Canon EF 28mm f1.8 USM review

The best description of this lens I've read is that it is a very good lens with a bad internet reputation. I couldn't agree more. I hemmed and hawed over buying this lens for several weeks, due to the mediocre "official" reviews from prominent review sites, ones that you've undoubtedly also read if you're considering this lens. But I kept reading glowing "unofficial" reviews from users who were out there doing real-world photography, and I was impressed with the images the lens had produced. I finally went for it, and I love the thing! It is small, it handles great, it is built great (WAY better than the 50/1.4), AF is fast (although not as lightning quick as the 85/1.8), and for my uses the images are great. I use it on an original 5D, and it is on my camera most of the time. So why does it have such consistently crappy reviews? After a few months of using it, I can offer a few reasons. I have no doubt that this lens would be less than optimal if all you do is shoot flat brick walls. The bricks in the corner of your images would be a bit soft, and even the bricks in the center of the image would be soft at f/1.8. The reviews you've read online are overly concerned with what all of the bricks look like, and seem particularly interested in what bricks look like away from the center of the image. Ask yourself how often you intend to put a subject or other sharpness-critical component of your photo somewhere other than the central 50% of the image. For most photographers, the answer is rarely to never, unless you're doing demanding architectural or landscape work. So take those reviews that emphasize corner sharpness with an entire shaker of salt. The lens isn't perfect - none are. It is a bit soft at f/1.8. I try to avoid using it there - I often shoot at f/2.2 to 2.8 where the resolution and contrast are excellent. But f/1.8 is definitely useable, and in post processing you can coax a totally fine image out. It's there if you need it. Would the 35L or 24L be better lenses? You bet they would. Could I come up with something better to do with the extra $1000 it would take to get those lenses over this one? You bet I could. I would also miss the 28/1.8's compact size and weight. Buy the lens hood for this lens. It suffers from flare quite a bit - the hood helps a lot. I give Canon a big thumbs down for not including the hood with their non-L lenses, but I guess they don't want something silly like the best interests of their loyal photographer customers to get in the way of revenue. I consider this a problem of the Canon corporation.... the lens itself still merits 5 stars.

I have a T2i. I bought this lens because I wanted a "normal" prime for my APS-C. I had been using a 50mm for a while and got accustomed to that focal length to the point that the 28mm felt too wide for everyday use. The picture quality is pretty good under normal INDOOR shooting conditions and it's great having a 1.8 in this focal length, but for the price, there was way too much chromatic aberration, which seems to rear it head for backlit and high contrast situations. For an indoor low light lens, it is great, but I'm not a professional so don't want to have to carry around a different lens in this focal length for use outdoors. For not too much more, you can pick up a Tamron or Sigma 17-50 2.8 that is almost as good low light (maybe better because of the IS) and more versatile. This lens is a lot smaller, which does make it great for walkaround because you don't have to worry about whacking it into things. I would not recommend this lens, as there are better alternatives that don't cost much more (or less, like the 35 f2). I returned mine.

I was looking for a reasonable wide angle for my 40d. Thus lens is great and very quiet. The images it creates are beautiful and very colorful.

I've only owned this lens now for about a week so I'm still getting use to it. But I absolutely love it! I've mostly done indoors with it but it handles really well.

this is a great lens for the money. its very sharp and focuses very fast! its my favorite lens on my kit and i pretty much never take it off i just love the amazing shots and amazing BOKEH (background blur) i get with this lens. its a great lens, buy it! you won't regret it.