Canon 28mm 1.8

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Duncan.F

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Duncan
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Hi all,
I am considering this lens as a low light option for close up work at gigs. I have the 50mm 1.4 but struggle to get performers in the frame sometimes, particularly with guitars! I thought that the 28mm would be a good option, until I read the reviews.
Generally it seems to be panned at wide open where I would be using it. However given that most of my shot are close up and in extreme lighting conditions I wonder whether the lens shortcomings would really notice.
The 35mm 1.4L clearly has a better rep but I can't afford it at the mo. I am hoping to buy a 5DII soon and will use my 24-70 but at much higher ISO's, I just thought that the 28mm 1.8 might be a good bet....?

Cheers,

Dunc
 
Hiya - I bought this lens off eBay and it arrived yesterday. From my initial tests I would use it wide open at a push - would be fine for standard size prints, but just going down 1/3 stop to f/2 massively improves matters. I wouldn't hesitate to use it at f/2 & by f/2.8 it is very very good.

For the record, when I owned the 35L I tended to stop that down to 1.6 - 2.0 most of the time but wide open it was slightly sharper than the 28mm @ f/1.8 in my estimation.

Basically - buy it - so far I think it's a great lens that jumps massively in quality once you go to f/2.0

Phil
 
How about the Sigma 28mm f1.8? It seems to get good reviews.
 
woof woof said:
How about the Sigma 28mm f1.8? It seems to get good reviews.
Click to expand...

I'm very sceptical about Sigma focussing after having endless problems with 30mm f1.4 lenses - tried loads, all faulty.

Having said that my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 is generally good (although better on my 5D than the 50D) and the 150mm macro is spot-on.

I definitely would heartily recommend the the 28mm f1.8, it's just best very slightly stopped down (f1.8 vs f2 is more or less an irrelevance light-wise!).

Phil
 
the fact that nearly all lenses are better 'stopped down' makes me wonder why manufacturers haven't thought of this ingenious idea: manufacture an f/1.8 lens as f/1.4 or f/1.2, but lock those lower f numbers out of use and sell as an f/1.8. That way folk can actually use it at its 'widest' aperture without compromising, because in reality, it is already stopped down ;) :thumbs:
 
Yes, I thought about the Sigma but apparently the AF is not great. So I think that could be a real issue with focussing in poor light.

Cheers,

Dunc
 
Shooting gigs, I think the main problem will be shallow depth of field and TBH most of the shot is going to be out of focus anyway, or have movement blur, so a bit of edge softness is hardly going to matter. I'd give it a go.

However, the 5D2 with 24-70 2.8 and working at a couple of stops higher ISO would seem to be a much better idea all round.
 
"I thought about the Sigma but apparently the AF is not great. So I think that could be a real issue with focussing in poor light."

I have the similar 20mm f1.8 and I think that it's a great lens. I suppose that the only way to be sure if the Sigma 28mm is for you or not is to try one.
 
I was at a gig the other night, another tog had 3.5K of nikon body and a 28mm 1.2 lens. Another 3.5K! I had serious lens envy.

Dunc
 
I have the Canon 28 f1.8 and its a brilliant lens but I wouldn't recommend shooting at f1.8 but you only need to go up to f2.8 to get great results.

Getting it in focus at f1.8 is also tricky.
 
Hi Liam,
Yes I think that has sealed the 28mm's fate! I intend to upgrade to the 5DII soon and will stick with the 24-70L and see how I go. Maybe I can afford the
35mm 1.4L one day!!

Thanks all!

Dunc
 
Liam said:
I have the Canon 28 f1.8 and its a brilliant lens but I wouldn't recommend shooting at f1.8 but you only need to go up to f2.8 to get great results.

Getting it in focus at f1.8 is also tricky.
Click to expand...

Duncan.F said:
Hi Liam,
Yes I think that has sealed the 28mm's fate! I intend to upgrade to the 5DII soon and will stick with the 24-70L and see how I go. Maybe I can afford the
35mm 1.4L one day!!

Thanks all!

Dunc
Click to expand...

I wouldn't write it off - mine is great @ f2!

Phil
 
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