Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM Pancake teardown

[Ozarker]

Hmmm.... I do like this focal length. I'm sure it'll beat my 28mm Takumar. My copy is sharp, but I would guess the RF will out resolve my 50 year old Takumar. I think the price is right.

Great video of the teardown.

 

[Sporgon]

Hmmm.... I do like this focal length. I'm sure it'll beat my 28mm Takumar. My copy is sharp, but I would guess the RF will out resolve my 50 year old Takumar. I think the price is right.

Great video of the teardown.

It will certainly spank the Tak in the corners at all apertures. Maybe not so much in the centre when the Tak’s aperture is smaller than 3.5.

 

[Sporgon]

It will certainly spank the Tak in the corners at all apertures. Maybe not so much in the centre when the Tak’s aperture is smaller than 3.5.

Actually, to quote my own post.....
I compared the Takumar 35/3.5 to the Canon EF 35/2 IS..........the Tak didn't compare well at any aperture......maybe there has been some progress

 

[Del Paso]

Actually, to quote my own post.....
I compared the Takumar 35/3.5 to the Canon EF 35/2 IS..........the Tak didn't compare well at any aperture......maybe there has been some progress

Main trouble with old WA lenses on digital cameras is softness in the corners. Even Leica M lenses sometimes disappoint (1965 M Summicron 35 or R 28mm F2,8), while most 50mm upward lenses are often still brilliant.

 

[Ozarker]

Main trouble with old WA lenses on digital cameras is softness in the corners. Even Leica M lenses sometimes disappoint (1965 M Summicron 35 or R 28mm F2,8), while most 50mm upward lenses are often still brilliant.

True, but I kinda like soft corners and a little vignette for what I do. For me, it seems like soft corners add some depth. I especially like it when shooting photos of my old lady.

For kids and landscapes the Canon would be my choice.

 

[Del Paso]

True, but I kinda like soft corners and a little vignette for what I do. For me, it seems like soft corners add some depth. I especially like it when shooting photos of my old lady.

For kids and landscapes the Canon would be my choice.

Agree!
And this is why we should refrain (me too!) from saying "this lens isn't good", but rather say "this lens doesn't suit my particular needs".

 

[koenkooi]

I received an in-stock notification yesterday, so I ordered it and it arrived today. In time for vacation, we leave on Sunday

 

[Sporgon]

I received an in-stock notification yesterday, so I ordered it and it arrived today. In time for vacation, we leave on Sunday

View attachment 210071

This lens, plus the RF 50/1.8 & RP/R8 does rewrite the rules on portable IQ.
My favourite travel camera has been the G1XIII, and that camera is no slouch in the resolution department; the lens is actually very good, especially at the longer end.
I ran a tripod mounted test using the G1XIII at it longest focal length, 70mm equivalent, and optimum aperture, and compared it to the RP & 50/1.8 from the same position but cropped in to the same field of view, now 13 mp instead of 26. I then increased the image size in PS ‘Enhance’ before bringing it back down to 24mp, same as the G1XIII, and compared the two. The RP was dramatically better, with no loss of resolved detail, despite being a 24 vs 13 mp comparison as far as original resolution potential went.
I think I’m going to get a little belt holster for the RP and carry that in the way I can carry the G1XIII. Of course there’s no IS this route, but as I generally have a very light carbon tripod with me that’s not too much of an issue.

 

[[email protected]]

Got mine this afternoon. Will do a more thorough review, but the quick version: It's much sharper than I anticipated. Like, I'm going to get out my Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4 and try to compare the two at f/2.8, and I don't know which will be better.

It's as small as you'd ever want on an R5. Doesn't extend past my knuckles when holding the camera. Reminds me very much of the EF 40 f/2.8.

I think I have a new mount cap.

 

[koenkooi]

Got mine this afternoon. Will do a more thorough review, but the quick version: It's much sharper than I anticipated. Like, I'm going to get out my Sigma Art 28mm f/1.4 and try to compare the two at f/2.8, and I don't know which will be better.

It's as small as you'd ever want on an R5. Doesn't extend past my knuckles when holding the camera. Reminds me very much of the EF 40 f/2.8.

I think I have a new mount cap.

@davision published a review on youtube saying the center sharpness rivals the RF f/2.8 zooms. The corner sharpness, vignetting, LoCa and flare resistance are all worse, which is not unexpected.

 

[mkamelg]

It is a pity that Canon decided to save money and did not decide to extend the lens housing by a few millimeters so that internal focusing would be created. Be prepared for Err 60 if you accidentally insert the lens tube manually, which extends to a maximum length of about 7 mm when focusing at the minimum distance, or if you accidentally hold the lens tube with your fingers.

I leave you to download sample RAW files recorded with this lens model attached to the R6 Mark II:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Asmd3i9rvqAbmX0nRn-fexblcpX0?e=0PjR5O

All photos were taken without lens hood which is yet to arrive. I turned off all adjustments and set Picture Style to Neutral. The mode dial was set to P (Program AE).

Distortion correction is carried out automatically and cannot be turned off from the camera menu.

As for the DxO PhotoLab 5 program that I use in parallel with DPP, it suggests downloading and using modules for Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 and Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM lenses. In my opinion it should not be like that, because all these lens models have a different optical construction (lens arrangement). Of course I immediately submitted a request to DxO Support and I hope that dedicated RAW and JPG modules for this lens model will appear soon.

 

[Sporgon]

Thanks for posting those @mkamelg
I switched off the lens correction profiles in ACR and there certainly is a huge vignette even at f/8; a result of the very small front element I guess. Fair bit of distortion on the extremes too.

 

[koenkooi]

DxO just added the correction profiles for the RF28mm!

 

[neuroanatomist]

DxO just added the correction profiles for the RF28mm!

Perfect timing, as I’ll be processing RAWs soon.

 

[Sporgon]

Brian at TDP has also published his testing results, but not a review yet.
The lens in remarkably sharp in the corners, but is creating a strong vignette even at f/8 and quite significant distortion. Having said that, the distortion is somewhat less than the 24/1.8, and having seen @neuroanatomist ’s GIF on that lens, corrected and I corrected, I thought it wasn’t too bad, but having seen Brian’s chart is pretty strong.
So this will lens may be interesting. Only trouble is that it’s quite a bit more £ in the UK.

 

[Longtermer]

From Optical Limits - stellar review, especially on MTF! Will certainly be my next lens purchase:

Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM - Review / Test Report

Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM - Review / Test Report

www.opticallimits.com

 

[Sporgon]

From Optical Limits - stellar review, especially on MTF! Will certainly be my next lens purchase:

Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM - Review / Test Report

Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM - Review / Test Report

www.opticallimits.com

Yes the resolution across the frame, judging by Opticallimits test, is better than anything I’ve seen on a wide angle FF lens. Also backed up by TDP. I think we are going to see a lot more ‘seagull’ aspheric elements in the future !
And people (on forums) say Canon don’t innovate!

 

[stillviking]

Anyone tested on field? MTFs look too good.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Anyone tested on field? MTFs look too good.

The lens is excellent.

RF 28mm f/2.8 STM

Post your shots from Canon's first RF pancake lens! I just took mine out of the box, here's my first shot with it. I'll have more in a few weeks, since I'll be bringing this convenient little lens on vacation. "Tiger Lily" EOS R3, RF 28mm f/2.8 STM, 1/320 s, f/2.8, ISO 100

www.canonrumors.com

 

[koenkooi]

Anyone tested on field? MTFs look too good.

The IQ was excellent on the vacation pictures, the flaring wasn’t distracting when it happened.