Your Opinion On 28mm f/1.8 USM

[drisley]

Well, I'm still having mixed feelings about the new EF 28/1.8 USM.
The build, AF, colour, contrast, focusing distance and bokeh are all very good.
However, being spoiled by my sharp, sharp primes, I still am not sure if the sharpness of this lens is enough.
Other reviewers have expressed the same mixed feelings, stating that at times, the sharpness of the lens is excellent (usually close up shots), and then at other times the resolution of the lens seems really low (usually distant shots).
In some comparisons the 28/1.8 beats the thrifty fifty, but in others it loses.

I know that you can't expect miracles with wide and ultra wide lenses like 17mm.
But what is acceptable at 28mm (which estimates a 50mm lens on 1.6x).
Since I want to use this as a 50mm equivalent, I had hoped this lens would be my workhorse lens.

Today I took some "mid-range" shots to get a good idea of what this lens can do.
The focus point is on the statue's face.
Just wondering what YOU think about the sharpness.

ISO100, 1/6400, F2.2 (http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/20d/28mm_f2.2.jpg)

ISO100, 1/500, F8.0 (http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/20d/28mm_f8.jpg)

Images were shot Raw, and converted in PS CS.

[drisley]

I should also ask, how much, if any, of the improvement in sharpness in the plaque and background do you think is due to DOF?

[tim]

To my eye it does look like DOF is a factor, as the focus gets progressively worse as his foot gets further forward.

[drisley]

Thanks Tim.
I think I may have to get used to this focal length.
Here is an example of what the lens is capable of on close ups. Very nice colour and bokeh. Plus it was taken handheld in very dim light. Something I couldnt do with a 2.8 lens.

ISO3200, F2.2
http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/28mmtest/IMG_7689.jpg

[cactusclay]

Man those are some big pics. The first one looks like the focus is on the arm and knees, but the face is so bright, maybe it's also a matter of being washed out. Sorry, but I got tired of waiting for the second one to load, but the top part looked like f8 helped a bit with dof, yet the face is still pretty hot.

[raylks]

The first one shot with f2.2 is having a shallow depth of field. IMHO, the lens is not so sharp when wide open (and most of the lens do except those legendary 83mm f1.2L or 135mm f2L or 300mm f2.8L or 400mm f2.8L)

The performance at f8.0 is very good.

I share a mixed feeling with you. Many people buy prime for the excellent sharpness when wide open. For this lens, I would say don't use it wide open but to stop down a bit to shoot.

[Tom W]

I should also ask, how much, if any, of the improvement in sharpness in the plaque and background do you think is due to DOF?

I think that DOF is a relatively big factor - f/2.2 is a pretty big aperture. You really need to test it on a flat subject, with the lens perpendicular to the subject. The proverbial brick wall is a good test for this, and will also show how much or little distortion the lens produces.

These look pretty good to me.

[drisley]

Thanks guys :)
Cactusclay, yeah, those are full size 20D 8 mpixel images :)
Raylks, I think you nailed it. I think I may be spoiled by my number one lens, the 135/2L.
Tom W, you nailed it too, the dof is pretty shallow.
I just tried another closeup shot at f1.8, and I am amazed at how shallow the DOF really is. I guess using a wide angle with a shallow dof is something you have to get used to when you are used to using only telephotos with shallow dof.

The dof is sliver thin on this picture.

28mm, F1.8, ISO3200, 1/20s
http://images2.fotop.net/albums/sharpnsmart/28mmtest/IMG_7696.jpg

[Redbird_xo]

drisley, i'm don't mean to be argumentative. i think you have a pretty good copy of the 28mm judging from the second picture. it will be even better if shooting at f/4 can give out similar sharpness comparing to f/8. granted, dof will, of course, be different between two apertures.

[drisley]

Thanks for your comment Redbird. Ifeel a little better now.
I can't wait to actualy use this for some real world pictures (which is the plan this weekend) ;)
Btw, here is a link to the same image a F4 (http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/20d/28mm_f4.jpg).

[Redbird_xo]

I think the f/4 image is sharp enough for me. I am so addicted to primes!!! ;)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Telephotos are sharper... it's just the nature of the lenses involved.
When we use wider lenses we are not going to get the same level of sharpness.

I too have this lens in my kit recently,. I am enjoying it quite a bit!
You have t love it's size too :)