Photo: Ashley Pomeroy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick answer
The Canon EF 40mm lens is a standard prime lens covering 40mm at f/2.8 for the Canon EF mount. Its bright maximum aperture handles indoor and evening light reasonably well.
About this lens
Canon EF 40mm lens: a standard prime lens with a 40mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, made for Canon EF mount cameras. The natural field of view suits street, documentary and everyday photography.
Canon EF 40mm lens specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 40mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8
- Lens type
- Prime
- Released
- 2012
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.3 m
- Filter thread
- 52 mm
- Weight
- 130 g
- Length
- 22.8 mm
- Diameter
- 68.2 mm
Specification source: wikidata.org
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 40mm lens?
At 40mm this is a standard prime, which typically suits:
- Everyday and street photography
- Natural-perspective portraits
- Documentary and travel work
Its bright maximum aperture handles indoor and evening light reasonably well.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 40mm | 48.5° | 56.8° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 64mm | 31.4° | 37.4° |
Frequently asked questions
What mount does the Canon EF 40mm lens use?
It uses the Canon EF mount, so it fits Canon EF cameras directly.
What is the focal length of the Canon EF 40mm lens?
It is a fixed 40mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. That makes it a standard lens.
Is the Canon EF 40mm lens a prime or a zoom lens?
It is a prime lens with a fixed 40mm focal length. Primes usually open wider than zooms; this one opens to f/2.8.
What is the Canon EF 40mm lens equivalent on a crop sensor?
On APS-C (1.6x crop) it frames like 64mm on full frame, with a 31.4° horizontal and 37.4° diagonal field of view. These figures are calculated from the focal length and crop factor.
Which cameras does the Canon EF 40mm lens fit?
Any Canon EF-mount camera, including Canon EOS 1D X, Canon EOS 5D, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and 7 more.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
