Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

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Archive 2006 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Rubber Soul
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p.2 #1 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

roger lund wrote:
I am posting this for two reasons, to both see what everyone thinks are the best lenses, and so others can read this at a later time.

Taking into account price, useability, and quality:

Best Canon "L" Primes:

1. EF 135 f2L
2. EF 300 f4L IS
3. EF 180 f3.5L Macro
4. EF 200 f2.8L II
5. EF 85 f1.2L

Best Canon non-L Primes

1. EF-S 60 f2.8 Macro
2. EF 100 f2.8 Macro
3. EF 85 f1.8
4. EF 50 f2.5 Macro
5. EF 100 f2

Best Canon "L" Zooms

1. EF 70-200L series
2. EF 24-70L
3. EF 100-400L
4. EF 17-40L and EF 16-35L (tied)
5. EF 24-105L

Best Canon non-L Zooms

1. EF-S 17-55
2. EF-S 10-22
3. EF 70-300 IS
4. EF 28-105 II
5. EF 28-135 IS

Did I rank these lenses? Actually, no. These are all the under $2000 lenses with at least 30 user reviews from this website, ranked according to their average score.

Dec 30, 2006 at 11:39 PM

ovredal73
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p.2 #2 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

From my experience with lenses that I own or have owned and used extensively:

Non-L Prime
1. 50 1.4
2. 90 Tamron Macro
3. 50 2.5 macro
4. 15 fisheye canon
5. 20 1.8 sigma

Non-L Zoom
1. 10-22
2. Tamron 28-75
3. 70-300 DO
4. Sigma 18-50 2.8
5. Sigma 12-24

L Prime.
1. 85 1.2
2. 35 1.4
3. 24 1.4
4. 135 2.0

L Zoom.
1. 80-200 2.8
2. 24-105
3. 16-35
4. 24-70
5. 70-200 f4

Dec 30, 2006 at 11:58 PM

roger lund
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p.2 #3 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

wimg wrote:
Hi Roger,

Here's my list:

Non-L Prime
1. TS-E 90 F/2.8
Used for macro, product photography, landscape details, portraits, flowers, panormas, etc. Incredibly sharp and versatile lens, even though it requires manual focusing.
2. EF-S 60 F/2.8
As above, except the panoramas, just a bit shorter for a different perspective.

Now for some I still would like to add to this set:
3. EF 100 F/4 Macro
For obvious reasons

4. MP-E 65 F/2.8
Yes, another macro lens

5. TS-E 45 F/2.8
To complete the set for macro, product photography, etc.

Non-L Zoom
1. EF-S 10-22
I used to have a 20 mm F/4 in my analog years. This is light years ahead, in quality and versatility. Great for landscapes, for a different perspective, for group shots indoors and outdoors, and for architecture, both in- and outdoors.

Potential addition:
2. EF-S 17-55 F/2.8 IS
The ideal walk-around do-everything lens for a crop body. And that is it for the wishes department in the non-L zooms

.

L Prime.
1. TS-E 24 F/3.5 L
Landscapes, architecture, panoramas, macro close-ups of flowers etc. Incredibly versatile lens.

I'd like to add a few more L-classics, whenever I manage to save enough funds

:
2. EF 85 F/1.2 L
3. EF 24 F/1.4 L
4. EF 300 F/2.8 L
5. EF 500 F/4 L
And there are a few more. I reckon this would be the order in which to add them, for me anyway. Portraits, low light indoors, sports, and nature photography.

Of course, I wouldn't mind to have a go at the 35 F/1.4, the 135 F/2 and the 200 F/2.8 either. These are all in the range of focal lengths I use a lot

.

L Zoom.
1. EF 70-200 F/4 L
This is the sharpest zoom I own, and it is incredibly useful to me for sports close-ups, landscape details, and (candid) portraits. No loss of quality with extender 1.4 X, as far as I can see. I may want to exchange this for the IS version, when I get half a chance, having discovered IS recently.
2. EF 17-40 F/4 L
Great lens for landscape work, walkaround standard zoom for a crop body, architecture, close-up portraits, candid indoor work as I have a steady hand and manage 1/20 s at 40 mm with this lens. Great allrounder, very sharp.
3. EF 24-105 F/4 L IS
This lens I got recently, because I liked the quality of the pictures taken with it by other people, and because to me it is the ideal portrait zoom on a crop camera (38-168 eq.), candid and posed, especially because it is aided by IS as well. It is also a great lens for landscape details, and architecture details.
4. EF 100-400 F/4.5-5.6 L IS
Great general nature photography, certain (outdoor) sports, and landscape lens, and great at candid portraits too. The IS allows me to shoot at 1/45s at 400 mm with a success rate of about 60%! You have to learn how to handle this lens, but having used push/pull zooms in the past, that wasn't a big issue, especially after discovering you should only use the friction ring as a lock, rather than try to set it for some non-existent optimal setting. Unlock it completely when using it, and just support it with one hand - works great for me. Wonderful lens!

