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EF 28mm f/2.8
- 28mm
- f/28.0
- Prime
- 185 g
- Min focus 0.3 m
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Quick answer
A compact 1987 wide prime from the early EF era, without USM. It is a light full-frame wide-angle with a 52mm filter thread.
Pros
- Tiny and light at about 185g
- Close focus of 0.3m
- 52mm filters
Cons
- Loud and slow AF
- No full-time manual focus
- Soft corners
Verdict
Acceptable as a light wide prime. The IS USM replacement is better in almost every respect.
About this lens
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8: a wide-angle prime lens with a 28mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2.8, made for Canon EF mount cameras. The wide view suits landscapes, architecture and environmental shots.
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 28mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/28.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1987
- Optical construction
- 5 elements in 5 groups
- Aperture blades
- 5
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.3 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.13x
- Filter thread
- 52 mm
- Weight
- 185 g
- Length
- 42.5 mm
- Diameter
- 67.4 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 28mm f/2.8?
- Casual wide shooting
- Street
- Film bodies
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
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 | 28mm | 65.5° | 75.4° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 45mm | 43.8° | 51.6° |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 a full-frame lens?
Yes, it covers 35mm film and full-frame digital sensors. On APS-C it frames like a 45mm lens.
What filter size does the EF 28mm f/2.8 use?
52mm, a small thread shared with a few other compact Canon primes such as the EF 35mm f/2.
EF 28mm f/2.8 or EF 28mm f/1.8 USM?
The f/1.8 is a stop faster and has USM, but it is larger. The f/2.8 is the basic, lighter option.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
Tamron
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SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro
28-75mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
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SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Macro
24-135mm · f/24.0 · Canon EF
