Too Hot to Miss: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens on sale at $99 (reg. $149, refurbished, Canon Store)

Ef 40mm F/2.8 STM

The Canon Direct Store has a very good deal. Get the refurbished Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for just $99 (compare at $149).  The offer expires 9/7.

It’s always a good idea to have a careful look at Canon Store’s refurbished gear offer. You may spot some very good deals!

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM overview after the break.

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More Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD and SP 45mm f/1.8 Di VC USD info and pre-order options

Tamron

Tamron announced two very interesting, and affordable, prime lenses with weather sealing and image stabilisation. Not bad if you consider that both lenses sell for $599. The new Tamron lenses can now be pre-ordered in the US.

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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM DxOMarked (very good optical performance)

DxOMark published their lab results for the new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens:

After revamping the original Mark I version with a noticeably lower build, including a plastic mount and no AF distance scale, the EF 50mm f/1.8 II model really didn’t add Canon anything to its reputation as a premium lens maker. It had one redeeming quality, though: its image quality was really very good. The new STM version doesn’t quite match the recently-updated Nikon AFS Nikkor 50mm f1/.8G in its aspirations or price (the Nikkor is available now for around $220); however, Canon has enhanced the look and feel and replaced the old micro-motor with a stepper type. Best of all, the image quality is practically identical and at $129, it remains a steal. Read the review.