Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM review

According provided by lens Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM and extension rings huge thanks to the online store 'Photolavka', where you can buy a lens in Sevastopol.

Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM review

Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM review

The Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM is one of the first lenses from Canon to feature the extraordinary 'STM' stepping motor technology. STM - STepper Motor - stepping motor or focusing stepping motor. STM was supposed to improve the quality of focusing when shooting video, special attention is paid to smooth focusing. Focusing is really smooth and smooth. To my surprise, the STM in the Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 is noisy. The noise level is negligible, but still easy to hear. It is stated that STM is a special technology that allows you to get silent focusing, which is very important when shooting video, in fact this is not entirely true.

View of the tiny front lens of the lens, as well as the view of the lens enlightenment.

View of the tiny front lens of the lens, as well as the view of the lens enlightenment.

The lens has an AF / MF focus mode switch. In auto AF mode, instant manual focus compensation is available. The focus ring of the Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM is not rubberized and is not mechanically connected to the focusing system. The lens uses electromechanical manual focus (electronically-driven in Western literature). This means that in manual MF focusing mode, the lens can only be focused on the camera.

It seemed strange enough to me:

  1. The Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM lengthens the trunk when focusing. The lens trunk cannot be hidden manually on a detached lens. In the removed position, or on the camera turned off, the lens focus ring does not focus :)
  2. There is a microscopic lag of the focusing ring (reaction delay) when the ring rotates in one or the other direction.
  3. Manual focus speed directly depends on the STM system, and not on the speed of the photographer’s hand movements :).
  4. In manual focus mode, the STM system buzzes significantly louder than in AF mode. The noise also has a different character when you rotate the focus ring of the Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM, it buzzes like a transformer :)
  5. In manual mode, the lens consumes camera energy, since the focus ring is not mechanically connected to the lens block, and an electric drive is still used to move it.
  6. In auto focus mode, manual focus compensation is only available in certain camera focus modes (on my Canon 350D - One Shot, Ai Focus) and only when the focus button on the camera is pressed. In fact, due to the fact that manual focus adjustment can only be made when the shutter button is pressed halfway, talking about the constant possibility of manual focus correction is simply impossible. All this focusing gimmick spoils the impression of the lens a little.
  7. The STM system can reach its full potential only on cameras with a hybrid focus system. When I wrote this review, only Canon 650D, 700D, 70D и 100D had specially designed sensors for improved focus when shooting video.
  8. The lens does not have a focus distance scale, a trifle, but still.
Rear view of the lens. Metal bayonet mount.

Rear view of the lens. Metal bayonet mount.

The front lens does not rotate when focusing. The focusing speed is above average, but I can not say that it is fast. If you slowly rotate the 'electronic' focusing ring, then its step will be 360 ​​degrees. The minimum focusing distance is only 30 cm, while you can take macro pictures with a magnification of 1: 5.5. By and large, the 'Macro 0.3m / 0.98ft' lettering on the lens simply speaks of MDF, not true macro capability. Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM uses a 7-blade aperture.

This is what the lens looks like on the Canon EOS 350D. Lens with maximally protruded trunk focused on MDF

This is how the lens looks on Canon EOS 350D. Lens with maximally protruded trunk focused on MDF

The Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM lens is called 'pancake' (or 'Pancake') and is very small and lightweight. The most amazing thing is that this baby is suitable for full-length 'fat' cameras. The lens weighs just 130 grams and uses a standard 52mm filter diameter. The lens does not have a mount for a modern “snap-on” hood, so you can only install a hood that is screwed into the thread for the light filter. The Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM is manufactured in Malaysia and began production in the summer of 2012. The build is good - the lens barrel is made of plastic with metal mount. Impressions from the Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM are much nicer than from Canon EF 50mm F / 1.8 IIbut worse than from SMC Pentax-DA 1: 2.8 40mm Limited.

Everything is relative. Our pancake and Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM

Everything is relative. Our pancake and Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM

Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM is not very large aperture f/2.8. For example, F / 2.8 is only 1.56 times better than F / 3.5 for 'regular' inexpensive zooms. When used on Canon full-frame cameras, the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM can serve as a standard fix. On Canon APS-C 1.6X crop EGF lens becomes 64mm. How convenient would it be to use EGF everyone decides for himself. EGF and good bokeh on cropped cameras allows you to shoot portraits. In my opinion, it is much more suitable for cropped cameras as a regular fixed lens Sigma AF 30mm f / 1.4 EX DC HSM, but his price is several times higher. Canon also has patents for 4 similar pancake lenses with focal lengths of 45, 39 (40), 35, 28mm and maximum aperture F / 2.8. I wonder why it was decided to produce exactly 40 mm fixes?

The Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM is just a tad larger than its rear cover

The Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM is just a tad larger than its back cover

On my camera Canon 350D the lens turned out to be sharp, with imperceptible distortion and vignetting. Chromatic aberrations weak and the lens tolerates back and side light well. In general, the lens has excellent image quality, which is not surprising for a fixed lens with a not very large aperture. Also, the lens has a good bokeh.

The parameters of the photo in the review:
All shot on Canon EOS 350D using protective filter Hoya HMC (UV) 52mm. On-camera JPEG L, high quality. Noise reduction at slow shutter speeds was turned off. Parameters: contrast correction - 0, sharpness - 0, saturation - 0, tone color - 0. Used white balance: 'Shadow' and 'Cloudy'. The size of the photos has been reduced to 3 MP.

Optical design of the lens - 6 elements in 4 groups, one aspherical element

Optical design - 6 elements in 4 groups, with one aspherical.

Since the Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM has good sharpness, this lens can be used with macro rings for macro photography. Together with the lens they sent me a kit macro rings Meike Macro Extension Tube For Canon (such) with auto focus support. The rings are made up of 3 pieces of different lengths: 13mm, 21mm and 31mm. You can create 7 combinations of different lengths for different magnifications. The rings come with an A4 sheet with instructions in English. Meike rings are made in China and have a 'cheap plastic' feel. There are two covers with rings. The rings do not have very convenient retainers, but such rings are quite suitable for their tasks. I used a Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM with only one shortest ring at 13mm:

Lens prices in popular stores can look at this link, or in the price block below:

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


Conclusions:

Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM - great lens... It's sharp, super-compact, fast, inexpensive, good for video shooting, fast enough focusing and good build. I would definitely buy myself such a lens for a 'baby camera' Canon 100D. Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8 STM can serve as a regular lens, it is easy to take it with you on vacation, camping, any event :). Among the shortcomings, I highlight a slightly strange manual focus mode and not very large aperture for a similar fixed lens.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 153, on the topic: Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM review

  • igor

    I got it for myself and I’ll say that it’s a really great lens, it affects the use of new technologies, thin glasses and a stepping motor sharp on the open, it really quietly focuses relatively quietly for video, I think that as everyday and as commercial it will not give way to other similar ones without taking into account the focal

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    I bought this glass specifically for the Canon 70D with its tracking autofocus. The perfect bunch for the video. If we talk about the photo, then the half-lens (50mm 1,8 II) in focus and construct is clearly losing to the pancake.
    Recommend.

  • Vera

    Thank you for the review, examples and an accurate description of all lenses! This is my favorite success site for you!

  • Andrei

    Conversations are mainly in favor of cropped ones, where the edges of the frame are not visible. And on FF cameras you need to puff to select pearl grain from the heap. Yes, and not every store will let you open and check. In fact, on FF cameras, the angles are usually blurred, that’s it. A little decent 40th in the open gave me the same result as 24-105, which is considered, yes, it is so, softish. And for crop in general, a meaningless focus turns out, 60 mm, neither this, nor this.

  • Igor

    I can not make a choice. Or buy this Canon EF 40 mm, or Helios-44M-7. I want automation, and I want a fast lens with a good design. I myself am new to photography. What would you suggest?
    So far I use Helios-44M-4. I like it very much for a leisurely shoot.
    Canon 600d Camera

  • Igor

    I have 44-7 and 40 gel, so they are completely different, 40 is a very good glass for crop, so buy 40 because 44-7 and 44-4 are practically the same.

  • Amateur photographer_

    Oh, the activator is quite decent for a large number of parameters))))) Svitlosila 2.8 is enough for quick autofocus. Luminous about, ktivi (z d = 2.8) may have the maximum image quality (I will paint the image quality and minimal aberration) with small dimensions and adjusted prices. Todi yak super-powerful about, ktivi (with light-power 2 or 1.4) - are characterized by a lot of image quality (for the stagnation of expensive low-dispersed plastic aspherical lines), more massive. Pay for all the demand!)))

