smooth_carrots Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 <p>I just ordered a 24mm f1.4L II but I'm now having second thoughts about dumping such a huge amount of money on a lens. I am considering changing the order to the 28mm f1.8 but I would like to hear from people who have used the lens on a full frame DSLR. I use the 5D2.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Ian Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 <p>I own it and used to use it frequently on FF units (5D and now 5D2). I don't use it very frequently anymore, but that's really more because of how I shoot, most of the time the 24-70 @f2.8 is fast enough.</p> <p>IME, WO, the edge sharpness is pretty bad (though center is still very good, yes, even WO), @ f2, it's controlled, but still noticeable, and by f2.8 it's not bad at all. The 24/1.4 is better by about one step (though WO, it's not great either), until f4, at which point the two are pretty indistinguishable in overall IQ. </p> <p>Is it worth it (the extra $1000 to go with the 24/1.4 over the 28/1.8)? not in my opinion, for me, but if you plan on shooting @ f1.4, and <em>need</em> the best available (though still not great) IQ @f1.4->2, or want a red ring, it may be worth it to you.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldonnalos Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 <p>I've owned the 24L II, and had some brief experience with the 28 1.8. The 24L II is amazing, even wide open. Very sharp, better than the 35L even. The 28mm 1.8 did not impress me, much softer.</p> <p>Check out the user reviews here...</p> <p>http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showcat.php?perpage=12&sort=4&cat=2&ppuser=</p> <p>The 24L II is rated 9.6 out of 10, while the 28 1.8 is rated 8.3 out of 10 (fourth worst lens).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_e Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 <p>I have the 28 on a FF and would not recommend it. Probably ok on a crop body.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 A 28/1.8 was my most-used lens on a 5D for several years, until the focusing mechanism needed repair and I upgraded to a 24/1.4. Though it's a lousy lens for photographing test charts wide open, in the real world it's quite good. In situations where I was shooting wide open, camera shake and motion blur were bigger problems than a lack of lens resolution. Stopped down a bit, it's much sharper. Its biggest flaw is flare when there are big, bright light sources in the frame. The 24/1.4 is better in every way except size (28 is much more compact). But it does cost more than three times as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth_carrots Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 <p>Thanks for the responses. I forgot to mention that I intend to use the lens mainly from 1.4 - 2.2 (i.e. almost wide open). Performance at apertures smaller than f2.8 does not really concern me.</p> <p>Sigma also do a 24mm f1.8 and a 28mm f1.8 although I have no idea what they are like.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Smith Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 <p>All I can say is that any of Canon's 24mm lenses are considerably superior to either of the Canon 28s, which is a source of irritation to me as I am fan of the 28mm focal length.</p> Robin Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakhtar Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 24mm f1.4 is a star for low lighting work where good quality outcome is required! The sample attached was taken under the room lights at the Guildhall, London!<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Ian Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 <p>If you are planning on using the lens at f1.4 getting the 28/1.8 might be a mistake. ;-) but seriously, if you <em>need</em> the best <em>available</em> IQ @f1.4 (and around there), the 24/1.4 is the one to get. It is definetly better performing than the 28/1.8 in real life.</p> <p>As far as those wide Sigmas (24/1.8 & 28/1.8), I wouldn't waste my money. they are ridiculously bad WO, worse by a considerable margin than the EF 28/1.8</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth_carrots Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 <p>Thanks all, I'll probably change my order to the 28mm f1.8 and try it for a month or two. If it doesn't do the job I'll sell it and go for the 24mm f1.4. Fingers crossed the 28mm can deliver.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abram Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 <p>Just to chime in:</p> <p>I have owned the 28 f/1.8 twice, and both versions of the 24L (two copies of the 24L II). The 28 f/1.8 is fine to use on the 5DmkII, corner sharpness is lacking, but it's great in the center. I was plenty happy with the lens.<br> Compared to the other two, the 24L mkI is a good lens but I was never THAT impressed with it. I had sold my 24-70L to buy that lens and aside from having f/1.4 I didn't really feel like I was gaining some significant performance and I went back to a 24-70. Down the line I wound up buying a 24L II and I was totally thrilled with it, I let it go for a while because I wanted to try Zeiss lenses but I recently got another copy and it is a superb lens.<br> Wide open performance is outstanding and the colors the lens produces are truly excellent.<br> The ONLY thing I prefer about the 28 f/1.8 is its physical size. I like small lenses and unfortunately all of the L lenses are hefty. <br> If it came down to cost and I had to sell all of my L lenses I would be happy shooting with the 28 f/1.8 again.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth_carrots Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 <p>Thanks Abram, that's good honest advice. I'm going to try the 28mm for a while. Obviously the 24 f1.4 would be the ultimate solution but I don't think I'd use it often enough to justify the price.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
model mayhem gallery Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 <p>I have and use the 28 1.8 on my Canon 5D II and love it. I have compared it to my 85 1.2L and of course the 85 1.2L is better. However, I very seldom use it because it is just too big, heavy and expensive to carry all the time. I love the 28 1.8 because it is small, fast has full time autofocus over ride just like L-series lens. Is well made very light and great for ulrta thin DOP for video. Would I pay that much extra for the 24 1.4L? No Way. Absolutely not. I am actually considering selling the 85 1.2L and getting the 85 1.8 which is much lighter. I find I would rather have a usable lens than a super expensive lens I can't really have fun with because I am too worried bout the cost if it breaks. Also, don't care much about edge sharpness I use this lens to blur everything except center image anyway. I compared the Zeiss, 24 1.4 and the 28 1.8 won due to price and speed.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth_carrots Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 <p>Thanks M.P.</p> <p>I can heartily recommend the 85mm f1.8. It is impossible to fault in my opinion.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igord Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 <p>I use this lens for fashion and portraits at f/2.0. My lens is very contrasty and sharp with rich colour, gives incredible effect of shallow dof and wide angle. I was published with this very lens in good magazines, the photos look fantastic.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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