The focal length of 40 mm has proven to me to be the ideal focal length for street photography, but also for "ordinary" films. Earlier lenses with 50 mm focal length has been called normal lenses in a camera with 35mm film, because they correspond to the normal view. The slightly enhanced visual space of a 40 mm lens seems to me for most image situations when a camera with full-frame sensor (equivalent to 35mm film format) to be even more favorable.
But that 40 mmm lens I also use from time to time on our two families SLRs with APS-C sensors (EOS 350 D and EOS 600 D). On these cameras, the character of the lens changes due to the crop factor (1.6 Original Focal Length x) towards a moderate portrait lens So according to a focal length of 64 mm.
Brief:
++ Sharpness (not only leaves many current, but also high-quality vintage lenses far behind)
++ Color fidelity
++ No fringing
++ Good handling - even in manual focus, however, much shorter "" focusing path "than a genuine manual lens
++ Ideals focal length for both street- and for landscape photography
++ Low price
++ Small and very shallow
+ Beautiful bokeh
+ Light weight
+ Favorable original lens hood made of metal: an important protection against light spots in backlight (Lensflare) and mechanical pressure on the moving parts
+ Cheap and large filter selection (52 mm) - have decided for Walimex Slim MC UV Filter 52mm
0 Little distortion
0 The bayonet sits more tightly than the other EOS lenses (manufacturing tolerance?)
0 only light intensity, or smallest aperture 2.8 - in the face of today possible high ISO numbers of cameras but that is a very good compromise, because this medium light intensity enables a small overall size of the lens.
- The engine noise is in automatic as in manual focus clearly audible, the engine is "pushed along" also used for manual focusing. This disadvantage when filming does not fall for me but significant (external microphones).
- Automatic focusing on Canon cameras a bit slower than comparable lenses with ultrasonic motor, when using an adapter to cameras from other manufacturers very sedate (located primarily on the adapters)
Note: To connect the EF 40 mm lens with the Sony Alpha 7, I use the Viltrox adapter EOS EF - NEX II, for what I paid less than 100. The Viltorx II, in contrast to the offer still predecessor even with smaller focal lengths (z. B. Canon EF 20mm lens) no vignetting / vignetting, although the full-frame sensor of the Sony Alpha 7 is very critical. Thanks to a further tube-section of this issue was Viltrox (conversion instructions for the old model are circulating on the net) in an excellent way. Whether the electronics has also been improved in Model II, I can not verify. The transfer of the data is basically flawless between newer EF lenses and the Alpha 7. (As I have myself tried) The highly acclaimed competition costs four times (!) But it is not better.
