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Andrew Welsh
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jan 19, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 4827
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Review Date: Jan 3, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $810.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Best... lens... ever... (well, almost). Like everyone says, great bokeh, great colors, super-sharp, etc.
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Cons:
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Awkward focal length on a crop camera for 3/4 or full body portraits, requiring you to stand 30 feet / 10 yards / 10 metres away.
Focus sometimes loses it's mind w/20D using one-shot focus mode even with center point selected. The remedy is to aim at a higher contrast point to get focus "in the area" and try again. A little annoying.
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What can I say? It lives up to its reviews. Pretty fast focusing even on a 20D. I have yet to try it on my 40D which is under warranty repair at the moment. The images from the lens let me pick a sharpening of 5 in Canon's DPP software and look stunning, which is astounding for me, since other lenses I've used look like crap with sharpening past 2 or 3! It seems to me anecdotally this lens out-resolves the 20D.
It's not without a couple of minor quibbles:
- awkward focal length for full body portraits on a crop camera
- focus occasionally loses it's mind and you need a really high contrast edge for the 20D autofocus to grab onto something. A little disappointing since I don't see the same behavior with the 50/1.8 and 85/1.8 on the same body with the same settings. Otherwise it's super-accurate even at f/2.
- Minor, minor purple fringing (1 pixel) on high contrast edges at f/2. Stopping down even to f/2.2 reduces this and it's gone by f/2.8. Other than for astrophotos, this will be a non-issue for most.
Overall for the price point, I'd recommend this purchase for anyone looking to fill the 70-200 focal length range with fast prime coverage. I feel this lens with the 85/1.8 (or the 1.2L down the road) will more than adequately cover this range for me at weddings.
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 Jan 3, 2008
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thedowling
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Image Upload: Off
Registered: Feb 16, 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 70
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Review Date: Dec 27, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $899.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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best lens ever
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Cons:
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none
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yet another rave review for this lens. i wish i had bought it ages ago.
can't even believe the sharpness. pix i get on the 5D are like nothing i've gotten before.
i bought this at same time as the new 50mm 1.2, which i had endless problems with and finally returned. it's amazing that is this "older" and less expensive lens is so much better.
get this.
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Dec 27, 2007
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TysonRobichaud
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Registered: Dec 10, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Dec 10, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $910.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fast, Beautiful IQ, Subject Isolation/Dof spectacular.
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Cons:
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It wont make me breakfast. Other than that, none I have experienced.
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My favorite lens for portraiture. My favorite lens for creative inspiration. Really remarkable images when coupled with my 5d. It is relatively small so it remains somewhat inconspicuous compared to others. I was debating and looking at a couple other lenses (I was impressed with the EF100 f/2 which is a great one too) but cannot express how happy that I made this choice. If it is the focal length you want, it really is an amazing lens that will not let you down.
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Dec 10, 2007
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George Chew
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Registered: Sep 2, 2005
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 11
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Review Date: Dec 9, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Excellent image quality. Very fast focusing on my 5D. Value for money
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Cons:
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None.
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Greetings,
I have been thinking of this lens for more than 2 years. Finally decided to buy this recently in my Hong Kong trip. Canon lenses are cheapest there. BTW, after a couple of weeks of using it, I love this beast. The IQ is more than I dare hope for, even at f2. I would say it is very close to my EF 500mm F4L IS. It produces creamy and beautiful bokeh. At this price, it is a steal. Enjoy...
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Dec 9, 2007
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John Kasko
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Registered: Dec 5, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 6
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Review Date: Dec 5, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Light and to the point.
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Cons:
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None
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Dec 5, 2007
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Daan B
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Registered: Aug 16, 2007
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 7405
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Review Date: Nov 26, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $940.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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IQ (especially wide open), build, AF, versatility
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Cons:
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Contrast and colors not up to the same level as the 35L or 85L (although still good)
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I bought the 135L to accompany my 35L and 85L for shooting people. The 135L is used mainly for tight portraits on a 5D.
It is sharp already at f/2.0. It becomes really sharp at f/2.8 and stays that way up to f/11. Fantastic performance. Definitely this lens greatest strength. Contrast is good, but not as excellent as the contrast of the 35L or 85L. Same thing for the colors. In PP I find myself often tweaking contrast and colors of 135L files. Bokeh is excellent, especially at f/2.0. Distortions and fringes/CA's are no issue at all. There is a little bit vignetting at f/2.0.
The build quality is excellent. The 135L has a good size and weight, and balances well on my 5D (with grip). AF is fast as lightning and accurate. Manual focusing is a joy because of the broad rubber focus ring. The 135L is also a very versatile lens. Performance remains good when used with a 1.4x TC. With a 25mm tube it also can be used for some rather creative macro photography (DOF becomes insanely thin).
This lens asks to be used at f/2.0. Here it really shines. Although IQ is very good, it is not up to the same levels as the 35L or 85L. It misses some of that magic. But if you are in need of a fast tele prime, look no further...
