I occasionally photograph flowers and small products and prefer using a good macro lens: focuses closer than normal optics, sharp edge to edge and well corrected for distortion. Most macro lenses are too expensive for my limited use so, till recently, I've only owned the sharp, inexpensive but ancient EF 50 2.5. It's showing its age after 25 years of use—slow AF and no IS—so I hooked up with a refurbished EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM during a sale at Canon Direct.

Garden Friends | EOS 80D and EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM | F5.0

EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM | The white circle surrounding the front element is the LED ring light (image courtesy Canon).

Compatibility

The EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM is an EF-S lens and thus compatible with APS-C (1.6x crop) DSLRs such as Rebels, 80D, 90D, etc. (EF-s mount). It will also work on EOS R and M series mirrorless cameras with a mount adapter. When used on full frame EOS R series camera such as the EOS R5 and R6, the camera automatically enables 1.6X crop mode.

This lens cannot be used on full frame Canon EOS DSLRs with an EF mount and non-Canon cameras such as Pentax, Nikon, Fuji, etc.

Construction

I also own the EF-M 28 mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM and, save for the smaller size, this M-series design is similar in performance and features to the EF-s 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM.

At a mere 190g, this lens is a featherweight, fitting in nicely with the compact design aesthetic of EF-s lenses, albeit cosmetics are similar to Canon's EF series of small primes. The light build was achieved by extensive use of plastics nut with a metal mount. Construction appears robust and fit and finish are excellent. For a 1:1 macro lens it’s compact and about the same size as the EF 50 1.8 STM.

ES-27 Hood | This hood covers the LED lights but allows use of 49mm filters.

A lens hood is provided, the ES-27, but is silly small. It’s sturdy aluminum but more of a fat 49mm filter adapter. I’d rather have a standard twist-on hood but at least a hood was provided. Sadly, use of a normal hood isn't in the cards for this optic. The threads on the lens are 27mm, so a no-go there. You can attach a hood to the 49mm threads on the ES-27, but then you'd be using two hoods.

Morning Dew | EOS 80D and EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM

Auto Focus

Auto focus is fast for a macro lens but slower than most USM primes and zooms. Focus is accurate and rarely misses on my EOS 80D and 90D. For macro, where DOF is razor thin, I manually place a single AF point where I desire focus. I don't trust auto AF selection or zone focus for macro because the camera doesn't know if you prefer the flower center or petal in focus.

This EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM required a minor AFMA adjustment on my 80D for optimal sharpness at macro distances. I used the Dot Tune Method and was in business after about 15 minutes. At normal AFMA testing distance (50 x focal length) a half dozen clicks made little or no difference in sharpness due to the large depth of field of a 35mm lens. However, at 1:1 magnification, a few clicks can make a big difference. I found, for best results, AFMA for macro lenses should be performed at macro distances rather than 50x focal length.

Likewise, my 70D needed an AFMA adjustment, but more substantial than the 80D, e.g., +10. The result was tack sharp macro and normal distance images at F2.8 with both Live View and view finer AF.

Focus reliability was a little iffy on my SL1 due to the old school 9-point AF array (only one cross sensor). For 1:1 macro I had to mainly stick to the center AF point and recompose. The side points often struggled. Of course recomposing with razor thin depth of field is iffy too. So take lots of in camera duplicates if you own a SL1 or SL2. Rebels lack AFMA but, luckily, AF was dialed in well at default.

Plumeria | EOS Rebel SL1 and EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM | F4

Focus is silky smooth and great for touchscreen pulls during video. The focus motor is inaudible to my ears.

Like other STM lenses, manual focus (MF) is "focus-by-wire"; i.e., the MF ring activates the focus motor but isn’t mechanically coupled to the lens. MF is only active when the shutter button is half-depressed (and may need to be enabled in camera menus).

The manual recommends use of AI servo for macro. This recommendation puzzled me since AI Servo is constantly focusing and plane of focus varies from shot to shot. However, I realized Canon is assuming the photographer is hand holding the camera, making AI servo a good choice since standing humans tend to sway back and forth during picture taking. However, I rarely shoot macro free standing. I either use a tripod or brace against something, select an AF point in one-shot mode and lock on the exact point I want in focus.

This lens struggles to focus on infinity if set to close focus. An easy workaround is to use manual focus to get it in the ball park and let AF take over. Going the opposite way, infinity to macro, it does fine. Most of my USM lenses can focus on infinity when set to close focus.

Image Quality

Field of view is equivalent to 56mm on full-frame, about 43 degrees, similar coverage to the sweet spot of the human eye. Thus it makes a fine "normal" lens if you can live without zooming.

At F2.8 it's extremely sharp center frame but a tad softer in corners. F2.8 to F4 is my normal operating range as I prefer defocused background for flowers. By F4 corners are very good and by F5.6 amazingly sharp from corner to corner. F5.6 and F8 are ideal for shooting flat artwork, slide copying and documents. This lens is flare resistant and landscapes with prominent horizons and/or vertical lines have no discernible distortion.

Bokeh is silky smooth in defocused areas from F2.8 to F4, but a bit busy by F5.6.

Midday Sunlight | EOS 70D, EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM | F5

The reason to buy this lens over the excellent EF 35 2.0 IS USM is for macro mode. Being able to take a tight close-up of small flowers, jewelry and table top products is the forte of this lens. There's virtually no distortion in macro mode, making it ideal for document copying and photographing art work. The LED ring light, activated with a button on the barrel, is handy although it’s only bright enough for a macro subject a few inches from the lens. You’ll still need external illumination once beyond the high magnification macro range.

Soft Light | EOS Rebel SL1, EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM | F4

Pixel-Level Detail | EOS Rebel SL1, EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM

Slide Copier Lens

Surprisingly, it also makes a fine lens for copying old Fujichrome and Kodachrome slides. I used a Nikon ES-1 slide copier on a Canon EOS 80D with EF-S 35 2.8 IS STM lens to capture the this old Fujichrome slide:

Kiawa Sunset | EOS 80D, EF-S 35 2.8 IS STM and Nikon ES-1 Slide Copier

The Hybrid IS (image stabilization) system reduces the effects of camera shake in both the vertical plane and back and forth motions when using the camera angled downwards. For me, this lens allows about three stops of additional hand holdable range for normal photography. IS is quiet and isn't audible on video when using built-in mics. However, unless you can brace you hand or camera on something, most shooters will need to use a tripod when at full macro magnification.

She Smiled at Me | EOS 70D, EF-s 35 2.8 Macro IS STM | F3.5

The EF-s 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM proved to be a wonderful lens for macro and normal use on my EOS 90D, 80D, 70D and Rebel. It also works great on my EOS R7 with mount adapter. This lens is well suited for shooting artwork, small products and flowers, but is too short chasing wee critters. While this lens works fine for general photography it isn’t especially fast nor can it zoom. So if you’re not into macro, this lens is not for you.

All in all an impressive little lens for macro inclined XXD and Rebel series owners.

Please help support this site by purchasing the EFs 35 2.8 Macro IS STM at Amazon.com.

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture | 35mm | F2.8

Lens Construction | 10 elements in 6 groups

Diagonal Angle of View | 42°35'

Closest Focusing Distance | 0.43 ft. / 0.13m

Filter Size | 49mm compatible only when hood is attached

7-blade, circular aperture

Max. Diameter x Length, Weight | 2.7 x 2.2 in., approx. 6.7 oz. / 69.2 x 55.8mm, approx. 190g

MAP | $349

Reference

Canon EF-s 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM Instruction Manual. CT1-D002-A. Canon, 2017.

05/03/2018 | Updated 08/09/2023