Canon EF 24mm vs 28mm f/2.8 IS USM: which should I choose?
Asked 10/3/2012
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I'm comparing the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM and Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM. Aside from the 24mm being wider, is there any meaningful reason to choose one over the other? Are there notable differences in image quality, handling, or is focal length really the main deciding factor?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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One chooses a prime lens primarily for its focal length/field of view (and secondarily for its aperture), so the fact that one is a 24mm lens with its characteristic field of view, while the other is a 28mm lens with a different field of view is the deciding factor. It really doesn't matter whether one is marginally sharper or has better distortion or aberration characteristics than the other; the fact is that each can take pictures the other cannot.
(I suppose you could crop a 28mm-sized picture out of a 24mm exposure if the 24 is an objectively "better" lens, but are you gaining quality that way? The 24 would have to be in a whole different performance class just to balance the scales if a 28 is what you need.)
Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2719
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The main reason to choose between these two lenses is focal length. In this pair, that’s essentially the only significant difference.
A 24mm lens gives a noticeably wider field of view than 28mm, and at the wide-angle end a 4mm difference is more important than it sounds. That means each lens is better suited to different framing and shooting styles.
Otherwise, they are very similar. The 24mm is slightly larger/heavier, but not by much, and there’s no strong reason from the community answers to pick one based on image quality alone.
So the practical advice is simple: choose the focal length you prefer.
- Pick 24mm if you want a wider view for things like landscapes, interiors, or environmental shots.
- Pick 28mm if that slightly narrower, more natural framing suits your style better.
If you consistently want 28mm framing, buying 24mm and cropping usually isn’t the best reason to choose it. Start with the field of view you actually want.
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