Review - Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 STM

A great review Dustin, as always.

However, I am not sure it is something the APS-C shooters "must have". Like many others, I bought the 40mm pancake for my FF camera the first day when it was on the market, but it has turned out to be my least used lens. Other than the small size and low price, it hasn't offered anything that is unique. The aperture is not large enough, the image quality, bokeh and AF performance are just OK, and on a full frame body the whole setup is so unbalanced and it is actually awkward to hold in hand. Had it been a f2 lens, it would've been a different story.
 
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Phenix205 said:
A great review Dustin, as always.

However, I am not sure it is something the APS-C shooters "must have". Like many others, I bought the 40mm pancake for my FF camera the first day when it was on the market, but it has turned out to be my least used lens. Other than the small size and low price, it hasn't offered anything that is unique. The aperture is not large enough, the image quality, bokeh and AF performance are just OK, and on a full frame body the whole setup is so unbalanced and it is actually awkward to hold in hand. Had it been a f2 lens, it would've been a different story.

For people that have a lot of L glass, it makes less sense, but for bang for the buck, it's up there. I picked up a refurbished EF 40mm on sale after it had been out for a while, and I use it from time to time, but it's not in my top 5 lenses in shots taken. It gets used as a shorter focal length option when using a 70-200 or a 100-400. The longer zoom stays on the BR strap, the 40 goes on for a few shots and goes back into a pocket, and the longer zoom gets reattached. I find it useful for the kids' soccer games. Taking a team photo with a long zoom is hard when other parents are in front of you with cell phones.
 
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Random Orbits said:
Phenix205 said:
A great review Dustin, as always.

However, I am not sure it is something the APS-C shooters "must have". Like many others, I bought the 40mm pancake for my FF camera the first day when it was on the market, but it has turned out to be my least used lens. Other than the small size and low price, it hasn't offered anything that is unique. The aperture is not large enough, the image quality, bokeh and AF performance are just OK, and on a full frame body the whole setup is so unbalanced and it is actually awkward to hold in hand. Had it been a f2 lens, it would've been a different story.

For people that have a lot of L glass, it makes less sense, but for bang for the buck, it's up there. I picked up a refurbished EF 40mm on sale after it had been out for a while, and I use it from time to time, but it's not in my top 5 lenses in shots taken. It gets used as a shorter focal length option when using a 70-200 or a 100-400. The longer zoom stays on the BR strap, the 40 goes on for a few shots and goes back into a pocket, and the longer zoom gets reattached. I find it useful for the kids' soccer games. Taking a team photo with a long zoom is hard when other parents are in front of you with cell phones.

Which is why I keep the 16-35 in my bag! That way I can get way out in front closer to the group and block all the cell phone parents !!
;D Bwahhhh - Ha - Ha Haaaaa!!! 8)​
 
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Having used the 24, 40 and 50 STMs I would rate the 24 the sharpest overall followed by the 50.
The 40 was good in the centre but soft at the edge of the field so got rid of it pronto.

C'mon Canon give us some more STM primes e.g. 200/4 and/or a 300/5.6 - just like you, Nikon, Minolta etc etc gave us in the old days of film!
 
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fon-foto said:
Another +1 from me, I spent a while building a super light weight day-trip kit (small bag, 100D, 24mm + 50mm STM and pocket manfrotto tripod). Absolutely love this kit, and ultimately blows any of the EF-S zooms out of the water for image quality.

Versatile, discrete and light weight.

Nice kit...I'm working towards the same. Just need the 24mm and I'm done (waiting for a used one at the right price). May I ask which Manfrotto model you went with?

Cheers,
d.
 
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zonamav said:
Love this lens on my small crop body. Can't see myself carrying around larger gear when traveling or hiking after the enjoyment I've had with it.

It's exceptionally small on the 750D - pocketable if you have deep pockets.
And when you crop down from 6000px width to say 2000 you should get an exceptionally sharp hand held image without the need for IS.
My desire for a "heavyweight" full frame combo has gone.
In fact FF enthusiasts with their expensive white lenses are missing out big time here!
 
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