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amazon Len Canon EF-S 35mm F2.8 Macro IS STM reviews
Canon EF-S 35mm F2.8 Macro IS STM is a macro lens designed for those who require basic macro photography, with an LED Ring Light and good image quality for the dollar.
The 35mm focal length lens with an F2.8 aperture is meant for DSLR crop cameras, which translates into a 50mm focal length range on the Full frame. It has a minimum focusing distance of 13cm, a 49mm lens, 7x zooming capabilities, and a macro magnification of 1:1. Loaded with new technologies, the first one on the list is Hybrid IS, which the company claims can stabilize the image up and down, and left and right in movements while holding the camera or hand vibration when focus is real close to the subject.
The next is the LED Ring, which consists of two semi-symmetrical bows providing stable illumination-an imperative in macro photography. Accordingly, users can customize the illumination with two different levels and choose to turn off individual lights as required for different situations.
The Canon EF-S 35mm F2.8 Macro IS STM is perhaps the largest macro lens designed by the Japanese electronics company. This especially helps while nondynamic chopping occurs close in easier, smaller areas. However, because of the lens’s closeness, small subjects such as insects can be difficult for photographers to shoot.
Aperture F2.8 has been a common feature for a macro lens among those available in the market. The depth of the field would be extremely thin at that vantage, allowing for great margins of big objects to be subjective. Practically, macro lenses are preferred in-between F8 to F11 for maximum image sharpness at F8.
The Hybrid IS helps a lot when one shoots macro. Especially for the dynamic subjects that will not put too much weight on tripod. It is a new range of Canon’s STM lenses, so focusing with one on an 80D (dual pixel focus mechanism) is not an issue, even in live view. The focus ring has a very smooth travel and focuses quickly in bright conditions.
Lenses may give out a very sharp image even at F2.8 apertures. But in terms of macro photography, the transition zone between the stroke and fuzzy is so very strict that beams should hold on F4 for the education of the image.
If a 100mm F2.8 macro lens can catch the eye of a 0.5cm fly with ease, then a 35 F2.8 lens will struggle. But, at least, it will still get the job done by 100% crop and the image is still good enough.
LED rings system is not so useful for capturing photos of subjects in outdoor conditions but is more useful for shooting images in room condition. The lamp bright level is somewhat high and steady but sometimes it provides uneven lighting for the macro shots, which may not best suit the requirement of the user. Besides, the most significant distance is said to be 2 to 3 cm when using the LED ring.
Portrait is not the strength of the Canon EF-S 35mm F2.8 Macro lens. Image quality ended in a middle ground average sharpness and the bokeh effect not relatively beautiful.
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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens Bundle with Manufacturer Accessories & Accessory Kit for EOS 7D Mark II, 7D, 80D, 70D, 60D, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, Rebel T6s, T6i, T5i, T4i, SL1, T3i, T6, T5, T3, T2i, T1i: Buy it now
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens Bundle with Manufacturer Accessories & Accessory Kit for EOS 7D Mark II, 7D, 80D, 70D, 60D, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, Rebel T6s, T6i, T5i, T4i, SL1, T3i, T6, T5, T3, T2i, T1i: Buy it now
Performance
Autofocus
Canon’s STM technology is employed in the Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, which is known for its silent and smooth operation, making it suitable for stills and video recording. This is because the focus motor noise is minimal and hardly detectable by the camera microphone. The speed and accuracy of the autofocus are decent, although occasionally it may hunt in low-light conditions or low-contrast subjects.
Image Stabilization
Another prime attribute of the lens is its Hybrid Image Stabilization (IS) system that compensates for angular and shift movements of the camera. This becomes even more beneficial in macro shooting, where any little shakiness results in an out-of-focus image. The IS works fine, giving about four stops of correction and permitting handheld macro shots that normally would deserve a tripod.
Magnification and Minimum Focus Distance
The magnification ratio provided by this lens amounts to 1:1, meaning one can capture subjects in life-size on the camera’s sensor. This is a vital factor for macro photographers who want to obtain fine detail. The minimum focus distance is 30mm (1.2 inches), taking the photographer into extremely close proximity to the subject. Such close focus ability, along with the macro light on the lens, allows the capturing of finely detailed images with clarity and precision.
Image Quality
Sharpness
The lens draws remarkable sharpness, especially in the central areas. Sharpness in the center of the images is very good at maximum aperture settings f/2.8, meaning that it is suitable for multiple subjects, including but not limited to macro work. The far corners of the frame are a little soft at f/2.8 but improve considerably by discontinuing down to f/4 and beyond. Overall, the lens has quite good performance regardless of aperture, providing sharp images rich in detail, edge to edge.
Bokeh
Bokeh quality is an important factor for a macro lens since it is generally engaged with close-up subjects featuring backgrounds out of focus. The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM owes its nice bokeh to the smooth and creamy rendering of out-of-focus areas, aided by the seven-blade diaphragm that provides softly rounded rendering for out-of-focus highlights. While it may not be buttery-smooth like the bokeh of expensive prime lenses with shallower depth of field, it is certainly good enough for most of the macro work and portraiture.
Chromatic Aberration and Distortion
The lens has been favourably evaluated with the control of chromatic aberration and distortion. Longitudinal chromatic aberration is minimal and virtually never seen unless it is in extremely high-contrast scenes. Laterally, chromatic aberration is under control as well; there is just a hint of fringing at the edges of the frame, which is a simple post-processing fix.
Distortions are almost nonexistent and this is a characteristic of prime lenses of this focal length. This, in turn, makes it an ideal lens for architectural and product photography where the genuine presentation of straight lines is very important.
Vignetting and Flare
There is some visible vignetting in the extreme corners of the frame when shooting wide open at f/2.8. This is quite normal with many lenses and can be a pleasing effect for portraits or close-ups. Stopping down to an aperture of f/4 or smaller rectifies the vignetting to a large extent.
Flare and ghosting are well-controlled due to Canon’s Super Spectra Coating, which minimizes reflections and enhances contrast. The flare was minimal when shooting into the light source, maintaining the contrast and fidelity of the color.
Usability And Versatility
Macro Photography
The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is excellent for macro photography, where it provides 1:1 magnification with a minimum focusing distance of 30mm. The built-in Macro Lite technology is especially useful as it allows photographers to illuminate the subject without the need for any external light source. This makes it more convenient to record detailed close-up images of small objects such as insects and flowers.
General Photography
While built with macro in mind, the 35mm focal length (equivalent to 56mm in full-frame camera terms) and f/2.8 aperture present themselves as a versatile option for general photography. Such uses would include portraits, street photography, and even landscapes. The fast aperture should shoot well in lower light and provide a shallow depth of field for creative purposes.
Video recording
On account of STM focusing system delivering a whisper-quiet, silky-smooth operation, this lens is ideal for video recording. Of course, features such as very close focus being coupled with built-in lighting are quite useful in shooting video content. The image stabilization also encourages exhaustingly steady footage during handheld video recording.
Conclusion
The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM lens is a multi-faceted and inventive equipment that caters to various photographic needs. With its aforementioned features, particularly the 1:1 magnification, built-in Macro Lite, and good image stabilization, it does shine in macro work. However, it performs all these functions well as a general-purpose lens, too, with good sharpness, reasonable bokeh, and decent autofocus.
Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is a great option for photographers on APS-C camera bodies seeking a lens offering macro potential and standard prime flexibility. Its combination of features, compact nature, and price tag make it a useful addition to any photographer’s kit.