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

Jeff
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p.6 #1 · p.6 #1 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

stanj wrote:
The subject line is asking a different question than the actual post, and they seem to be directly contradicting (what will I keep forever, vs. what do I regret getting rid of, and I don't see how those can be combined.) Which one are you looking for?

You must be very young, then

lol Man, I hated that lens, just like its predecessor. I'd take the 16-35/4 every day of the week (or the III, but by that time I'd quit wasting money on over-priced lenses).

May 29, 2024 at 08:17 AM

Robin Smith
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p.6 #2 · p.6 #2 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

My favorites were the 35mm f2 IS, 24-70 f2.8 II, 70-200mm f4 IS and the 135mm f2 for a special look. Alas all sold now, but only because I left Canon altogether. 70-200mm f2.8 II got a lot of use, but way too heavy to lug around now I'm no longer shooting sports.

May 29, 2024 at 11:02 AM

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

Canon ef 50mm 1.2 essentially stays on my camera

Jun 10, 2024 at 03:57 PM

47greyfox
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p.6 #4 · p.6 #4 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

If I had deep pockets. No EF lens that I own would be safe. But....having to make a choice, the 100-400 ii is my workhorse with or without a 1.4x iii TC.

Jun 18, 2024 at 11:50 AM

Pixelpuffin
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p.6 #5 · p.6 #5 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

47greyfox wrote:
If I had deep pockets. No EF lens that I own would be safe. But....having to make a choice, the 100-400 ii is my workhorse with or without a 1.4x iii TC.

That lens is amazing, I umm’d and rrr’d before pulling the trigger as I already have the 70-300L and didn’t think a zoom could get much better…my 70-300L hasn’t been touched in almost 3yrs since I bought the 100-400Lii. I actually tried it on my 80d using the 1.4x iii, I was speechless…….it shouldn’t be THAT good.

Jun 18, 2024 at 11:56 AM

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

47greyfox wrote:
But....having to make a choice, the 100-400 ii is my workhorse with or without a 1.4x iii TC.

I’m finding it hard to part with mine, even though I have the RF 100–500. If I’d known about the lens firmware update that improves the AF of the 100–400 II on R mount cameras I might not have bought the RF 100–500. Except close up, and of course for the extra focal length, I think the 100–400 is a better lens, and of course I can use it on my DSLRs.

So far, the 100–500 is my only RF lens, and I see no immediate need to get any more. So I’ve actually kept all my EF mount lenses.

Jun 19, 2024 at 04:02 AM

Critters
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p.6 #7 · p.6 #7 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

The 100-400 V2 is the only lens I really regret selling. I like the 100-500 however but as I age even that seems to get heavy for me at times. (I'm older than dirt.)

Richard

Jun 19, 2024 at 05:54 AM

James.s
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p.6 #8 · p.6 #8 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Mine would be my EF 400mm DO IS II, I love that lens small compact, great wildlife lens, overall unless Canon makes a RF 500 DO with integrated 1.4x Ill probably never let my copy go.

Jul 08, 2024 at 03:23 AM

tommmi
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p.6 #9 · p.6 #9 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Solely by rendering and look: EF 135mm L f/2, it just produced very unique looking images. I also had EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS II, but couldn't never replicate the 135mm look with it.

The focal length of 135mm is a bit challenging, thus, the 70-200 spent way more time attached to camera.

These two lenses I really regret selling, but at the time, I wanted to diverge towards smaller and lighter set (went for Fujifilm X). Well, that didn't work well in the long run as I'm GFX shooter now.. But yeah, if I ever return to Canon DSLR's (yes, DSLR's), I will re-acquire these two lenses and maybe not any other lens.

Jul 09, 2024 at 04:27 AM

RKnecht
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p.6 #10 · p.6 #10 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

500 F4 II. Stellar lens and takes all of the extenders very well.

Jul 10, 2024 at 05:24 AM

jjjwolf7722
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p.6 #11 · p.6 #11 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Tarmron EF 35mm 1.4 (newest version)
Canon 135mm F2
Canon 35mm 1.4 V1
Canon 85mm 1.4 is

Sadly 85mm 1.4 is is the only one I still own. Down sized to RF version of 35mm 1.4. The Tamron 35mm 1.4 was by far my favorite 35mm lens besides Sony 35mm 1.4 GM. At some point will likely pickup another copy of the EF 135mm F2 down the road.

