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radiodenver
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Registered: Apr 4, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 490
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Review Date: Jul 18, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $330.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fast. Sharp. Excellent Bokeh.
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Cons:
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Nothing
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Absolutely stunning results using this lens. I have yet to find a negative about it. I use it on the 5D and 30D. The autofocus is very fast and very quiet. Shots are so sharp, they don't need touching in post processing. This lens will make a 5D sing a lovely song with portrait shots. Excellent for medium range landscape shots too.
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 Jul 18, 2006
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leiho
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Registered: Mar 22, 2006
Location: Poland
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Jul 16, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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sharpness, AF speed, bokef, 1.8, price for value
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Cons:
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CA at 1.8
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I've been using this lens for few weeks, still learning and exploring its pros - it has not too many cons  Excellent sharpness, handling, fast AF . At 1.8 sharpness is not that great, but well, try to stop down a little bit, to 2.0 or 2.8 - you get knocked down. At 4.0 this lens is uber fantastic. Plus beautiful creamy bokeh at 1.8 and not only at 1.8. As mentioned before, lens is really sharp, from 2.0 or 2.8 on. I ve tried to make few test photos on Coke bottle (tripod used etc). Except more than expected purple fringing at 1.8 in central part of the bottle (where brand name is put, white on red label), the rest seemed so fine. CA is almost completely gone at 2.0 and and 4.0 you must be tax inspector to have any complaints- there should be none. Lens highly recomended.
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Jul 16, 2006
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vin14
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Registered: Jun 28, 2006
Location: Ireland
Posts: 233
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Review Date: Jul 13, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $340.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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sharp even at f1.8, weight, price, AF
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Cons:
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colour fringing in areas of extreme contrast at f1.8
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This lens lives up to the hype. It's sharp, even at f1.8. The AF is fast and it's well built. The only negetive is colour fringing in areas of extreme contrast at f1.8. This greatly improves by f2.
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Jul 13, 2006
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Xenedis
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Registered: Feb 11, 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 6
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Review Date: Jul 7, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Lightweight, small, fast, quick to focus, very sharp (even at f/1.8), nice bokeh, and it's inexpensive.
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Cons:
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Lack of hood, but this is standard for non-L lenses.
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I have only owned the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens for a few hours, and have not yet taken any photos other than the test shots I took in the store.
Looking at those test shots (taken mostly at ISO 400, and all at f/1.8 under less-than-optimal fluorescent light), I am floored at the sharpness of this fantastic lens.
The background blur is very pleasing, and the edges of subjects are sharp. It delivers excellent performance for a relatively inexpensive non-L lens.
This lens is a keeper, and I'm looking forward to using it for proper photography. I can see this lens being used for gig (music) photography, candids, portraiture, and for subject matter for which I want a very shallow depth of field.
I wanted a fast telephoto prime, with the intention of using it wide open as much as possible, and I think this lens will do the job quite well indeed.
The Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM was also on the list of candidates, but I didn't get to inspect one of those today. However, the 85/1.8 on my 20D provides a field of view almost identical to what the 135/2L would do on a FF DSLR, it's a third-stop faster, and significantly less expensive ($AUD 1,650 or thereabouts for the 135/2L, vs. the $AUD 640 I paid for the 85/1.8).
Optically the 85/1.8 contains nothing special (ie, UD glass, aspherical elements or fluorite), but this does not prevent it from delivering surprisingly sharp results straight out of the camera.
I'm sure that unsharp masking, contrast and colour adjustments in post-processing will enhance the quality of its already fine results.
Thoroughly recommended, and I've given it a top score on all counts.
My review might be somewhat premature based on my very limited experience with this lens, but if the pleasing results I achieved in a busy store under fluorescent lighting provide a taste of this lens's capability, I cannot wait to see the results in real-world situations.
J.
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Jul 7, 2006
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tkoet
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Registered: May 12, 2006
Location: N/A
Posts: 1503
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Review Date: Jul 7, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $389.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Excellent build, sharp images, fast focus
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Cons:
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Wicked CA wide open, lack of close focusing ability is a real drawback
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This is one of Canon's best lens values. A joy to use except for noticeable CA at f1.8 and an always surprising minimum focus spec.
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Jul 7, 2006
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ray123
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Registered: Jun 3, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 11
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Review Date: Jul 2, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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A must have for portrait if you can't afford the f1.2. Great price!
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Cons:
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None
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One of my sharpest!
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Jul 2, 2006
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hermosawave
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Registered: Jul 12, 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 14
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Review Date: Jul 2, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $350.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, fast, light, small, inexpensive.
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Cons:
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Doesn't focus very closely, but that's not why you're buying this lens.
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I really like the 85mm focal length, so when I moved up to the 5D from the 20D I needed a new full frame prime to compensate. I use this fast prime for concerts and sports where things are moving too fast in low light for my 24-105 f/4 or 70-200 f/4.
I considered this lens, the f/1.2, the 100mm macro, the 135mm f/2 L and upgrading to the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Because I couldn't decide, I decided to go for the 85 f/1.8 as a temporary solution.
I couldn't be happier with my choice, this lens really surprised me.
Focuses much faster than the f/1.2 II (at least in the store), very sharp wide open, good bokeh, great for portraits (http://photos.hermosawave.net/enlargenext.php?ID=96&selection=14 - 1/160 @ f/1.8 on the 5D)
On the 20D, this lens is a 135mm -- long, fast and inconspicuous! A real bonus. Check out this shot: http://photos.hermosawave.net/enlargenext.php?ID=94&selection=6 - (1/8000 @ f/1.8) you'll see the volleyball and the girl are tack-sharp and everything behind is a blur. I could not have created this narrow depth of field with my other lenses...
