Canon EF 24mm f/2.8  Lens

This is one of the most important upgrade lenses for every Canon EOS SLR camera. That is especially true for cost conscious owners of semi-pro digital SLRs, like the EOS Digital Rebel XTi or the 30D.

It is very compact and features an easy to use manual focusing ring, a real distance scale window with a depth-of-field scale and infrared compensation. It is threaded for inexpensive 58mm filters and accessories. A superior heavy-duty stainless steel lens mount is also featured on this little gem. It is an excellent quality prime lens for the price. Frequently compared to "L" series professional lenses, it is consistently found to be amazingly close in optical performance.

Auto-Focus is very fast and accurate, using the Arc Form Drive (AFD) mechanism. The slightly slower AF is not a serious disadvantage because the focusing elements have a very short “travel” distance. The USM drive would be quieter, but quick focusing is not compromised by the use of the more frugal AFD system. The decision to concentrate on superior optics is the main reason this lens is such an incredible value.

All engineering is a mater of carefully selected “trade-offs”. You must balance cost vs. performance and features to find the true “value”. If your intended applications do not require you to shoot in foul weather and you are not rough with your gear, this model could serve you just as well optically as some “L” models. You would trade some heavy-duty construction features and silent operation for comparable optics at very affordable price. That is a perfectly acceptable compromise for many photographers on a budget.

I carefully compared this model to my Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L Pro zoom lens. The little 24mm prime tested out to be just as sharp as the "L" at 24mm, with equally good colour saturation and contrast, but the prime was a full stop faster. It was able to capture excellent photos in some situations where the costly “pro” lens required additional lighting. It is also much lighter and more comfortable to use.

You can really get wonderful depth-of-field with this lens! You will be pleased by how much of your subject can be kept in focus. It also has a fantastic minimum "close focus" distance of only 10”. That allows you to capture incredibly detailed close-up shots!

Zoom lenses are very convenient, but they tend to be less “fast”, with a widest aperture that is often f/4 or slower. This EF 24mm has a respectably large aperture of 1:2.8. It "drinks in" lots of light to allow you to get nice sharp pictures in poor lighting situations, without a flash.

Because it is a prime, you will have to compose your shots by "zooming" with your feet, adjusting the distance from your subject. This becomes quite acceptable after seeing the superior image quality. I am sure that you will conclude that the extra “effort” is easily justified by the results.

One of the main strengths of this lens is its amazing lack of distortion, especially considering the focal length. On "small frame" digitals, the distortion is practically non-existent because the smaller sensor uses only the "sweet spot" of the glass. On these digital SLRs, this lens is approximately equal to a 38mm focal length. It is well-suited for all of your “normal” lens photography. It becomes as indispensable on a digital SLR as a standard 50mm "fast" lens is on a 35mm film camera.

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