Jul 10, 2024 at 10:14 AM

MintMar
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p.6 #12 · p.6 #12 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I think these would be the last replaced by the RF equivalents.
16-35/4 L IS
85/1.2 L II
24-105 IS STM
70-300 DO

Jul 10, 2024 at 05:06 PM

rscheffler
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p.6 #13 · p.6 #13 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

jjjwolf7722 wrote:
Tarmron EF 35mm 1.4 (newest version)
Canon 135mm F2
Canon 35mm 1.4 V1
Canon 85mm 1.4 is

Sadly 85mm 1.4 is is the only one I still own. Down sized to RF version of 35mm 1.4. The Tamron 35mm 1.4 was by far my favorite 35mm lens besides Sony 35mm 1.4 GM. At some point will likely pickup another copy of the EF 135mm F2 down the road.

I'm curious about the Tamron 35/1.4 but wasn't aware there was more than one version. Is this important if adapting the EF model to Canon mirrorless?

85/1.4L IS and 200-400 are the two EF lenses I still use the most (maybe I already posted this earlier in the thread, but don't recall - apologies if I did). Thankfully both perform at 'peak' fps rates like native RF. The 135/2 did not and greatly annoyed me. I also still have the 16-35/4 but hardly use it because with the mount adapter it just feels really long/big on the camera. I usually opt for some optical tradeoffs by using the RF 16/2.8 instead.

Jul 10, 2024 at 07:03 PM

jjjwolf7722
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p.6 #14 · p.6 #14 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

rscheffler wrote:
I'm curious about the Tamron 35/1.4 but wasn't aware there was more than one version. Is this important if adapting the EF model to Canon mirrorless?

85/1.4L IS and 200-400 are the two EF lenses I still use the most (maybe I already posted this earlier in the thread, but don't recall - apologies if I did). Thankfully both perform at 'peak' fps rates like native RF. The 135/2 did not and greatly annoyed me. I also still have the 16-35/4 but hardly use it because with the mount adapter it just feels really long/big on the camera. I usually opt...Show more →

Honestly unsure if there was more than one version. It’s the newest Tamron 35mm 1.4 EF. For the price it’s the best 35mm lens you can get.

Jul 10, 2024 at 07:06 PM

garyvot
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p.6 #15 · p.6 #15 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

Jul 10, 2024 at 07:34 PM

garyvot
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p.6 #16 · p.6 #16 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

jjjwolf7722 wrote:
Honestly unsure if there was more than one version. It’s the newest Tamron 35mm 1.4 EF. For the price it’s the best 35mm lens you can get.

I think the Tamron is widely regarded as perhaps the best AF 35mm DSLR lens ever made, though the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II is considered very close (at least, that's my take on the consensus view). The Sigma Art is also still thought well of, AFAIK.

I have shot with the latter two lenses and think highly of them. I have always wanted to try the Tamron.

Unfortunately, when you add the adapters, all three of these lenses will become pretty sizeable on an R body.

I like the rendering quality of the OG 35L, but it loses out in sharpness and CA to the more modern lenses.

Jul 10, 2024 at 07:41 PM

rscheffler
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p.6 #17 · p.6 #17 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

rscheffler wrote:
I also still have the 16-35/4 but hardly use it because with the mount adapter it just feels really long/big on the camera. I usually opt for some optical tradeoffs by using the RF 16/2.8 instead.

garyvot wrote:
The RF 14-35 f/4L IS is quite nice, if you are considering replacing the EF zoom. I get along with it better than the RF 16, which has a few too many compromises for me.

That's basically what I've read and I used to be an UWA junkie. For a long time I only had a 50mm prime between multiple generations of XX-35 and 70-200 zooms. But the past 10 years I've moved away from frequent UWA use, in part because I tried to force myself to find solutions suitable to 28mm on the Leica M, rather than lazily turn the zoom ring as wide as 16mm on my Canons. And now with the 28-70/2 it's kind of the same situation. I just don't want to carry an UWA zoom as my third largish lens for low percentage use. I'd rather it be a more fun fast prime. So the tiny 16/2.8 can easily be squeezed in for 'just in case' situations.