  • igor

    I have one - sharp, average speed, catches hares. but the picture is qualitatively assembled qualitatively judging subjectively the picture reportage artistic effects does not generally have an objective for 11 balls I still have 24 mm STM there is someone interested I will write

    • Vyacheslav

      Igor, well, if you can, for 24mm stm please write your reviews. This lens is very interesting, I can not decide to buy it. I have 17-55 2.8 the one that is on the crop, a good glass but very heavy for everyday shooting.

    • Vadim

      Just the other day, I bought from my hands 24 mm 2.8 stm. I specially took it because of its compactness on a canon 650d. Checked in the mail for sharpness and stuff. And at home a little taken aback. Focus noise. At a zoom of 18-55 cm, it works just silently. Only after wandering around the forums, I realized that the STM on the fix is ​​noisy, but on the zoom everything is quiet (according to reviews). Do you have 24ka too noisy or can you steer in the service, is the glass still under warranty?

      • Vadim

        24 stm also noisy. 18-135stm silent.

  • Sergei

    Hello! Good review)
    I read all reviews of the Canon EF 40mm f / 2.8.
    I shoot portraits in the studio on an EOS 1100d camera. Now I mainly use the EF 18-55mm IS II and less often the Helios 44M-6 (in which the picture is much better, but focusing by hand is very tiring).
    Tell me, is it worth taking a magpie for facial portraits in the studio? I understand that there are many who used it on the CROP?
    I can not, according to conflicting reviews on the Web, decide on this lens (is it suitable for my tasks or not).
    The budget is very limited so far)
    Thank you for the time.

    • BB

      For facial portraits of FR from 85mm and more (up to 150-200)

    • anonym

      There was enough money for the studio, but there are no photos for the glass and a couple of lessons? Like this?

      • BB

        You can rent a studio :)
        Although we have one “prof. photographer ”, who bombed weddings with Nikon D3100 (he took the second camera), but at the same time opened his studio for the winter.

    • anonym

      And can you see ,, portraits ,, shot 18 mm?

  • Olga

    Hello! I ask for advice. There is a canon 600D and 18-135. I mainly shoot on Helios 40-2, but in the studio 85 mm is a lot. I tried to use 18-135 in the studio, but the result was not pleasing. Should I buy 40 mm for studio shooting instead of 18-135? thanks

  • Igor

    An interesting review. I even wanted one.
    And now I ask for advice. I have 5D (first) and several manual fifty dollars. I wanted to buy shirik (manual), but autofocus would not be in the way for trips and the street. Now I choose, I think it is more appropriate. The budget is very limited (10000r) otherwise I would take both. Who has any thoughts / advice?

    • Oleg

      Shirik for not much money is difficult

      • Igor

        I have already chosen a manual shirk, I fit into the ten. But now I doubt that the priority is: manual shirik, which I will rarely use or autofocus magpie. I rarely use autofocus, but sometimes it is very lacking.

        • Oleg

          If it’s no secret, what kind of shirik? Magpie worthy lens

          • Igor

            Zuiko 24mm.
            “Forty is a worthy lens” - I agree. I look at photos from him and read reviews in different sources and lean more towards him.
            The inconvenience of manual focus on it is generally on the drum, because AF is needed.
            “Conclusions: Canon Lens EF 40mm 1: 2.8 STM is a great lens.” after such words of Arkady, it's even a shame to doubt)

            • Oleg

              Thank you

  • Sergei

    How not enough such a pancake on the Sony A7

    • anonym

      Yes, there is a pancake for 35 / 2.8. But still it’s small, sooo light and comfortable. I don’t see much need for absolutely pancake)

      • Sergei

        There is one, but it costs more than 35 / 1,4 ART. And the picture is far from that.

    • anonym

      And on nikon.

  • Karen

    I have two 40D pancakes, I love them for their size and sharpness, 40mm for every day, sometimes even for full-length portraits. Before that I shot 50 - 1,8, but at an aperture of up to 2,5 it is not sharp, so I don't see the point in shooting at 1,8 - it was soapy. And 40mm is already at 2,8 very sharp throughout the field. I use 24mm - 2,8 outdoors and indoors - an excellent lens for my money. Well, if purely for a breast portrait or just a face - 85mm 1,8

  • Ivan

    I bought it after a matinee in kindergarten when it was torn between 24mm and 85mm (crop). I doubt it, 35 or 40, bribed the price, bought a used pancake for $ 120. Since then, he has stood on all occasions, never regretted it. I always take to him only 70-200. The width and portrait are no longer always.