Lenses still on the list:
5. EF 70-200 F/2.8 IS
I'd love to go to a concert with one of these...

5. EF 16-35 F/2.8
5. EF 24-70 F/2.8
Sorry, couldn't help myself... Knowing what I can do with the 10-22 and 17-40 indoors, I would really love to try out these last two as well

.

You may have noticed there is quite an overlap in focal lengths here, and the reason is simple. I use different ranges for different approaches, so I tend to choose the range I take or bring along for a specific subject. Also, I like to have an overlap when it comes to zooms, as this means I have to change lenses less often. If I have two lenses with an overlap with me, one on the body, it means I don't have to grab another lens immediately. I find this especially useful when doing candid work, indoors without a flash, or outdoors. There is a bigger chance of getting the right picture, with the right focal length, i.e., perspective and framing, of a fleeting moment that way, at least IMO.

Anyway, this is my very long story of my preferred lenses and how I use them

.

Kind regards, Wim

Wim,

Fantastic Post, thanks for the info and explanation of why and what you use them or would use them for.

Dec 31, 2006 at 12:20 AM

roger lund
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p.2 #4 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Januuski, johnastovall , thanks for the reply to the question.

Rubber Soul , ovredal73 , malice4you

Thanks for the input!

And Brutus_B, I am first most a student of life, and I enjoy to learn and more than likely qualify as a nerd.

Dec 31, 2006 at 12:24 AM

Brooke Clyde
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p.2 #5 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Sports and people.

Non-L prime: 50/1.4, 85/1.8
Non-L zoom: No opinion
L prime: 85, 300/2.8 and f/4 IS
L zoom: 70-200 IS. 24-105 IS

Dec 31, 2006 at 02:15 AM

KFG1
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p.2 #6 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I only named lenses that I own, have owned or have tried for long periods of time. My interest is mainly sports shooting, travel lenses, and ambient light (no-flash).

Non-L Prime
1. 85 / 1.8 - the basketball lense. I have had other non-L primes and only this one remains.

Non-L Zoom
1. 10-22 - an amazing lense, wide and great, a very fun lense for anyone with 1.6x
2. 17-55 - great lense but never used it enough, had a dust-free copy but sold to a friend

L Prime.
1. 85L II - makes magic happen.
2. 35L - great low light lense may very well be the best in this application.
3. 135L - a classic, maybe the sharpest still made, never fails to amaze.
4. 400L /2.8 IS - the ultimate sports lense.
5. 300L /2.8 IS - for the times the 400L is just too long, great sports combo.

Love the following L primes also:
24L - great in low light, mine is as sharp as the 35L, fantastic street lense, very underrated.
50L /1.2 - recently purchased limited use so far, but I love the results it produces, may make the "Trinity" a "Quadrilogy".
200L /2.8 II - may be the best value in the L series, fantastic for sports and extremely sharp.

L Zoom.
1. 70-200L / 2.8 non-IS - my sports back-up, phenomenally sharp for a zoom.
2. 70-200L /2.8 IS - for those times when traveling with low light in mind.
3. 24-70L - has seen the world with me and produce great results.
4. 17-40L - great wide lense and very sharp.
5. 24-105L /4 IS - will purchase soon to compliment 24-70L but not replace, great travel lense.

Dec 31, 2006 at 02:24 AM

roger lund
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p.2 #7 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Brooke Clyde thanks for posting.

KFG1,

Thanks a ton for the time you took.

To all, If anyone has a website with examples of your work or lens, please edit and or post with them. I would love to see your work!.

Thanks again.

Dec 31, 2006 at 02:32 AM

Liscia
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p.2 #8 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I will only enumerate these what I normally use on my 30D. I have these
because they work for me. Opinions are cheap so I won't give any as
worthwhile opinions should only be given based on actual experience imo.
I have culled other lenses over the years but you don't want to know about
those.

Non L Prime:EF-s 60mm f/2.8 Macro
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
L Prime : EF 200mm f/2.8L
EF 35mm f/1.4L
L Zoom :EF 17-40mm f/4L (mostly just for the wide end)

Dec 31, 2006 at 02:48 AM

moondigger
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p.2 #9 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I am only going to list lenses I have actually owned or used myself. So if you're wondering why a particular highly-regarded lens isn't on my list, it's probably because I haven't tried it myself. "Near misses" are lenses I have owned or used, but I didn't think measured up to the others on the lists.

