The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM and the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 52mm. The Canon 40mm f2.8 STM with a length of 22mm, is 30mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 68mm.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 40mm f2.8 STM weighs 130g, which means it is 130g (50%) lighter than the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM which has a weight of 260g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 40mm f2.8 STM has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM has a 58mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM:
And these are the 58mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 40mm f2.8 STM and the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Focal Range
Canon 40mm f2.8 STM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 40mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
64mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 28mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 44.8mm.
