The Shorty Forty MTF Chart Comparison

[TrumpetPower!]

The lines @f/8 might well be a measurement of maximum sharpness, but honestly, who cares? Who's buying these lenses to shoot @f/8?

Probably a lot of people. Simply because there are a lot of people who like prime lenses and sometimes prefer them over zooms (for reasons that have been already debated). And then, I guess these people care about the IQ not only wide open because they also shoot landscapes with it. It's as simple as that.
I'm part of these people and I would be willing to buy if the IQ proved to be good from f/2.8 to f/11.

If you trust Canon's MTF charts -- and there's no good reason not to -- then Canon is unambiguously stating that the Shorty McForty has better image quality than the 50mm f/1.4. Actually, it should have image quality on a par with the 35 f/1.4L, (version 1 of) the 24 - 70 and the 17-40. The 35 f/2 doesn't come close.

I'm starting to think that the joker in the other thread was right -- the reason this isn't an L lens is because there's not enough room on the barrel for the red stripe!

b&

 

[peederj]

Those MTFs do NOT make this lens look better than either of the non-L 50's. Draw the black lines for 2.8 on the faster primes, I think the 40 would come up well short. I'm also guessing CAs are bad enough they needed that CA correction feature before they were willing to ship these.

I don't see this as making it into my kit...the nifty fifty (I refer to the 1.4 as "nifty," not the 1.8 ) is small enough, and two stops faster. I'm guessing IQ here is not much better than whatever kit zoom you might otherwise carry, and if size matters most, I'd wait for a mirrorless body first and see whether these even fit that.

 

[paulc]

A few things worth noting:

1. One hundred and ninety-nine dollars.

2. The 5.0/1.8 from a build quality is a fierce pile of junk.

3. 50mm is a smidge long to slap onto a crop body.


I expect this to supplant the 50/1.8 as every new SLR user's second lens.

 

[keithfullermusic]

I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that many people with DSLRs, pros and consumers, like to use their cameras when they hang out with their friends and go out. The camera isn't the problem, it's that huge frickin lens popping out. With a flat lens like this you can throw your camera in a big jacket pocket or a purse and not have to worry about it. Something like this makes your DSLR an alternative for taking a little point and shoot.

I don't know why people are angry/upset about this lens either. Just don't get it if you don't like it. It's not like Canon has halted all their other things to focus on this little guy.

 

[Rocky]

It will be an excellent walk around lens for FF, assuming the CA is good. It will be a good lens for the grand parents with APS-C for taking picture of the grand kids. It is just the perfect focal length (64mm equivalent).I still wish that Canon will come up a EF-S 30mm f2.8.

 

[Rocky]

I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that many people with DSLRs, pros and consumers, like to use their cameras when they hang out with their friends and go out. The camera isn't the problem, it's that huge frickin lens popping out. With a flat lens like this you can throw your camera in a big jacket pocket or a purse and not have to worry about it. Something like this makes your DSLR an alternative for taking a little point and shoot.

I don't know why people are angry/upset about this lens either. Just don't get it if you don't like it. It's not like Canon has halted all their other things to focus on this little guy.

Totally agree, Well said. If you do not like it just do not buy it. It is the freedom of choice and Canon has just given us an excellent choice.

 

[boateggs]

I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that many people with DSLRs, pros and consumers, like to use their cameras when they hang out with their friends and go out. The camera isn't the problem, it's that huge frickin lens popping out. With a flat lens like this you can throw your camera in a big jacket pocket or a purse and not have to worry about it. Something like this makes your DSLR an alternative for taking a little point and shoot.

I don't know why people are angry/upset about this lens either. Just don't get it if you don't like it. It's not like Canon has halted all their other things to focus on this little guy.

True dat! And it has a metal mount, one thing that bugged me about the nifty 50. I guess the metal mount costs $80

 

[gmrza]

It will be an excellent walk around lens for FF, assuming the CA is good. It will be a good lens for the grand parents with APS-C for taking picture of the grand kids. It is just the perfect focal length (64mm equivalent).I still wish that Canon will come up a EF-S 30mm f2.8.

That is my main question: chromatic and spherical aberration. How does it perform in that respect?

 

[aZhu]

It will be an excellent walk around lens for FF, assuming the CA is good. It will be a good lens for the grand parents with APS-C for taking picture of the grand kids. It is just the perfect focal length (64mm equivalent).I still wish that Canon will come up a EF-S 30mm f2.8.

That is my main question: chromatic and spherical aberration. How does it perform in that respect?

We'll have to wait till people start getting their hands on them and begin doing some tests. I don't know of anyone with a pre-production model that has shown sample images yet. If anyone knows, please share! I pre-ordered mine already. Just hope it really will released at the end of June and not postponed till God knows when...

 

[gmrza]

We'll have to wait till people start getting their hands on them and begin doing some tests. I don't know of anyone with a pre-production model that has shown sample images yet. If anyone knows, please share! I pre-ordered mine already. Just hope it really will released at the end of June and not postponed till God knows when...

