Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

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Archive 2006 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

roger lund
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p.3 #1 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

EOS20 wrote:
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

Thanks for the post.

Dec 31, 2006 at 06:39 PM

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

Non-L prime:
85 1.8, 100 2.8 macro,50 1.4, 50 1.8, 24 2.8

Non-L zoom:
28-105 3.5-4.5, 75-300 4-5.6
Wish to have: 70-300 4-5.6 IS

L prime:
400 5.6
Wish to have: 300 4 IS, 135 2, 400 4 IS, 200 2.8

L zoom:
24-105 4, 17-40 4, 70-200 4
Wish to have: 70-200 4 IS

Jan 01, 2007 at 01:07 AM

Gil_W
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p.3 #3 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Photography is just a hobby to me. I mainly like outdoor photography but also flower closeups/macro.

Non-L prime:
1. 85 1.8- good price, sharp lens, great on FF body
2. 100 macro- sharp, good colors
3. 50 1.4- good low light fast lens
4. 135 soft focus- very sharp at 135 with soft off, still learning the soft
techniques, good for portraits of us older folks with light soft settings. If light is right (behind subject), pictures can be impressive due to light being diffussed by softness. Still working on that too.

Non-L zoom:
1. 70-300 DO- Nice size, it's black, needs PP but can produce good quality
pictures if you PP them well. Just ashame Canon didn't tweak this lens
a little more before they released it.

L Prime:
1. 300 f/2.8-color, sharpness, bokeh + takes 1.4 and 2x tcs very well
2. 500 f/4- same as 1 + range + takes 1.2 and 2x tcs very well
3. 180 Macro- I think this to be my best color lens
4. 135- same as 1 xcpt for tcs
5. 35- great for indoors

L zoom:
1. 24-70- good for landscapes and panos plus good for large indoor rooms
2. 16-35- my indoor zoom plus deep woods landscapes
3. 100-400- versitile, light weight walk around wildlife lens

Jan 01, 2007 at 02:02 AM

Russell Smith
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p.3 #4 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Roger, I have read each one and think you said it best when you said that you loved learning, might be called a nerd. Or words to that effect. By now then you should see that each person here has expressed their idea of the BEST and the uses. I believe, like Brutus, that you should get out and shoot. I, like most of these respondents, have studied photography and its variety of features for many years. A lot more than most of you have been on this earth, but I also have studied so many more subjects to make the complete man, so to speak. In between I have walked thousands of miles, climbed many mountains, fished many streams and lakes and oceans. I also helped my wife raise six children. In spite of all my studies, reading, exercising and taking pictures I still have no idea what lenses I would buy given the money for all I desired. I have tried dozens, loved them all, am still trading as you know. To cap this off, I will say, buy and use what you feel like is the one you want right now, because it is all fun, or should be. Just don't leave off any of life's more interesting studies, including yourself.

Russell

Jan 01, 2007 at 03:22 AM

jdaily
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p.3 #5 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Seabrat wrote:
...
4. 135 soft focus- very sharp at 135 with soft off, still learning the soft
techniques, good for portraits of us older folks with light soft settings.

You may well know this, but just for general consumption, since not everyone who has used this lens has noticed: the adjustment can be set anywhere in the range from 0 to 2.

I didn't keep the lens because it was long on my 300D and I didn't do much (well, really, any) portrait work, but it's a very good lens for a very good price.

3. 100-400- versitile, light weight walk around wildlife lens

Oy, I don't think I'd ever call the 100-400 light-weight, unless you're comparing it to one of the really big telephotos.

Although, looking at the Canon lens chart, it's only a few ounces heavier than the 400/5.6, which really surprises me. I never thought of the 400 as heavy, but walking around with the 100-400 wore me out.

Jan 01, 2007 at 03:41 AM

Gil_W
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p.3 #6 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

jdaily wrote:
Seabrat wrote:
...
4. 135 soft focus- very sharp at 135 with soft off, still learning the soft
techniques, good for portraits of us older folks with light soft settings.

You may well know this, but just for general consumption, since not everyone who has used this lens has noticed: the adjustment can be set anywhere in the range from 0 to 2.

I didn't keep the lens because it was long on my 300D and I didn't do much (well, really, any) portrait work, but it's a very good lens for a very good price.

3. 100-400- versitile, light weight walk around wildlife lens

Oy, I don't think I'd ever call the 100-400 light-weight, unless you're comparing it to one of the really big telephotos.

Although, looking at the Canon lens chart, it's only a few ounces heavier than the 400/5.6, which really surprises me. I never thought of the 400 as heavy, but walking around with the 100-400 wore me out.

Yes I know about the varying softness and that you can also set in-between the numbered settings. I have seen some wonderful 135 SF pictures on other personal sites but it is the learning and proper angled light usage that really matters with this lens when using the "soft" side of it.

