Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens Review

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Review Last Updated: 2008/01/26

The Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens is currently Canon's fastest 28mm lens. And the only wider lens that is faster is the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM Lens.

My first thought upon removing the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens from the box was that it was very similar to the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Lens in size, build quality and appearance. And that is a good thing. Not the best of the best, but nice.

The Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens utilizes USM (Ultrasonic Motor) for quick and quiet autofocusing - much quieter than the same-focal-length Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens. This is also a good thing. Focusing speed is similar to or a little faster than the f/2.8 version. FTM (Full Time Manual) Focusing is a nice feature in this lens.

Model	Weight		Dimensions w/o Hood		Filter	Year
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Lens	14.3 oz	(405g)	3.1 x 2.8"	(78 x 71mm)	72mm	1992
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM Lens	22.9 oz	(650g)	3.4 x 3.4"	(87 x 87mm)	77mm	2008
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Lens	9.5 oz	(270g)	2.7 x 1.9"	(68 x 49mm)	58mm	1988
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens	10.9 oz	(310g)	2.9 x 2.2"	(74 x 56mm)	58mm	1995
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens	6.5 oz	(185g)	2.6 x 1.7"	(67 x 43mm)	52mm	1987

This is a small and light lens that handles very well on any sized DSLR. It is dwarfed by the Canon 24-70 L Lens below.

Canon 28mm Lens Size Comparison

Pictured above from left to right are the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Lens, Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens, Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens and the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens. The Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens benefits over the 24 f/2.8 and the 28 f/2.8 from a more-modern styling, reflecting its later introduction year. A more-useable manual focus ring is one of the benefits of this design difference - this lens manually focuses very nicely.

The Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens is soft wide open. Stop the aperture down to f/2.8 and the center becomes sharp. Mid-frame performance (on a full frame DSLR) is softer - even stopped down. Corner performance does not degrade much (if any) over the mid-frame results. I'm disappointed by the sharpness delivered from this lens. It's not what I expected.

Another disappointment is the very obvious CA (Chromatic Aberration) the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens exhibits at mid and corner portions of the frame. Proneness to flare is another notable negative characteristic. Though it is not bad, some barrel distortion is present.

Background blur quality is decent. Out-of-focus highlights have 7 sides when the lens is stopped down thanks to a 7-blade aperture.

I compare the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens with a few other lenses in the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM Lens Review. Visit that page for some 100% crop samples showing this lens' performance.

Canon Wide Angle Prime Lens Comparison with Lens Hoods Installed

Pictured above from left to right with lens hoods in place are the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens and Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM Lens.

Model	MFD		MM
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Lens	9.8"	(250)	.14x
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM Lens	9.8"	(250)	.16x
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Lens	9.8"	(250)	.16x
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens	9.8"	(250)	.18x
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 Lens	11.8"	(300)	.13x

The Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens' Minimum Focus Distance and Maximum Magnification are nothing special, but on par with its peers.

If (unfortunately, that is a big if) the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens' image quality is good enough for you at f/1.8, this lens will make a good low-light handholdable lens.

On a 1.6x FOVCF body, the Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Lens makes a near-normal 45mm lens. For those who have grown used to a 50mm lens on their film SLRs, you will feel at-home with a 28mm prime.