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Jul 2, 2006
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jthai
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Registered: Aug 2, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Jun 15, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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This lens is sharpest lens on my lens collection...
Sweet spot at F4 and F5.6.. fast focus and good built quality.
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Cons:
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CA at 1.8 and F2.8
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It is the sharpest lens in my lens collection.
I ran all test and compare each lens Image quality.
Rank this sharpest lens at Aperture F2.8 to F5.6: First is 85F1.8 ; 70-200F2.8; 24-70F2.8 and last 50F1.8
I am happy with my lens collection...
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Jun 15, 2006
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DrPablo
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Registered: Aug 10, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 1556
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Review Date: Jun 11, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $350.00
| Rating: 7
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Pros:
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Bokeh, sharpness, build
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Cons:
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Autofocus, CA, lens hood
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When stopped down and manually focused this lens is a gem. The autofocus on my copy couldn't find water in the ocean. There is some virtually uncorrectable blue-yellow CA in some photos too (I say uncorrectable because it is very broad and Photoshop doesn't necessarily recognize it as CA). I'm disappointed because I'd been expecting better. If Canon can fix the autofocus then maybe I'll think more highly of it.
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Jun 11, 2006
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Offline
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Review Date: Jun 8, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $290.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very sharp with great bokeh. Well worth the money
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Cons:
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Colours and bokeh are not as nice as the "L" but what do you expect for a 1/4 of the price
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Well I just baught another one because I sold my 85L to help cover the cost of my 1DMKII I baught last month. The previous one I had was very sharp, I am hoping on the 1.3 crop I will get even more enjoyment out of it. You can't beet this lens for the money
Dan
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Jun 8, 2006
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mirages
Offline
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Registered: Apr 3, 2006
Location: N/A
Posts: 299
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Review Date: Jun 1, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Reasonably solid build. Sharp, quick focusing, light-weight.
Another great street and low light lens.
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Cons:
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notta
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Well, I just commented on the 50 1.4, so I may as well add this while I am thinking critically. The 85 1.8 is a marvelous find for the money; especially when compared to anything else available in this range. The 85 L I series doesn't touch it, and the L II is priced somewhere between purgatory and heaven for what it gives.
With the difference in cost between the 85 1.8 and 85 L II one can easily buy another nice L prime or zoom, likely with some change left over. With the recent review that was discussed on the FM forum posted below, it is obvious that this lens speaks (succinctly) for itself.
http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/85mm/index.htm
Though I have spent just slightly less than two months exploring it, I have to say I am as impressed as the author above in this lens.
Unless you have a large amount of money you do not know what to do with, or do not value adding an additional prime to fit a gap in your kit, the 85 1.8 lens will do the job better in 95% of the situations compared to the 85 L glass.
Granted, the blurr is presumably better in the 85 L II than the 85 1.8, but I do not make a living doing portraits. If and when I do, then, and only then, would I consider dumping the kind of money Canon is asking for the 85 L II for what in all intents and purposes is an all-around inferior lens. For me the money is better spent elsewhere and for my dollars belongs in the 85 1.8.
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Jun 1, 2006
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seebeyond
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Registered: Apr 25, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 633
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Review Date: May 22, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $290.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, fast and silent focus
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Cons:
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None so far.
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I thought my 50mm f/1.8 is already sharp and has good bokeh. This lens is even better than the 50mm in sharpness and bokeh. The fast and silent focus is a plus.
I don't have any other lenses to compare to for build quality. Among kits lens from my rebel xt, 50mm f/1.8 and this lens, it is very obvious that 85mm has the best build quality.
I got mine used and it makes the value of this lens is even better. But I won't hesitate buying this new.
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May 22, 2006
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imopen
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Registered: May 16, 2006
Location: Italy
Posts: 0
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Review Date: May 16, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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incredible bookeh, very very sharp, autofocus very fast, build very strong
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Cons:
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absolutly nothing
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this is the best quality/price lens. a must have, absolutly.
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May 16, 2006
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rthrbfshn
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Registered: Oct 21, 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 39
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Review Date: May 12, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness is outstanding. Low light is not a problem.
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Cons:
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Sometimes I I have to step back, just kidding, no negatives from me yet.
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This lens is so sharp that when I take a picture I sometimes see things that I do not like in a shot(facial hair, and you know what else).
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May 12, 2006
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kevindar
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Registered: May 6, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 1926
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Review Date: May 8, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $303.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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fantastically sharp, fast focusing
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Cons:
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a little long on a 1.6 crop for portrait photography
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its a gem. It is so much better than my 50 1.8, except the focal lenght of 50 works better for me on the 1.6 crop sensor.
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May 8, 2006
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mckenzy
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Registered: Mar 19, 2006
Location: Singapore
Posts: 5
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Review Date: May 3, 2006
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $400.00
| Rating: 9
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If you're like me, and shoot at f1.8 most of the time... you'll find the first few weeks and possible months of use with this lens frustrating...
it takes alot of practice and gettin-used-to for this piece...
but once you get your focussing act together for this lens, you will never accept anything less. sharpness is really, really good when you focus right... its a little on the weighty side for a rebel/350d... so shooting at 1/60 is the barest minimum(i feel)... anything higher will be fine. as usual... if you love lenses wide open, all you need to do is practice.
thats all i can say for this lens... if you get blurred images and you shoot widest... take a little more time... i've found that its a little more difficult with the 1.6x bodies than fullframe...
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May 3, 2006
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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307
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463937
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Feb 14, 2013
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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95% of reviewers
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$349.50
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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8.92
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9.46
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9.4
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