon's latest technology with lenses. Hopefully soon!

 

[unadog]

FWIW, I ordered the 40mm along with the T4i & 18-135 MM STM kit at B&H on day 1 of teh announcement.

My 40mm had not shipped yet. The staus has been "In processing" since last week.

I called them today, they said teh 40mm was waiting on eth body kit tp ship, even though both said "free shipping" when I ordered.

I had them ship the lens now. This kind of sucks, because I really wanted to get that lens as fast as I could for testing. I ordered just after midnight on June 8, just after the links went live. I think I was near the first to pre-order.

Next time I guess I will place two separate orders ...

Oh well.

Michael

 

[lol]

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/752-canon_40_28_ff

Photozone have just published their results. High MTF across full frame and apertures until you hit diffraction effects.

 

[pwp]

Picked up my 40 McShorty an hour ago. It's about as deep as a lens backcap. My daughter thinks it looks unprofessional. That's GOOD! It focuses nice and close, the STM AF is OK, not quite USM standard but zippy enough. IQ? I'm impressed. If this lens did not deliver at f/2.8 it would not be a keeper. At best a functioning bodycap. But early handheld tests on 5D3 tell a very promising story. BTW these all used AI Servo AF with centre point selected.

At f/2.8 it's sharper than my 24-70 f/2.8 and stays remarkably good out to the edges. F/4 & f/5.6 are terrific.

PW

 

[briansquibb]

The 40 + 7D makes a great street combo - makes me uninterested in a mirrorless/rangefinder/P&S

I suspect that the only improvement for street would be the 60D style swinging screen

 

[pwp]

The 40 + 7D makes a great street combo - makes me uninterested in a mirrorless/rangefinder/P&S

40 + 7D for size yes, but the APS-C 64mm equivalent cuts into the street combo value for me.
Better on a FF for my taste.

PW

 

[crasher8]

Yes but as it's been debated to death… street photo FL is such a personal and subjective issue.

 

[briansquibb]

The 40 + 7D makes a great street combo - makes me uninterested in a mirrorless/rangefinder/P&S

40 + 7D for size yes, but the APS-C 64mm equivalent cuts into the street combo value for me.
Better on a FF for my taste.

PW

My style is closer to Cartier-Bresson so I am looking for the portrait rather than the urban landscape

 

[darrellrhodesmiller]

here are my initial tests with a 7D. focus's faster than 50 f1.8 but not as fast as the 85mm f1.8.. i really like the min focus distance