Canon RF 28mm F/2.8 Review and Sample Images

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Zoom H1N :
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Polsen SCL-1080
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[@volodya.buchko]

Thanks for the video! This is the best review of this lens on youtube. I really liked that only you showed the noise from the operation of the autofocus motor.

[@JordanHandwerker]

You’re welcome 💚

[@davidmpoliveira1]

I agree. I brought it home two or three months ago, for about €250 plus taxes (€299 total) and ended up returning it, because while I enjoyed the lens, I didn't feel it was worth the money, so now I'm waiting for a sale, or maybe black friday, to try to purchase it again at a lower price. I also own the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 Art, so it's not like I don't have any other 28mm option. Had they made this a f/1.8 IS STM Macro, with the same form factor as the RF 24 and 35mm, for 500, $600, or something like that, and I would've bought it right away. Being a f/2.8 pancake lens, I think it should have been priced between $199 and $249. It's decent, but nothing special. The form factor is a trade-off, not exactly a feature.

[@JordanHandwerker]

Exactly it’s decent for street photography or wide portraits but other than that it’s a use case scenario lens, I’d buy it for my talking head shot lens but the housing moves in and out and with my current teleprompter setup I can’t use it

[@davidmpoliveira1]

@@JordanHandwerker Yeah, it's not like you have the complete package with this, because you don't. If you like 28mm, you will want this lens because it's the only RF mount 28mm there is available, but you will also keep wishing for a faster 28.

[@RogerZoul]

It’s a good lens for a good price.

[@TrangNguyen-cs6wv]

now that some green eyes 👀👀

[@marksuchomelsr6698]

Jordan, I bought this lens for a trip to Tahiti-Hawaii last November to have a small walk around wide angle lens. I found it to be sharp unless I used my Breakthrough UV filter. Then I noticed that the lens exhibited very poor image quality with what I would describe as ghosting. I didn't notice it until I got the images on the computer, however. Its a nice little lens otherwise. I noticed a similar problem with my RF 800 f 11 and another brand UV filter. I have since stopped putting any UV filters on my lenses which were mainly for element protection. I'm not sure what the issue is, maybe the interaction with the lens and filter coatings ?

[@JordanHandwerker]

Cheap filters can do that unfortunately, I would recommend maybe using a CPL instead it will help protect the lens and also cut glare out of reflective surfaces or like I do is I use no filters unless I need to

[@georgemahlum6542]

Good informative video....I have tried this lens and I now plan on buying one in the near future...Love pancake lenses.... I do not do KZbin video...mostly street stills here in Bangkok...(my retired home..LOL)

[@JordanHandwerker]

I think for street photography it’s definitely a solid choice, I too love that design, so comfy to walk around with

[@RogerZoul]

$300 is not a lot of money against the cost of an r5 or even an r6.

[@JordanHandwerker]

For the price it isn’t bad just my opinion though I think for me it’s a 50/50 it’s a niche lens for certain applications so it wouldn’t necessarily be my go to for everything

[@RogerZoul]

@@JordanHandwerker Why would you expect this lens to be a goto lens. it’s a prime, so it is not intended to be a do everything lens. But lots of people like it as a pancake.

[@JordanHandwerker]

@@RogerZoul sometimes you find that one lens that’s a go to, for a long while I used the EF-S 24mm lens for a lot of everything and was my primary YT talking head lens. Unfortunately I was hoping this would have been similar but as a FF lens it definitely has its use case scenarios

[@RogerZoul]

@@JordanHandwerker That's fair. I too tend to have lenses that are my go to lens, for example, for wildlife and when there is plenty of like, I like to use my RF 100-500 because it is both light weight, and sharp, plus very fast focusing. But if I'm off someplace new, or really good, I think my 500 mm f/4 prime, because then I want the best possible IQ with blurred backgrounds, etc. So I leave the zoom, take the prime, at least while the light is low. As soon as the light is bright, then I sort of want the zoom again. I find that in many situation, I actually want both lenses with me, but then that becomes a lot of weight and I enjoy being out there less. I also have the 24-105, which I would see as being a walkaround do everything lens, except when I want to be stealthy and shoot people, then that 28 mm f/2.8 will be my jam! Anyway, we all have different thoughts and wants when it comes to gear, and yes, I too am price sensitive about gear, but I can't really see Canon charging less for this lens and I'm happy that it is a least a decent performer, so I'll cut them a break on the price. Take care and keep the videos coming!

[@peterebel7899]

You will get it for 200 in 2 years ...