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What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Scott Stoness
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

TS17, 200-400, 24-105 - my most used

May 15, 2024 at 08:23 AM

kirbic
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I find myself in agreement with the sentiment expressed by several folks above, namely that the RF lineup is so good that it is hard not to look at switching. There are a few lenses, however, that will always be in my cabinet. First and foremost, the MP-E65. It has no replacement, nor likely will it in the near term. It's special-purpose, to be sure, but it's not going anywhere. Another is the 8-15 f/4 fish. Likewise special-purpose, and likewise not going anywhere anytime soon.
Not EF glass specifically but another that I will never sell is the Zeiss 75/1.5 Biotar. Love the rendering of that lens. I also have a pair of 1960s vintage Steinheil macros in Exakta mount that I have owned since the early '80s, and occasionally still use.

May 15, 2024 at 08:40 AM

burningheart
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

15/2.8 fisheye, 35/1.4 MKI, 50/1.0, 50/1.2, 85/1.2 MKI, 135/Soft Focus, 200/1.8,
MPE 65
Tilt-Shifts 24 MKII,50,135
Voigtlander 28,40,125
Zeiss classic 25/2,28/2,35/1.4,35/2, 50/1.4,85/1.4
Otus 28,55,100

I have others that would fit that category but I would never say never. I constantly re-evaluate and once I no longer see a need or desire to keep it then it goes. My 200-400 and 800 were that way.

Though as I explore older EF glass some may be added to the list ie the 28-80L as I like some of the older looks they give, heck I even started using old Canon FL lenses last year.

Not an EF lens but the same can be said for my FD 150-600L never sell.

May 15, 2024 at 12:34 PM

IlyaSnopchenko
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I completely understand you because there's some super exotic glass you have there.
I was always curious about the 50/1.0 and even considered buying one when it popped up on the used market here, a dozen years ago, but stopped myself and got the 24/1.4 around that time instead.

May 15, 2024 at 02:26 PM

garyvot
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Mike_5D wrote:
All of my EF lenses have superior RF versions so I'd sell any of them in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

That may be, but sometimes I think I should go back to EF lenses for the rear lens caps alone.

May 15, 2024 at 02:38 PM

Critters
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

One of my favorite lenses is the 70-300 L, Works great on both the R5 and the Sony A7R5 and the image quality is as good as the 100-500 lens (great copy). I don't know why Canon doesn't make a RF version. Right now, I am keeping my 16-35 f4 L because I really don't see much of an advantage in the RF versions except weight in my opinion and the cost factor to change is not worth any of the benefits.

May 15, 2024 at 03:06 PM

Pete73
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

For me it would be my EF600 f4.0II. I'm very exited about the rumored RF 200-500 and if it were to be available I will not be selling my 600 to offset the cost. Most of my other lenses have been upgraded to the RF versions except my 300 2.8 due of the price of the 100-300. Someday maybe...

May 15, 2024 at 03:48 PM

ronno
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I agree with Kakomu and IlyaSnopchenko -
Ancient 24-85mm 3.5.- 4.5 is great! Sharp across most of the frame, lens profiles work well, and fantastic soft and dreamy flare if you are into that sort of thing😊. The flare that I get on my RF lenses is vulgar by comparison. Seriously - put the sun in the frame of the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 and its green streaks galore. A mess in my experience.

Also the 85 1.8 - Which I used wide-open the other day on a beach video shoot, the look is fantastic.

May 15, 2024 at 07:13 PM

dadgummit
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

The sigma 18-35 f1.8 will only ever leave my camera bag if they release an RF version.

May 15, 2024 at 07:24 PM

burningheart
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

IlyaSnopchenko wrote:
I was always curious about the 50/1.0 and even considered buying one when it popped up on the used market here, a dozen years ago, but stopped myself and got the 24/1.4 around that time instead.

Ironically my 50/1.0 gets used most often photographing flowers. I throw on an extension tube or 2 and get in real close and shoot wide open. The softness really shines.

May 15, 2024 at 07:31 PM

Gochugogi
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

ronno wrote:
I agree with Kakomu and IlyaSnopchenko -
Ancient 24-85mm 3.5.- 4.5 is great! Sharp across most of the frame, lens profiles work well, and fantastic soft and dreamy flare if you are into that sort of thing😊. The flare that I get on my RF lenses is vulgar by comparison. Seriously - put the sun in the frame of the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 and its green streaks galore. A mess in my experience.