    Aperture is almost always enough; for such a focal length, a large depth of field is almost always needed, not only 2.8, 4.0 will not be enough. Really use in the range of 5.6-8.

  • Karen

    Why not portraits on crop? ))) Sfotkal neighbor with his grandson

    • Oleg

      His perspective is not portrait. In this photo, the neighbor’s brushes look disproportionately large. But if the hands were at the same distance from the camera as the face, then a perfectly suitable portrait.

    • Denis

      this is what you did best. the photos on the street are too light, and the colors are not very IMHO

      • Karen

        What about this photo? You are right, I prefer bright photos, they are cheerful and bear positive))) I do not like gloomy, dark tones. That photo is on the street, did you notice that it was a sunny day, and the photo was taken in the shade of trees?

        • Denis

          Well here either your monitor is too dark, or I’m too light. It doesn’t look bright at me, but it’s overexposed.
          you need to hear the opinion of someone third)

          • Karen

            There are no highlights on the histogram (in the upper right corner), so the photo is just bright, but by no means overexposed))

            • Karen

              And now there is overexposure, the histogram does not lie)))

  • Karen

    I agree, the photo was taken with a distance of 2m, which is not a portrait distance, and the aperture had to close to 3,2 because 2,8 G.R. only 26 cm. but nevertheless, if you do not take a portrait indoors, you get very good photos. Here is another one made with the same lens from 3 meters.

  • Karen

    Here is another photo with 3m. as I wrote, Canon 40mm. STM. I think an excellent lens for every day, allowing you to make good portraits

    • Karen

      Sorry, forgot to attach a photo

  • Karen

    Before I bought the 40mm STM, I used 35mm 1: 2 for everyday photography (I only use fixes). Not a bad lens, only a working one, starting from the aperture of 1: 2,5 and before that it was absolutely not sharp. As you can see, 35 mm or 40mm is a small difference, then - the same applies to apertures 2,5 and 2,8, not to mention the fact that 40mm at f / 2,8 is sharper than 35mm by 2,5. And here is the photo taken by this lens at 2,5

    • Oleg

      35 usable glass (I used). And for portraits at aperture 2.0 (where dermatology is not needed) washes / separates the background very well. My IMHO, the main advantages of the "pancake" - compactness and type of focusing drive. Well, the price is natural :)

      • Karen

        The new 35mm IS lens is very good, and the old one is so-so, unremarkable, not particularly sharp, maybe cheap, and a little more expensive than the 40mm STM. As for me, 40mm is better in all cases, I do not regret at all that I replaced it with 40mm

        • Oleg

          35 / 1.4L is even better. 35/2 without a stub is worth the money.
          50 / 1.8 II - 2000 UAH
          50 / 1.8 I - 3000 UAH
          50 / 1.8 stm - 3000 UAH
          40 stm - 3000 UAH
          35/2 - 7000 UAH
          35 / 2is - 12500 UAH
          35 / 1.4 (mark I) - 22000 UAH
          35 / 1.4 (mark II) - 34000 UAH

          At a price of 40 - out of competition, only fantastic plastic is cheaper.
          But if we look at it from the point of view of a portrait, then 50 / 1.8 stm will be more interesting, and as a staff on a crop, the focal length is from 30 to 40 mm, and the smaller the better. All, of course, IMHO.

          • Karen

            If you choose a portrait lens for a crop, then definitely 85mm 1,8. Already working at a fully open aperture. It costs 360 euros. And if you take a portrait at FF - then this is Canon's best lens - 135mm 2,0 L, but it costs 1100 euros. Therefore, many people choose a 50mm 1,4 on a crop worth 350 euros or a cheaper one - 50mm 1,8 STM, worth 120 euros, but only fifty dollars is not universal on a crop, I would suggest a 35mm 2,0 IP worth 530 euros, or 28mm 2,8 with stabilizer - 480 euros. Not 28mm 2,8 or 28mm 1,8 which are without stabilizer. I had them and there is no worse fix than these 2 from canon. You can of course take the 24mm IP, which costs 490 euros, but it is too wide for every day. As you can see, I don't consider monsters for every day for 1500 euros. Not everyone can afford to pay that kind of money for a line, it's better to buy FF first. And here is a photo taken by 85mm 1,8. For me personally, the best bokeh is a bold, blurry, colored blot in the background and not discs and lemons))))) Just keep in mind that this is not a real photo, but a screenshot from a 0,8 MP screen and weighs 500 KB ... The original photo is 10 MP and weighs 5 MB.

