QUOTE (timescapes @ Jul 12 2008, 01:06 PM)
I was reading this review of the EF 24mm f/1.4 L....
Why would vignetting be worse on a camera with a smaller sensor when the lens is wide open? Could this be avoided by shooting at f/1.8 or f/2?
The Canon 24/1.4 does have some serious vignetting at f/1.4, visible on both full frame and APS bodies. It's also soft in the corners at f/1.4. Yes, vignetting is reduced by f/2, and the corners get much sharper by f/4 or so.
All I can say is, if you need f/1.4, you need it. Soft corners and vignetting are part of the deal, and for my type of work, are not a problem. Yes, my 24-70 f/2.8 zoom is sharper and has less vignetting at 24mm -- but it's two stops slower. The f/1.4 lens is made for low-light shooting -- journalism, sports, etc., -- not for architecture or traditional landscape photography. (Both of which it can excel at if you shoot at f/8 or f/11.)
I now have six lenses with the 24mm focal length somewhere in their range. For convenience, I choose the 24-70 or maybe the 16-35. For architecture, the Sigma 12-24. For odd focus shifts, the 24 T/S. But I find the 24/1.4 on my camera most often when I am shooting in a journalistic style, or under low-light conditions, or when I want the very shallow depth of field combined with a wide-angle view.
BTW the lens works quite well on a 40D body, where it's roughly a 40mm equivalent. Nice wide-normal lens, and good speed. But it's awesome on a 1D or 1Ds-series body.