Also the 85 1.8 - Which I used wide-open the other day on a beach video shoot, the look is fantastic.

Shucks, maybe I should have kept mine! I shot with the EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM for over a decade. It was the kit lens for my EOS IX (1995?). Crap camera but good lens. I replaced it with the EF 24-105 4L. EOS 10D and EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM in 2003 in Port Townsend, Washington:

May 15, 2024 at 10:26 PM

ronno
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I never liked the EF 24-105/4, though I have the RF version and it's pretty good, very sharp and good I.S. - no lusty magic there though

May 15, 2024 at 10:42 PM

ronno
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

About the $125 24-85mm - about 10 years ago I shot an entire $30,000 product shoot with it (a business launch), and clients were THRILLED and hired me for many more jobs.
Just saying.

May 15, 2024 at 10:44 PM

Gochugogi
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

During the mid-1990s the EF 24-85 was about $700. Adjusted for inflation, that must be like $1400 to 1500 today. So, although the kit lens for the EOS IX, it was not a cheap kit lens (the EF 35-80 held that crown). I took a picture of mine before meeting its ultimate fate on ebay:

May 16, 2024 at 12:15 AM

alundeb
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

EF 50 1.0 L, no explanation needed
EF 85 1.8, still a solid performer with fast AF
TS-E 24 II rarely used but nice to have
EF 70-300 non-USM small and light with prime-like sharpness at 135mm. Also covering medium format image sensor at that focal length.
EF-S 60 macro
ZE Milvus 35/1.4

May 16, 2024 at 01:40 AM

rmhh
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

EF-M 1.4/32 mm
Fantastic lens for landscape, and great performance wide open. Light and small. Perfect walkaround kit. I spend more time with my R8 now, but this lens will stay as long as my M6ii works. No idea why there is no RF-S version.

May 16, 2024 at 02:43 AM

IlyaSnopchenko
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Gochugogi wrote:
Shucks, maybe I should have kept mine! I shot with the EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM for over a decade. It was the kit lens for my EOS IX (1995?). Crap camera but good lens. I replaced it with the EF 24-105 4L. EOS 10D and EF 24-85 3.5-4.5 USM in 2003 in Port Townsend, Washington:

There's no doubt the 24-105L is better than the 24-85 - it should be, as an L lens, even if it is a bottom tier L. However, it's much less compact as well, and the lack of IS on the 24-85 is a non-issue when it's used on bodies that have IBIS (like I do on the Z9, which of course makes colleagues laugh because it's frankly ludicrous... a $70 lens + $250 adapter + $5500 camera.

I would still totally use that for "serious" shooting, esp. since the only other standard zoom I have is the Nikon DX 16-50).

May 16, 2024 at 03:12 AM

kakomu
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p.3 #18 · p.3 #18 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Gochugogi wrote:
During the mid-1990s the EF 24-85 was about $700. Adjusted for inflation, that must be like $1400 to 1500 today. So, although the kit lens for the EOS IX, it was not a cheap kit lens (the EF 35-80 held that crown). I took a picture of mine before meeting its ultimate fate on ebay:

I just realized that I read your review on the 24-85 way back when (One of the few out there that wasn't absolutely fixated on benchmarking performance). I appreciated that you would talk about something other than how poor the corners looked or whether you can shoot it in the dark.

That said, I found a BNIB EOS IX kit on eBay last year, bought it...and found fungus in the lens. It was pretty disheartening and at that point, just gave up on finding a good 24-85. I kept the 24-105 from then on and just made do with the heftier weight and larger size.

May 16, 2024 at 07:02 AM

IlyaSnopchenko
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p.3 #19 · p.3 #19 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

It's a shame. Guess I was lucky both times (first on the black version in 2010, and then on the silver one in 2017). However, the latter came without a hood - or even a front cap, actually, so I'm putting a Sony 67mm cap on the lens - but a hood is harder to replace (although the one from my Tamron 45mm fits, even though it's rather loose on it by default). Other EW-73* hoods from newer lenses fit, but in the orientation that is 90º from the intended one.

May 16, 2024 at 07:32 AM

tcphoto
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p.3 #20 · p.3 #20 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I specialize in Food and Lifestyle images and find that my priorities are the 100MacroL, 50L and then my Sigma 35/1.4, I also love the 85/1.4LIS for portraits. Of course, it all depends on the desired effect, location I'm shooting at and other factors. If I were shooting people exclusively, the 200/1.8 or 2.0 would certainly be on my shortlist.

May 16, 2024 at 09:45 AM

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