# Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens Review
If you are looking for a compact, lightweight, and affordable prime lens for your Canon APS-C DSLR camera, you might want to consider the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens. This lens is designed specifically for APS-C sensors, which means it will not work on full-frame cameras. It offers a versatile focal length of 24mm, which is equivalent to 38.4mm on a full-frame camera, making it ideal for street photography, landscapes, portraits, and general-purpose shooting. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, performance, and drawbacks of this lens, and compare it with some similar products on the market. We will also provide some representative customer reviews and a purchase link at the end of the article.
Features and Benefits
The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens has several features and benefits that make it a great choice for many photographers. Here are some of them:
– Compact and lightweight design: As a pancake lens, this lens measures only 0.9 by 2.7 inches (HD) and weighs only 4.4 ounces, making it one of the smallest and lightest lenses in Canon’s lineup. This means you can easily carry it around in your pocket or bag, and mount it on your camera without adding much bulk or weight. It also gives your camera a discreet and stylish look, which can be useful for street photography or candid shots.
– Wide aperture: The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allows you to capture more light in low-light situations, and create shallow depth of field effects with smooth bokeh. The aperture is controlled by a 7-blade circular diaphragm, which produces pleasing out-of-focus areas in your images. The wide aperture also gives you more creative control over your exposure settings, as you can adjust the shutter speed and ISO accordingly.
– Sharp and clear image quality: The lens features a 6-element/5-group optical design, which delivers excellent sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy across the frame. The lens also has a Super Spectra coating, which reduces flare and ghosting caused by internal reflections or bright light sources. The lens has minimal chromatic aberration (color fringing) and distortion, which can be easily corrected in post-processing if needed.
– Fast and quiet autofocus: The lens uses a gear-type STM (Stepping Motor) system, which provides fast, smooth, and accurate autofocus performance. The STM system also enables full-time manual focus override, which means you can fine-tune your focus manually without switching modes. The focus motor is very quiet, which is ideal for video recording or shooting in quiet environments. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.52 ft (0.16 m), which enables you to get close to your subjects and achieve a decent magnification ratio of 1:3.7.
– Compatibility: The lens is compatible with all Canon APS-C DSLR cameras, such as the Rebel series (T3i, T5i, T7i, etc.), the 80D, the 7D Mark II, and more. It is also compatible with Canon’s EF-S mount adapters for mirrorless cameras, such as the EOS M series or the EOS R series.
Drawbacks
The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is not without its drawbacks, however. Here are some of them:
– Lack of image stabilization: The lens does not have any built-in image stabilization system, which means you have to rely on your camera’s stabilization (if available) or use a tripod to avoid blurry shots due to camera shake. This can be a problem when shooting handheld in low-light conditions or at slower shutter speeds.
– Disappointing manual focus experience: The lens has an electronically coupled focus ring, which means it does not have any mechanical connection to the focus mechanism. This makes the manual focus feel less responsive and tactile than a traditional focus ring. Moreover, the manual focus is only available when the camera is switched on and focusing is activated by pressing the shutter button halfway or using the AF-ON button.
– Noticeable vignetting at f/2.8: The lens shows some darkening of the corners at its widest aperture of f/2.8, especially on cameras with higher resolution sensors. This can be reduced by stopping down the aperture or corrected in post-processing if desired.
Comparison with Similar Products
The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is not the only option for APS-C prime lenses on the market. Here are some other products that you might want to compare it with:
| Product | Price | Aperture | Focal Length | Weight | Image Stabilization | Autofocus System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens | $149 | f/2.8 | 24mm (38.4mm equivalent) | 4.4 oz | No | Gear-type STM |
| Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens | $499 | f/1.4 | 30mm (48mm equivalent) | 15.2 oz | No | HSM |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens | $125 | f/1.8 | 50mm (80mm equivalent) | 5.6 oz | No | Lead-screw-type STM |
As you can see, the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is the cheapest, lightest, and most compact lens among the three, but it also has the smallest aperture and the shortest focal length. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens is the most expensive, heaviest, and largest lens, but it also has the largest aperture and the best image quality. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is a full-frame compatible lens that offers a longer focal length and a larger aperture than the EF-S 24mm, but it is also slightly heavier and more prone to chromatic aberration.
Depending on your budget, preferences, and needs, you might prefer one lens over another. For example, if you want a fast and sharp lens for low-light situations or portraits, you might opt for the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. If you want a classic and versatile lens for everyday shooting, you might choose the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8. If you want a small and lightweight lens for travel or street photography, you might go for the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8.
Customer Reviews
Here are some representative customer reviews of the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens from Amazon:
– “I love this lens! It’s so small and light that I can carry it anywhere with my camera. It’s great for landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, and environmental portraits. It’s also very sharp and has nice colors and contrast. The autofocus is fast and quiet, and the manual focus is easy to use. The only thing I wish it had is image stabilization, but I can live without it for this price.”
– “This lens is a must-have for any Canon APS-C shooter. It’s very affordable, very compact, and very good quality. It gives you a natural perspective that is similar to what you see with your eyes, which makes it perfect for capturing candid moments or telling stories with your photos. It also performs well in low light, thanks to the f/2.8 aperture. The only downside is that it can vignette a bit at wide open, but that can be fixed in post or by stopping down a bit.”
– “This lens is a disappointment for me. It’s not very sharp at f/2.8, especially in the corners, and it gets worse as you focus closer. It also has noticeable barrel distortion and chromatic aberration that are hard to correct in post. The manual focus is terrible, as it has no feedback or resistance, and it only works when the camera is on and focusing is activated. The autofocus is slow and noisy, and sometimes hunts or misses focus. I regret buying this lens.”
Conclusion
The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens is a compact, lightweight, and affordable prime lens for Canon APS-C DSLR cameras that offers a versatile focal length of 24mm (38.4mm equivalent), a wide aperture of f/2.8, a fast and quiet autofocus system, and a sharp and clear image quality. It’s an ideal lens for street photography, landscapes, portraits, and general-purpose shooting.
However, the lens also has some drawbacks, such as the lack of image stabilization, the disappointing manual focus experience, and the noticeable vignetting at f/2.8. It might not be the best choice for low-light situations or handheld video recording.
If you are interested in buying this lens, you can check out its current price and availability on Amazon by clicking [here].
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