A few years ago my EF 16-35/4 went soft on one side. Canon's service gallantly repaired it, but it's not quite as good as it used to be (showing minor but consistent peripheral weakness at the wide end when that previously was not the case). So it's a bit of a disappointment. If Canon were to release a 20-70/4 like Sony, it would be more interesting for my general purpose needs.

Jul 10, 2024 at 08:49 PM

garyvot
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p.6 #18 · p.6 #18 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

I have chimed in on this thread, but I don't think I have weighed in on actual EF lens choices that I might always keep. Partly, it's because I'm still mulling over my options, haha.

I still own more than I should, but I do have a few lenses that I have an outsized fondness for.

One of my favorites, and an unsung hero, is the EF 100mm f 2.0. Most people buy macro lenses in this focal length, but I just love this thing to death. It has much of the same rendering quality as the EF 135L, but with a slightly more intimate perspective. It is very sharp in the center wide open with lovely bokeh. It's major flaw is LoCA, very common to fast lenses of this vintage. I love its compact size (it is nearly identical physically to the much more common 85 f/1.8).

Another pair of lenses that I grew to adore are the EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS Mark II and the EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS Mark II, which became my event mainstays. Not much more needs to be said about these, except that for anyone looking to pick up a 70-200, the Mark II version is going for a lot less than the optically and mechanically identical Mark III version (the lenses are the same except for coatings, apparently).

Too, the EF 70-300L is really lovely, with great contrast and color. This lens seemed to be overshadowed by the 100-400, but it makes a great travel companion for things other than wildlife. I'm not sure Canon will make a modern version of this in RF mount, so I definitely may keep mine.

In the blast from the past section, I'd like to give a shout out to the original EF 24-70mm f/2.8L, the version with the clever reverse zoom design that actually made the lens hood useful at all focal lengths. It set a new optical benchmark for standard zoom lenses in its day. I remember that it had great rendering and more character than the modern designs, IMO. Unfortunately, this lens is known to be somewhat troublesome mechanically, and would go out of alignment or get loose, so I am not sure I would seek one out today.

I only borrowed but never got to own one of these, but I would certainly love to have a pristine copy of the EF 80-200mm f/2.8L "magic drainpipe". This lens predates Canon's ring USM focusing motors, and you can feel (and hear) an impressive level of torque as the motors engage. I'm sure it is not quite a match to today's designs optically, but in its time it was something. Today this would be a collector's item, I think.

Other lenses I've greatly enjoyed (but won't pontificate about as they are well known quantities) are the 85L Mark II and, believe it or not, the EF 50 f/1.4 (fight me, haha).

Jul 10, 2024 at 11:24 PM

artsupreme
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p.6 #19 · p.6 #19 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

garyvot wrote:
Too, the EF 70-300L is really lovely, with great contrast and color. This lens seemed to be overshadowed by the 100-400, but it makes a great travel companion for things other than wildlife. I'm not sure Canon will make a modern version of this in RF mount, so I definitely may keep mine.

Use your 70-300L with an RF 2x and make it a 140-600mm. This guy loves his setup with an R, so it should only bet better with a newer body:

https://youtu.be/JS9Oi1Asb6s

Jul 11, 2024 at 12:45 AM

garyvot
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p.6 #20 · p.6 #20 · What's your best EF lenses that you would never sell?

artsupreme wrote:
Use your 70-300L with an RF 2x and make it a 140-600mm. This guy loves his setup with an R, so it should only bet better with a newer body:

https://youtu.be/JS9Oi1Asb6s

Haha, yeah. I love this in concept, but I think the one little problem with this is the RF 100-400

Once you add teleconverters and convert this into an f/8 or f/11 lens, this rig becomes a much heavier and clunkier version of the RF 100-400 (bare or with a 1.4.) I suspect the RF zoom will outperform the EF lens with hacked RF TCs too.

Still, might be fun to mess around with! And the RF 100-400 can never be converted to an f/5.6 lens.

Jul 11, 2024 at 08:16 AM

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