Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM lens

The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a fast, versatile lens with a wide focal length. On a full-frame camera, the lens has a slightly wide angle that is suitable for both landscape photography and portraits, especially if you are not aiming for facial images but also include the environment in your photos. On Canon's APS-C format cameras such as the EOS 80D and 200D, the lens focal length corresponds to the so-called normal lens, i.e. approximately 50mm focal length. This EF 35mm IS is clearly a more versatile lens for Canon EF-S cameras than the often recommended EF 50mm f/1.8.

Compared to the old EF 35mm F2 lens, this new version with image stabilization is completely redesigned, the image quality is clearly better even at the edges of the image field. The image stabilization combined with a good aperture makes this lens a great tool for handheld photography, you can get sharp images even in very low light using only natural light. The image stabilization makes this lens a good choice for video shooting.

Canon promises four stops of image stabilization, meaning you can set the sensitivity to ISO 400, for example, and the image will remain as sharp as if you were using the ISO 3200 setting without the stabilizer. In addition to sharpness, image quality improves with less noise. The image stabilization features include panning detection of a moving subject, which turns off the stabilization in the panning direction. The stabilizer can also be turned off if it is not needed, for example when shooting from a tripod.

Autofocus is handled by a fast ring-type USM ultrasonic motor. Compared to the previous model, focusing is clearly faster. The focus ring is larger and has a better feel than the previous model. Manual focus correction is also available in all focus modes.

The Canon 35mm F2 IS features 10 lens elements in 8 groups (previous model had 7 and 5). There are eight diaphragm blades and they are rounded, so objects outside the depth of field are softly defined. The front lens element does not rotate during focusing, making it easy to use a polarizing filter. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 24 centimeters.

Specifications

• Canon EF and EF-S compatible
• Focal length: 35mm (on EF-S cameras the cine equivalent is 56mm)
• Aperture: f/2.0
• Optical construction: 10 elements in 8 groups. 8 rounded diaphragm plates
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Closest focusing distance: 0.24m
• Optical IS image stabilization
• Filter thread: 67mm
• Dimensions: 77.9 x 62.6 mm
• Weight: 335g