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Can EF 28mm f1.8 be the fastest Lens for 5D2 under 500.00?

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jackyyuen

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Hi Everyone,

I am thinking to get a fast lens for lowlight indoor party without flash and tripod

I find the deal from Amazon for Canon EF 28mm f/1.8

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R6WU?ie=UTF8&tag=forumdp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00009R6WU

I want to know if you guys have experience with this Lens, question as following

1, how is the AF at lowlight compare to 50mm f1.4
2, how is the image quality when it is wide open compare to 50mm f1.4
3, is the distortion acceptable?

Sample images with f1.8 wide open at lowlight will be very useful.

Since I find 5D2 ISO 5000 is somewhat acceptable. I am planning to shoot at 1/50 with f1.8 most of the time without flash and tripod.

Thanks

--
Beginner who love 5D2 since the day 1
http://alohaeveryone.com
JY
 
jackyyuen said:
1, how is the AF at lowlight compare to 50mm f1.4
Click to expand...
As for AF, I highly recommend you use a flash, but set it (in the camera's custom function) to not fire but only emit the flash's near-IR focus assist beam. Within a certain distance, this will allow any lens to autofocus as well as it would in daylight. I regularly shoot in very low light party environments, and a Canon speedlite's AF assist consistently allows fast and accurate autofocus. As for the speed of AF compared to the 50/1.4, the 28/1.8 might be a bit faster since it has a ring-USM autofocus motor rather than the 50/1.4's micro-USM autofocus motor which is slower than ring-USM.
 
You need to determine what focal length is best for your type of shooting. You can't really compare a 28mm with a 50mm. I have both, but they are used in totally different circumstances. My thoughts would be that the 50 is a bit sharper than the 28, but they both are a bit soft wide open. The 28 also has more straight-line distortion and I would guess it has more chromatic distortion problems. They also have a 35mm f2 that isn't priced too high. There are also other options if you look at other lenses than Canon. My feeling on the focussing is that it seems similar-both aren't steller in that area. It's easier to pre-focus the wider lens though due to the larger dof.
 
Hi T3,

thanks for the advice of AF-Assist. It works really well when I disable my old 420EX flash within 5D2 custom function.

However, I don't wanna mount the 420EX with it since too heavy. I find the Canon STE2 Speedlite Transmitter should able to do similar.

I was wondering if there is any other solutions other then this.

Thanks

p.s. Why don't Canon make AF-Assisit device?

--
Beginner who love 5D2 since the day 1
http://alohaeveryone.com
JY
 
the af on the 28/1.8 seems more reliable (the 50/1.4 tends to hunt).

you should run some tests on the 28/1.8 to see whether you want to shoot it at f/2 instead--a bit of iq improvement, for very little speed. however, at those iso's and shutter speeds, i doubt that aperture will be the biggest factor in image quality.

distortion isn't a big deal on the 28, imo. it is certainly something people will notice if there are faces close up and right at the edge of the frame, but that's something you can mostly control. the extra handholdability and usability in close quarters is a significant benefit.
 
I like this lens alot, great FOV on FF for indoor candid shots. AF works great and f/1.8 allows for decent shutter speeds.

Metal Show (B/W)
pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeankes/3374750917/sizes/o/
exif: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeankes/3374750917/meta/

Street Candid (Desaturated)
pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeankes/3350618634/sizes/o/
exif: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeankes/3350618634/meta/

During a tour of the opera house of Brussels
pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeankes/3514938045/sizes/o/
exif: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeankes/3514938045/meta/
 
Just a thought, but if I could only have a single prime lens on a FF it would be a 35mm FL.

The 1/3rd stop difference would be inconsequential compared to a f/1.8. I can't comment on the 35/2 quality...distortion, etc...but I know my 35/L is the one lens that I never leave home without. There is no better multi-purpose prime FL for me...even for informal portraits, groups, interior, exterior.

--
Joe Sesto
 
Thanks Joe,

I did look in to 35/f2 and 35L, but tell the truth, I can't affort 35L at this moment :p

Anyone has 35/f2 and 28 f1.8 at the same time? Any comments ??

Thanks in advance

--
Beginner who love 5D2 since the day 1
http://alohaeveryone.com
JY
 
The 35 f2 performs very well, and this would be my single "can't live without" focal length. I haven't shot it wide open that much but general image quality is good. I've recently replaced my f2 with the 35 1.4L and as you would expect it's better: better edge to edge resolving power, better color and contrast - but the 35 f2 really is quite good.