          • Oleg

            Nobody argues about 85 / 1.8. But still at 1.8 it is not a fountain (I have one). Vignetting, HA and sharpness. And on FF DOF on an open hole is catastrophically small. Here on the aperture 4-5.6 it is beautiful (FF of course).
            I talked about 40 versus 50 on crop. And there is a better larger FR, i.e. 50. 85 on the crop is long and not always convenient.

            • Karen

              Well, vignetting is solved in lightroom very simply, so I don't see a problem, chromatic aberrations, as I already wrote, are noticeable only when magnified, and as for the sharpness by 1,8, you yourself wrote “(where dermatology is not needed)” so quite a working aperture, I will say more, most of my photos with this lens were made at 1,8 and only a part at 2,0 and higher. And a GR of 1,8 is sufficient for a single portrait. Now, if there are several people, then it is better to use 2,0-2,3. Here is another photo taken with this lens. And to have a lens with an aperture of 1,8 and take pictures at 4 and higher, sorry, I don't see the point ....

            • Oleg

              Why aperture? For expopairs and for managing the depth of field. + phase autofocus focuses better with fast lenses.
              I don’t know when you are photographing or in full shot. But the depth of field on FF is much less.

              • Denis

                the same focal depth of field is the same. it’s just that longer focal lengths are used on the FF, but there the depth of field is already smaller

              • Valery A.

                Strange as it may seem, the depth of field calculator shows that with the same FR and aperture, the depth of field on the FF is 2,5 times larger than the crop.

              • Karen

                I have 10MP Samera Canon 40D i.e. crop. As far as I know, at the same distance from the object on the crop, the depth of field will be the same, but since you have to move further away, the depth will be 1,6 more.

              • Oleg

                Thanks Karen.
                Here is 1 step and you have to cover the hole (at least)

              • Karen

                What about this photo? Also made with a 40mm lens, but with a distance of 1m. and in addition in the car. I liked the blurry background. As I wrote above, the 2,8 diaphragm is absolutely working, and although the ears turned out to be a little sharp, we always pay attention to the eyes first.

              • Oleg

                Karen, my IMHO, The ears are very small compared to the nose. There is a strong perspective distortion (as a result of a small distance). The portrait is male and I would (do not forget about my IMHO) add contrast, lower the exposure so that black appears on the card.

  • Karen

    Here's another photo taken with a 40mm lens at 2,8 aperture. As you can see, it is quite a working aperture, and Canon is 40mm. The STM lens does an excellent job at cropping both for the street and for group portraits. If earlier they talked about 50mm 1,8 - Must-Have, then my opinion 40mm 2,8 STM must-Have)))

  • Karen

    Here, I did as you advised, moved the histogram to the left and added a little color. I understand that 40mm is not a pot, and even more so 1m is not a portrait distance. We are just discussing a 40mm lens and I am making an argument for using this lens for every day. It is even possible, with a slight stretch, to take portrait photos. And as you can see, 2,8 is absolutely the working aperture.

    • Oleg

      So I like it better :)

  • Vladimir

    Bought two years ago. All other lenses I have L, and Zeiss fix. Maybe that’s why I don’t like color rendering and drawing. But it draws on its money, and the size and weight are beyond any criticism.

  • Vladimir

    And I would also like to add that everything I wrote relates to landscape photography.

  • Edward

    I remember even before buying the half-1.8 2 I looked at him, but it always cost XNUMX times more. then after a couple of years he bought it all the same and the half-truck disappeared by itself. From that moment on, the pancake is always on the carcass. sharp, light and easy to use. The other day I tried to shoot macro on it without any rings. Bokeshka with this wow!

  • a lion

    Unfortunately, for full-format cameras, as you write, the lens will not work. As for medium format ones. Only for small format and crop

    • Michael

      This refers to FullFrame (full-format in translation), i.e. for 35 mm cameras.

  • igor

    I bought a whale in return, I chose a long time, of course, I wanted an Elka with a zoom, but I feel sorry for the money) turning over the mountains of reviews, including on this site I bought a pancake, since I’m not a pro, the quality of the pancake is what I wanted, comrades and gentlemen, definitely if you are not a photojournalist.

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