Canon 28 1.8

I recently picked up a Canon 28 1.8. I'd heard a lot of negative reviews about this lens, but I have been pleasantly surprised. if focuses very quickly and is plenty sharp by f2. It is a little soft at 1.8. In practice that is exacerbated by the fact that I usually am using slow shutterspeeds when shooting 1.8 already. It's pretty much replaced the 50 1.4 for my 60D. Haven't used it much on the 5d2 yet, though that was my original intention.

I've posted some test shots showing this lens at 1.8 - 4.0. All taken at fairly close to MFD so factor that in and forgive the bland test subject. Test images are at http://gc5.smugmug.com …-18-tests/19350564_JsPKNH.

Also threw in a quick one of my son so you can see it in real world use.

Looks good

I've owned a 28 f/1.8 for 4-5 years now but always thought it was a little too soft so I never used it. I bought a Lens Align last winter to try and calibrate my Sigma 50 and 85 and come to find out my 28 f/1.8 was back focusing. Once it was MA'd on my 5DmII or 7D it is reasonably sharp. My problem is I want to use it in my travel bag which has a Rebel T1i and 60D both of which do not have MA. I was thinking of replacing it with a Sigma 30 but with all the issues I have had this past year with my Sigma 50 and 85 I am going to pass on anymore Sigmas. Now I have to decide if I want to spend the money to have Canon calibrate my 28 to one of my travel cameras. It is a very nice little lens so I will probably bite the bullet and spend the money.

the 28 1.8 is small and very well built. i've had four copies. one was really bad but the other three were great. wide open to me with this lens is f2.2.

ed rader

thanks for the sample shots... looks like max sharpness is reached at f/2.5 and above...

Were those taken with the filter on? I've also stayed away from this lens because of the negative reviews and settled with the 24L version 1, but your sample shots looks pretty good.

Yes, those were with the filter, which could have had some minimal impact on IQ. But since I shoot with the filter on this lens, that's how I took them...