I think that carrying the 100-400 around in the woods is not too bad but I agree it is not light, but it does give one a nice range for widlife in a hand holdable lens. I also use the lighter 70-300 DO which is really nice to carry for the varied range and great IS, but there is always PP afterwards and that lens needs bright light.

Gil

Jan 01, 2007 at 04:13 AM

Focus Locus
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p.3 #7 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

200/1.8L

Jan 01, 2007 at 04:54 AM

roger lund
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p.3 #8 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Seabrat wrote:
Photography is just a hobby to me. I mainly like outdoor photography but also flower closeups/macro.

Non-L prime:
1. 85 1.8- good price, sharp lens, great on FF body
2. 100 macro- sharp, good colors
3. 50 1.4- good low light fast lens
4. 135 soft focus- very sharp at 135 with soft off, still learning the soft
techniques, good for portraits of us older folks with light soft settings. If light is right (behind subject), pictures can be impressive due to light being diffussed by softness. Still working on that too.

Non-L zoom:
1. 70-300 DO- Nice size, it's black, needs PP but can produce good quality
pictures if you PP them well. Just ashame Canon didn't tweak this lens
a little more before they released it.

L Prime:
1. 300 f/2.8-color, sharpness, bokeh + takes 1.4 and 2x tcs very well
2. 500 f/4- same as 1 + range + takes 1.2 and 2x tcs very well
3. 180 Macro- I think this to be my best color lens
4. 135- same as 1 xcpt for tcs
5. 35- great for indoors

L zoom:
1. 24-70- good for landscapes and panos plus good for large indoor rooms
2. 16-35- my indoor zoom plus deep woods landscapes
3. 100-400- versitile, light weight walk around wildlife lens

Seabrat,

I see that you state the 180 Macro for your 200mm range under L prime, what do you like and dislike about that lens?

How fast is the auto focus?

and do you have any pictures?

Jan 03, 2007 at 12:39 PM

Koivulehto
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p.3 #9 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

180L, 100% crop (wrong lens for this subject, but I didn't have a longer one available):
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4587/ruokokerttunen6496il5.jpg

Slow to focus for anything that don't stay still, but otherwise a wonderful macro lens. Have tons of macro shots, but wife is calling now ...

Jan 03, 2007 at 12:55 PM

roger lund
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p.3 #10 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Koivulehto wrote:
180L, 100% crop (wrong lens for this subject, but I didn't have a longer one available):
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4587/ruokokerttunen6496il5.jpg

Slow to focus for anything that don't stay still, but otherwise a wonderful macro lens. Have tons of macro shots, but wife is calling now ...

Fantastic shot,

Do you find your self using it for non Macro work, or mostly Macro?

I have a 100 2.8 Macro and like it, and I use it for non-Macro work, wondering if this lens is the same way as far as focus speed and things.

Only downside I can see off hand is that it would be quite slow with a TC.

Jan 03, 2007 at 01:01 PM

roger lund
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p.3 #11 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Koivulehto wrote:
AFAIK, the 180L is still slower to focus than 100 macro. The speed feels OK, if it only needs to change the focus slightly, but if it misses the focus, it will take loooong to travel back and forth, as with all macro lenses. My hit rate when chasing dragonflies in the air was below 1% last summer with this lens - I will try 300 L f/4 IS with an extension tube next summer instead. The slow focusing speed is also a problem e.g when tracking an ant on a hot day.

For macro work a 1.4 TC is otherwise fine, but this lens won't autofocus beyond 1:1 with a Canon TC, i.e. the minimum AF distance grows (since the camera body is aware there is a TC in place). For steady subjects this is not a problem (since MF works fine), but the extra distance & extra magnification would be very useful as such for small lively insects.

Here is a successful example of my last summer's macro shots with this lens, with Canon 1.4 TC added:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

So basicly, great for Macro, not great for telephoto work?

Jan 03, 2007 at 11:20 PM

dinoadventures
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p.3 #12 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I do street photography and event shooting. I also do some travel and landscape and the occasional product shot.

