RF 28/2.8 STM optical formula : it's a WoW!

[phenix jc]

2 wing terns aspherical lens and rectangular rear lens

That's something, it's technological time!

All modern lens are extremely sharp, I don't expect any exception here. (Tests to come)

 

[BobKnDP]

I wonder how Canon manufactures aspheres that extreme for a mass-market lens?

(My knowledge of lens manufacturing is sadly out-of-date.)

 

[thunder storm]

All modern lens are extremely sharp,

I don't think so.

(Tests to come)

Yes, we have to wait for tests.

For the price and especially size it looks promising. I expect this pancake to be sharper wide open than the EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, however, stopped down the latter could be a bit better or at least on par, and it's still not a fat big lens, even including the adapter. The pancakes is more compact, but the EF lens will very likely have faster AF and it has ILIS. If you have a body without IBIS (RP, R8, R) ILIS is nice to have. At 28mm it's often nice to have some DOF, and at smaller apertures ILIS is more often needed.

The Sigma f/1.4 Art adapted is huge compared to the pancake, but I'm not expecting the pancake to be better at any aperture than the Sigma at f/2.0, and at f/2.8 the pancake will have a hard time to come close to the Sigma at f/1.6. The Sigma will likely also AF faster. If the kitlens is good enough for low weight in good light the Sigma is the best low light monster for when you really need a light sucking lens at around twice the price of the pancake giving four times the light + faster AF.

 

[drsnoopy]

I wonder how Canon manufactures aspheres that extreme for a mass-market lens?

(My knowledge of lens manufacturing is sadly out-of-date.)

I think you will find those complex elements are moulded, not ground. I pre-ordered mine within a couple of hours of the UK announcement.

 

[BobKnDP]

I wonder how Canon manufactures aspheres that extreme for a mass-market lens?

(My knowledge of lens manufacturing is sadly out-of-date.)

I think you will find those complex elements are moulded, not ground. I pre-ordered mine within a couple of hours of the UK announcement.

I've seen precision molded aspheres in the past. Example: the small, fast lenses used in BluRay players.

I'm not current in reading about the technology, especially for much larger lenses.

I wonder how realistic that cross section was? Those are some seriously wild aspheres, regardless of how they are made.

 

[Sittatunga]

I wonder how realistic that cross section was? Those are some seriously wild aspheres, regardless of how they are made.

Very similar to the Canon.jp website version, I think the legend says they're molded plastic aspheres



The calculated MTF looks respectable too,

 

[BobKnDP]

I wonder how realistic that cross section was? Those are some seriously wild aspheres, regardless of how they are made.

Very similar to the Canon.jp website version, I think the legend says they're molded plastic aspheres

(snip)

The calculated MTF looks respectable too,

(snip)

Too bad that I can't read Japanese, and the figure caption is an image rather than text (equivalent).

I wonder if that includes a glass windows, to avoid exposing a plastic element? (Maybe not. A scratch resistant coating may be more than sufficient.)

 

[Sittatunga]

I wonder how realistic that cross section was? Those are some seriously wild aspheres, regardless of how they are made.

Very similar to the Canon.jp website version, I think the legend says they're molded plastic aspheres







The calculated MTF looks respectable too,

(snip)

Too bad that I can't read Japanese, and the figure caption is an image rather than text (equivalent).

I can't either, but Canon use GMo to indicate Glass Moulded elements and the one bit I could read was PMo.

I wonder if that includes a glass window, to avoid exposing a plastic element? (Maybe not. A scratch resistant coating may be more than sufficient.)

8 elements in 6 groups suggests it does. There's a photo of the back of the lens in the AP piece, https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/photo-news/canon-rf-28mm-f2-8-stm-pancake-lens-released/

 

[phenix jc]

All modern lens are extremely sharp,

I don't think so.

(Tests to come)

Yes, we have to wait for tests.

For the price and especially size it looks promising. I expect this pancake to be sharper wide open than the EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM, however, stopped down the latter could be a bit better or at least on par, and it's still not a fat big lens, even including the adapter. The pancakes is more compact, but the EF lens will very likely have faster AF and it has ILIS. If you have a body without IBIS (RP, R8, R) ILIS is nice to have. At 28mm it's often nice to have some DOF, and at smaller apertures ILIS is more often needed.

The Sigma f/1.4 Art adapted is huge compared to the pancake, but I'm not expecting the pancake to be better at any aperture than the Sigma at f/2.0, and at f/2.8 the pancake will have a hard time to come close to the Sigma at f/1.6. The Sigma will likely also AF faster. If the kitlens is good enough for low weight in good light the Sigma is the best low light monster for when you really need a light sucking lens at around twice the price of the pancake giving four times the light + faster AF.

 

[HarryLally]

Thanks for that. Interesting that it's written by Andy Westlake, late of this parish in its early days. Looks an interesting lens so look forward to seeing some test reviews, though probably not on this site. Has Richard Butler left dpr? Hope not, his excellent in-depth reviews were the main reason I visited this site.

Michael

 

[drsnoopy]

I wonder how realistic that cross section was? Those are some seriously wild aspheres, regardless of how they are made.

Very similar to the Canon.jp website version, I think the legend says they're molded plastic aspheres

(snip)

The calculated MTF looks respectable too,

(snip)

Too bad that I can't read Japanese, and the figure caption is an image rather than text (equivalent).

I wonder if that includes a glass windows, to avoid exposing a plastic element? (Maybe not. A scratch resistant coating may be more than sufficient.)

The optical diagram shows a glass flat (or so it appears) behind the 7th element, so yes.

 

[R2D2]

I wonder how realistic that cross section was? Those are some seriously wild aspheres, regardless of how they are made.

