Is the Canon 40mm really soft or are you too fussy?

Jay Anson · Jul 31, 2020

I’ve read a lot of comments about the Canon EF 40mm pancake lens being soft. I have this lens mounted on a 5DIV and I’m very picky when it comes to IQ and I see no softness at all in my copy. I’ve loved this lens since I bought it 12 months ago and shot for shot, it compares to my Canon 24-70 2.8 at 40mm. I don’t understand why there’s so much hate for this particular lens and I'm asking forum readers for examples of image softness. This issue has really grabbed my curiosity and I want to know the standard for what is considered soft in an image.

trungtran · Jul 31, 2020

I actually have never seen anyone called it soft.

Some people say it has a weird focal length for crop.

I find it a joy to use with the only negative is no bayonet for the lens hood, so I have to use a threaded one.

Jay Anson · Jul 31, 2020

trungtran said:
I actually have never seen anyone called it soft.

Some people say it has a weird focal length for crop.

I find it a joy to use with the only negative is no bayonet for the lens hood, so I have to use a threaded one.

I posted this after reading a long and lengthy thread with several members strongly agreeing the 40mm was soft. I won't link the threads I read as I feel that will railroad my own thread here but it certainly got me thinking about why people say the 40mm is soft.

Anyway, I agree with you, the 40mm is a joy to use and the weight savings as a walk around lens compared to L glass is fantastic. It's on my main camera more than any other lens and has been for several months.

Actually I will post a link to one thread I read ...

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www.dpreview.com

SergioMPS · Aug 1, 2020

How soft, dont know but pancake lenses never been intended to be the sharpest

nail33 · Aug 1, 2020

Almost all reviews and forum comments that I have read are just the opposite. I have one for my 6D and find it to be very sharp for such a cheap lens.....even wide open. I also have a 100mm macro which is very sharp to compare to. IMO the 40mm is great on a FF camera for general snapshots.......and very portable. The only drawback I see to this lens is the STM, which is quite slow compared to USM........but acceptable. I don't do video, but STM is supposed to be better for that use.

PicNoir · Aug 1, 2020

Agreed

Shirozina · Aug 1, 2020

On full frame high MP sensors at infinity it’s sharp in the center but the edges soften off a bit due to field curvature. If you need a lens in this ballpark for landscape then you may find as I did that the 35mm f2 IS USM is a better ( if larger and more expensive) choice or stop down a bit and focus off center to balance out the edge and center. Just as an aside it’s pretty much a sound assumption that all modern lenses are sharp in the center of the frame if they are not faulty and have been focused correctly. It’s maintaining this performance to the edges of the frame at different distances that separates the good, and excellent from the bad.

gium · Aug 2, 2020

Mine is not soft either. It's actually very sharp even wide open. That's the general consensus imo, but I do believe some other users have received a bad or defective copy. So I think if you have a 40/2.8 pancake and it is soft, something is wrong with it. If it is sharp: enjoy

Ray Chen · Aug 2, 2020

Jay Anson said:
I’ve read a lot of comments about the Canon EF 40mm pancake lens being soft. I have this lens mounted on a 5DIV and I’m very picky when it comes to IQ and I see no softness at all in my copy. I’ve loved this lens since I bought it 12 months ago and shot for shot, it compares to my Canon 24-70 2.8 at 40mm. I don’t understand why there’s so much hate for this particular lens and I'm asking forum readers for examples of image softness. This issue has really grabbed my curiosity and I want to know the standard for what is considered soft in an image.

It is not the sharpest lens in the "normal" range, but it is more than good enough on the sharpness department. What I really don't like is how slow it autofocuses. Always feel there is a moment of hesitation before anything comes into focus. It has an unremarkable (for this focal length) f/2.8 aperture, so you have to value compactness and lightness to use it. I use it mostly as a backup lens, as it is super easy to pack.

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Ray

WindwardHaole · Aug 2, 2020

"I’d be impressed if a lens this size and price was just decent, but this one is excellent". Roger Cicala, Lensrentals.com, 2019

jvc1 · Aug 3, 2020

FWIW......The Digital Picture

ed rader · Aug 3, 2020

you can find someone who says the 40mm is soft. first time I've heard this claim tho

1cb · Aug 8, 2020

not soft in my experience, I use it with my T6i and I love it. It never comes off.

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Thanks!
Chris

Chris B

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MMACory · Aug 13, 2020

Gerald Brooks · Aug 21, 2020

Great study on the 40mm FOV. What different experience and results if you did the same thing at 35mm?

MMACory · Aug 23, 2020

Gerald Brooks said:
Great study on the 40mm FOV. What different experience and results if you did the same thing at 35mm?

Thanks. I think, especially running around Italy, 35 might be slightly "better", but the pancake size majorly won. It's the reason why I sold my compact camera and just focus on a single system (which nicely simplifies life).

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