Non-L Prime
1. 85/1.8. No question -- best of the non-L lenses. In terms of IQ, nothing to separate it from an L lens.
2. 15/2.8 fisheye
3. 135/2.8 SF - highly underrated lens. L- image quality at a truly bargain price.
4. 100/2.8 macro
5.

Near misses: 50/1.4, 50/1.8, 35/2.0, 28/2.8, 24/2.8, 100/2.0. All very good lenses, but not in the same league as the above.

Non-L Zoom
1. 28-70/3.5-4.5 II - discontinued, old, ergonomic disaster, but by far the best non-L zoom lens Canon ever made in terms of IQ. The non-L L.
2. 28-105/3.5-4.5 - Inexpensive, ergonomically a dream compared to the 28-70, though image quality is not incredible like the 28-70. Still very, very good.
3. EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5. Feels strange putting it on this list, as it will only fit a small subset of Canon cameras, but it's a truly great ultra-wide lens if you have a dRebel, 20D, or 30D.
4. 20-35/3.5-4.5. If you need an ultrawide zoom but can't afford L glass, this is your only option. Luckily it's pretty good.
5. 28-135 Image Stabilized -- Image quality similar to 28-105, maybe a touch better, with IS. More expensive though, and in my experience it falls quite a bit short of the marked 135mm on the long end.

Near misses: 70-210/3.5-4.5

L Prime.
1. 135/2.0L
2. 300/4L (non-IS)
3. 85/1.2L
4.
5.

Near misses:

L Zoom.
1. 70-200/4L
2. 28-70/2.8L
3. 70-200/2.8L
4. 70-200/2.8L IS
5. 17-40/4L

Near misses: 16-35/2.8L, 100-300/5.6L. Haven't tried the 70-200/4L IS.

I do lots of kinds of photography - Portraits, candids, weddings, landscape, nighttime, occasionally some architecture and wildlife/birds. I don't do enough architecture or birding to warrant the purchase of a tilt/shift or super telephoto lens, though of course Canon has some excellent choices in those areas.

Dec 31, 2006 at 03:00 AM

wyan
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p.2 #10 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Top L Prime:
200/1.8L, 300/2.8L IS, 85L, 180L Macro, 35L tied with 135L

Top Non-L Prime:
100/2.8, 100/2, 85/1.8, 50/1.4, cannot think of another one, maybe the cheap 50/1.8.

Top L zoom:
70-200/2.8L IS, 70-200/2.8L, 24-70L, 70-200/4L IS, 70-200/4L

Top non-L zoom:
70-300 IS DO. 17-55IS, 28-135 IS. no idea about others.

Dec 31, 2006 at 03:23 AM

ChrisDM
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p.2 #11 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

roger lund wrote:
May I ask why you say that the slower zoom with a longer focal length would be better for landscapes? I would think you would want wider, unless your saying that because of the IS.

In my example, the 24-70 and the 24-105 have the same wide angle of view, but the 24-105 is much better for landscapes because of the IS. But as I mentioned, it isn't as good a wedding lens as the 24-70. So, as the answer always is with these "which is better" threads, the only correct answer is, "It depends."

Dec 31, 2006 at 04:13 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #12 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

>>What do you use the 90mm Tilt-Shift for? what are your likes and dislikes about it?
Do you use the 50mm Macro for non macro work or just Macro?

This wasn't directed at me (but it could be

)

The 90 gives the finest IQ I see from any Canon prime... it's really that good. I use it for anything that the FL is reasonable for and for situations where AF isn't absolutely critical. With a good focusing screen manual focusing is hardly a hinderance (and of course the tilt and close focusing is nice as well). The CM is the best small 50 from Canon... for macro or just as a nice little prime.

here's my list:

90TS-E
135L
45TS-E
24-70L
85/1.8
70-200/4L
50 CM

Dec 31, 2006 at 04:21 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #13 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

100mm a bastard length lens

Dec 31, 2006 at 04:25 AM

moondigger
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p.2 #14 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

mh2000 wrote:
100mm a bastard length lens

?

I don't get it. It's exactly double a 50 which is still considered standard. How would anyone consider 85 and 135 non-bastard lengths? I like even multiples... kind of like going out with my 45 and 90mm TS-Es.

I'm not sure what you're referring to, as I haven't read the entire thread...

