Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Wide Angle Lens

35L

Strengths: Sharp wide open across entire frame, solid construction, fast and accurate focus

Weakness: Price

This is an ideal 'standard' lens for a 1.6x cropped camera like the Canon 40D. Compared to any zoom lens, the viewfinder is wonderfully bright. This lens is sharp in the center wide open, like the much less expensive Sigma 30mm/1.4, but what is immediately obvious is that, unlike the Sigma, sharpness is uniform across the entire frame. The 35L has a great feel: smooth focus ring, solid...
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This is an ideal 'standard' lens for a 1.6x cropped camera like the Canon 40D. Compared to any zoom lens, the viewfinder is wonderfully bright. This lens is sharp in the center wide open, like the much less expensive Sigma 30mm/1.4, but what is immediately obvious is that, unlike the Sigma, sharpness is uniform across the entire frame. The 35L has a great feel: smooth focus ring, solid construction, just right proportion on a medium-sized SLR, and beautiful front element. Focus is fast, silent, and sure. The only perceived drawback is the 'plastic' feel compared to newer lenses with appealing textured finish. Highly recommended.

By KPBara - Jun 5, 2008

Canon 35mm F1.4 L

Strengths: Extremely sharp. Fast and quiet focus. Very well built.

Weakness: Noticable chromatic abberrations wide open. No weather seal for a lens at this price range.

This is probably one of Canon's best lenses. F1.4 is already very usable although depth of field is kind of too shallow to control. From F1.6, pictures become extremely sharp. Very nice contrast and pleasant colors too. No noticeable distortion or vignetting on 20D, but very noticeable chromatic aberration wide open. It has ring-type USM, so auto-focus is very fast and quiet. Price is on the high...
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This is probably one of Canon's best lenses. F1.4 is already very usable although depth of field is kind of too shallow to control. From F1.6, pictures become extremely sharp. Very nice contrast and pleasant colors too.

No noticeable distortion or vignetting on 20D, but very noticeable chromatic aberration wide open.

It has ring-type USM, so auto-focus is very fast and quiet.

Price is on the high side, but if you are looking for a sharp big aperture lens, this one definitely should be on top of your list.

By skywalker168 - May 25, 2006

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

Strengths: Large aperture, fast auto-focus, good build quality, great optics.

Weakness: Pricy.

This is one of few f/1.4 Canon lenses, and is one of the best Canon lenses in terms of build quality and optics. The focal length (35mm) is very useful on both full frame and APS-C Cameras. Under ISO-800, f/1.4 allows to take pictures under 60W light without flash. The Auto-focus is fast, reliable, and quiet even under such a dim light condition. The sharpness, color, and contrast are all great.

By xufengl - May 11, 2007

GREAT TRAVEL LENS ON 5D

I tried this lens on a 20D, but the tight crop wasted its potential. This was my first lens purchase just for the 5D. I recently took it on a trip to Italy with 2-L zooms from 16~70 and an 85 prime. Left them in the hotels...I wanted to see if I could rev

By Joe on Adorama - Jun 23, 2007

1st Class Prime

Strengths: 1. Quality, Quality, and Quality. 2. Light in weight 3. F1.4

Weakness: A little Pricy. Filter size.

This is the best standard prime that Canon have in the market now. Both the color and the quality of the pictures from this lens is simply great!! The focus is fast while the aperture is big. This lens is certainly the indoor photographer's favorite! For its price, yes, it is expensive. However, once you have bought it, you will not regret it. The only other thing I can think of is its filter...
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This is the best standard prime that Canon have in the market now. Both the color and the quality of the pictures from this lens is simply great!! The focus is fast while the aperture is big. This lens is certainly the indoor photographer's favorite!

For its price, yes, it is expensive. However, once you have bought it, you will not regret it. The only other thing I can think of is its filter size. I just wish its size is not 72mm as most of my other lenses are 77mm. I will have to buy the UV, CPL...filters for this in 72mm then, which is going to be another add-up cost.

By bluejeff - May 6, 2006