Pros & Cons
-
- Compact.
- 1:1 magnification.
- Image stabilization.
- Quite sharp.
- Integrated LED light.
- Smooth, silent focus.
- Inexpensive.
-
- Shows some barrel distortion.
- Dimmed corners at wide apertures.
- Manual focus-by-wire design takes some getting used to.
Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM Specs
| 35mm Equivalent (Telephoto) | N/A mm |
| 35mm Equivalent (Wide) | 56 |
| Dimensions | 2.7 by 2.2 inches |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF-S |
| Stabilization | Optical |
| Type | Lens |
| Weight | 6.7 |
Canon SLR owners in search of a low-cost macro lens are in for a treat. The EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM ($349.99), compatible with APS-C sensor cameras, focuses close enough to capture images at full life-size, and includes a built-in light so the shadow your camera casts when putting the lens right up to your subject is brightened. It does show a bit of barrel distortion, which is something you don't see in premium macro lenses. But as a budget option, it's a fine performer, even if it falls shy of being called Editors' Choice. Our favorite macro lens for Canon cameras is the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD ($649), and our favorite low-cost prime lens is the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM ($149.99).
Design
The EF-S 35mm is small and light. It measures 2.2 by 2.7 inches (HD), weighs 6.7 ounces, and supports 49mm front filters. The lens is finished in black, with a polycarbonate barrel, but it does sport a metal mount, which is not always the case with light, budget-friendly models.
The front element is surround by a white ring that covers and diffuses the light emitted by dual LEDs. A button on the barrel turns them on with a short press, and toggles between both lights or only the left or right with a long press. Additional short presses toggle between two levels of brightness.
There's a switch to turn the image stabilization system on or off, and another to switch between manual and autofocus. The autofocus system uses an STM motor, which delivers smooth, silent focus, a big plus for video when paired with a recent SLR with Dual PIxel AF like the T7i. The downside is a lack of tactile response when focusing manually. The ring turns continuously in either direction, with not a lot of resistance. The motor response is immediate, but it's also quite sensitive. I found it a little difficult to make small, minute adjustments, especially at close distance. This is a lens that is best used with autofocus enabled.
Minimum focus is set at 5.1 inches from the image sensor, so you've only got about 1.5 inches of working distance between lens and subject if you want to focus as closely as possible. The lights come in very handy here—if your camera is casting a shadow, they're strong enough to provide some fill. At the minimum working distance the lens projects objects onto the image sensor at full life-size.
Image stabilization is built in. That's a big plus for macro shooting, as you often have to narrow the aperture to increase depth of field when working close, and shooting a sharp image at a high magnification generally requires a short shutter speed. Videographers will also benefit, as the IS system does a good job removing the jittery look that can plague unstabilized handheld video.
Similar Products
Our Current Picks for The Best Canon EF SLR Lenses for 2021
Image Quality
I tested the 35mm Macro with the 24MP EOS 77D. It's only compatible with APS-C like the 77D, 80D, 7D Mark II, and those in the Rebel series—it can't be mounted on a full-frame Canon. At f/2.8 it scores 2,275 lines per picture height on the Imatest center-weighted sharpness test, with performance at the edges of the frame that lags only slightly behind the average score. That's better than the 1,800 lines we want to see at a minimum from a 24MP sensor camera, putting image quality squarely in the very good category.
At f/4 there's a very slight drop in resolution, 2,211 lines, and you get a similar 2,239-line result at f/5.6. Images are a little crisper at f/8 (2,408 lines), and not far off from that mark at f/11 (2,386 lines). Narrowing the aperture further reduces image fidelity—you get 2,132 lines at f/16, 1,601 lines at f/22, and just 955 lines at f/32. Narrow apertures are used to improve depth of field in macro shots, but if you need to stop down past f/11, you should consider taking multiple exposures and blending them using a focus stacking technique instead.
See How We Test Digital Cameras
There is some barrel distortion, about 2 percent. That's not something we want to see in a macro lens, as it can make it a pain to use for document reproduction. If you're just using it for casual imaging, you can remove it with software. Peripheral illumination is also correctible via software tools. Corners are noticeably dim (-2EV) when shooting at f/2.8 and right the edge of acceptability at f/4 (-1EV). At narrower apertures the frame is evenly illuminated from edge to edge. At press time in-camera corrections are not available for the lens, at least not when paired a 7D Mark II.
Conclusions
The Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM is a solid, low-cost add-on for owners of APS-C Canon SLRs. Its standard-angle field of view, wide f/2.8 aperture, and image stabilization make it a strong choice as an everyday lens for photographers who want to shoot in lower light and capture better images than you can get with an entry-level zoom lens. Its macro focusing capability is boosted by integrated lights, which help to fill in the shadows you'll end up casting when working very close to subjects.
It's not perfect—we don't like to see this much barrel distortion in a macro lens, but obviously a compromise had to be made in order to keep costs, size, and weight manageable. If you're more serious about getting a dedicated macro, you'll want to spend more on our Editors' Choice Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 VC USD, a $649 lens that captures some of the sharpest images we've seen. And if you just want a low-cost prime lens for your Canon, the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM is a bargain at $150, even though it omits image stabilization.
Best Lens Picks
- The Best Fujifilm Lenses for 2020
- The Best Leica M Lenses for 2020
- The Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses for 2020
- The Best Pentax SLR Lenses for 2020
- More Lens Reviews
- More from Canon