Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM review

The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is a smart buy for both full-frame and APS-C format DSLRs

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM
(Image: © Canon)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Designed primarily for Canon’s full-frame DSLRs, this fairly compact and lightweight prime is great for walkabout shooting, especially as it features optical image stabilization. It’s arguably even better suited to APS-C format DSLR’s on which it has an ‘effective’ focal length of 38.4mm, ideal for street photography. The only catch is that Canon recently discontinued its production, and remaining stock is thin on the ground. Even so, it makes a super second-hand buy.

Pros

  • +

    Compact and lightweight

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    Optical image stabilization

  • +

    Performance and image quality

Cons

  • -

    No ‘faster’ than a 24-70mm f/2.8

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    Hood sold separately

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    New stock hard to find

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The full-frame compatible Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM has the same focal length and aperture rating as Canon’s EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens, the latter being designed for APS-C format DSLRs. The full-frame ‘EF’ lens is still reasonably compact and easily manageable at 68x56mm and 280g. It has a more conventional build, based on 11 optical elements rather than just six used in the pancake package. 

Specifications

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Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.