At least initially, I see this lens being popular purely because people are buying it out of curiosity. At $200 odd, it's worth taking a chance.

 

[ybrankov]

I can't see why I would need a 40/2.8. Almost anyone of us owns the 50mm cheapo. The angular difference is one step back with the 50mm lens. The aperture is 1.3 stops wider in favor of the 50mm. What would be my justification to buy the pancake? One of the reasons may be the pancake factor, but in my case it does not bring value to the table. I will pay $200 any day for an EF50/1.8 III STM with the build quality of the 40/2.8 to upgrade my plastic "prototype" ;-)

BTW, I'm having a hard time agreeing to the statement that the 40mm MTF charts are better than the two 50mm ones. The black lines are not comparable as the 40mm is 2.8 only. The blue ones which reflect the f/8.0 performance are generally very similar. The 40mm even shows a considerable sharpness dip around the 15mm radius ( <0.8 ). And, let's not forget these are calculated diagrams which are not guaranteed to accurately reflect real-world performance.

 

[c.d.embrey]

yeah but it is f/2.8...

It's starting to make sense. The STM Lenses were designed as Video Lenses.

"To leverage the unique, new shooting functions of the EOS Rebel T4i, such as EOS Full HD Movie with continuous AF, Canon is introducing two new unique lenses, the new EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens. Both new STM lenses includes Canon's new Stepping Motor technology, which allows the lenses to smoothly and silently focus, ..." http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon/newsroom?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e0248057dd10

So there you go, the STM lenses are NOT Still Camera Lenses, they are Video Lenses. Most Hollywood movies are shot between f/2.8 and F/5.6, therefore f/2.8 makes sense. If you shoot portraits or street (or other things that need fast lenses), this lenses Is Not meant for you.

Before you tell me Paper-Thin-DOF is Cinematic, spend a day at your local Multiplex. How many of the Top-Ten films (the movies people line-up to see) feature Paper-Thin-DOF ???

 

[c.d.embrey]

It will be an excellent walk around lens for FF, assuming the CA is good.

It could work well on my FFFilm Canon Elan 7n. I normally shoot B&W (Kodak BW400CN,Kodak P3200 or Adox CMS20), so CA isn't a problem.

The lens I really want is the New Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G iens for my Nikon F100 FFFilm camera. Canon seems to have abandoned the middle while Nikon has come out with three reasonably priced f/1.8 lenses (28mm, 50mm and 85mm) in the last year

I still wish that Canon will come up a EF-S 30mm f2.8.

That and an EF-S 22mm (=36mm). I'd buy them both.

 

[Rocky]

After comparing the MTF chart, The 40 f2.8 is not as sharp as the 50 f 1.8. It will be interesting to see some test report later.

 

[jweu]

After comparing the MTF chart, The 40 f2.8 is not as sharp as the 50 f 1.8. It will be interesting to see some test report later.

I don't want any test report but more data from Canon! Whats is with 60 and 90 lines per mm, my body has more that 100!

This lens makes the camara very small to have alway with you. Why is this lens not weather sealed „L” ?

 

[akiskev]

yeah but it is f/2.8...

Before you tell me Paper-Thin-DOF is Cinematic, spend a day at your local Multiplex. How many of the Top-Ten films (the movies people line-up to see) feature Paper-Thin-DOF ???

Saw Prometheus yesterday. Only 2 shots with small DOF.
So, paper-thin-dof is photographic, not cinematic ;D

 

[jweu]

yeah but it is f/2.8...

Before you tell me Paper-Thin-DOF is Cinematic, spend a day at your local Multiplex. How many of the Top-Ten films (the movies people line-up to see) feature Paper-Thin-DOF ???

Saw Prometheus yesterday. Only 2 shots with small DOF.
So, paper-thin-dof is photographic, not cinematic ;D

Even for photography I love my old Tessar 45mm f/2.8 ;-) Unfortunetly there is no focusing screen with split-screen for my 5D.

 

[wickidwombat]

yeah but it is f/2.8...

Before you tell me Paper-Thin-DOF is Cinematic, spend a day at your local Multiplex. How many of the Top-Ten films (the movies people line-up to see) feature Paper-Thin-DOF ???

Saw Prometheus yesterday. Only 2 shots with small DOF.
So, paper-thin-dof is photographic, not cinematic ;D

Even for photography I love my old Tessar 45mm f/2.8 ;-) Unfortunetly there is no focusing screen with split-screen for my 5D.

if its not a mk3 these guys do them
http://www.brightscreenstore.com/store/

i got one for my 5Dmk2 to use with MF lenses

 

[noncho]

Well, I would like to compare MTF with my nearest 2.8 prime - EF-s 60 2.8 macro:

No comment, I'll wait for real pics from 40 2.8.

 

[Stuart]

Its quoted at £229.00 in the UK - £199 in the US.
As a straight conversion this should be £128.

That extra £100 is the difference between me buying it and not buying it.

It seems as if Canon consistently wants the UK to pay more for their lenses.
I love the canon product designers, but hate their marketing department.