Non-L Prime
1. Sigma 20 1.8. Hands down best prime I've ever used.
2. Sigma 30 1.4 as good as 35L on a crop if you get a good one. I did on my first try.
3. Canon 100 f/2 or 85 f/1.8. The 100 has better optics, 85 has better length on a crop body
4. Canon 60 macro or Sigma 70 macro
5. Canon 100 macro

Non-L Zoom
1. Tamron 17-50 2.8 easily the best
2. Tamron 28-75 2.8 cheap, also great. 90% as good as 24-70L
3. Sigma 10-20
4. Sigma 100-300 f/4.... awesome
5. Sigma 70-200 macro

L Prime.
1. 200 1.8
2. 85 1.2 (would be higher were it not for the slow AF)
3. 135 f/2, but it's long-ish on a crop body
4. 35 1.4 if you get a good one. in my experience there's little difference between a good one and a good sigma 30 1.4 on a crop body
5. 200 2.8

L Zoom.
1. 70-200 IS
2. 24-70 (bit weird on a crop, great on FF)
3. 20-35 2.8 (better distortion control than 16-35 below)
4. 16-35 2.8 (if you get a good one, it's still worse than sigma 20 1.8)
5. 100-400

Jan 05, 2007 at 04:16 AM

moondigger
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p.3 #13 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

dinoadventures wrote:
3. Canon 100 f/2 or 85 f/1.8. The 100 has better optics, 85 has better length on a crop body

The 85/1.8 has better optics as well, based on my own experience and every lens test I've seen other than photodo, which I believe tested a bad copy of the 85/1.8.

Jan 05, 2007 at 05:30 AM

Johnny Bravo
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p.3 #14 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Why do we have threads like this when we have a 'reviews' section that gives thorough ratings by actual owners of the lenses? In my experience, those ratings are as close to the gospel as it gets. (Just beware the ratings on a 'new' lens. Once it's been out a year the blooms sometimes whither (as in the 70-300DO--folks loved it for a couple of months, then reality set in)

Jan 05, 2007 at 02:23 PM

mark petri
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p.3 #15 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

my favorite lens is the one that's on the camera at the time I shoot. There's plenty of lens reviews that you can find this info.

Jan 05, 2007 at 03:49 PM

cad3
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p.3 #16 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Hobbyist and enjoy: Landscape, Wildlife
Friends require me to do work unpaid

Wedding, Portrait, Event

I've starred the ones I've had personal experience with them. The rest is just fillers from what I've seen, heard, or want.

Non-L Prime

1. CZ 21mm*
2. CZ 15mm
3. CZ 35mm PC*
4. Leica 19mm
5. Zeiss 1700/5.6

Non-L Zoom
1. Sigma 300-800
2. Sigma 70-300 Macro*
3. 70-300DO
4. Sigma 12-24
5. 17-55/2.8IS

L Prime.
1. 200/1.8*
2. 85/1.2II*
3. 400/2.8
4. 400/4DO
5. 1200/5.6

L Zoom.
1. 70-200/2.8IS*
2. 24-70/2.8*
3. 16-35/2.8*
4. 100-400/4
5. 24-105/4

Go Tiny,
Go Huge,
Or Go Home.

Jan 05, 2007 at 03:57 PM

roger lund
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p.3 #17 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

cad3 wrote:
Hobbyist and enjoy: Landscape, Wildlife
Friends require me to do work unpaid

Jan 06, 2007 at 04:07 AM

cad3
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p.3 #18 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Yes, you do have to use an adapter to use them. Yes, they are manual focus. I have heard that you can get special adapters for special lenses that will autofocus.

And this forum is a good place to ask people who have those lenses and what they think.
Or you could do what I do. 90% lurker. 9% obnoxious posts. 1% helpful posts. Consider yourself lucky to get one of my 1%

If you lurker long enough you'll learn a great deal.

Also, you can try google. I find that helpful for a particular lens.

Good luck!
-C

Jan 06, 2007 at 04:32 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #19 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Disclaimer: I've only owned/used a handful of these, but I consider them the top 5 in their respective categories. I'll add an * to the ones I have owned or used (or still own).

Non-L Prime
1. C/Y Zeiss 21mm Distagon*
2. C/Y Zeiss 85mm f1.2 Planar 50 Yahre
3. C/Y Zeiss 100mm f2 Planar
4. C/Y Zeiss 35mm PC-Distagon*
5. Leica 50mm Noctilux

Non-L Zoom
1. C/Y Zeiss 35-70mm f3.4 Vario-Sonnar
2. Nikon 17-35mm f2.8
3. Leica 21-35mm f3.5-4 Vario Elmar
4. Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 (or 28-75mm)*
5. EF 70-210 f3.5-4.5*

L Prime.
1. 135L*
2. 200 1.8 L
3. 85L*
4. 35L
5. 24L

L Zoom.
1. 70-200 f2.8 L
2. 80-200 f2.8 L*
3. 70-200 f2.8 L IS
4. 24-70 f2.8 L*
5. 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS

Edited by cogitech on Jan 06, 2007 at 01:14 AM GMT

Jan 06, 2007 at 04:52 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #20 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Johnny Bravo wrote:
Why do we have threads like this when we have a 'reviews' section that gives thorough ratings by actual owners of the lenses?