But when you're putting together a set of primes, generally speaking (at least in the old days, when zooms were mostly crap) you'd start with a 50mm, then buy the lenses that were roughly 1.5 - 1.6 ratios off of it. 50 x 1.6 = 80, so an 85mm lens was a good jump up without being too much. 85 x 1.6 = 136, so a 135mm lens is about right. That makes 100mm a 'bastard' length from that point of view. The standard set of primes was 28, 35, 50, 85, 135...

Dec 31, 2006 at 04:33 AM

mh2000
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p.2 #15 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

ok, I guess I don't remember that 1.6 rule... and I guess it depends on how many primes you want to carry. I like a 2X ratio or greater for myself... and I like carrying 2 primes. A 50 and 100 is a great combo for my shooting. My 45 and 90 make a second nice pair. I can even go with a larger ratio depending on what I think I'll shoot (I went out with only a 45 and 135 today). I wouldn't go out with a 28 & 35 or 50 & 85 in primes... just pick what I thought was the better choice... or if I really felt I needed that much help framing I'd take a zoom.

Thanks for the explaination though! As I said, either my memory is getting hazy or I just ignore these rules in general and was never paying attention.

Dec 31, 2006 at 04:53 AM

Grant808
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p.2 #16 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I shoot weddings and events. Try to shoot architecture if and when I can get the work. Birds and wildlife for hobby.

Non-L Prime
1. 85/1.8 a must have to me...owned two for a while.
2. 28/1.8
3. 50/1.4
4. 100/2.8 Macro
5. 35/2 Good, but still sold it due to lack of use.

Non-L Zoom
1. 17-55/2.8IS
2. 10-22 Great for wide angle and perspective control web-only shots.
3. Sigma 12-24 Needs to be stopped down, but excellent for landscapes. I don't understand why Canon doesn't make a lens like this for FF.
4. 24-85 - Because it's silver to match my 300D.
5.

L Prime.
1. 200/2.8 Great value, extremely sharp, takes one or two 1.4x converters well (one Canon one Kenko Pro 300).
2. 500/4IS
3. 135/2
4. 400/5.6
5. I only have 4 L primes...but I'd stick the 35/1.4 here if I owned one. I don't own one because I have the Zeiss 35/1.4.

L Zoom.
1. 24-105IS My 'go to' lens for the 5D
2. 70-200/2.8IS
3. 24-70
4. Nothing to fill in here, because the other L zooms don't make the grade IMO...at least not on FF.
5.

Edited by Grant808 on Dec 30, 2006 at 09:54 PM GMT (Reason: I don't know how to follow directions

)

Dec 31, 2006 at 05:06 AM

LDRider
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p.2 #17 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Roger: "Brutus" is giving you some good advice.
It's a nice day....go outside and play.

Joe P

Dec 31, 2006 at 05:20 AM

moondigger
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p.2 #18 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

mh2000 wrote:
ok, I guess I don't remember that 1.6 rule... and I guess it depends on how many primes you want to carry. [...] Thanks for the explaination though! As I said, either my memory is getting hazy or I just ignore these rules in general and was never paying attention.

Well, it wasn't a rule so much as a guideline to building a prime set. Ever notice there's no common prime focal length between 35 and 50? or between 50 and 85? Because 85 was considered the minimum jump longer above 50 that was worthwhile, and 35 was considered the minimum jump shorter that was worthwhile. Both are different enough from 50 that it didn't seem like a waste of money, but close enough that it didn't feel like you were missing important focal lengths.

Obviously some photographers work differently and prefer a greater jump, and many photographers prefer not to miss any focal length at all -- using zooms to insure they always have what they need. But for many photographers 100mm is too big a jump from 50mm or not enough of a jump from 85. I don't own a 100mm lens simply because I have 85 and 135 primes already. If only the 135 were a macro, I'd never have a need or desire for a 100mm lens.

Dec 31, 2006 at 06:02 AM

Koivulehto
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p.2 #19 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I'll explain why I have bought and haven't bought some lenses - equally much to myself than to you. Why am I not shooting now? Well, I prefer shooting in the summer and looking at the results (and posting the kitty shots

) in the winter. I live equally up north than the southern part of Greenland but without snow, so the light outside is not at all inspiring now.

