Canon 28mm 1.8 disappointing

[Tobers]

I ordered a Canon 28mm 1.8 to give me a wider alternative prime lens to my 50mm 1.8. I'm after low-light ability indoors without flash, but sharper than my 17-85 F4 IS.

Anyway, said lens arrived at London Camera Exchange in Guildford and I went to pick it up this morning. I thought I'd better try it out in the shop as I'd read a few reviews that said it wasn't v.sharp. I took a pic of the same test card with my 50mm 1.8, the 28mm 1.8 and a 17-40 F4L they had handy (set at 28mm), all at max aperture. I then viewed the pic in camera at max zoom.

The 28mm 1.8 was horrendously blurry, like it wasn't focusing in the right place.
The 50mm 1.8 was tremendously sharp.
The 17-40 F4L was sharper than the 28mm by quite some way, but not as sharp as the 50mm.


Needless to say, I didn't buy the 28mm.

Anyway, I'm looking at the 24mm f2.8 at the moment - anyone tried it? Gets good reviews, good price etc.

Cheers!

Toberssssssssssssssss

[toadoftoadhall]

did you test it at full aperture? If so it probably would be a bit fuzzy.
Tested at 2.8 or f4 would have been a better test. Wide angles are generally poor at full aperture.


toad

[Yandros]

Sigma 30mm f1.4 maybe?

[allymac123]

Don't mean to throw a spanner in the works but why not think about getting a 17-55 F2.8 IS? If you sell your 17-85 for about £300 and would be spending £280 on the 24 F2.8 it would only cost you about £100 more. (I paid £565 for mine). This lens is pretty sharp and could in some cases (still subject) have an equivelent aperture of F1.0 due to its 3stops IS.

[Tobers]

Oooooh! Now there's a good idea! Hmmmm. I think you have just provided me with THE ANSWER!!! eBay here we come.

For toadoftoadhall - I need the thing to be sharp when wide open. My 50mm 1.8 is so I dont think it unreasonable for the 28mm 1.8 to be as well.

[Radiohead]

If you want genuinely capable low-light wider shots then it's either the 30/1.4 Sigma or spending big wedge on something like the EF 24/1.4L.

The 17-55mm makes sense as a suggestion but if you're shooting people in low-light the IS isn't going to help you stop motion.

[Tobers]

Thanks! Not wanting to stop motion - indoor stuff will be portraits & the like so IS should be OK.

[Radiohead]

Just make sure they sit very still then

[Pirate!!]

Ahoy!

Ever considered using the older SLR glass? Works for me!

[tomson]

I had a 28mm 1.8 for about a week before selling it - was very disappointed with it.
I echo the 17-55 F2.8 IS suggestion though, tis a great lens.

[Tobers]

Job done - bought a 17-55 off Kerso. 17-85 F4 IS for sale shortly...

Ta for the help everyone.

[Tobers]

17-55 2.8 arrived today. Lovely lens - good build quality and feels v.solid. A few test shots before I set off for work today show it is pretty darned sharp. Further experimentation will follow

17-85 now on eBay.

allymac123 - thanks for the suggestion!!!

[allymac123]

Glad your happy with it. Enjoy!

P.S. make sure you show us some exmaple photo's!