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Nov 26, 2007
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GeneO
Offline
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Registered: Jul 10, 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 9098
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Review Date: Nov 25, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fast, light, sharp, lovely smooth DOF transistion
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Cons:
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close backlight or lightsouce can flare
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I bought his for shooting low light, no flash permitted, indoor sports for use with my 1D Mark IIN. It hasn't dissapointed. A little long on the 1dmk2n in some situations.
Would make a great indoor candid lens on a full frame. To long for a 1.3X, but somewhat useable for that. Great portrait lens even with the 1.3x crop body.
Looking forward to many more applications with this beauty.
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Nov 25, 2007
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PJ Fish
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Registered: Nov 24, 2006
Location: Denmark
Posts: 18
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Review Date: Nov 19, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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This is one of the 3 Nikon Kings ! its simple awesome and super sharp !
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Cons:
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None..
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This is the king of 135 mm it got it all ;sharpness ,contrast,bokeh ,yes its simply the best for the money,i use it for soccer, handball icehokey and all kinds of sports, its definitively in a class of its own.
All the hype is true : its super!
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Nov 19, 2007
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HMZRHS
Offline
Image Upload: Off
Registered: Apr 10, 2007
Location: Brunei
Posts: 62
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Review Date: Nov 5, 2007
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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Pros:
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Fast and Light.And its "L" Prime lens
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Cons:
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None
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After Long useage of this lens i tend to "NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT"
Good for POTRIATS well recommended.And this is my second review.
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Nov 5, 2007
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nickstills
Offline
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Registered: Nov 3, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Nov 3, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpest lens ever and great build quality.
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Cons:
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none
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I love how sharp this lens is- even at full aperture it is brilliant. And when it is stopped down just a little bit the image quality goes to astonishing and outstanding. It must be one of the best lenses on the planet. Also the build quality is excellent.
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Nov 3, 2007
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David Baldwin
Offline
Buy and Sell: On
Registered: Jun 28, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2557
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Review Date: Nov 2, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Superlative image quality, even at full aperture, build quality, surprisingly compact for its specification.
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Cons:
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A bit expensive here in the UK, but as they say "the quality will be remembered long after the price is forgotten". How true.
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This lens is a legend, deservedly so. I've used alot of good glass over the last 25 years or so, Zuiko, Pentax, Carl Zeiss, Nikkor etc, but nothing, nothing has impressed me as much as this Canon 135mm. In the UK we pay through the nose for our camera kit, you guys in the US get a much better deal than us, so you've got even less excuse for not buying the Canon 135. However, I think that the price I paid for the 135mm over here is still worth every penny. A keeper by any standards.
I bought this lens mainly for portraits on my 40D. The results really are something to cheer about! This is an ideal portrait lens, the images really look "expensive", sophisticated. I don't know how else to describe the effect. The difference between this lens and ordinary 135mms is quite dramatic (believe me, I've owned a few), the results wide open have a 3D punch which is really, really impressive. If you love photographing people just go out and buy this Canon classic.
If I'm feeling lazy or want to be spontaneous, I put the camera on aperture priority, set an aperture of f2 and shoot away. The lens auto focuses convincingly on the 40D.
The hood is really deep and actually fits the lens properly.
I also use this beauty for astrophotography, even at full aperture the stars look compact and sharp at the edge of my cropped frame camera images.
I can't wait to use this lens on the 5D Mk II whenever it comes out.
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Nov 2, 2007
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Peter Kotsa
Offline
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Registered: Nov 1, 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 265
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Review Date: Nov 1, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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sharp, licht, quick focus
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Cons:
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flare
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One of Canons best. without the hood the lens suffers from a bit of flare, apart from thet..perfect
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Nov 1, 2007
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Cacdaddy3
Offline
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Registered: Jun 8, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 85
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Review Date: Nov 1, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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The last reviewer was wrong, it is not almost perfect, it is perfect.
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Cons:
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None
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Shot most of the time either wide open for portraits or hockey or at about 5.6. to 6.3 for landscapes and pano's. This thing is versatile and my best focusing lens. It is also my sharpest lens being about on par with my 200 1.8 (made it easier to sell the 1.8). Have thought about going to nikon at times but this is the one lens that makes me stay put although I have been very tempted about getting a 85L.
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Nov 1, 2007
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juberisk2
Offline
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Registered: Sep 16, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 380
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Review Date: Nov 1, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $750.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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in virtually every aspect (AF, size, sharpness, color, etc) this prime portrait lens is perfect for what it is.
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Cons:
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none
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I don't mind using my 70-200/2.8IS. And I sometimes had fun using my 85LII. But this one? I can't wait to use it again.
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Nov 1, 2007
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suzy l
Offline
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Registered: Oct 31, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 5
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Review Date: Oct 31, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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almost perfect
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Cons:
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none
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Oct 31, 2007
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I Simonius
Offline
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Registered: Apr 22, 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 50
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Review Date: Oct 27, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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sharp and unobtrusive for candids
Lovely Bokeh
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Cons:
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doesn't always focus accurately - 25% of shots are not spot on when shooting wide open
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Oct 27, 2007
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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383
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503698
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May 20, 2013
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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96% of reviewers
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$1,301.92
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.80
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9.41
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9.9
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