Non-L primes:
1. 50 f/1.4 for generic low light use
2. 15 f/2.8 for very wide angle use, both as neutral and occasionally tilted for effect use
3. MP-E 65 f/2.8 for deep macro use – it is very challenging without a macro flash
4. 85 f/1.8 not bought because I don't do sports
5. 50 f/1.8 not bought because of 50 f/1.4

Non-L zooms:
1. 70-300 DO not bought because of the big 70-200 instead, and I have a PowerShot P&S still available for travel use – and if I just travel, I don’t want to look like a photographer

L primes:
1. 85L f/1.2 for portrait use in low light. In better light I usually have a zoom
2. 180L f/3.5 for “ordinary” macro use
3. 24L TS-E for architecture use
4. 300L f/4 IS as a compromise for price, reach, minimum focus distance and weight. Bought it only in the autumn, and possibly because of lousy light ever since, haven’t yet got a single good shot with it. I hate compromises …
5. 300L f/2.8 IS not bought because of price, weight and disapproval by wife. Have tested it with beautiful results.
6. 600L f/4 IS not yet bought but I am saving for this – and working with wife’s attitude. When I get this, then the 300L f/4 IS makes more sense in my overall set. I plan to use it handheld as well – I tested the 300L f/2.8 IS with 2x TC and added weight to simulate 600L’s FL and weight and found the combination usable with my body (see Profile for details).

L zooms:
1. 24-105L f/4 IS as a default lens with 5D (bought bundled with the body). IS allows incredibly long handheld exposures
2. 70-200L f/2.8 IS as the longer distance people shooting default lens. Very sharp results in good light and occasionally in low light
3. 16-35L f/2.8 bought instead of 17-40L f/4 because of almost same weight and a bargain price for a demo copy. Not really used much – been too busy with the other lenses

4. 100-400L not bought because of redundancy with 70-200 & 300 + 1.4x TC, slow aperture and still not enough reach in 5D body

Why have I put this much money in lenses? 50 years’ crisis? Possibly. I have photographed for 30 years and want to see what I can achieve now that a dSLR and a desktop printer allows a totally different learning cycle vs. the film days’ delays & smelly darkroom.

Dec 31, 2006 at 07:04 AM

Pondria
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p.2 #20 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Why can't one compare an Apple and an Orange. It makes good sense to me. If you can buy only one of them, you would have to compare the values to you.

Dec 31, 2006 at 07:28 AM

knodl
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p.2 #21 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Let me just preface this by saying most lenses built today are more than adequate for obtaining decent photos. As far as these Canon L lenses are concerned they all for the most part do very well for what they were primarily designed for. One of the biggest issues the "non-professional" quite frequently loves to entertain is the "sharpest" lens obsession. I make no value judgement with regard to lens lust as I have myself recently stated on the forum my admiration of the new Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 Aspheric L. Do I really need this lens? Absolutely not! The most practical and overall usefull lens I own for my Canon full-frame cameras is without a doubt the 24-70mm f/2.8 L.
It's a very useful and well made lens. Another lens that has an exceelent reputation for full frame Canon bodies, is the Tamron 28-70. Eithrt way good luch in life.

Dec 31, 2006 at 08:29 AM

Flappie
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p.2 #22 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Pondria wrote:
Why can't one compare an Apple and an Orange. It makes good sense to me. If you can buy only one of them, you would have to compare the values to you.

But you should base yourself on the focal length you need, not the optical quality. And everyone's needs are different...
I never get the question 24L or 35L, because these lenses are totally different, and if you don't understand the difference between a 24 and a 35mm, you don't need to spend > 1000 EUR/USD on a lens

Dec 31, 2006 at 10:19 AM

roger lund
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p.2 #23 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

LDRider wrote:
Roger: "Brutus" is giving you some good advice.
It's a nice day....go outside and play.

Joe P

It is winter here, and I have a cold, :P

Also up until now we have had no snow, so everything is brown..

Dec 31, 2006 at 05:17 PM

roger lund
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p.2 #24 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

To the others that have posted, thanks again, keep them coming, and post your web links with examples of your work, then we can see your stuff!

Thanks

P.S I will be out of town until Monday.

Dec 31, 2006 at 05:18 PM

EOS20
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p.2 #25 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Non-L Prime
1.50 f/2.5 Compact macro
2.50 f/1.8 II (For value for money)
3.35 f/2
4.85 f/1.8
5.100 f/2.8 macro

Non-L Zoom
1.28-105 f/3.5-4.5 USM II
2.35-105 f/3.5-4.5 USM
3.28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS
4.24-85 f/3.5-4.5 USM
5.70-300 f/4-5.6 IS

L Prime.
1.35 f/1.4 L
2.135 f/2 L
3.200 f/2.8 L
4.300 f/2.8 L IS
5.90 TS-E (Technically not a L, But close enough)

L Zoom.
1.17-40 f/4 L
2.24-105 f/4 L IS
3.70-200 f/4 L
4.70-200 f/2.8 L
5.70-200 f/2.8 IS L

Dec 31, 2006 at 05:37 PM


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