Kevin
 
looking at the overall score on a site like fredmiranda.com might discourage someone from buying this lens, however i like mine, especially on a 5d mark II

it is a little soft wide open, and the 35mm f/2 is sharper overall, BUT the 28mm f/1.8 is more accurate focusing in all lighting situations, better build quality, and much more quiet.

having said this, there is quite a difference in focal length between the two... 7mm may not sound like much (and on a crop camera it isn't) but on ff 28mm seems quite a bit wider. so i enjoy having both lenses in my camera bag.

here are a few samples of the 28mm f/1.8 on my 5d mark II :

this one was cropped some on the edges to focus on the central theme (i could have used the 35mm) also note that the motion blur was intentional :



shuttle terminal - this shows the lens is wide enough to have some fun with distoration, the 35mm lenses are not :



smokehouse (iso 3200 btw) :

 
The review at http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/155-canon-ef-28mm-f18-usm-test-report--review seemed to be right on.

--

I've never thought of photography as 'finding beauty in the things that go unnoticed,' although that's a worthy philosophy too. My goal has been to find those moments where people would say, 'oh, you shouldn't bother trying to get that on film, it's a moment that just has to be experienced.' Those moments are the ones I strive to capture most.
 
Thinking about this lens as well.. FYI, you should check costs at ephotocraft.com which seem pretty decent.
jackyyuen said:
Hi Everyone,

I am thinking to get a fast lens for lowlight indoor party without
flash and tripod

I find the deal from Amazon for Canon EF 28mm f/1.8

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R6WU?ie=UTF8&tag=forumdp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00009R6WU

I want to know if you guys have experience with this Lens, question
as following

1, how is the AF at lowlight compare to 50mm f1.4
2, how is the image quality when it is wide open compare to 50mm f1.4
3, is the distortion acceptable?

Sample images with f1.8 wide open at lowlight will be very useful.

Since I find 5D2 ISO 5000 is somewhat acceptable. I am planning to
shoot at 1/50 with f1.8 most of the time without flash and tripod.

Thanks

--
Beginner who love 5D2 since the day 1
http://alohaeveryone.com
JY
Click to expand...
--
'Everything in photography boils down to what's sharp and what's fuzzy.'
-Gaylord Herron
 
Seems everyone has different point of view of this Lens.

Just wanna know if 35mm f2 will be the other choice for indoor party without flash.

Or there are another suggestion??

Thanks

--
Beginner who love 5D2 since the day 1
http://alohaeveryone.com
JY
 
That review source is a fairly common reference and I'm sure that they are responsible individuals.

The problem is that most of their Canon lens tests are made on 1.6 crop bodies...of limited value on FF sensors IMO.

I would suggest that you bookmark:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

for any Canon lens reviews you need. It is unique as you can instantly compare resolution charts for 2 different lenses at identical apertures. Though great chart performers do not always make for great real world performance.

Do a bit of googling and you will find a few other reliable tester sites.

The above one goes far beyond most others in so many respects for Canon gear.

--
Joe Sesto
 
Go to this site to calculate if you ABSOLUTELY want to use the 1.8 of the 28mm on FF.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

You may come to the conclusion that wide open it doesn't produce the DoF you're wishing for (most people may like to be in focus, instead of OoF).

If that's the case, check out the 24-70 or 24-105; they are both more expensive (thoug the 24-10 can be found second hand at interesting prices), slower apertures, have more "problems" with CA, vignetting, etc..... BUT they both have the flexibility you could use for your line of work. And the "problems" are not going to be visible at the ISO's you intend to use.

Otherwise, go for it and enjoy it, since it si a very capable and fun piece of kit.

Pls let us see some samples after your decision (if possible).
 
If only canon would make that 35mm with the build quality and USM (FTM) of the 85 1.8, I would be the first in line to get one.

Price aside, I do not long for the 35L bc of weight/size, I like my primes to be small. 20mm 2.8 serves me well on a xxD body, I would love to have a similar 35mm to do the same on a FF body.

Rob
--
'Life is funny but not Ha Ha funny. Peculiar I guess'. (Mr. E.)
 
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