Nifty lens that has rapidly become my go-to

[Jon Schick]

I've only had my Canon FF gear for a few weeks now, but I can already tell this lens is going to be the one that I'm likely to use most.

The focal length works for me - it's ideal for street and general photography for those of us who are city-based - and I'm very impressed with the image quality and decent build quality given the lens is so affordable.

So far I've bonded with this lens a lot more than the equivalent (and much more expensive) 27mm pancake on my Fuji and I'm impressed that it is both smaller (despite being full frame) and has a closer minimum focus distance. So far I think I'm preferring the image quality too. Coupled with the 6D, you end up with a surprisingly compact FF kit, capable of providing some very nice image quality when your need is for a 'standard' lens. I don't think you can go far wrong with this one but I've knocked off half a star because Canon need to start supplying hoods!

 

[James Larsen]

It does look like a handy lens.

Can we see some of your shots?

 

[flatpicknut]

Have you seen the lens hood? Not sure why one would bother with it (it is laughably small).

 

[nail33]

+1 for the 40mm. It's my go to lens for my 6D for all the reasons in the OP's post. The only drawback for me is the slow (but acceptable) focus compared to USM.

 

[flatpicknut]

I never did bond with mine. I carry it in my camera bag as a decent backup for my 24-70. It takes so little space so that is good but then it is soooo slow to focus and doesn't have the obvious flexibility of the zoom lens.

 

[Jon Schick]

It does look like a handy lens.

Can we see some of your shots?

 

[Dave]

Have you seen the lens hood? Not sure why one would bother with it (it is laughably small).

Doubles as a poker chip in a pinch.

 

[RA40]

This is a quite nice lens to use if the focal length suits your tastes. For the price point the value is excellent! I like it a lot on the APS-C, the optical performance is very pleasing. On FF I don't use this much preferring a bit wider like 35mm. Like it quite a bit for close up on both FF and APS-C. With the 12mm extension tube, wonderful results!

 

[drh681]

It's just the ticket for stitching panoramas too.

Not much curvature and does not give you too much sky.

I spent a whole weekend in the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley and the forty was 90% of my shooting.

 

[mpressed]

I've only had my Canon FF gear for a few weeks now, but I can already tell this lens is going to be the one that I'm likely to use most.

The focal length works for me - it's ideal for street and general photography for those of us who are city-based - and I'm very impressed with the image quality and decent build quality given the lens is so affordable.

So far I've bonded with this lens a lot more than the equivalent (and much more expensive) 27mm pancake on my Fuji and I'm impressed that it is both smaller (despite being full frame) and has a closer minimum focus distance. So far I think I'm preferring the image quality too. Coupled with the 6D, you end up with a surprisingly compact FF kit, capable of providing some very nice image quality when your need is for a 'standard' lens. I don't think you can go far wrong with this one but I've knocked off half a star because Canon need to start supplying hoods!