Canon's original EF 28mm wide-angle prime — compact, affordable, and a staple of the early EOS system.
The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 launched in 1987 as one of the original EF mount lenses alongside the EOS 650 camera. It is a simple, compact wide-angle prime that served Canon shooters for decades as a lightweight walkaround lens and remained in production into the 2000s.
Optical quality is decent but not remarkable by modern standards — sharp in the centre from f/4 with moderate corner softness on full-frame. Some barrel distortion at 28mm. The rear-focus design is basic. No USM motor — autofocus uses a micro-motor that is audible.
Canon EF mount with 52mm filter thread. Weighs just 185g — very compact. No image stabilisation. Full-frame coverage. Minimum focus distance 30cm. Plastic barrel with metal mount. Simple 5-element optical design.
Very cheap used — often under £30. The EF 28mm f/1.8 USM is much better with faster AF and wider aperture. The Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM revision added stabilisation and improved optics dramatically. Only worth considering as an ultra-budget wide-angle.