The Canon 24mm F2.8 Pancake Review

Small, inconspicuous, and discrete described my initial thoughts as I excitedly revealed the lens from its factory packaging and hastily mounted it on to my camera. The appeal of purchasing the Canon 24mm F2.8 is for its size and its wide field of view compared to the 50mm prime lens in my inventory.

Canon Camera (1 of 1)

The metal EFS mount fits very snugly onto camera. It’s fit was significantly more tight than my other lenses that had plastic mounts, I have no lenses with metal mounts to compare to. The weight of the 24mm lens is noticeably heavier than the 50mm F1.8 prime, however the 24mm is about half its size in length. [Edit: Since, I have picked up a Sigma 17-50mm with a metal mount, and it comparatively does not mount on the camera as tight as the 24mm]

While autofocusing, the motor emits a very low buzz. Compared to the 50mm F1.8 lens, the 24mm F2.8 lens is far more quiet. Both lens’ autofocus speed are about the same from my perspective.

The lens is very useful for me as a hobbyist photographer. Mounted on my Canon SL1, the lens sticks out minimally past the flash, as a result, the camera remains very compact and unoffensive in urban environments with a lot of people around. As far as I can determine, the 24mm F1.8 pancake lens is as sharp as any other lens I have. The lens fits well in my inventory and I predict that this will be my goto lens. For a low priced, budget lens, it surprisingly has a solid feel compared to a similar priced 50mm lens. I recommend the Canon 24mm f2.8 for photographers that want a compact lens with a solid build quality and a wide field of view.

The sharpness of the camera is very comparable with the highly reputable Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II. In direct comparisons, the 24mm pictures are a hair softer than the 50mm. Sample photos are below with some comparisons. The pictures were taken with one of the following Canon EFS 10-18mm f4.5-5.6, Canon EFS 24mm f2.8, Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II.

After a few month of using the lens, I found it most useful when traveling. The size of the overall camera package is very reasonable with the 24mm attached. Additionally the light weight lens worth the price compared to bringing heavier lenses on a hike. It fits into the pocket of one of my jackets. Finally, I do recommend this lens for its low cost and portability.