Because there are no Zeiss, Leica, Zuiko, Voigtlander, etc. lenses in the reviews section (and there are many Tamrons, Sigmas and Tokinas missing too, not to mention many older but excellent Canons and Nikons).

Jan 06, 2007 at 05:00 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #21 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

cad3 wrote:
Yes, you do have to use an adapter to use them. Yes, they are manual focus. I have heard that you can get special adapters for special lenses that will autofocus.

And this forum is a good place to ask people who have those lenses and what they think.
Or you could do what I do. 90% lurker. 9% obnoxious posts. 1% helpful posts. Consider yourself lucky to get one of my 1%

If you lurker long enough you'll learn a great deal.

Also, you can try google. I find that helpful for a particular lens.

Good luck!
-C

Hi Chris!

How's my (hrm, your) CZ21 doing? I hope you are still enjoying it as much as I did

Jan 06, 2007 at 05:01 AM

cad3
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p.3 #22 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Yeah, how do we go about getting those other options added? I was floored that we have a whole Alternative lens forum, but no Leica, Zeiss, etc sections for review?!?!
wtf?

Ps. Paul how would you compare the C/Y Zeiss 85mm f1.2 Planar 50 Yahre against the Canon 85/1.2II

PPs. I'm loving it immensely.

I do hope you'll be able to get another one soon and thanks again!

Jan 06, 2007 at 05:05 AM

cogitech
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p.3 #23 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

cad3 wrote:
Yeah, how do we go about getting those other options added? I was floored that we have a whole Alternative lens forum, but no Leica, Zeiss, etc sections for review?!?!
wtf?

My sentiments exactly.

Ps. Paul how would you compare the C/Y Zeiss 85mm f1.2 Planar 50 Yahre against the Canon 85/1.2II

I've never compared them myself, but those who "know" say there is no comparison. Maybe that's why the Zeiss goes for around $7000.

PPs. I'm loving it immensely.

I do hope you'll be able to get another one soon and thanks again!

I'm so glad to hear that you are enjoying it. I still miss it very much, but my little Zuiko is working out great for me. Some day I'll get another one. Some day.

Jan 06, 2007 at 05:30 AM

DLenard
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p.3 #24 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

I have enjoyed reading the responses here myself. Just as interesting as the review section because of the varied lens and comments.

So I don't get flamed for participating instead of getting out and doing something, I am photographing my LCD screen as I type.

Love portraits of my kids and grandkids so I lean that way in lens ratings. I have owned, rented or tried the lens I have rated. Except for the "wish I had" ones.

Non-L Prime
1. Canon 85mm f/1.8
2. Canon 100mm f/2.0 - really a tie with # 1
3. Canon 60mm macro
4. Sigma 30mm
5. Sigma 150mm (the 50mm and 105mm are great too)

Non-L Zoom
1. Canon 17-55mm IS- The best I have and have had
2. Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 - Beat two Canon 24-70mmL's - really
3. Tokina 12-24mm
4. Canon 70-300mm IS non-DO - deserves better than #4- great lens
5. Sigma 10-20mm - fun, like the Tokina

L Prime.
1. Canon 300mm f/4 IS - Awesome for portraits. Wow photos.
2. Canon 135mm f/2
3. Canon 200mm f/2.8 - 1,2 & 3 take beautiful people photos. Unreal bokah, all
4. Canon 400mm f/5.6 - I had a bad rental copy. I feel a good copy would be great
5. I would like to have an 85mm f/1.2 II

L Zoom.
1. Canon 70-200mm f/4
2. Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 - even though my Tamron beat it head to head
3. Canon 24-105mm IS - I would have one again if not for the 17-55mm IS
4. Canon 17-40mm f/4
5. I want a 70-200mm f/4 IS next. Potential #1

Jan 06, 2007 at 05:56 AM

Strid3r
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p.3 #25 · Top five zooms and primes, opinions.

Good lord give the man a break, just answer his question and let him learn the way he wants too.

I've had limited experience so I'll comment as I can...
Non-L Prime
1. 100mm macro
2. 85 f/1.8
3. 50 f/1.8

Non-L Zoom
1. Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (I know its not Canon but its impressed me more than any canon non-L zoom)
2. EF 70-300 4-5.6 IS
3. The EF 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 USM II - I know the quality is so-so at best, but it has worked very well for me without breaking the bank. I couldn't afford the 24-105, and didn't really want to carry around the 28-135 IS.

L Prime.
Not much of a prime guy, I like the flexibility of Zooms. But...
1. 300 f/4 L IS

L Zoom.
1. 17-40 f/4 L
2.16-35 f/2.8 L
3. 70-200 4L IS
4. 70-200 2.8L
5. 100-400 L

Jan 06, 2007 at 06:40 AM


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