Back to Ultra Wide

I had to go back and look at my transaction history at MPB to see when the last time I had a focal length wider than 24mm. It was in early September, 2024 when I traded the 16mm, 28mm and 50mm non IS STM primes for the RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM lens. Before that, I had a couple copies of the RF 14-35mm f/4L lens at various times as well as an earlier copy of the 16mm STM. I also used an EF 16-35mm f/4L lens with an adapter on EOS R bodies.

I used the 16mm and 28-70mm lenses at a non-sunrise this morning more to get some focal length samples than anything. Here are focal length examples, using the zoom lens at 50mm.

16mm

28mm

50mm

70mm

Here is a 16mm shot looking back at lock E5.

RF 16mm f/2.8, f/2.8, 1/20 sec., ISO 200

Here is a 100% crop of some bald eagles. There were four juveniles and two adults in the area while I was there.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec., ISO 200
100% crop

And fog filled in at 5:30 AM, ten minutes after actual sunrise time.

RF 28-70mm f/2.8 at 70mm, f/2.8, 1/180 sec., ISO 200

Side Trip on the Gear Roadmap

The MPB trade in with the 28mm pancake lens outgoing and the 16mm f/2.8 incoming is all set and I'm just waiting for the ultra wide prime to arrive. While the deal was in the works, however, I decided to pick up a matching lens to the 16mm, the 50mm f/1.8 STM. The two lenses are physically the same.

TheDigitalPicture.com

Interestingly, you can buy modified versions of these two lenses designed for drones and moving vehicles for twice the price.

"The Armored RF 16mm & 50mm Autofocus Lens Bundle from GLOBAL DYNAMICS UNITED features armor-reinforced Canon lenses for safer use on drones, moving cars, or bikes. The manual focus ring and all external switches have been removed. All adjustments are left to the internal motors so that there is nothing to get knocked out of place when the lenses are in motion."

I carried the new lens around Oakwood Cemetery this morning. Here are some shots of Oakwood statuary.

RF 50mm f/1.8, f/2.8, 1/3000 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.8, f/2.8, 1/6000 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.8, f/2.5, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.8, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

RF 50mm f/1.8, f/5.6, 1/500 sec., ISO 100

Sunrise Reveals Shortcoming

Or, not short enough, actually. By switching from the 24-105mm f/4L to the 28-70mm f/2.8 lens, I've lost focal lengths at both ends, as I've mentioned. This morning's sunrise revealed one of the limitations of 28mm as a landscape focal length. Not wide (or short) enough for big skies, especially with water reflections.

The same can be said for 24mm, however. Ideally, I would add the RF 16-28mm f/2.8 lens to cover the times I want something wider than 28mm. But then I'm back with the lens change issue as either could be kept on the camera and I'd end up not changing. 

So, I decided to trade in the 28mm pancake lens toward the RF 16mm f/2.8 STM lens, which I've had previously. My thinking is that if I want something wider than 28mm, that's not going to be 24mm or even 20mm. I'd be using the 16-28mm zoom lens at 16mm the vast majority of the time. 

The 16mm STM lens is small, light and cheap. Not quite the image quality of the four times more expensive zoom lens but it's not far off.

The lens is small and light and the temptation to not change back to the standard zoom after I use it won't be there like it would be with a more versatile ultra wide zoom lens. That's the plan anyway.

70mm, f/4, 1/125 sec., ISO 400

28mm, f/4, 1/350 sec., ISO 400

70mm, f/4, 1/750 sec., ISO 200

28mm, f/5.6, 1/350 sec., ISO 200

39mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec., ISO 200

28mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 200