Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, A Feather In The Cap

Lens Review - With the demise of its production, will the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM still retain its value as the just about perfect 40mm equivalent?

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The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, Canon's lightest and thinnest EF-S series lens, is only 22.8mm thick, weighs 125 grams, and is one of the only three EF-S prime lenses that Canon has produced for the marque's EOS APS-C camera series. The 'pancake' EF-S 24mm was introduced in 2014, the EF-S 35mm f/2.8 STM IS is a later launch in 2017, while the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM, Canon's first EF-S macro lens, was introduced earlier in 2005.

The lens is a 6-element in 5 groups construction, with a high-precision aspherical element, a 7 rounded blade diaphragm, fly-by-wire manual focusing, focuses down to 0.16 meters, measures 70 x 32 mm, weighs 125 grams, and takes 52mm filters.

Fitted to an APS-C digital camera with an EF-S mount, say Canon's APS-C digital SLR cameras, the EF-S 24mm is equivalent to a 40mm (38.6 exactly) normal lens on a 35mm full-frame camera. The focal length is a versatile choice, especially well-suited for genres like street photography, travel, documentaries, storytelling, or just for everyday shooting. Image fields of view are natural, with just the right balance between subject isolation within their environmental context.

As with the others, the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM is a highly recommended lens for Canon APS-C users, especially those looking for compact, sharp, and affordable prime lenses. The pancake lens is a well-regarded, praised for its sharpness, small size, a stepping motor (STM) autofocus is quiet and smooth (a high choice factor for video recording), outstanding close-up capabilities, and affordable price - a great option for general photography, especially on Canon APS-C cameras. The lens was a fantastic low-cost offer way back during its 2014 launch year.

I have had my copy of the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM (which has the mention of it being just about perfect 40mm equivalent) for quite some time now, had it mounted on my meagre collection of vintage Canon EOS APS-C digital SLRs, enjoyed each and every moment I was out shooting, and here is a review of the images:

Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, Canon EOS 300D

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Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, Canon EOS 400D

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Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, Canon EOS Kiss X3 (500D)

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End Note

With the pending discontinuation of the EF and EF-S lens mounts and their related products (in January 2022, Canon's CEO and Chairman, Fujio Mitarai, admitted that the EOS-1D X Mark III would be Canon's last flagship DSLR camera), the question as to will the EF-S prime line, including the wide-angle EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM, still remain sought after by vintage DSLR enthusiasts with an eye for 'a feather in the cap' synonym, my answer to the question, unequivocally, is a strong Yes!

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