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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
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Review Date: Jul 23, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $275.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, contrasty, great bokeh, fast, lightweight, easy to handle, relatively quick to focus
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Cons:
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Little slower to focus than 70-200 f/2.8 L IS. Not built like a tank.
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This lens excels at optical quality (perhaps it has CA around the outside of the lens but since I only have a 10D I don't notice it). It has a shallow DOF when opened wide but it is a wonderful lens to have.
I already had the EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS USM lens when a friend decided he wanted to unload this little gem. I considered, reconsidered, requested comments from other users on FM. I finally decided to pick this up and it is incredible. I can easily see uses for it that complement the 70-200.
The construction and focus speed are slightly better than the EF 50mm f/1.8 lens and I think the optics are better as well.
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
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Review Date: Apr 12, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,700.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Clarity, color rendition, speed, range of zoom, shallow DOF
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Cons:
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Cost
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I love this lens. Since I shoot portraits almost exclusively it is a great lens to have for headshots and it is usable for some longer body shots as well. It is a wonderful medium telephoto lens that is incredibly fast. I debated getting the IS version but the images are sharp and it is easy to handhold even in diminishing light. I have far more keepers out of my photosets with models especially at the early morning and later afternoon times. Very happy with this purchase.
I don't find the weight to be a problem. I've hand held it through several 3 hour+ photosessions with models and a couple of ball games (with 2x TC) and I've noticed only minor fatigue. I use a Bogen Manfrotto 681 sometimes with the TC just to be sure on those longer shots. I wouldn't suggest the TC for this lens as the image quality is just too "mushy" in the details for my taste. I'm saving up for the 400mm or 500mm monsters to get those up-close-and-personal shots.
Kev
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Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
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Review Date: Jan 31, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $799.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, clear, good contrast, solid body construction
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Cons:
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Found none so far
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Great sharpness right out of the camera. The images are clearer and seem to have more definite/contrast with exactly the same settings as any of my other (non L) lenses. Solidly built; very fast focusing and quiet beyond belief.
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