Very similar to the Canon.jp website version, I think the legend says they're molded plastic aspheres

(snip)

The calculated MTF looks respectable too,

(snip)

Too bad that I can't read Japanese, and the figure caption is an image rather than text (equivalent).

I wonder if that includes a glass windows, to avoid exposing a plastic element? (Maybe not. A scratch resistant coating may be more than sufficient.)

The optical diagram shows a glass flat (or so it appears) behind the 7th element, so yes.

No, that's a new POL/VND filter that is motorized (spins) so that you can adjust strength using the control ring on the lens!!! :-D

R2

ps. It also does act to protect the rear element too tho. ;-)

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

 

[thunder storm]

I can imagine at 20Mp it's a matter of diminishing returns, but 4x the light, less than twice the price and faster AF isn't about sharpness alone.

In my market the RF 28mm stm comes in at 390 euro, which isn't thát affordable, as for features it's in the same ball park as the RF 16&50mm, and the 50mm at least provides some extra light for the AF. Maybe the 35mm is better value for money with it's IS, sharp f/1.8, and magnification factor.

 

[m100]

I can imagine at 20Mp it's a matter of diminishing returns, but 4x the light, less than twice the price and faster AF isn't about sharpness alone.

In my market the RF 28mm stm comes in at 390 euro, which isn't thát affordable, as for features it's in the same ball park as the RF 16&50mm, and the 50mm at least provides some extra light for the AF. Maybe the 35mm is better value for money with it's IS, sharp f/1.8, and magnification factor.

The hood for the RF 16mm is $39.

RF 35mm STM hood is $41.95.

The hood for the RF 28mm is $45.

Little hood prices are going up ?

 

[charisgratia]

I can imagine at 20Mp it's a matter of diminishing returns, but 4x the light, less than twice the price and faster AF isn't about sharpness alone.

In my market the RF 28mm stm comes in at 390 euro, which isn't thát affordable, as for features it's in the same ball park as the RF 16&50mm, and the 50mm at least provides some extra light for the AF. Maybe the 35mm is better value for money with it's IS, sharp f/1.8, and magnification factor.

The hood for the RF 16mm is $39.

RF 35mm STM hood is $41.95.

The hood for the RF 28mm is $45.

Little hood prices are going up ?

There is no way I'm buying that hood. The hoods for the EF/EF-S pancakes were half the price. And, honestly, I never had one on the 40mm pancake. Filter, yes.

 

[PicPocket]

I can imagine at 20Mp it's a matter of diminishing returns, but 4x the light, less than twice the price and faster AF isn't about sharpness alone.

In my market the RF 28mm stm comes in at 390 euro, which isn't thát affordable, as for features it's in the same ball park as the RF 16&50mm, and the 50mm at least provides some extra light for the AF. Maybe the 35mm is better value for money with it's IS, sharp f/1.8, and magnification factor.

The hood for the RF 16mm is $39.

RF 35mm STM hood is $41.95.

The hood for the RF 28mm is $45.

Little hood prices are going up ?

There is no way I'm buying that hood. The hoods for the EF/EF-S pancakes were half the price. And, honestly, I never had one on the 40mm pancake. Filter, yes.

JJC FTW

 

[m100]

I can imagine at 20Mp it's a matter of diminishing returns, but 4x the light, less than twice the price and faster AF isn't about sharpness alone.

In my market the RF 28mm stm comes in at 390 euro, which isn't thát affordable, as for features it's in the same ball park as the RF 16&50mm, and the 50mm at least provides some extra light for the AF. Maybe the 35mm is better value for money with it's IS, sharp f/1.8, and magnification factor.

The hood for the RF 16mm is $39.

RF 35mm STM hood is $41.95.

The hood for the RF 28mm is $45.

Little hood prices are going up ?

There is no way I'm buying that hood. The hoods for the EF/EF-S pancakes were half the price. And, honestly, I never had one on the 40mm pancake. Filter, yes.

I like Canon lens adapters and caps and hoods.

Will not be pre ordering that lens hood though.

I have a rubber hood on my 40mm STM.

That lens stays on my 6D.

 

[charisgratia]

There is no way I'm buying that hood. The hoods for the EF/EF-S pancakes were half the price. And, honestly, I never had one on the 40mm pancake. Filter, yes.

I like Canon lens adapters and caps and hoods.

Will not be pre ordering that lens hood though.

I have a rubber hood on my 40mm STM.

That lens stays on my 6D.

I used that combo for 8 years... 40mm was practically glued to my 6D. I still have the pancake which I use with adapter on the R... even though I also have the RF 35mm and 50mm f/1.8. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[charisgratia]

I can imagine at 20Mp it's a matter of diminishing returns, but 4x the light, less than twice the price and faster AF isn't about sharpness alone.

In my market the RF 28mm stm comes in at 390 euro, which isn't thát affordable, as for features it's in the same ball park as the RF 16&50mm, and the 50mm at least provides some extra light for the AF. Maybe the 35mm is better value for money with it's IS, sharp f/1.8, and magnification factor.

The hood for the RF 16mm is $39.

RF 35mm STM hood is $41.95.

The hood for the RF 28mm is $45.

Little hood prices are going up ?

There is no way I'm buying that hood. The hoods for the EF/EF-S pancakes were half the price. And, honestly, I never had one on the 40mm pancake. Filter, yes.

JJC FTW

True. I've had my share of JJC lens hoods. I have one now on RF 100-400mm.

 

[BobKnDP]

The Associated Press is doing camera lens previews now?

Oh. Amateur Photographer. ;-) I've never visited that site before.